How Startups Describe Their Companies (And Who Closes)

CHART OF THE WEEK

What do companies say most when they describe themselves to the crowd? We analyzed 9,875 Reg CF + Reg A+ raises on Kingscrowd to build word clouds for (1) all-time language by raise type, (2) companies that successfully closed, (3) companies that withdrew or didn’t fund, and (4) the industries shaping the vocabulary. The biggest split: closed rounds lean harder into platform/future/technology, while non-winners skew more restaurant/shop/cafe.

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WEBINAR TOMORROW

Invest in private markets with your IRA. StartEngine (with $2.1B invested) and Equity Trust ($75B in assets under custody & administration) have teamed up to help investors explore private-market opportunities using tax-advantaged retirement dollars. Join StartEngine Chief Revenue Officer Josh Amster and Equity Trust’s John Bowens for a step-by-step walkthrough of self-directed IRA setup, transfer/rollover basics, the 50/30/20 allocation framework, and what it means to invest pre-IPO with an IRA.

🗓️ Wednesday, January 28th, 1pm ET → Register now 👇

KINGSCROWD PODCAST

Portals | Private | StartEngine’s Deal Review

By Sam Fiske / Watch | Apple | Spotify

Brian, Teddy, and Scott break down StartEngine’s latest filings: the surge in “Private” revenue, how SPV spreads are recognized, and whether the portal model scales without secondaries. Clean takeaways, no hype—just numbers, risks, and implications for retail access.

DealFlow Discovery Conference Adds New Reg A Fundraising Workshop

 The DealFlow Discovery Conference, returning January 28-29, 2026 at the Borgata Hotel in Atlantic City, NJ, continues to expand its focus on emerging capital-raising strategies for growth-stage companies.

Now in its third year, the Discovery Conference has become one of the largest gatherings in the microcap and alternative investing ecosystem, bringing together public and private companies, investors, analysts, and advisors for two days of presentations, one-on-one meetings, and market-focused discussions. Attendance is expected to exceed 1,000 participants, with more than 100 companies already confirmed to present.

New for 2026, the conference will introduce a dedicated Regulation A Fundraising Track, anchored by a hands-on Reg A workshop hosted by DealMaker. The workshop will be followed by live presentations from companies currently raising capital under Regulation A, giving attendees a practical look at how issuers are structuring offerings and engaging investors in today’s market.

The Reg A track is designed to serve both issuers exploring alternative fundraising strategies and investors seeking opportunities outside traditional IPO and venture channels. Participation in the Reg A presentations is limited to Regulation A issuers, with space available on a first-come basis.

PITCH REVIEW 💸

By Teddy Lyons \ Deal Report

Brief: Origami Thereapeutics is a biotechnology company developing precision medicines for neurodegenerative diseases by targeting the misfolded proteins that drive conditions like Huntington’s and Alzheimer’s. Its ORICISION™ platform discovers small-molecule drugs that either refold or eliminate toxic proteins, with its lead Huntington’s program showing promising preclinical results and advancing toward human trials.

Teddy’s Quick Take: Biotech has always fascinated me with its potential to rewrite health outcomes, especially in areas like brain aging where current treatments fall short. Origami Therapeutics’ focus on precision medicines for neurodegenerative diseases like Huntington's and Alzheimer's disease feels timely amid growing longevity research.

Origami is a Y-Combinator backed biotech startup developing small molecule drugs that target misfolded proteins at the root of these conditions. Its approach either corrects the faulty protein shapes to restore normal function or tags the bad ones for rapid degradation by the body's natural cleanup systems. This prevents toxic accumulations that damage neurons over time. The company’s lead drug ORI-003 targets Huntington's by removing the bad huntingtin protein without touching the good one. It has fixed damage in lab tests using human neurons and mice, and the tech also looks good for Alzheimer's with a drug that breaks down tau protein.

A big draw is the team's expertise. CEO Beth Hoffman led the discovery of four FDA-approved cystic fibrosis drugs at Vertex Pharmaceuticals. Those now treat over 100,000 patients and generate more than $10 billion annually. Co-founder and CFO Leslie Schulze brings two decades in biotech finance. Advisors include leaders from Teva, Amgen, Eli Lilly, and NIH.

Origami is pre-clinical with strong traction. For its lead drug ORI-003, lab tests in human-derived neurons have shown it reverses disease damage by clearing only the toxic mutant huntingtin protein while sparing the healthy version. In mouse models, ORI-003 has similarly fixed symptoms by eliminating harmful protein fragments like Exon1 without creating new toxic byproducts. The platform's approach, using the body's own cleanup system called selective autophagy, has validated this in patient-derived cells, acting like a "clinical trial in a dish." Early data for the Alzheimer's tau degrader also shows promise in breaking down problematic proteins in human neurons.

Origami has secured $6.8 million from investors plus $2 million in non-dilutive NIH grants. Early pharma discussions are underway, and the company’s IP includes multiple patents on the ORICISION platform and lead drug.

For those interested in biotech tackling root causes of aging with a team proven in drug approvals, Origami is one to take a closer look at.

STAFF PICKS 🌶️

Handprint

By Teddy Lyons

Handprint Tech's API lets companies integrate ecosystem restoration into customer transactions for loyalty and growth. With clients like FedEx, DBS Bank, Traveloka in 60 countries, it raised $3M prior from VCs, won Microsoft and Huawei awards, and restored 27M sq ft of ecosystems.

Emission Free Generators

By Léa Bouhelier-Gautreau

Finding the right backup power isn't easy. Gasoline generators are toxic, but batteries have a limited use time. EFG brings the best of both worlds with its hydrogen generator. The company will soon launch its product and already received a $750,000 investment from a corporate VC.

MAKA

By Teddy Lyons

MAKA's organic energy drink fuses wheatgrass and yerba mate for clean, crash-free energy. Boasting $1M+ lifetime sales, 65% repeat e-comm buyers,  and rebuilt operations after 2024 setback, it aims for broader retail growth.

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