StartEngine is an equity crowdfunding platform that allows everyday people to invest and own shares in startups and early-stage companies. StartEngine has helped over 300 entrepreneurs raise over $125M in capital.
StartEngine (startengine.com) has 531 customer reviews on Five Star Index, with an average rating of 4.1 out of 5.
Also known as
startengine.com
Website
startengine.com
Category
Investments & Wealth
Location
Burbank, California
Listed on Five Star Index
2026
About these reviews
Replies
The company replied to 89% of reviews.
Latest
Most recent review: October 2026.
Edits
Reviews are shown as their authors wrote them. The company can reply, but cannot edit them.
Score
This company cannot pay to remove reviews or change its score.
Oop! Another clean new energy innovations stifler, won't let anyone fund for stuff that is destructive to their current bought by investors money. Add this site to the long list of clean energy innovation stiflers and the reason your never going to get any new energy innovations. They just replied we don't do hardware technology innovations, only software... Hmm, they may want to change their info then.
Response from StartEngineMay 1, 2026
Sorry for the frustration — we understand how that experience could be disappointing. To clarify, our platform has specific guidelines around the types of offerings we support, and we aim to communicate those as clearly as possible. We appreciate your feedback and will use it to improve how we present this information going forward. If you have any questions, please reach out to [email protected]
CR
Chris R.
No post investment support - STAY AWAY
I have a number of investments both on SE and other similar platforms. In 2025 two of those investments closed their doors. The other platform sent a K-1, as the company has ceased to exist (no money/broke, etc), in order to fulfill the reporting requirements the IRS requires.
When I contacted SE I was told "not our problem" - the former website and CEO are no longer reachable, but StartEngine doesn't care - there is ZERO post investment support - a big fat ZERO.
DO NOT use StartEngine - STAY AWAY. They do not care about your investment - ONLY that you make 1 or more via their platform and they collect their fees.
Response from StartEngineApr 15, 2026
Hello,
Thank you for your feedback, and we’re sorry for any confusion or frustration regarding tax documents.
For investments made through our platform, tax documents are typically issued directly by the companies you’ve invested in—not by StartEngine. In many cases, companies are not required to issue tax forms unless there has been a taxable event, such as dividends being distributed.
We understand this may not be the experience you were expecting, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience. If you have specific questions about a particular investment, we recommend reaching out to the company directly, and we’re always here to help point you in the right direction if needed.
Thank you for your understanding.
– The StartEngine Team
RY
RyanW
Not a Great Model
I have been on the platform for years. I have had public exits, but experienced: 1) I was so diluted, my investment was charitable giving. 2) The company I invested in doesn't make my shares available for public trade and doesn't respond to my emails. The bottom line is that StartEngine is not managing your investments. You have to be responsible for your relationship with the companies you invest in, and they may not be responsive. I believe that new private investment funds for small investors are a more promising model than crowdfunding on a platform like this.
I have added the following after the company comments: I am not suggesting the company is acting in contrary to their terms. I am only suggesting that making money from this Platofrm appears unlikely. The company did not address being ignored by the companies that have had exits, and not providing the investor (me) their public traded shares despite me reaching out. If more money were involved, I'd get a lawyer; not to fight Start Engine, but the companies I 'invested' in. StartEngine doesn't control the companies one invests in. I am only warning. More than diluted, I have zero, despite exit transactions. I have not had the opportunity to know whether I would be profitable or not. This happened once with a Start Engine 'investment', and once at Republic, both of which have a similar model.
Response from StartEngineMar 2, 2026
StartEngine provides investors an opportunity to invest in early-stage start-ups. What this means is that you are often investing in early stage companies. Investments in these types of companies are risky by their nature, and many often fail without any element of fraud or misconduct.
As we try to remind you in various places throughout the website, including in the educational materials which all users agree to when creating an account, the universal website footer, and every investment agreement used in conjunction with any offering on our platform, these investments are speculative, illiquid, and involve a high degree of risk including the possible loss of your entire investment.
Even if a company is successful, it takes some time, often years, before an investor can have an opportunity to realize any returns on these types of investments. While we wish all the companies who raise our platform the best of success, we also encourage investors to remember when making any investments through the platform that all investments are speculative, illiquid, and involve a high degree of risk including the possible loss of your entire investment, and to take this risk under consideration and invest responsibly.
To learn more about investing with StartEngine, please check out our Help Guide: https://help.startengine.com
RS
Richard S.
