Jonny Price is President of WeFunder, and we spoke about why startup investing should no longer be reserved for millionaires—and why founders may be overlooking one of their strongest sources of capital: their own customers. He explains how changes in U.S. regulation opened private investing to everyday people and why that shift creates opportunities not only for investors, but also for entrepreneurs who struggle to access traditional venture capital.
Rather than positioning community investing as a replacement for venture capital, Jonny describes it as a complementary model. Some of the fastest-growing startups raise from top-tier VCs and still invite customers to participate because they want to “let their customers and community invest alongside” institutional investors. For founders outside Silicon Valley, the impact can be even greater. As Jonny puts it, “the vast majority of companies... are just not a good fit for venture capital,” making community funding a practical alternative instead of a last resort.
The conversation goes well beyond fundraising mechanics. Jonny argues that a successful community round creates loyal customers, valuable product feedback, and emotional resilience for founders. He recalls one entrepreneur saying that traditional fundraising “feels like no,” while a community raise “feels like yes,” because every investment arrives as another vote of confidence. That support often translates into customers who buy more, stay longer, recommend the product, and genuinely want the company to succeed.
Whether you're building a technology startup, healthcare company, local business, or consumer brand, this episode offers a practical look at how community capital can unlock funding, strengthen customer relationships, and make entrepreneurship a little less lonely.
Key takeaways- Venture capital isn't the only path to raising startup capital.Turn existing customers into investors through community fundraising.Community investors often become loyal customers and product advocates.Lower investment minimums dramatically expand your potential investor pool.Fundraising should support building the company—not become the goal.Community backing provides emotional resilience alongside financial capital.