Last time I invested in a company pre-listing was a US ISP start-up 'Global Entrepreneurs Network' (GEN) last century. Despite being a dot-com company prior to the dot-com boom-bust in the late 1990s, that company managed to run out of money and go bust (actually it appears it was acquired by SAGE, but the original public investors didn't end up with any equity) before it reached IPO/listing stage.
It was a bit disappointing (especially as I could have invested in listed companies such as Microsoft or Apple instead - and could have made a lot of money) but not unexpected with those sort of high risk 'blue sky' investments. On the other hand, if a pre-IPO investment works out, you can potentially make a considerable profit.
After twenty years I've finally decided to risk another small investment in a 'start up' company - this time I've invested $4,215 via crowdfunding to 'invest' (aka speculate) in buying150 shares in the new financial adviser rating company called 'Adviser Ratings' (not as imaginative a company name as Alphabet, but at least its truth-in-labelling). There is a considerable demand for reliable financial advice in Australia (and the UK and US), and considerable difficulty for consumers in knowing which advisers are good and which aren't (for example, some of the shonkiest advisers exposed during the Hayne RC had high profiles, and appeared to be highly regarded 'experts'). So a 'trip adviser' style consumer rating system for financial advisers would seem to have considerable potential.
Also, being a software based company with (apparently) some revenue streams already (one of the big risks is whether or not these revenues do turn out to be 'sticky' and ongoing as expected), and the potential to replicate its business model in the UK and possibly the US (although I've no idea what existing/potential competitors might be doing a similar thing in those markets) it could scale up at minimal cost, and grow revenue. Whether this actually happens or the shares end up worthless is the risk you take when making such 'blue sky' investments.
Anyhow, its an interesting investment opportunity, and fits in with knowledge of the financial advice industry (one of the old cliches of share investing is to pick companies that produce products you know about and consume yourself - whether it is a winning strategy is dubious - just think of all the people that used VHS tapes in the 80s!). And if the company never 'lists' and the shares end up worthless I can afford to loose the $4,215 (I lost a lot more when I invested in Agribusinesses Timbercorp and Rewards!). If anyone is interested in investing, you can use this link (which will utilize my referral code, and I'd end up getting 30% of the 6% fee that birchal charges for the crowdfunding). The crowdingfund share 'float' for Adviser Ratings has already passed its minimum funding target (raising $350K) so it looks like this tranche of shares will be issued.
NOTE: This is NOT a recommendation to invest in this company - do you own research and make up your own mind!
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