In a Rule 506(b) round, publicly announcing that you are raising and inviting investors is general solicitation and can break the exemption. Under 506(c) you may advertise, but every investor must be a verified accredited investor. Under Reg CF you may publish a limited notice pointing to your portal page. Posting about your product, users and progress is generally fine.
- 506(b): no general solicitation; a public "we are raising, DM me to invest" post is a risk.
- 506(c): public posts allowed; all buyers must be verified accredited investors.
- Reg CF: the issuer may advertise only a limited "tombstone" notice directing people to the portal.
- Talking about your company, product and traction without offering securities is generally not a solicitation.
- Interest-testing rules (Rules 206, 241, 255) have their own conditions.
Why can a post be a problem?
US securities law regulates offers, not just sales. A public post that invites people to invest is an offer to the public. Rule 506(b), the exemption behind most angel rounds, does not allow general solicitation. If you solicit publicly and then rely on 506(b), you may lose the exemption for the round.
What is safe and what is risky?
| Post | Assessment |
|---|---|
| "We shipped v2 and hit 1,000 weekly users." | Company news; generally fine. |
| "We're hiring our first engineer." | Fine. |
| "We're raising $1M on a SAFE, DM me if you want in." | General solicitation; not compatible with 506(b). |
| Same post, round under 506(c) with verification | Allowed, but only verified accredited investors can buy. |
| "We're live on [portal]: invest from $100." (Reg CF) | Allowed only within Reg CF's advertising limits, pointing to the portal. |
| "Guaranteed 10x returns." | Misleading under any exemption. |
What does each exemption allow?
- 506(b): private outreach to people you have a relationship with, introductions and private meetings.
- 506(c): public outreach, ads and posts. Verification is the price. See accredited investor verification.
- Reg CF: before filing, testing the waters under Rule 206. After filing, a limited notice with a link to the portal; detailed discussion happens on the portal's channels. See testing the waters.
What about Europe?
EU rules are different again. Public offers of securities may need a prospectus unless an exemption applies, and crowdfunding offers run through a licensed provider under ECSPR. National marketing rules also apply.
How does OBridge fit?
OBridge is a discovery network: founders post their build and progress, and investors mark companies Investable as a private, no-amount signal. That is designed to be product and progress content, not an offer. When a founder decides to raise, the round runs under the exemption and channels their counsel chooses. Compare the exemptions in Reg CF vs Reg D vs Reg A+.
What does a compliant Reg CF notice include?
Under Reg CF's advertising rule, an issuer's notice outside the platform is limited to basic information: a statement that the issuer is conducting an offering, the name of the intermediary and a link to its platform, the terms of the offering, and factual information about the issuer such as its name, address, website and a brief description of the business. Everything else, including discussion of the offering, belongs on the platform's communication channels.
What about investor updates and newsletters?
- Updates to existing investors about company progress are normally fine.
- Including round terms and an invitation to invest in a newsletter sent to a broad list can be general solicitation.
- Keep fundraising details in private, one-to-one conversations if you rely on 506(b).
What about founders in Europe posting about a US round?
US rules apply to offers reaching US investors, and European rules apply to offers in Europe. A post on a global platform reaches both. If you are a German founder raising from US investors under 506(b), the safest approach is the same: talk about the company publicly, keep the round private.
What is a safe default for founders?
- Post about the product, customers, team and lessons.
- Do not post round amounts, terms or "invest" calls unless counsel confirms your exemption allows it.
- Route interested investors to a private conversation.
- Keep records of what you posted and when.
Frequently asked questions
Can I announce my fundraise on LinkedIn?
In a Rule 506(b) round, a public announcement inviting investment is general solicitation and is not allowed. Under 506(c) it is allowed if all investors are verified accredited. Under Reg CF only limited notices are allowed.
Is posting about my startup's growth general solicitation?
Generally no, as long as it does not offer securities or invite people to invest.
What is a tombstone notice in Reg CF?
A limited advertisement of a Reg CF offering stating basic facts and directing readers to the portal where the offering is hosted.
What happens if I generally solicit in a 506(b) round?
The round may lose the 506(b) exemption. Counsel may be able to restructure, for example under 506(c), but it is better to avoid the problem.
Let investors find what you're building.
OBridge is an early-access discovery network for founders and investors. Post your build, share your progress, and let verified investors mark you Investable — a private, no-amount signal of interest, not an offer or a commitment.
Join the waitlist →Sources and further reading. SEC, General solicitation and Rule 506(c); 17 CFR §227.204 (Reg CF advertising); 17 CFR §227.206.
Educational material, not legal, tax or investment advice. Rules and figures change; confirm with qualified counsel or a tax adviser in your jurisdiction before acting. Last updated October 6, 2026.