Bonus Guest Blog: Bill Huston - From Rewards to Investment Crowdfunding

Bill Huston is a global crowdfunding consultant, recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the Top 19 Global Crowdfunding Experts to Know. For more than a decade, he has helped entrepreneurs, small business owners, and real estate developers raise millions of dollars online—empowering communities and democratizing access to capital. As co-founder of the Community Finance Academy, Bill blends storytelling, strategy, and financial activism to train the next generation of founders. His journey, which began with an idea and the hustle to master inbound marketing, has grown into a global mission: to use technology, crowdfunding, and now AI to break down barriers and spark inclusive economic growth.

Bill is not only a mentor, but as you might have guessed, he’s also my father. Enjoy this inspiring and informative article.

My Journey as a Global Crowdfunding Consultant

When I first logged onto the internet in 1996, I had no idea how profoundly it would change my life. Like most people at that time, I didn’t yet see its full potential. It was clunky, slow, and limited in what it could do. But what struck me immediately was this idea that you could connect with people, ideas, and resources beyond your immediate environment. That single login planted a seed that would later grow into my career as a global crowdfunding consultant.

Fast forward to today, I’ve spent more than a decade helping entrepreneurs, small business owners, and real estate developers raise millions of dollars online. I’ve coached founders around the world, co-founded the Community Finance Academy, and been recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the Top 19 Global Crowdfunding Experts to Know.

But this journey didn’t happen overnight—it was built in the early mornings, one lesson at a time.

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The Early Days: Discovering Crowdfunding in 2012

My story in crowdfunding began in 2012. At the time, I was working with Community Action Partnership when I was first introduced to Kickstarter. Back then, Kickstarter was the new frontier. It was a place where creatives, makers, and entrepreneurs could present their projects directly to the public and raise money in exchange for rewards.

The challenge? There wasn’t much infrastructure to support these campaigns. There was no Instagram, no TikTok, no robust advertising platforms. Promotion relied almost entirely on Facebook and Twitter, and success came down to how well you could tell a story that captured people’s imagination.

I quickly realized that if I wanted to succeed in this space, I needed more than passion—I needed marketing skills.

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The 4:00 a.m. Hustle: Learning Inbound Marketing

So, I made a decision that would change my career. Every morning, I woke up at 4:00 a.m. to study HubSpot’s inbound marketing training. HubSpot was one of the first CRM companies to talk about “inbound marketing”—a then-revolutionary idea that instead of chasing customers, you attract them by creating valuable content.

At the time, very few people were applying inbound marketing to crowdfunding. That gave me a unique advantage.

I applied what I learned immediately:

• I started blogging about crowdfunding.

• I used Facebook and Twitter not just for posting but for building relationships.

• I learned to create a funnel that nurtured interest into action.

Within months, I was running campaigns not just for myself, but for other businesses trying to raise capital through crowdfunding. That early discipline of waking up before dawn taught me two things: the power of consistency, and the importance of continuous learning in a fast-changing industry.

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Case Study: How a Small Startup Reached Its Goal with Early Social Media

One of the first companies I worked with had no budget for ads, no big-name backers, and no professional video. What they did have was a compelling story. I helped them design a simple inbound strategy:

• Daily blog posts that showcased their vision.

• Engaging tweets that sparked conversation.

• Facebook posts that created urgency.

The result? They hit their crowdfunding goal ahead of schedule. That campaign reinforced a key lesson: storytelling and consistency can overcome limited resources.

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Recognition as a Global Crowdfunding Expert

By 2014, my efforts began to gain attention. INC Magazine named me one of the Top 19 Global Crowdfunding Experts to Know. That recognition was a turning point. It validated the years of early mornings and trial-and-error learning. More importantly, it opened doors to new opportunities.

Soon, I was working internationally:

• Crowdfund Russia, helping entrepreneurs in emerging markets.

• CrowdClan in Canada, where I built partnerships to support campaigns.

• Companies in France, South America, and Africa, where I adapted strategies for different cultures and markets.

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Crowdfunding Without Borders

I remember working with a startup in Africa that didn’t have access to traditional investors. Their local community supported them enthusiastically, but they needed global visibility. By applying digital marketing techniques, we were able to bring their story to an international audience. For the first time, they weren’t limited by geography—they could tap into global networks of support.

