Black Unicorn Factory has set a historic precedent in equity crowdfunding.
Black Unicorn Factory (BUF) is a business development accelerator and equity crowdsourcing platform established by Johnny Stewart in 2012. Through BUF’s Follow Me for Equity app, it uniquely allows individuals to secure stock in pre-IPO companies by simply becoming a follower of a company through the app.
“Stop following for free and earn equity,” actor Anthony Anderson said in a promotional video for the company.
BUF’s target audience is underserved communities who are being left out of opportunities in the venture capital space.
“It is disheartening to observe that the venture capital industry only allocates funds to a mere 1% of businesses led by individuals from underrepresented communities. At BUF, we firmly believe that this disparity cannot persist, and we are committed to providing an alternative to the discriminatory practices prevalent in the traditional venture capital landscape,” a statement on its website reads.
According to a news release, BUF’s model is a success as independent financial analysts confirm it has reached a valuation of $20.2 billion. Factors at play include its portfolio of more than 150 startups, which are positioned for IPO in 2025; a shareholder base of more than 14,000 individuals; and revenue growth increasing from $52.6 million in 2023 to $245.3 million by the end of 2024.
Additionally, its projected net profit is expected to soar from $331.5 million in 2025 to $5.2 billion in 2029.
“This new valuation reflects the strength of our innovative business model and the incredible potential of our portfolio,” Stewart said in the news release. “We’ve worked tirelessly to redefine what’s possible in the accelerator space, and this is just the beginning of a journey to create unprecedented opportunities for our shareholders and partner startups.”
He added, “Our task-based equity contributions have created a new paradigm in startup acceleration and investment. This valuation isn’t just a number—it’s a reflection of the trust and belief that our shareholders, startups, and partners have placed in us.”
