The JOBS Act Two Years Later: Where We Are and What's Next for Crowdfunding (Infographic) The Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, signed into law on April 5, 2012, fundamentally changed the fundraising landscape for entrepreneurs. Here's a look at what has changed and what's next.

By Catherine Clifford Apr 4, 2014

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Two years ago tomorrow, President Obama signed the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act -- or JOBS Act -- into law. The landmark legislation fundamentally changed the way that entrepreneurs access capital.

Of particular note, the JOBS Act removed a ban on general solicitation, making it legal for entrepreneurs to publicize their efforts to raise capital. Also, the JOBS Act opened the door to allow unaccredited investors to invest in companies online via crowdfunding. The rules are still being negotiated in Washington, but when the Securities and Exchange Commission finally signs off on them, the multi-billion dollar crowdfunding industry is expected to expand even more.

Crowdfunding site Fundable generated the infographic below, summarizing the key provisions of the JOBS Act, why they are important and what's coming next for the industry.

Have a looksee.

Click to Enlarge+

The JOBS Act Two Years Later: Where We Are and What's Next for Crowdfunding (Infographic)

Catherine Clifford

Senior Entrepreneurship Writer at CNBC

Catherine Clifford is senior entrepreneurship writer at CNBC. She was formerly a senior writer at Entrepreneur.com, the small business reporter at CNNMoney and an assistant in the New York bureau for CNN. Clifford attended Columbia University where she earned a bachelor's degree. She lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. You can follow her on Twitter at @CatClifford.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Most Popular

See all

Growing a Business

How to Determine The Ideal Length of Your Marketing Emails Your Customers Will Actually Read

Wondering how long your marketing emails should be? Here's what consumers say — so you can send them exactly what they like.

By Liviu Tanase

Leadership

Tech Overload Will Destroy Your Customer Relationships. Are You Guilty of Using Too Much Tech?

Technology's value in our world is undeniable. However, there can be a point where it is ineffective and possibly counterproductive. See where it can negatively impact your product, brand, and business.

By Dustin Lemick

Management

Most Gen Z Workers Want This One Thing From Their Employer. Are You Providing It?

Millions of college graduates are entering the workforce, and many feel unprepared. Here's the one thing they're looking for from potential employers — and how providing it will benefit you and your business in the long run.

By Graham Glass

Making a Change

Get a Lifetime of Babbel Language Learning for Just $150 Through June 17

Learn up to 14 languages over the course of a lifetime, with bite-size lessons, personalized reviews, and speech recognition tech.

By Entrepreneur Store

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

By Eve Gumpel

Business News

Is the AI Industry Consolidating? Hugging Face CEO Says More AI Entrepreneurs Are Looking to Be Acquired

Clément Delangue, the CEO of Hugging Face, a $4.5 billion startup, says he gets at least 10 acquisition requests a week and it's "increased quite a lot."

By Sherin Shibu