STGC is extremely speculative
A very high rate of companies provide no information once you invest and that includes StartEngine itself. They have no commitment to going public so your money may never be returned or allow you the opportunity to sell despite the fact they claim to constantly increase their revenues.
Response from StartEngineMar 2, 2026
StartEngine provides investors an opportunity to invest in early-stage start-ups. What this means is that you are often investing in early stage companies. Investments in these types of companies are risky by their nature, and many often fail without any element of fraud or misconduct.
As we try to remind you in various places throughout the website, including in the educational materials which all users agree to when creating an account, the universal website footer, and every investment agreement used in conjunction with any offering on our platform, these investments are speculative, illiquid, and involve a high degree of risk including the possible loss of your entire investment.
Even if a company is successful, it takes some time, often years, before an investor can have an opportunity to realize any returns on these types of investments. While we wish all the companies who raise our platform the best of success, we also encourage investors to remember when making any investments through the platform that all investments are speculative, illiquid, and involve a high degree of risk including the possible loss of your entire investment, and to take this risk under consideration and invest responsibly.
To learn more about investing with StartEngine, please check out our Help Guide: https://help.startengine.com
MA
Mark
Stay away from this company
Stay away from this company. It is legal on paper but you will never see a dime of your money again. You are basically donating to the companies, not investing, and will never have a way to get money back or make money from your donation. It’s a racket. Start Engine makes a killing off of tricking an manipulating people into donating under the pretense of it being a legitimate investment. It’s a great deal for the companies getting free money from the suckers, but horrible for anyone that puts money in.
Response from StartEngineFeb 20, 2026
StartEngine provides investors an opportunity to invest in early-stage start-ups. What this means is that you are often investing in early stage companies. Investments in these types of companies are risky by their nature, and many often fail without any element of fraud or misconduct.
As we try to remind you in various places throughout the website, including in the educational materials which all users agree to when creating an account, the universal website footer, and every investment agreement used in conjunction with any offering on our platform, these investments are speculative, illiquid, and involve a high degree of risk including the possible loss of your entire investment.
Even if a company is successful, it takes some time, often years, before an investor can have an opportunity to realize any returns on these types of investments. While we wish all the companies who raise our platform the best of success, we also encourage investors to remember when making any investments through the platform that all investments are speculative, illiquid, and involve a high degree of risk including the possible loss of your entire investment, and to take this risk under consideration and invest responsibly.
To learn more about investing with StartEngine, please check out our Help Guide: https://help.startengine.com
BT
Bill T.
Invested and never ever heard anything…
Invested and never ever heard anything from start engine. I would have to call or email them to find out about any returns and even though that is who I gave my money to they would tell me to check with the company I supposedly invested in. The communication is horrible!! Als o never received a dime of my initial investment or any type of dividends. The company is still in existence and was told from Start engine that the campaign was over and they cant answer any questions. first and last time I will use start engine.
Response from StartEngineFeb 3, 2026
We’re sorry to hear about your experience. StartEngine facilitates the investment process, while outcomes and communications vary by offering. Startup investing is long-term, and we appreciate you sharing your feedback.
ME
Max E.
Don't do investments here, unless you want a pain in the ass.
It is a huge hassle to submit documents with this platform. Even when you submit all the right documents, I got declined. Not everyone has documents lying around dating 90 days back (we live in a digital era now), so I submitted a document from 6-7 months ago. Investments don't go through before "verification". Also a huge lack of customer support, just a bunch of automated messages.
I will not recommend anyone to do business with this platform, unless you prefer a huge amount of stress.
UPDATE: After a couple of months I still do not have my money back, which they hold unlawfully.
Response from StartEngineFeb 3, 2026
We’re sorry to hear about your experience. Our verification and documentation requirements are in place to meet regulatory standards, and we understand that this process can feel frustrating. We appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback.
JH
Jen H.
StartEngine's customer service is nonexistent.
StartEngine's customer service is virtually nonexistent. The only way to contact them for support is through an email that results in a bot opening a ticket which never gets a response or resolution. I have been locked out of my account for several days due to having to get a new phone, and all I need is for them to reset my 2FA authentication so I can log into my account from my new device. But the only way to do that is through their email support feature that gets you nowhere. It should not be this difficult.
Response from StartEngineJan 22, 2026
Thanks for sharing this - and we’re really sorry to hear about your experience. Being locked out of your account, especially after getting a new phone and needing a 2FA reset, is understandably frustrating and should not be this difficult.
We’ve requested more information through this review so we can locate your account and support ticket and help get this resolved as quickly as possible. In the meantime, please reach out to us at [email protected] so our team can assist you directly.
