Kingscrowd Podcast

Sam Fiske, Kingscrowd
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Weekly

Kingscrowd Podcast was your go-to weekly show for all things online private markets. Hosted by serial investor and Kingscrowd VP of Product Brian Belley and retail private markets insider Scott Kitun, the show features the latest news, analysis, and insights from the fast-growing world of equity crowdfunding and retail private equity — with expert commentary from Kingscrowd analysts Léa Bouhelier-Gautreau and Teddy Lyons.

  1. 8h ago

    DermaSensor: Can an FDA-Cleared Skin Cancer Device Scale in Primary Care?

    Kingscrowd senior investment associates Teddy Lyons and Léa Bouhelier-Gautreau join host Brian Belley to break down DermaSensor, the Miami company behind an FDA-cleared handheld device that helps primary care clinicians decide whether a suspicious skin lesion needs a dermatologist.   Most medtech deals on equity crowdfunding platforms are still years from market. DermaSensor received FDA clearance in January 2024, launched commercially, and has passed $2 million in contracted annual recurring revenue. The device shines light into the skin and uses spectroscopy plus AI to flag lesions that warrant follow-up. It doesn't diagnose cancer and doesn't replace a biopsy. It is cleared for use by non-dermatologists on patients 40 and older.   Teddy explains why the investment question here is about adoption rather than regulatory risk. Léa walks through the hardware-as-a-service model: $199 or $399 a month instead of a five-figure device purchase, with a payback inside a year for the company. Brian uses an airport metal detector to explain sensitivity and specificity, and why a device that catches nearly every real case will also flag a lot of people who turn out to be fine.   In this episode: ●      Why an FDA-cleared, commercialized company raising on ECF is rare, and how DermaSensor compares with Koios Medical ●      The hardware-as-a-service model and the unit economics behind it ●      Sensitivity vs. specificity, explained with a metal detector ●      What 16 scans per device per month means, and why dermatologists are buying a device built for primary care ●      How the device works: a xenon arc lamp, a spectrometer and an AI trained on lesion "fingerprints" ●      Deal terms: the $72 million valuation, the $48 million already invested, and what an exit would need to look like ●      The reimbursement flywheel: insurers pay about $100 per scan ●      Four channel partnerships rolling out in Q4 2026   Host: Brian Belley, Kingscrowd With: Teddy Lyons and Léa Bouhelier-Gautreau, Senior Investment Associates, Kingscrowd   DermaSensor is raising on Wefunder, open to accredited and non-accredited investors. Kingscrowd's full analysis, including the rating, the deal terms and whether it was named a top deal, is available to Kingscrowd Edge members at kingscrowd.com.   Disclosure: This episode is for informational purposes only and is not investment advice. Investing in early-stage companies is risky and illiquid, and you may lose your entire investment.

    DermaSensor: Can an FDA-Cleared Skin Cancer Device Scale in Primary Care?

  2. Oct 5

    bluShift Aerospace: From Green Space Launch to America's Rocket Motor Shortage

    Kingscrowd senior investment associates Léa Bouhelier-Gautreau and Teddy Lyons join host Brian Belley to break down bluShift Aerospace, a Maine rocket company that spent a decade building a cleaner hybrid rocket booster and has now pivoted to one of defense's most urgent shortages.   bluShift was founded in 2014 by Sascha Deri to launch small satellites with a nontoxic, biofuel-powered hybrid engine. When an advisor pointed to the shortage of solid rocket motors for defense testing, the company turned its existing technology toward that market. Its booster sells for about $1.1 million, compared with $4 to $5 million for a traditional solid booster, and it is easier to store and transport. bluShift recently signed a contract with hypersonics startup Specter for four boosters, worth $4.4 million.   Brian, who comes from the aerospace industry, explains how solid, liquid and hybrid rocket motors differ and why decades of supplier consolidation left the US short on solid rocket motor capacity. Léa and Teddy then look at the bigger question for investors: how deep tech companies fund long development timelines without diluting founders and early backers out of the company.   In this episode: ●      The pivot from green space launch to defense boosters ●      Solid vs. liquid vs. hybrid rockets, explained with the model rockets you launched as a kid ●      The $4.4 million Specter contract and why it changes the risk picture ●      How Rejuvenate Bio and Pirouette Pharma use partners to pay for development ●      The non-dilutive capital playbook: grants, government contracts, paid pilots, joint ventures and licensing ●      Unit economics: a $750K build cost today and a $250K target at scale ●      Why Kingscrowd likes investing in the "valley of death" ●      What Brian took away from meeting founder Sascha Deri   Host: Brian Belley, Kingscrowd With: Léa Bouhelier-Gautreau and Teddy Lyons, Senior Investment Associates, Kingscrowd   bluShift Aerospace is raising on Wefunder, open to accredited and non-accredited investors. Kingscrowd's full analysis, including competition, market and team, is available to Kingscrowd Edge members at kingscrowd.com.   Disclosure: This episode is for informational purposes only and is not investment advice. Investing in early-stage companies is risky and illiquid, and you may lose your entire investment.

