GET A PIECE OF UNBANKED
Connecting DeFi and cryptocurrencies to banks, cards, and other legacy finance
$146,958.64 Raised
REASONS TO INVEST
Designed to give your cryptocurrency real-world utility, our blockchain technology enables people to buy cryptocurrency with a bank account or spend cryptocurrency on a debit/credit card.
Cryptocurrencies and DeFi are rapidly disrupting the legacy finance ecosystem, bringing about a paradigm shift in finance. Cryptocurrency adoption alone hit a market cap of over $2 Trillion dollars in March 2022.*
With over $3 million previously raised, Unbanked is currently AMEX’s first partner for NFT Cards, a VISA FastTrack Enablement partner, and continuing to work with industry-leading customers from Paxful and Nexo to Litecoin Foundation. We are committed to a future of advancing human freedom and financial control.
the pitch
We are in the middle of a “Fourth Industrial Revolution” where blockchain and digital currencies are reinventing the global financial system and bringing in the “Web3” era. The problem is that managing digital currency can be scary for people and have a steep learning curve. However, many already use and understand legacy financial products like Bank Accounts and Debit Cards. Unbanked brings together the efficiency and utility of digital currencies with the familiarity of existing financial system. Launched in 2018, Unbanked has grown exceptionally fast reaching $19.9 Million in revenue in 2021 and made #327 on the Inc 5000 list of fastest growing companies! Unbanked is a recent winner of the Shark Pitch competition and has raised over $2M so far. In addition, over 20 Web3 companies license Unbanked's platform to provide their customers with crypto powered debit cards.
Get Unbanked: It’s your currency
Unbanked offers a suite of financial products designed to give your cryptocurrency real-world utility. Whether pairing with one of today’s leading digital payment platforms, or swiping your card in person at one of the millions of supported locations worldwide, Unbanked puts your money back in your hands.
Providing B2B2C services for Web3 companies, we offer 5-minute customer signups, buying + selling crypto, debit cards, rewards capabilities, and seamless connection of your crypto with traditional fintech and banking solutions.
The Problem & Our Solution
Unbanked brings banking technology into the digital currency era
After 50 years of using the same technology, we feel consumers expect more than what traditional banks can offer. We believe people have become accustomed to the ease of modern tech-enabled service platforms, especially as banking tech is slow, expensive, and time consuming.
Unbanked introduces a new kind of banking experience that empowers everyone to participate in the financial system—whether they choose to work with a legacy institution or take complete control by becoming their own custodian of blockchain-based assets.
Our platform puts mobile digital banking first; and, with blockchain technology, we're able to provide a better, cheaper, faster experience - putting your money back in your hands.
You can pair your card with Apple, Google, or Samsung Pay to make payments or swipe normally. You can also fund your card with cryptocurrency, an Unbanked bank account, or at thousands of retailers worldwide like Walmart, Walgreens, and 7-11.
StartEngine Bonus! Create your Unbanked account now and get a $10 bonus when you deposit $100 or more!
Our business model
Using economies of scale to fuel revenue growth
Unbanked shares in all fees generated from the users who interact with our platform either through our card programs, bank accounts, or our white-label partnerships who pay a licensing fee in addition to the sources below. Typically, it is a combination of factors.
While fees help us make money, we want to keep them low—and rather use economies of scale to make money from our customers. A smaller piece of a bigger pie.
The Market & Our Traction
With over $2 million previously raised, Unbanked has robust revenue growth, in a market valued in the trillions
Cryptocurrency adoption is rapidly increasing - hitting a market cap over $2 Trillion dollars in March 2022 and forecasting 221 Million users this year alone.
We see this as a young market with lots of potential. In order to get the next 500 Million people interacting with crypto, we believe they need tools they're familiar with—like bank accounts and debit cards. That’s where we come in.
Unbanked is often compared to other crypto card companies, but our product is so much more than that. Like traditional banks, we offer bank accounts that hold cash and debit cards for spending; but like crypto companies, we enable those bank accounts to buy and withdraw crypto, or to use that crypto and spend it on a debit card.
Based on our traction, it’s clear to us that people want more control over their finances. And so far, customers are letting us know just how much they are getting out of our services.
*These testimonials may not be representative of the experience of other customers and is not a guarantee of future performance or success.
