Florida Forward. Investing in tomorrow's Florida

Invest Local Florida is StateCF's marketplace for Florida companies raising capital from Florida residents under Chapter 517, Florida Statutes: the Invest Local Exemption (§ 517.0612) and the Florida Limited Offering Exemption (§ 517.0611). StateCF is the OFR-registered intermediary that runs the portal and keeps the record. Registration does not imply that such person has been sponsored, recommended, or approved by the state or an agency or officer of the state or by the United States or an agency or officer of the United States.

Florida residents only. Every investor confirms residency and completes investor education before subscribing. A non-resident purchaser would defeat the exemption for the whole offering.

Florida law (§ 517.0612(6)) limits a company to $10,000 from any one purchaser in its Invest Local offering, unless the purchaser is an accredited investor, an officer, director, partner or trustee of the company, or an owner of 10% or more of it. A spouse, child or relative living in the same home, and companies they own more than half of, count as one purchaser. StateCF policy is stricter than the law: until StateCF has verified that you are accredited, you may commit no more than $10,000 in total across all offerings in any 12 months, including what you tell us you invested on other Florida portals. You confirm those amounts at checkout.

To the Florida bank or depository named in the company's disclosure, never to StateCF. Funds stay there until the company's target is met, then move by ACH to the company. If the offering does not close, the depository returns the funds.

Yes. There is a 48-hour cooling-off window after you sign, and Invest Local sales are voidable for three days after first tender under § 517.0612(12). If the issuer makes a material change you are asked to reconfirm.

Offerings on StateCF are common stock, preferred stock or debt. The share class and its rights are set out in each company's offering materials; read them before you subscribe. Common stock is the simplest form of ownership, the kind most often held by founders and employees. Common shareholders usually have voting rights, though these can be limited, and in a sale or wind-down they are paid only after the company's lenders and any preferred shareholders. Preferred stock is usually issued to outside investors. It can carry rights common stock does not — protection against some dilution, or a priority when the company is sold. Which rights it carries depends entirely on the terms of that offering. Debt is a loan to the company, repaid on the terms stated, with interest where the terms provide for it. Lenders are paid before shareholders, but a company that cannot pay may not repay in full.