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StartEngine

How would you rate StartEngine?
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Nevada
1 review
5 helpful votes
Follow Tito B.
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I bought some shares over a year ago and when I decided to sell it back I got a run around response as follows:

"We intend for StartEngine shares to be quoted on our Secondary platform following the close of our next campaign, though we do not have a clear date for when this will happen. We will notify all of our investors when trading is available in the future."

They are discussing a mysterious Secondary Platform that nobody knows what, how and when it will be available, This is their excuse in holding your money indefinitely. What kind of investment company who does not even know when and how their investors can recoup or retrieve their investments. The reason does not even makes sense as to the relationship between their initial offering and their Secondary platform which is the excuse they use for you to wait indefinitely to cash out.

Date of experience: August 3, 2022
StartEngine T. StartEngine Rep
over a year old

Apologies for the issues you encountered. Your shares of StartEngine are able to be sold via our Secondary trading platform. However, as we previously stated, StartEngine is currently conducting its Regulation A+ offering, and SEC regulations require that trading be temporarily closed. No orders can be placed during this time period. Trading will resume on StartEngine Secondary after the current offering has closed. StartEngine's secondary marketplace, which allows you to buy / sell shares directly through our platform, is live and can be accessed at: secondary.startengine.com. For more a more detailed response relating to your account, please contact our Help Desk directly at: contact@startengine.com

Massachusetts
1 review
2 helpful votes
Follow Rik M.
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I have invested in 15 companies on the StartEngine platform. Back when I knew nothing about startup or private equity investing, StartEngine was my go-to platform to find the best opportunities with the best due diligence information for investors to make an educated decision about whether to invest in a company or not. I believe in the platform so much that I became an investor myself in StartEngine. I have never experienced any issues with the website, and their customer support has always been top notch whenever I reached out to them. I have recommended many friends and family to StartEngine to build their private equity portfolios. I honestly cannot say enough good things about what StartEngine is doing to help startups raise capital and investors build a strong portfolio.

Date of experience: August 13, 2020
Washington
1 review
3 helpful votes
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Nine months ago I decided to become an Angel Investor to some of the most exciting startup companies I've ever seen. The world is changing no question about it. The most exciting part of this change is how companies "DO" business not just what they produce. When crowd funding became a "thing" and angel investing available to the general public, I hopped on board. Searching through various CF platforms I finally came across StartEngine. Start Engine offered me the ease and comfort I was looking for in a CF website. The ease of navigation and layout of the "dashboard" are unsurpassed. Now with Kevin O'Leary on board as a spokesperson I am now 110% confident this company was the right choice for my investing needs.

Date of experience: August 15, 2020
Texas
2 reviews
4 helpful votes
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I've always wanted to get into Crowdfunding but never had the income to qualify. In the past I had my investments managed by my current employer at that time. StartEngine has given me the opportunity to invest in multiple startups in a very easy, efficient, affordable manner. My ultimate goal is to have a portfolio of 40-50 startups the majority of which will originate through StartEngine.

Date of experience: August 14, 2020
Florida
1 review
12 helpful votes
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As a accredited investor I have the opportunity to invest where the average person can not. Having said that I like investing on this platform much better as it allows me to invest in many companies without the normally $10,0000 minimum investment. I invest in many more companies with a much less initial investment thus spreading the risk over a greater base of companies. It is the only way I invest in startup now.

Date of experience: August 13, 2020
Japan
1 review
11 helpful votes
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I have been told that I need to provide further information regarding 2 investments.
Fine, I tried but the link in the email took me to the StartEngine website where I was told that no further information was required.
The emails kept coming so I tried emailing the *******@startengine.com email address. I've sent about 20 emails as of July 7th 2021 and have yet to receive a reply. The emails from THEM, however, are daily.
I've never encountered such atrocious customer service.

Edit: finally after sending 50+ emails to as many addresses I could find I have been refunded.

Date of experience: July 7, 2021
New York
1 review
4 helpful votes
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If you invest in startengine itself, kiss your money goodbye! Take them seriously when they describe the investment as illiquid. To me, It is like I contributed to Howard Marks's piggy bank and I will be dead long before he cracks it open. Some lessons in life are free and some lessons cost $ 5000. Investing in Startengine cost me 5000 that I don't expect to ever see back. Take notice that most questions posed to the web to research StartEngine return positive answers provided by startengine. Not a lot of independent research. Check out the overwhelming number of bad reviews on the Better Businesse Bureau web site. That should inform a potential investor to run away and look for a regular stock opportunity to invest in.