That’s when it truly hit me: crowdfunding isn’t just financial—it’s transformational. It breaks down borders and allows capital to flow to places where it’s most needed.

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The Birth of Regulation Crowdfunding in the U.S.

In 2016, something major happened in the United States: Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF) became legal. For the first time, everyday people—not just wealthy accredited investors—could invest in businesses and startups online.

This was historic. It democratized investing and leveled the playing field. Suddenly, the same tools that allowed artists to sell albums or filmmakers to finance movies could now help small businesses raise investment capital.

I immediately shifted my focus from rewards crowdfunding to investment crowdfunding consulting.

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Case Study: Helping Real Estate Developers Raise Millions

One of my early investment crowdfunding projects involved working with real estate developers who wanted to revitalize communities. Traditionally, real estate investment was locked behind high financial barriers. But through Reg CF, we were able to design campaigns where people could invest with as little as $100.

The result?

• Developers raised millions of dollars online.

• Communities gained access to affordable housing.

• Everyday investors became co-owners in projects that reshaped their neighborhoods.

It was a win-win: financial returns for investors, and social impact for communities.

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Fund Black Founders: A Movement for Inclusive Capital

One of the most rewarding chapters of my journey came when I worked with Fund Black Founders. As a coach, I collaborated with Renee King and 45 Black-owned businesses. Together, these founders raised hundreds of thousands of dollars through crowdfunding.

What made this work powerful wasn’t just the money raised—it was the empowerment. These founders weren’t waiting for gatekeepers to give them permission. They were building their own communities of support, leveraging technology to secure the capital they needed.

This experience deepened my belief that crowdfunding is financial activism. It’s about using the internet to create ownership, equity, and opportunity in communities that have historically been excluded.

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The Community Finance Academy: Building the Future

Today, all of these experiences have come together in my work as the Co-Founder of the Community Finance Academy, alongside Steve Shaff.

Our mission is ambitious:

• Train founders, small business owners, and real estate developers in the art of raising capital online.

• Build a network of financial activists who understand how to mobilize resources for their communities.

• Channel hundreds of millions of dollars into projects that matter.

At the Academy, we don’t just teach theory—we provide real-world strategies that have been tested globally. From creating a compelling pitch to leveraging digital marketing and managing investor relations, we give founders the tools they need to succeed.

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The Internet as the Underlying Technology

When I think about what made all of this possible, the answer is simple: the internet.

qIt’s easy to take it for granted today, but I’ll never forget the first time I logged on in 1996. That moment of wonder—that realization that you could connect with the world from your living room—has defined my entire career.

From social media to blogging, from inbound marketing to AI-driven tools, the internet has been the constant thread. It eliminated barriers of language and distance, allowing me to build a career as a global consultant from my home office.

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The Rise of AI: The Next Frontier

Now, we stand at the edge of another transformation. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing how we create content, reach investors, and run campaigns.

• AI tools make it easier to design marketing strategies.

• Translation technology breaks down language barriers.

• Data-driven insights allow us to target investors more effectively.

Just as the internet revolutionized business in the ’90s, AI is reshaping it today. And for crowdfunding, this means campaigns can be smarter, faster, and more inclusive than ever.

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Lessons Learned on My Crowdfunding Journey

Over the years, I’ve learned a few key lessons that apply to anyone considering crowdfunding:

1. Storytelling is everything. People invest in people, not just products.

2. Consistency wins. Success doesn’t come from one viral post but from sustained effort.

3. Community is capital. Build a community first, and the money will follow.

4. Leverage technology. Stay ahead of the curve with digital marketing, automation, and AI.

5. Impact matters. Today’s investors care about both financial returns and social good.

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Final Thoughts: The Future of Crowdfunding

As I look back at my journey—from those early mornings studying inbound marketing to leading the Community Finance Academy—I see a clear theme: crowdfunding is about empowerment.

It’s about giving founders the tools to tell their story, giving investors the chance to align their money with their values, and giving communities the opportunity to thrive.

The internet gave us the platform. Crowdfunding gave us the method. Now, AI is giving us the acceleration. The future of crowdfunding is brighter than ever, and I’m excited to continue helping entrepreneurs, investors, and communities harness its power.

Because at the end of the day, this isn’t just about raising money. It’s about raising hope, raising voices, and raising a future where everyone has access to the capital they need to succeed.