June Webinar: How Shareholder Communities Drive Unique Value

June 25, 2024

Enhancing Shareholder Engagement: Insights from Industry Experts

In this month’s webinar, our CMO Jon Stidd spoke to expert panelists from some of the biggest success stories in shareholder engagement: Richard Street, Head of Legal at BrewDog; Jeff Annison, co-founder and President of LegionM; and Matt Joanou, co-founder and CEO of Stakeholder Labs.

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Panelists shared their perspectives on the importance of shareholder engagement and the strategic advantages it offers. The conversation highlighted various methods and technologies that companies can leverage to foster stronger relationships with their shareholders.

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Key Takeaways

The Importance of Shareholder Engagement

Shareholder engagement is crucial for modern businesses. It not only helps in building a loyal investor base but also provides strategic advantages that can drive business growth. Engaged shareholders are more likely to reinvest, advocate for the company, and participate in corporate governance.

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Methods of Engagement

Several methods were discussed for engaging shareholders effectively:

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Personalized Communications: Regular, personalized communications such as quarterly newsletters and video calls can keep shareholders informed and engaged.
Shareholder Benefits Programs: Offering tangible benefits, such as discounts or exclusive products, can incentivize shareholders to remain loyal and active.
Community-Building: Creating a sense of community among shareholders can turn them into brand advocates. This can be achieved through forums, social media groups, and direct engagement with company leaders.

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Case Studies

Stakeholder Labs

Matt Joanou, co-founder and CEO of Stakeholder Labs, emphasized the shift in demographics with millennial and Gen Z investors. These investors expect personalized, digital experiences similar to those they receive as customers. Stakeholder Labs provides tools to help publicly traded companies modernize their shareholder experience, including IR websites, shareholder benefits, and data analytics.

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BrewDog

Richard, General Counsel at BrewDog, shared insights on their "Equity for Punks" program. This initiative has been instrumental in BrewDog's growth, turning passionate customers into shareholders and brand advocates. The program has raised significant capital through crowdfunding and has driven community engagement by allowing shareholders to vote on business decisions, such as new bar locations and product offerings.

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LegionM

Jeff Anderson, co-founder of LegionM, discussed their unique approach as a fan-owned entertainment company. By leveraging equity crowdfunding, LegionM has built a large, engaged community of shareholders who support their projects. This community-driven model reduces financial risk and increases the chances of success for their entertainment ventures.

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Technological Advancements

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The role of technology in enhancing shareholder engagement was a key topic. Simple technologies like email and video calls are being adopted more widely for investor relations. Additionally, advancements in financial technologies and data analytics are enabling companies to have more direct and meaningful interactions with their shareholders.

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The Strategic Advantages of Building a Robust Shareholder Community

Engaged shareholders provide several strategic advantages, including:

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Increased Loyalty and Reinvestment: Shareholders who feel connected to the company are more likely to reinvest and remain loyal.
Advocacy and Marketing: Engaged shareholders can act as brand advocates, promoting the company and its products.
Better Business Decisions: Companies can leverage shareholder insights to make informed business decisions, such as product development and market expansion.

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Conclusion

The discussion underscored the importance of shareholder engagement in today's business landscape. By leveraging personalized communications, community-building initiatives, and technological advancements, companies can foster stronger relationships with their shareholders, driving long-term growth and success.

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For more insights and detailed strategies on enhancing shareholder engagement, stay tuned for future discussions and updates from industry experts.

Monogram Case Study - DealMaker (Embed)

When VCs said no, Monogram turned to retail investors. That decision powered their rise from startup to publicly traded company—and even helped them raise an additional $13M privately after their Nasdaq debut.

The Challenge: Raising Capital on Their Terms

The Challenge: Raising on Their Terms

Monogram Technologies was founded with a bold vision: to revolutionize orthopedic surgery with a robotic joint replacement system using custom 3D-printed joints. The market for this technology is massive—approximately $19.6 billion, with over 1 million knee replacements per year. But it's a capital-intensive, regulation-heavy space—and traditional VCs weren't biting.

Instead of compromising, co-founders Dr. Doug Unis and Ben Sexson went all-in on a different path: retail capital. Why?