Date of experience: August 29, 2023
Illinois
1 review
1 helpful vote
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Garbage
April 15, 2023

Yeah, startengine is garbage. The law needs to lock them up for scamming innocent people. I have invested in 2 companies that i haven't heard anything from since the day I made the purchase in 2020. Now we're in 2023 and still no communication on how the companies are doing or anything and my money is stuck. Unless you want to invest, you won't hear anything from no one. This is scamming at its finest. Kevin O'Leary has to be looking over his shoulder every minute because I know he knows for sure that the feds are coming for him. Zero

Date of experience: April 15, 2023
StartEngine T. StartEngine Rep
over a year old

Hi Balmyr. We are sorry to hear you feel this way! StartEngine Capital facilitates offerings of securities by start-up companies. As we point out many times in our educational materials, (and reference on the campaign page for the company you invested in), start-up companies are risky by their nature. Many of them fail without there being any element of fraud or misconduct; it is the nature of this kind of investment. If you have further questions or concerns please feel free to reach out to us at contact@startengine.com. Thank you!

Kansas
1 review
2 helpful votes
Follow Wineetha F.
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I have been an active investor on start engine platform. I have invested in over 50 companies. There is a good selectionIt is very easy to navigate the investment document, as long as the rules are followed. It is one of my favorite platforms.
The staff is readily available to answer any questions. I would definitely recommend StartEngine as one safe site for start up investments. All investors need to understand that there are risks involved in investing on some startups, so one needs to invest an amount that you are willing to lose. I have had no problems what so ever with refunds if I cancelled an investment within the specified date.

Date of experience: August 13, 2020
California
1 review
5 helpful votes
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I was a member of start engine for about 3 years. I liked the way the provide detailed information about a venture and what are they upto and their track record and also the risks associated with a startup. So, it will help anyone to know the details of the company and where they stand.

I like the comments section as people put a lot of questions on the financial, projects etc., and the owner or the CEO of the company promptly responses with detailed information. So it will help us decide whether that company suites to your portfolio.

The website has tremendously improved with lots of features. I wish startengine all the best :)

Date of experience: August 13, 2020
New Jersey
1 review
2 helpful votes
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Easy to invest
August 14, 2020

StartEngine it's very easy to invest. U just have to know little be, some company's that asking for money in StartEngine have not to do with the website. StartEngine it's kind a middle man between you and company that u are investing. Some people not sure if are stupid or just pretending to be one. Lol people if u want invested start engine it's safe and easy but read more they have everything there expoliam how works don't be afraid to ask question before any investment they are put fast in reply ur question. I being using start engine over a year now and out happy so far, some deals never going to find any place or next decade like company called PISTOL... check that out...

Date of experience: August 13, 2020
California
1 review
22 helpful votes
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Terrible investor service and relations. Do not address the direct questions asked and you are unable to respond to them. For me, I had them cash my check for a period of over 2 weeks and they had no response of reply as to what was happening. I had to continue to badger them in order for them to coordinate completing the transaction.

Date of experience: February 12, 2021
StartEngine T. StartEngine Rep
over a year old

Hi Irving,

StartEngine in general accepts payment via card, ACH, and wire. It does take some time for investments to be closed on by companies once the funds arrive in escrow. It sound like you have a unique situation so I will have the team circle back to you and give you an update. Apologies for any inconvenience.

Best, The StartEngine Team

California
1 review
10 helpful votes
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No contact
September 29, 2020

I sent $520 via credit card on Tuesday.
The CC company stalled the purchase and wanted a confirmation from their fraud departent, so I called and ok'd the charge.
The next day I got an auto email from SE saying that my charge didn't go thru and to do it again, so I did.
The next day I got an auto email from SE saying that I had $1040 pending purchase. I called and got a recording telling me to email them, and I did.
I heard nothing.
I sent two other emails, each more urgent... heard nothing.
So, NOW I'm getting this sinking feeling... did I just get ripped off?
On Tuesday of the next week I notified the CC company that I had been ripped off and they're trying to get my money back.
It is either gross incompetence, or outright fraud... but there is SOMETHING wrong with this company.

