Going Public Lecture Notes

Overview

• Going Public: A show highlighting companies offering investment opportunities through the SEC's Regulation A (Reg A).
• Purpose: Entertainment; not providing investment advice.
• Reg A Details: Exemption from SEC registration; speculative and illiquid offerings.
• Conflicts of Interest: Potential conflicts due to relationships between companies, mentors, and Crush Capital.

Key Topics

Introduction to Companies

• Trebel: Music app for offline play.

  • Founder: Bob.
  • Pitch to billionaire Chris Burch, co-founder of Tory Burch.
  • Goal: 15.6 million users, Reg A offering of $25 million.

• Hammitt: Handbag company.

  • CEO: Tony Drockton.
  • Unique investor video with a James Bond theme for Reg A fundraising.

Mentors

• Jeff Hoffman: Branding expert.
  • Background in startups (e.g., Priceline.com).
  • Role: Mentor for companies to help them scale and brand effectively.

Investment Process

• Steps to Invest: Visit goingpublic.com, read offering circulars, verify identity, choose investment level (accredited vs non-accredited).

Mentorship Sessions

Trebel

• Chris Burch's Interest: Evaluating Trebel's potential in music tech.
• Billionaire Influence: Importance of influential early investors.

Hammitt

• Creative Fundraising: Using stunts and creative videos for investor engagement.

Proven Skincare

• Branding Focus:
  • Simplify messaging to highlight personalization and simplicity.
  • Address consumer feedback about the custom experience.
  • Develop corporate vocabulary with branding agency Reflex.

NGT Academy

• Focus on Scalability:
  • Need to emphasize scalable online business over physical campuses.
  • Message clarity: Appeal to both engineers and novices.

Key Learnings

Branding and Messaging

• Importance of Simplicity: Clear, concise messaging needed to attract retail investors.
• Building Brand: Create a strong brand that communicates uniqueness and value.
• Consumer Engagement: Authentic connection with the audience is crucial.

Investor Relations

• Public Market Scrutiny: Companies need to demonstrate capability to deliver on promises.
• Retail vs. Institutional Investors: Different approaches required for pitching.

Future Expectations

• Upcoming Episodes: Further mentorship from Jeff Hoffman, expansion opportunities for companies, and more.
• Focus on Reg A Journey: Insights into raising capital, scaling challenges, and investor pitches.