    bluShift Aerospace: From Green Space Launch to America's Rocket Motor Shortage

  3. Aug 4

    Robinhood Ventures, Boxabl, and the Future of Private Market Access

    This week on the Kingscrowd Podcast, Brian Belley and Scott Kitun break down Kingscrowd’s H1 2026 Investment Crowdfunding Report and what the numbers reveal about the current state of online private markets. While investment volume has pulled back from 2025, Brian explains why H1 2026 still compares favorably to 2023 and 2024 — and why fewer Reg CF issuers may signal a more concentrated, more serious market rather than a disappearing one. Scott brings an outlier-focused lens to the discussion, questioning how major raises like Newsmax can distort year-over-year comparisons and what that means for platform sustainability. The conversation then moves into Robinhood-style venture funds, public/private market access, and Boxabl’s volatile public-market debut, with both Brian and Scott returning to a core investor lesson: access matters, but valuation, timing, liquidity, and entry price matter just as much.

  4. Jul 28

    Collectibles, Crowdfunding Platforms, and the Next Private Market Shift

    This week on the Kingscrowd Podcast, Brian Belley, Scott Kitun, and Léa Bouhelier-Gautreau examine two very different private market stories. First, Brian and Scott discuss Rally’s shift away from direct fractional ownership of collectibles and toward a more fund-like structure. They explore why the model struggled with liquidity, possession, exit mechanics, customer acquisition, and investor expectations — and why the pivot could foreshadow where more alternative asset and crowdfunding platforms are heading. Then Brian and Léa review Oshi, a plant-based salmon company raising on Wefunder and presenting at Kingscrowd Demo Day. Léa breaks down Oshi’s traction across restaurants and retail, its strategic partnership in Latin America, its valuation reset from prior rounds, and the risks around a shrinking plant-based food market, high manufacturing costs, and negative gross margins.

  5. Jul 1

    From America's Crowdfunding History to AI Wealth Management

    This week on the Kingscrowd Podcast, Brian Belley is joined by Teddy Lyons and Léa Bouhelier-Gautreau for a July 4th episode that starts with a look back at one of America’s earliest crowdfunding stories: the Statue of Liberty pedestal campaign. Brian also walks through Kingscrowd’s upgraded market intelligence page, including new ways to analyze equity, debt, revenue share, Reg A, platform market share, and monthly private market trends. Then Teddy leads a deal review of Lumida Wealth, an SEC-registered investment advisor building toward an AI-native wealth management platform. The team discusses Lumida’s existing advisor-led business, its AI investing app, the long-term vision for autonomous financial planning, and the core diligence question: if AI becomes standard across fintech, what will actually separate Lumida from incumbents like Robinhood, Schwab, Betterment, and others? Highlights include... The Statue of Liberty pedestal is a strong historical example of crowd-powered fundraising. Kingscrowd’s upgraded market data page now covers more of the online private markets, including debt, revenue share, and Reg A. Lumida Wealth combines a traditional advisory business with a longer-term AI wealth management vision. Lumida’s app currently focuses on insights and analysis, not trade execution or autonomous management. Léa’s key concern is whether the valuation is justified by the current business and future AI upside. Teddy sees the opportunity but flags competition from major fintech incumbents. Brian frames AI as increasingly necessary, but not automatically a durable differentiator.