Why Invest
Tapping into the next generation of digital currency banking by transforming financial access and control
The future of Unbanked is growing our customer base and entering into as many global markets as possible, including the EU, LATAM, APAC, EMEA, Canada, and others.
Doing this properly means collaborating with regulators and ensuring we adhere to local laws. We also have an ambitious roadmap of new products and services we intend to bring to the marketplace, some including:
*The information included above is forward looking information. Please refer to our risk factors section in our Form C and to our Forward Looking Information Legend included in our Terms section on this page.
Our founders believe financial access and control is a human right. The fact that it can be enabled through the blockchain led them to rebel against the status quo, which we believe has plagued traditional banking for years. Now’s the time to bring banking technology into the digital currency era. Invest in Unbanked today, and invest in a future of financial control.
ABOUT
HEADQUARTERS
3010 HAVEN RESERVE
ALPHARETTA, GA 30004
WEBSITE
View Site
At Unbanked, our fintech platform powers the card programs for renowned Web3 companies like Nexo, Litecoin Foundation, StormX, Stacks, and more. Currently in the market, we enable the issuance of crypto debit cards for residents of more than 75 countries - that’s over 3.1 billion people.
TEAM
Ian Kane
Co-CEO, Director and Co-Founder
As an advisor and investor in other ad tech companies, I always look to create value and continually broaden my knowledge of the ever-changing landscape. My background enables me to bring unique insight and experience to the next set of challenges I face.
Daniel Gouldman
Co-CEO, Director and Co-Founder
20 years later - I was able to be in a position to work for myself. I now own several businesses and hope to make a difference for others over my next 20.
I'm a highly political person with an avid interest in geopolitics, history and business. I'm more concerned with doing what's right than what's popular.
Keith Johnson
General Manager
Corey Ballou
CTO
Mr. Ballou is a seasoned developer that has been custom-building websites and applications for over two decades. Mr. Ballou has five years of fast-paced development experience at two leading design and development agencies in Charlotte followed by an additional six years working on building and launching startups for some amazing companies. Most notable is his work as a lead developer for .CO Internet. Briefly following a successful Super Bowl ad launch with partner GoDaddy, .CO was sold to Neustar for $109M in 2014. Mr. Ballou has owned and operated his own web development consultancy since 2012. Since then, Corey has had the pleasure of working with several successful startups to build out their custom web applications.
Anne Blanchard
Head of Human Resources
Mark Morales
Director
TERMS
Unbanked
Overview
INTEREST RATE
0%
AMOUNT RAISED
$146,958.64
VALUATION CAP
$115M
Breakdown
MIN INVESTMENT
$250
DISCOUNT RATE
20.0%
CONVERSION TRIGGER
$1,000,000
OFFERING TYPE
Simple Agreement for Future Equity
TYPE OF EQUITY
Class B Common Stock
What is a SAFE Agreement?
A Crowdfunding Simple Agreement for Future Equity (Crowdfunding SAFE) offers you the right to receive Class B Common Stock in Unbanked. The amount of Class B Common Stock you will receive in the future will be determined at the next equity round in which the Company raises at least $1,000,000.00 in a qualified equity financing. The highest conversion price per security is set based on a $115,000,000.00 Valuation Cap or if less, then you will receive a 20.00% discount on the price the new investors are paying. You will receive no interest on your investment. When the maturity date is reached, if the Crowdfunding SAFE has not converted then you are entitled to receive Class B Common Stock equal to your investment back at a price per security by dividing the Valuation Cap by the aggregate number of outstanding equity securities of the Company as of immediately prior (on a fully diluted basis).
Irregular Use of Proceeds
The Company will not incur any irregular use of proceeds.
PRESS
ALL UPDATES
REWARDS
JOIN THE DISCUSSION
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Matthew Stromberg
3 months ago
Start engine- will there be refunds for all who invested in unbanked?
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Matthew Stromberg
4 months ago
Are there going to be refunds for our investment with unbanked after hearing that you are winding down operations?
See below article written:
Today, we are making the unfortunate decision to wind down Unbanked. When we started the company back in 2018 we knew blockchain was the best way to transmit value in the form of cryptocurrencies or stablecoins, but it needed to be connected with the existing global financial system for everyday use. Integrating the blockchain to on and off-ramps like bank accounts and debit cards allowed a “best of both worlds” scenario providing customers better control over their money with lower fees and more convenience.