Date of experience: September 29, 2020
Georgia
1 review
5 helpful votes
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Ponzi Scheme
January 6, 2023

Signed up, was excited about the Legion M offer. Purchased the shares, and received an "account needs validation" message. Uploaded my proof of ID, but now the system says there is a problem with my account and to contact customer support. No customer support number to call, auto reply from the support email states to give them up to 72 hours (outside my payment protection of 48 hours). This group has literally stolen my money, and is preventing me from reversing the transaction, and has failed to respond. Ponzi scheme? All the "real person" reviews on this group is negative... the only positive reviews are from sponsored publications. Avoid StartEngine at all costs, at some point they will get exposed, RIP my deposit.

Date of experience: January 6, 2023
New Mexico
1 review
4 helpful votes
Follow FREDERICK Z.
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I was notified that I needed to confirm my investment the day after I had made it. I clicked the confirm icon and they proceeded to remove ANOTHER $5000.00 from my account. I have spent hours trying to resolve this issue but there is no response and there is NO phone number where you may reach a person

Date of experience: August 31, 2023
Indiana
1 review
7 helpful votes
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Easy to use. Great variety of options, with equally strong write-ups to make personal assessment of each opportunity offered, with regular updates on campaign progress and generally great proactive communication on the platform and offerings.

Date of experience: August 6, 2020
Georgia
1 review
0 helpful votes
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I have nothing but great things to say about Start engine. This site is used to crowdfund Fanbase and that's the only reason I needed. Find a start up and invest in the site. Either way you won't be disappointed!

Date of experience: October 29, 2022
Virginia
2 reviews
16 helpful votes
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1. I expect to have my questions answered in a reasonable amount of time. It's been 72 hours since I sent a request to help me reset my password. The only contact I have had was a return text stating they had received my request.
2. I have been deluged with text from start engine that there has been an errors with my purchases of stock in some companies. Mind you these are purchase I made 1 month ago or more. Now they say a month later there is a problem! These companies have closed there stock offerings so now I guess I'm SOL!
THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!

Date of experience: October 8, 2020
StartEngine T. StartEngine Rep
over a year old

Hi Michael,

Apologies for the issues you encountered. We would love to make it right so will message you privately to get some more information so we can view your account and the specific issues you mentioned.

Generally speaking, when an investor submits an investment, they self-report the information such as name, address, date of birth, and payment information. We are required to comply with regulations, and our banking partner independently verifies this information. From time to time, we are required to follow up with an investor to re-confirm information in order to submit the investment to the company's account. Additionally, because we accept investments through ACH, Wire, and Credit/Debit cards, sometimes it takes some time for the payments to clear and if they bounce, we need to reach out to the investor to ask them to update it. The investment stands, and will go through to the company as soon as the payment information is corrected.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to reach out to us at contact@startengine.com.

Best,
The StartEngine Team

Florida
2 reviews
15 helpful votes
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I followed the process to invest $1000. And now getting messages the investment is not complete. I have tried to get help and all I get is canned suggested actions. I have ask for someone to call or provide a phone number so I can get this fixed. The offer has closed and it appears as though I have lost $1035. I and I suggest other investors contact the SCC and file a complaint in writing. It is fraud to take money from and investor and not provide the stock.

Date of experience: July 10, 2023
New Jersey
1 review
5 helpful votes
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They just keep hitting my account with new BS charges. I am unable to sell the shares that I purchased legitimatly and they contiue to pile on more BS. Such a crock. Don't fall into this one, it will cling to your shoes and stink.

Date of experience: April 9, 2022
StartEngine T. StartEngine Rep
over a year old

Hi Nan,
We're sorry to hear you had a poor experience with us. We would be happy to resolve any charges you did not anticipate- please reach out to our support team for assistance at contact@startengine.com. As outlined in our educational materials that investors acknowledge reading before creating an account, these shares are illiquid and there is no guarantee of return on your investment. We recommend investors learn more about investing in early-stage startups through exploring our help center and FAQ page.

Overview

StartEngine has a rating of 2.8 stars from 189 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 1st among Crowd Funding sites.

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