  6. Jun 23

    Why Private Markets Need Better Investor Disclosure

    This week on the Kingscrowd Podcast, Brian Belley and Léa Bouhelier-Gautreau discuss Kingscrowd's recommendations to the SEC regarding private market investing and startup fundraising. They explain why mandatory valuation disclosure, better investor updates, and improved exit transparency could significantly improve the online private investing experience. The conversation highlights several practical reforms that could help investors make better-informed decisions and increase accountability across Regulation Crowdfunding offerings. The episode then shifts to a deep dive on Harmony Baby Nutrition, a company developing infant and toddler formulas using human milk proteins produced through precision fermentation. Léa explains the company's phased commercialization strategy, why the opportunity resembles a biotech investment more than a traditional consumer products company, and how Harmony hopes to bridge the gap between conventional formula and human breast milk. The discussion covers regulatory hurdles, funding strategy, market demand, and why Kingscrowd Capital selected Harmony Baby Nutrition as a Top Deal. Highlights include... Investors should always know the valuation of a company before investing. Many crowdfunding issuers still fail to provide meaningful ongoing investor updates. Better transparency around exits would significantly improve the investor experience. Harmony Baby Nutrition is pursuing a phased commercialization strategy to reduce execution risk. The company is targeting one of the most emotionally driven consumer markets: infant nutrition. Human milk proteins already exist; Harmony's challenge is commercializing them in formula products. Harmony should be evaluated more like a biotech company than a traditional CPG startup. Strategic milestone products may help Harmony generate revenue before its flagship vision is fully realized. Strong venture backing provides additional validation for the opportunity. If successful, Harmony could help redefine the infant formula category.

  7. Jun 17

    SpaceX Mania, Mirror Tokens & A Promising Biotech Startup

    SpaceX's highly anticipated IPO is finally here, and Brian Belley and Scott Kitun break down what it means for retail investors. They discuss the performance of pre-IPO vehicles like Republic's mirror tokens, the challenges faced by some secondary market allocations, and why investors should understand the structure behind SPVs, syndicates, and private market access before chasing the next hot IPO. The conversation also explores how investors should think about valuation, long-term conviction, and avoiding emotional decision-making when high-profile companies hit public markets. In the second half, Brian welcomes Teddy Lyons to review Rejuvenate Bio, a gene therapy company focused on aging-related diseases. Teddy explains the company's unique strategy of commercializing animal-health applications first, supported by partnerships with major industry players including Merck Animal Health. The discussion covers the company's technology, revenue opportunities, development milestones, and why Kingscrowd Capital is closely evaluating the deal. Resources Subscribe to free Kingscrowd Newsletter View Rejuvenate Bio's deal on Kingscrowd Become a Kingscrowd Member Chapters00:00 Intro & Today's Topics00:38 SpaceX IPO Takes Over the Market01:01 Who Won From SpaceX Pre-IPO Investing?03:09 Is SpaceX Overvalued or a Trillion-Dollar Opportunity?05:24 Why Scott Thinks Investors Need Patience08:31 IPO Mechanics Explained12:44 Building an Investment Plan Before Buying18:18 Mirror Tokens, Republic & Retail Access21:19 Binance Allocation Problems & Counterparty Risk23:04 The Future of Secondary Markets28:08 How to Evaluate SPVs and Syndicates31:37 Rejuvenate Bio Deal Review Begins32:31 What Rejuvenate Bio Actually Does34:35 Why Animal Health Comes First37:19 Merck Animal Health Partnership Explained38:20 The Cost Advantage in Gene Therapy40:17 Brian's Questions & Investment Risks45:44 Potential Exit Opportunities49:23 Final Thoughts on Rejuvenate Bio50:42 Wrap-Up

  8. Jun 9

    The New Battle for Retail Investor Dollars

    Report and discuss why equity crowdfunding activity fell to its lowest level since 2021. From seasonal fundraising trends and filing deadlines to increasing competition for retail investor dollars, the duo explores what may be driving the recent slowdown in startup investing. The conversation also examines broader market dynamics, including the impact of booming public markets, high-profile IPOs like SpaceX, and the growing number of alternative private market products competing for investor attention. Despite the slowdown, Brian and Teddy highlight several positive signals, including strong raises from select issuers and emerging trends that investors should continue monitoring in the months ahead.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Kingscrowd Podcast was your go-to weekly show for all things online private markets. Hosted by serial investor and Kingscrowd VP of Product Brian Belley and retail private markets insider Scott Kitun, the show features the latest news, analysis, and insights from the fast-growing world of equity crowdfunding and retail private equity — with expert commentary from Kingscrowd analysts Léa Bouhelier-Gautreau and Teddy Lyons.

Information

  • Creator
    Sam Fiske, Kingscrowd
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    77
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    Kingscrowd Podcast

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