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Aug. 1, 2012: When Oculus Asked for Donations

blogs.wsj.com

11–20 of 121 posts

Re: Aug. 1, 2012: When Oculus Asked for Donations

#11
post #2

This is the real shame in the Oculus acquisition. If Oculus had been able to give away just 10% equity, every single Kickstarter backer would be $20,000 richer today. The sentiment would be completely different. The SEC needs to get in gear and start allowing equity crowdfunding pronto. The SEC's classification of millionaires as "accredited investors" who get first crack at all the best investment opportunities is e…

Could you elaborate on this a little bit? I've never encountered this before.

Re: Aug. 1, 2012: When Oculus Asked for Donations

#13
post #2

This is the real shame in the Oculus acquisition. If Oculus had been able to give away just 10% equity, every single Kickstarter backer would be $20,000 richer today. The sentiment would be completely different. The SEC needs to get in gear and start allowing equity crowdfunding pronto. The SEC's classification of millionaires as "accredited investors" who get first crack at all the best investment opportunities is e…

If a crowd funding website that was completely bitcoin based would it be able to avoid all SEC regulations? If there are regulations in the future is there a liability to creating this now?

Re: Aug. 1, 2012: When Oculus Asked for Donations

#14
post #6
post #2

This is the real shame in the Oculus acquisition. If Oculus had been able to give away just 10% equity, every single Kickstarter backer would be $20,000 richer today. The sentiment would be completely different. The SEC needs to get in gear and start allowing equity crowdfunding pronto. The SEC's classification of millionaires as "accredited investors" who get first crack at all the best investment opportunities is e…

Indeed, I don't see anywhere else that Americans accept a "wealth test" to exercise a basic economic right (ownership of production). Note, the accredited-investor rules are not an "ability-to-pay" test. That would be fair: if you can write the check, you're in. The rules also are not a creditworthiness test: they don't evaluate reliability, and investors want to give money, not take it from others. And they're not a…

The reason for the accredited-investor regulation was to prevent people from putting all of their wealth into risky investments they know nothing about and being left destitute.

People on HN are pretty smart, but it's not representative of the entire population.

People get scammed by ridiculously obvious scams. Do you really think they have the ability to invest in a start-up in an intelligent way?

Re: Aug. 1, 2012: When Oculus Asked for Donations

#15
post #2

This is the real shame in the Oculus acquisition. If Oculus had been able to give away just 10% equity, every single Kickstarter backer would be $20,000 richer today. The sentiment would be completely different. The SEC needs to get in gear and start allowing equity crowdfunding pronto. The SEC's classification of millionaires as "accredited investors" who get first crack at all the best investment opportunities is e…

Kickstarter needs a no-acquisition clause

I don't think that would work. It would seriously diminish the possibility of kickstarter-based companies ever raising crowd funded funding.

Re: Aug. 1, 2012: When Oculus Asked for Donations

#17
post #14
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Indeed, I don't see anywhere else that Americans accept a "wealth test" to exercise a basic economic right (ownership of production). Note, the accredited-investor rules are not an "ability-to-pay" test. That would be fair: if you can write the check, you're in. The rules also are not a creditworthiness test: they don't evaluate reliability, and investors want to give money, not take it from others. And they're not a…

The reason for the accredited-investor regulation was to prevent people from putting all of their wealth into risky investments they know nothing about and being left destitute. People on HN are pretty smart, but it's not representative of the entire population. People get scammed by ridiculously obvious scams. Do you really think they have the ability to invest in a start-up in an intelligent way?

I know it's a bit of a libertarian viewpoint but it is not the government's job to be my nanny. If I wish to throw all of my money down the toilet on some hopeless start-up I should be allowed to do so.

Re: Aug. 1, 2012: When Oculus Asked for Donations

#18

my complaint is mainly with the headline. if the word "kickstarter" was anywhere in the title I would not have clicked. d'oh.

and the headline has changed again...

it was "18 months ago Oculus did one of history's smartest rounds $2.4M for a 0.0% stake (wsj.com)

Re: Aug. 1, 2012: When Oculus Asked for Donations

#19
post #14
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Indeed, I don't see anywhere else that Americans accept a "wealth test" to exercise a basic economic right (ownership of production). Note, the accredited-investor rules are not an "ability-to-pay" test. That would be fair: if you can write the check, you're in. The rules also are not a creditworthiness test: they don't evaluate reliability, and investors want to give money, not take it from others. And they're not a…

The reason for the accredited-investor regulation was to prevent people from putting all of their wealth into risky investments they know nothing about and being left destitute. People on HN are pretty smart, but it's not representative of the entire population. People get scammed by ridiculously obvious scams. Do you really think they have the ability to invest in a start-up in an intelligent way?

> The reason for the accredited-investor regulation was to prevent people from putting all of their wealth into risky investments they know nothing about and being left destitute.

Perhaps limit the amount that can be invested without accreditation?

Re: Aug. 1, 2012: When Oculus Asked for Donations

#20
post #14
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Indeed, I don't see anywhere else that Americans accept a "wealth test" to exercise a basic economic right (ownership of production). Note, the accredited-investor rules are not an "ability-to-pay" test. That would be fair: if you can write the check, you're in. The rules also are not a creditworthiness test: they don't evaluate reliability, and investors want to give money, not take it from others. And they're not a…

The reason for the accredited-investor regulation was to prevent people from putting all of their wealth into risky investments they know nothing about and being left destitute. People on HN are pretty smart, but it's not representative of the entire population. People get scammed by ridiculously obvious scams. Do you really think they have the ability to invest in a start-up in an intelligent way?

Nobody becomes destitute after funding a failed Kickstarter project because the amounts are small. That doesn't need to change. Limits could be in place. What needs to go is the $1,000,000 threshold for getting any equity at all.
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