Former PayPal executive Molly Huyck and U.S. Navy veteran Amie Konwinski launched Aequitas Invest (AQi), an SEC-registered crowdfunding platform exclusively for women-led businesses. Despite women delivering 2.5x better returns than male-founded startups, they receive less than 2% of U.S. venture capital, a market inefficiency AQi aims to address through Regulation Crowdfunding.

AQi charges only a 6.5% success fee, significantly less than platforms like Kickstarter. The women-owned platform has a pipeline of 20 businesses and recently closed its first campaign. Unlike traditional crowdfunding sites, AQi facilitates investments rather than charitable gifting, offering women entrepreneurs an alternative to the venture capital world that frequently overlooks them.

Using special-purpose vehicles, AQi keeps cap tables clean for potential future VC funding while allowing founders to maintain control. Founders typically give up only 5-10% equity compared to up to 20% demanded by VCs. The platform provides "concierge" services to help navigate the fundraising process, creating a dedicated ecosystem for women entrepreneurs shut out by traditional funding channels.