OUR CHARTER

We're here to fix capitalism

Capitalism has created tremendous wealth, but the rewards are not shared broadly enough. Too many are being left behind. Too many lack the money, mentors, and community to help them get started.

One of the best ways to unlock someone's potential is to believe in them and prove it by investing. When we look at our lives, someone who encouraged us to dare to go against the grain, to try something new – to take our shot.

That's what we're about. We help everyone invest in the people or ideas that they believe in - to vote with their dollars on what or who our society should fund.

Together, we're helping those scrappy and hungry risk-takers who put it all on the line, who through sheer force-of-will attempt to move the universe in a better direction¹. Succeed or fail, our society benefits - either we all grow a little richer or all grow a little bolder.

Our Core Beliefs

I. Helping more founders increases all of our wealth.

Young, hungry, and scrappy companies do more, faster.

II. The people are wiser than banks or venture capitalists.

The "wisdom of the crowd" makes better decisions than gatekeepers. Capitalism works better when more of us invest our own money, voting with our dollars on the future we'll create together.

III. Everyone has the right to invest in what they believe in.

Laws that limit investments to the wealthy are paternalistic, widen the wealth gap, and perpetuate structural racism. We are all worthy of deciding the people or causes we want to invest in.

IV. Investing in dreams - win or lose - benefits us all.

Changing the world is hard; most startups die. But by funding more founders who strive valiantly to take their shot, we enrich our society and boost our talent, even if they fail.

Our Commitments

I. To donate 5% of Wefunder’s profits.

Wefunder will invest in grants, support, and mentorship for founders - especially those with no credentials or experience - with no expectation of return.

II. To create more opportunity for the less privileged.

Wefunder will help those who are willing to work hard to achieve their dream². Everyone deserves access to funding, including immigrants, minorities, and those who live in poverty.

III. To democratize access to high-growth startups.

Wefunder will help everyone - not just the wealthy and well-connected - invest in the companies they love. High-quality investments should be open to all.

IV. To educate investors with plain language.

Wefunder will be blunt about the risks of investing. Startups are hard; most fail. We'll set the right expectations and state clearly that no one should invest more than they can afford to lose.

V. To fund audacious moonshots.

Wefunder will help fund hard technical challenges with a long development horizon. Our country must invest in the future, not solely chase quarterly results.

VI. To mentor founders.

Wefunder will mentor founders across the globe. Founders need more than just capital - mentorship, community, and inspiration can make the difference between success and failure.

VII. To rally local communities around small businesses.

Wefunder will help community leaders revitalize their main streets. Neighbors are the best judge of what will succeed in their town, not a Wall St. bank looking at a FICO score.

VIII. To help even those we disagree with.

Wefunder will assume good faith and build empathy when helping those with different cultural values and political beliefs. Instead of focusing on our differences, we'll look towards our shared humanity.

IX. To work with governments to modernize laws.

Wefunder will work with both sides of the aisle to support legislation that makes capitalism more fair.

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

- Teddy Roosevelt, from the "Citizenship In A Republic" speech, April 23 1910

Legacy? What is a legacy?
It's planting seeds in a garden you never get to see...
America, you great unfinished symphony,
You sent for me.
You let me make a difference.
A place where even orphan immigrants can leave their fingerprints and rise up.

- Hamilton, The World Was Wide Enough

Signatures

Founders

Team

Investors