The crypto landscape 5 years ago was very different from today and many people believed that the banks or card networks would never get on board with Unbanked’s mission. Others thought crypto companies would not want to use Unbanked white-label services as their own infrastructure. We were able to prove naysayers wrong, supporting more than 25 companies across various countries with hundreds of thousands of users. The industry on a global scale has come very far since that time and continues to grow stronger than ever before.
We believed that building Unbanked on-shore in the United States would be the smart long-term play. While other crypto companies grew rapidly off-shore by avoiding strict regulation, we believed that engaging with regulators and following their arduous processes would ultimately position Unbanked to come out ahead. We unfortunately learned this was not the case and taking this path lead to a lot of wasted time and excessive costs. To state it bluntly, US regulators are actively trying to stop companies (banks and fintechs) from supporting crypto assets – even when the companies are trying to do it correctly and by the book. Their efforts are working and ultimately limited Unbanked’s ability to raise capital and run a self-sustaining business.
Unbanked never raised a large institutional round and most of our growth came from bootstrapping and revenue from operations. The majority of Unbanked’s funding came from supporters in various crowdfunding campaigns. In total, Unbanked raised $4M over the span of 5 years from roughly 6,000 investors. The investors hurt by Unbanked’s shutdown are not large institutions, but rather individuals who invested their own money with the belief that blockchain was the future and the US companies doing things in a regulated way were the best bet.
Most frustrating of all with this update is that it should have been a positive one. Three weeks ago Unbanked signed a term sheet for an investment of $5 million dollars at a $20 million valuation that would allow us to not only continue operations but to expand. We have not received those funds as of this moment. We are still optimistic that we will receive these funds; if we do – Unbanked will resume operations and will be stronger than ever. However, the money doesn’t count until it’s in the bank. We will also continue to explore alternative funding sources.
Given the situation, it was important for us to communicate what was happening to our customers and partners. All Unbanked customers and those through our white-label programs should begin withdrawing all funds (crypto and USD) as soon as possible. Unbanked has always maintained customer funds separate from business operations and all funds have been maintained 1:1 regardless of the asset you maintained with us. We plan to leave the withdrawal functionality on for the next 30 days, but please do not wait to start withdrawing funds. This includes wires, ACH, Plaid, and crypto withdrawals to wallets whether that’s LTC, USDT, UNBNK, or any asset your funds are currently held in.
This decision to wind down Unbanked has not come lightly, but we have exhausted all options. The closure has not come from a lack of effort in exploring any and all viable options from our team. The entire Unbanked team should be commended for their relentless efforts and dedication to building this company over the last 5+ years. We have a very dedicated and talented team who went above and beyond their responsibilities because they believe in the mission.
We hope that one day, perhaps sooner than later, we can revive Unbanked or another company with better funding can continue on with our core mission.
We thank you all for your support and understanding.
Ian Kane
Daniel Gouldman
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Denis Mirgorod
4 months ago
I have got the message that the project successfully collected needed amount and announced that you are winding down. I guess you knew 3 weeks ago that you were going to close the business. It is not fair...
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Paul Camp
6 months ago
Hi Ian,
I invested on another platform and may invest again. I’m trying to understand the UNBNK cryptocurrency and what if any purpose it serves at this point. Thanks!
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Matthew Stromberg
6 months ago
What is each unbanked share priced at? I double checked the terms, but i don’t see price per share, unless I missed it. Thank you!
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William Hackett
6 months ago
Ian Bitcoin was down in 2022. However during the first three months of this year it is higher. Does this change the expected revenue for 2023? So far your company is the best investment I made on the crowd funding. Tell me why I should invest again today in your company?
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Adrian Alejandre
6 months ago
Does not add to the discussion
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Harry Lott
7 months ago
At what day does Unbanked plan to close their round on Start Engine? As always, thank you for your time.
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Gregory Perry
8 months ago
Start Engine has a fiduciary responsibility to investigate fully the companies it provides funding for - at all stages of fundraising - yet does not. Unsophisticated investors beware...
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HOW INVESTING WORKS
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Alex De Martini
8 months ago
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