Equity Crowdfunding Is Here: Now You Can Own A Share In A Startup's Success (Or Failure)

Nick Tommarello has been waiting four years for this: The day when everyday people can start investing directly in companies over the internet. Today Title III of the JOBS Act, signed into law by President Obama in 2012, goes into force, enabling anyone-not just "accredited investors," who have at least $100,000 in assets-to invest in startups, small businesses, and other private firms.

And that means Tommarello's Wefunder platform can move into the next stage. So far he's worked only we accredited investors but now anyone can put money into the companies raising funds.

"When we first...