Equity Crowdfunding Explained -- Jargon Free A co-founder of crowdfunding platform RocketHub, Alon Hillel-Tuch, explains the difference between equity crowdfunding and more tradition donation-based crowdfunding.

By Catherine Clifford

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

May 16 will be an important day for entrepreneurs. That's when rules for equity crowdfunding go into effect.

In this first episode of Crowdfund with Cat, Alon Hillel-Tuch, a co-founder of the crowdfunding platform RocketHub, walks us through what equity crowdfunding is and how it's different from the more traditional donation-based crowdfunding. RocketHub was acquired by entrepreneurship resource center EFactor a year ago. Since then, Hillel-Tuch has left and is now a partner at the venture building group, Stacked VB.

For a deeper dive into what those May 16 rule changes are and what they mean, check out our series of written stories on equity crowdfunding (linked below). These stories get into the nitty-gritty, down-and-dirty, what you need to know for both sides of the finance relationship: entrepreneur and investor.

Starting May 16, Entrepreneurs Can Raise Money in a Whole New Way. Here's What You Need to Know.

An Entrepreneur's Essential Guide to the New Wild West of Funding Opening on May 16

Your Guide to the High-Risk, High-Reward World of Investing in Startups When Fundamental Finance Law Changes Go Into Effect May 16

Which Entrepreneurs Will Benefit Most From the New Era of Crowdfunding?

Next Generation Crowdfunding Starts May 16. Expect Opportunity and Growing Pains.

Catherine Clifford

Senior Entrepreneurship Writer at CNBC

Catherine Clifford is senior entrepreneurship writer at CNBC. She was formerly a senior writer at Entrepreneur.com, the small business reporter at CNNMoney and an assistant in the New York bureau for CNN. Clifford attended Columbia University where she earned a bachelor's degree. She lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. You can follow her on Twitter at @CatClifford.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Growing a Business

How to Break Free From Your Comfort Zone and Start Fueling The Growth of Your Company

Have you ever found yourself stuck in a pattern, circling the same solutions without finding your way forward? Here's how to break free from our self-imposed limitations.

Side Hustle

This 31-Year-Old Spends 2 Hours Per Week On His $3,000-a-Month Passive Income Side Hustle: 'Trust Your Vision'

Hansel Moore's home office "wasn't cutting it" — so he found another place to be creative.

Franchise

This Franchise Has Seen Remarkable Growth in the $5.3Bn Drug Testing Industry

Fastest Labs is a leader in the high-growth and recession-resistant drug, alcohol and DNA testing industry

Business News

Elon Musk's xAI Is Reportedly Set to Hire Thousands of 'AI Tutors' With Pay Up to $65 an Hour

Employees told Business Insider the company is expanding hiring soon.

Growing a Business

The 10 Best Podcasts Every Entrepreneur Should Listen to for Growth, Strategy and Success

Unlock your potential with the 10 must-listen podcasts for entrepreneurs, offering expert insights on growth, strategy and success.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.