Mid-Year Report: H1-2025 Sees Highest Investment Volume Since 2021 Peak

CHART OF THE WEEK 📈

By Brian Belley | Read

The numbers are in, and they tell a story of robust trends in capital raising and retail investment. Despite the S&P 500 plunging nearly 20% after the tariff announcement earlier this year, the investment crowdfunding markets didn't just survive the volatility—they thrived.

The headline figures: Total online investments reached $447.4M in the first half of 2025, representing a 60% year-over-year increase vs. the first half of 2024. Reg A+ led the charge with explosive 157% growth to $250.2M, while Reg CF maintained steady momentum at $197.3M (+9% YoY). If these trends continue, we're looking at approximately $902M for the full year—the strongest performance since the 2021 market peak.

What's driving this growth? Who were the eleven companies that each raised over $3M+ across ten different platforms? And why does this put investment crowdfunding on track for its best year in four years? Our comprehensive mid-year analysis breaks down the trends, top performers, and what to expect for the remainder of 2025.

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KINGSCROWD PODCAST

By Sam Fiske / Watch | Apple | Spotify

This week's Kingscrowd Podcast covers SoFi's push into retail private investing and Gigastar's Wefunder campaign. Brian, Scott, and Léa discuss the risks, opportunities, and future growth paths for investors considering these innovative offerings in private funds and the creator economy. Learn the risks, rewards, and future potential.

WEBINARS THIS WEEK

This Thursday, July 24th at 1pm ET, please join us for an exclusive webinar featuring Zeus Companies, a vertically integrated real estate investment and development firm democratizing access to high-yield private real estate deals. Learn how investors are tapping into Zeus’s multifamily and mixed-use projects—and why their model stands out in today’s market.

PITCH REVIEW 💸

By Léa Bouhelier-Gautreau \ Deal Report

Brief: Fire Department Coffee is a firefighter-founded specialty coffee company blending premium products with a strong mission to support first responders. Known for its Spirit Infused Coffee and bold brand voice, the company has built a loyal following through its direct-to-consumer model and strong social media presence. A portion of proceeds supports injured first responders through its foundation, reinforcing its community-driven identity.

Léa’s Take: I rarely consider investing in Consumer Packaged Goods unless a brand nails three things: standout identity, sharp marketing, and clear traction. Fire Department Coffee checks all three. In a sea of coffee brands, it built something distinct by tying itself to firefighters. The brand isn’t just about taste or packaging: it’s about purpose. Buying from FDC feels like showing up for a cause. That emotional resonance is hard to manufacture and even harder to replicate. It’s what makes people talk, share, and stay loyal.

FDC leans into this with a smart and unconventional marketing approach. Instead of running traditional ads, they create genuinely funny and engaging content. Their YouTube channel has 1.4 million subscribers, and many of their videos don’t even mention coffee. That’s the genius of it. They’re not just selling a product; they’re building a fan base. Viewers come for the laughs, stick around for the mission, and eventually convert. It’s a content engine that feeds both brand awareness and community, without ever feeling like a sales pitch.

The results speak for themselves. FDC pulled in $12 million in revenue and grew 64.57% between 2023 and 2024. The current raise is even more interesting than FDC's last funding round in 2023. In two years, the company's revenue rose by 94% but its valuation only increased by 39%. For investors, that makes this round much more compelling. Of course, at a now $74 million valuation, the bar for future growth is high. The downside risk is lower than before, but the return potential depends entirely on how well they scale. Still, few CPG brands manage to create this kind of connection with customers, and that’s what makes FDC one to watch.

STAFF PICKS 🌶️

Qube Money

By Léa Bouhelier-Gautreau

The fintech market seems to be a fertile soil for startups to sprout. Yet, the differentiation between products is often small. Qube Money is one more budgeting app among many, but it has a smart edge: it is actually linked to a credit card. There's no way for customers to cheat the app, they simply cannot spend their funds if the spend doesn't fit their initial budget.

Structural Elements

By Léa Bouhelier-Gautreau

Structural Elements is a mix between a gym and a physical therapy center. As the wellness market is expanding, the company's franchise model offers its customers a different way to take care of their bodies. While the business may not be as quickly scalable as all of the wellness apps that are constantly popping up, it has a higher chance at retaining customers and helping them get the body they want.

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