"Traditionally, entrepreneurs have raised money in old-boy networks, typically in San Francisco or New York," says CircleUp CEO Ryan Caldbeck. From CircleUp's start in 2012, it has aimed to help entrepreneurs bypass this network—instead providing an online marketplace that connects consumer-product startups with accredited investors who can make investments through its platform. "On CircleUp, [who you know] is not what’s important," Caldbeck says. "We have the network. We give the network to everyone."