Control and ownership: Not only were they able to raise the capital they needed to grow the business—they did it on their own terms.
Long-term asset: They wanted to build an army of true believers who wanted to see the company succeed and would continue to reinvest over the years.
A value-add network: Raising from retail allowed Monogram to amass a waiting list of thousands of patients eager to participate in future trials.
Aligned incentives: Their mission to improve patient outcomes and build a better future for those struggling with joint pain resonated with retail investors.

The Power of Retail: Monogram's Capital Journey

Start Date	End Date	Type	Platform	Amount Raised	# Investors
3/13/19	3/31/20	A+	SeedInvest	$14,588,668	6,000
11/16/20	1/16/21	A+	StartEngine	$2,965,501	8,000
1/17/21	2/18/22	A+	StartEngine	$23,647,853	14,082
7/15/22	3/16/23	CF	DealMaker	$4,673,000	2,249
3/1/23	4/8/23	A+	Republic	$232,275	120
3/1/23	5/23/23	A+	DealMaker	$15,958,364	5,198
5/18/23	-	Nasdaq listing
7/24	10/24	Unit Offering	DealMaker	$12,990,103	2,745

Monogram Capital Raise Timeline

Monogram's first direct-to-investor raise was a $14.6M round in 2019. Since then, Monogram has raised retail capital six additional times, using Reg A+ as a springboard to a Nasdaq listing in 2023.

Each raise brought in new believers—and more importantly, kept bringing them back. That's the long-term power of retail capital. It's not just one campaign—it's a compounding asset that grows with the business.

$80M+

Raised across seven campaigns

~40,000

Investors championing Monogram's vision

20%

Of each raise came from previous investors

Marketing Excellence

DealMaker Reach provided strategic investor acquisition services, helping Monogram connect with the right audience through high-impact channels.

Premium Publications

Targeted campaigns in premium publications like Morning Brew captured qualified investors

High-Engagement Webinars

Engaging events that generated over $4.3 million in investments

Community Building

Strategic approaches that fostered a loyal shareholder base

Investment Momentum

Innovative approaches that amplified investment momentum

Monogram's Journey to Success

Monogram's journey has been defined by relentless innovation, strategic fundraising, and breakthrough advancements in robotic-assisted joint replacement. From early-stage research to a Nasdaq listing and beyond, Monogram's milestones reflect its evolution into a pioneering force in orthopedic surgery:

Filed its first patent application in 2017
Conducted clinical studies at UCLA and University of Nebraska
Expanded the team with key hires
Attracted a top-tier advisory board to guide clinical innovations
Signed their first distribution partnerships
Made headlines with cutting-edge live demonstrations
Secured 501(k) FDA clearance for the mBôs surgical system

Nasdaq Debut & Beyond

In May 2023, Monogram Orthopaedics successfully listed on the Nasdaq—a significant milestone offering liquidity and growth opportunities for the company.

For most companies, that would be the end of their story in the private markets. But for Monogram, it was just the beginning of a new chapter.

Public perception says you can't raise privately post-IPO. Monogram proved that wrong.

Defying conventional fundraising norms, Monogram raised an additional $13 million from private investors, powered by DealMaker. This move highlighted the power of a dedicated investor community and provided additional strategic growth capital. Meanwhile, strategic digital marketing for the private offering helped boost the public share price—a win-win for the company and its investors, both public and private.

This was retail capital at its best: strategic, repeatable, and aligned.

One vision. Zero compromises.

This wasn't a one-time raise. It was a multi-year capital strategy.

Retail capital helped Monogram:

Go from concept to commercialization without relying on VCs
Retain ownership and control in a high-burn industry
Build a base of loyal shareholders who invested not once, but over and over again
Uplist to the Nasdaq, and still keep raising post-IPO

This is what makes retail capital different. It doesn't expire—it compounds. And DealMaker is built to maximize that long-term value.

Ready to Raise Capital on Your Terms?

Whether you're pre-revenue or post-IPO, DealMaker gives you the infrastructure, support, and strategy to raise from the people who believe in you most.

Explore Raising Capital with DealMaker