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StartEngine

How would you rate StartEngine?
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Texas
1 review
17 helpful votes
Follow Douglas S.
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Neutral return
March 3, 2023

I've seen enough of these to notice a pattern: a small company crowdfunding capital so they can secure additional financing. Then... nothing. Even those opportunities that turn public, or are taken over, will be no more than a breakeven proposition. If that. Save your cash for the real stock/bond markets.

Date of experience: March 3, 2023
Texas
1 review
3 helpful votes
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Business owner with a successful 2 year old start up looking to augment its funding. After providing a highly detailed business overview and summary, which they solicited but never read, scheduled call which they were not prepared for, talked in circles reading a script the entire call. It felt like a joke as the call was so ridiculous. When he realized he had a knowledgeable business asking real questions, his scripting went to "not good fit" mode. Don't waste your time here. Next!

Date of experience: October 11, 2023
Ohio
1 review
4 helpful votes
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I've invested in 23 and growing start engine companies. I keep close tabs on progress, updates from each company. A few high potential companies on start engine were worth my time and money to invest in first, second, third round fundraising efforts.

I find it very easy to use, quite organized. Rather than issuing all my portfolio funds to wealth manager, I enjoy the hobby of reading about smaller start ups on my own.

Date of experience: August 31, 2022
New Jersey
1 review
39 helpful votes
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That exclamation point in their logo should be looked at as a flashing WARNING alert. Horrible communication. Limited ability to access. Unclear process. After hearing many positives, Start Engine sadly is an example of the precarious modern "tech company" that states "we are here to help" and then does the complete opposite in their process and interactions. From multiple sources, along with my own experience, this disorganization is the current norm within the last year at Start Engine. BE WARY and ensure they have their plan, customer response, and business model in better shape before investing your time and money on this risky venture of a company. "Mr Wonderful" has some work to do whipping them into shape.

The exclamation point in their logo should be beviewed as a flashing WARNING alert to investors and those looking to make a raise.
SCAM.
Date of experience: April 20, 2021
Massachusetts
1 review
103 helpful votes
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Scam
April 14, 2020

They won't give me my money back, when they took the money they say it's refund guaranteed, now they tell me that it's not their responsibility and they have no second party to buy my shares back. Why didn't you put that on your website with big letters so we all know how we get screwed.?! Don't invest and make someone sit in a yacht with your money. You won't see that money again!

Date of experience: April 14, 2020
Texas
1 review
12 helpful votes
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You can be subjected to 3-4% in transaction fees, then another 5% once you sell anything your investing in. Naturally you'll be taxed 15-20 percent on any gains depending on your taxable income. Just go to Fidelity.com get into a medium/ medium high investment and feel more satisfaction that your not getting hosed over by these scam artists taking advantage of those trying to do good.

Date of experience: October 28, 2021
StartEngine T. StartEngine Rep
over a year old

Hi Gary, We are sorry to hear you had this experience. We do not charge fees on investments unless the company elects to share the cost of their raise with their investors in the form of a 3.5% fee. Not all our campaigns have this fee. Additionally, the fee for selling is only if you choose to use our alternative trading system which we have set up to provide liquidity for these investments prior to a liquidity event. Taxes our out of our purview. We are sorry that this experience didn't meet your expectations, but I hope this helps to clarify.

Mexico
1 review
13 helpful votes
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I invested in Mr O'Leary core hold account Start Engines to see if this was something that I would make me small return of 6 to 8% After one year I lost 67% I am. not sure I can get the remaining 34% back. I was hoping that the holding company that charges large fees would be a safer risk. Thank God I invested $1,000. According to the value of my 89 stocks it is worth $325. I do even know if there are any takers at that amount. Looks like a scam to me. My other $700 has no value. Stay away unless you have money to burn

Date of experience: October 30, 2021
Minnesota
1 review
10 helpful votes
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I've been investing into StartEngine related opportunities for the last 2 years or so. I read through all of the reviews on here and I am completely astounded at how wrong the negative reviews are. I have had no problems investing, and every investment I've made in these startups has had great communication from both the startup and StartEngine itself. As long as you understand what you're getting into (high risk, high reward) by investing with them, you can adjust your expectations on a return based on that. I have a feeling most of the low ratings on here did not completely understand what StartEngine does, as this type of investing was not available until very recently.

Date of experience: August 13, 2020
California
1 review
14 helpful votes
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Personal experience
August 7, 2020

I have seen this platform grow over the last 2 years. More opportunities for investing. Despite inherent risks with any investment, having an open dialogue with starting engine and the participating companies CEOs has been rewarding. Shared entrepreneurial knowledge is helpful when growing any company and it is available on this platform.

Date of experience: August 6, 2020
California
1 review
2 helpful votes
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I have made upwards of 15 investments, some of them are obviously crazy longshots a couple of them have paid out cash dividends at regular intervals. I think it's very important to know that these investments are very long term, not a year but many years. Some of them may never pay back, but there are (in my opinion) a few opportunities on the site that have the chance to turn out incredibly.

Don't make the investment if it is with money you will miss though.

Date of experience: June 12, 2023

Overview

StartEngine has a rating of 2.7 stars from 182 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers dissatisfied with StartEngine most frequently mention customer service, phone number and email address. StartEngine ranks 2nd among Crowd Funding sites.

service
79
value
74
shipping
12
returns
16
quality
69
This company responds to reviews on average within 1 day