This Founder Did Something Wild to Raise $6.8M—And It Worked

John Worthington, serial entrepreneur and CEO of Sircles, has cracked the code on equity crowdfunding, raising over $6.8M without giving up control to VCs. His unique “Riding the Escalator” strategy turns investors into users, advocates, and key drivers of organic growth—creating a self-sustaining cycle that has positioned Sircles (His latest venture) as one of the most successful crowdfunded startups in tech. Sircles is disrupting the traditional review space by replacing ratings and anonymous feedback with trusted recommendations from real connections. By leveraging a novel crowdfunding model—what he calls “Riding the Escalator”—he has built a self-sustaining cycle where investors become users, advocates, and key drivers of organic growth. This strategy has raised over $6.8 million, positioning Sircles as one of the most successful crowdfunded startups in the tech sector. What you will learn How to turn everyday users into loyal investors who also drive organic growth. A step-by-step approach to raising funding through equity crowdfunding, even without VC backing. How to build a startup community by partnering with niche influencers who actually convert. Why Sircles’ “no negativity” design could be a game-changer in the trust economy—and what you can learn from it. How AI is quietly powering product development and user support behind the scenes of emerging tech startups.