LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The founders of Science, Inc., one of the most successful start-up incubators, who together have helped reshape and build the value of California’s startup ecosystem, today announced the formation of a new incubator, “Science Blockchain,” that will allow investors to participate through an ICO in a focused effort to operationalize, grow and monetize Blockchain technology and its applications.
“There’s no question Blockchain is a transformational technology that can disrupt the way nearly every business or financial transaction takes place,” said Science Founder and CEO Mike Jones. “Yet it’s still at an early stage of its development and so represents a major growth opportunity for both entrepreneurs and investors, especially if they’re given structure, guidance, resources and a high standard of governance of the kind that the Science, Inc. team has a track record of providing.”
A New Bar For ICO’s
Recognizing that Blockchain technology can also be used to redefine how an investment vehicle operates for the benefit of its participants, Science, Inc. will fund Science Blockchain via an Initial Coin Offering (ICO).
The structure will allow investors a chance to participate in any upside two ways: first, via a direct distribution of tokens issued by portfolio companies to incubator token holders, and second, by using a fixed percentage of returns from the sale of portfolio companies to buy back incubator tokens on the market.
While not the first investment vehicle to offer investor participation via an ICO, Science Blockchain is the first incubator to do so, and intends to firmly take a leadership position in this emerging marketplace with regard to structure, transparency, and compliance.
“We wanted to put our money where our mouths were out of the gate,” said Jones, adding, “and we also see a major opportunity to help set a new bar for ICO’s themselves, so from the outset, we’ve intentionally looked to issue security tokens under the Regulation D exemption from registration set forth by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). We welcome and expect a certain degree of disruption, but at the same time, we also understand that having the greatest positive impact for investors and companies means working within existing regulatory regimes and demonstrating just how important – and valuable – this technology can be.”
The ICO offering is being managed by The Argon Group, via its subsidiary Argon Investment Management LLC, under the Regulation D Section 506(c) exemption from registration issued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. More details around the timing of the ICO and the issue of the Offering Memorandum will follow shortly.
More About The Science Blockchain Incubator
The investment focus of the incubator will be companies developing and deploying Blockchain technology, in particular those that develop protocols that help companies ICO and help the ICO market mature.
“This is a young but rapidly-growing space,” concluded Jones. “A big part of our responsibility here to our companies – and, frankly, the technology – is making certain we act as responsible stewards, both of our portfolio companies, and our investors’ trust. That means establishing and adhering to best practices in a category that doesn’t have them – yet. It means taking a leadership role, but we’re confident that done right, this is going to be enormously positive not just for our companies and our investors, but for the whole sector.”
About Science, Inc.
Science Inc. is the disruptive media, marketing and brand building company that creates, invests, acquires and scales successful digital businesses. Science brings together the best ideas, talent, resources and financing through a centralized platform. The platform is leveraged to develop new businesses, provide emerging startups with operational strategy and capital and transform later-stage Internet ventures with new talent and innovation. The company has co-founded and invested in more than 70 companies, including Dollar Shave Club, DogVacay, HelloSociety, FameBit, Earny, Pray and Mammoth, the media company that reaches 30% of U.S. teens every month through social broadcasting and App Store top 100 apps like Wishbone and Yarn. For more information, visit science-inc.com.
About The Argon Group
The Argon Group (the "Group") is an investment bank with a focus on digital finance - the emerging cryptocurrency and token-based capital markets. The Group provides financial advisory, placement, and technology services to companies seeking to raise equity, debt, and non-dilutive capital. The Group develops technical placement solutions, including digital tokens powered by advanced smart contracts, which Argon operates through a digital asset placement platform TokenHub.com. For more information, please email info@argongroup.com, follow @theargongroup, visit www.argongroup.com.
Related Links
www.science-inc.com
Notice
The Science ICO tokens are being offered on a limited basis to a maximum of 99 accredited US investors under exemptions from registration with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation D, Section 506(c) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the rule promulgated thereunder. Only accredited investors within the US and non-US persons outside of the US will be eligible to purchase Science ICO tokens. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to purchase the Science ICO tokens, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of the Science ICO tokens in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Science ICO tokens have not and will not be registered under the Securities Act or other applicable state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the US absent registration or pursuant to an exemption from registration requirements of the Securities Act and under applicable state laws.