KingsCrowd’s Founder Brings Data-Driven Expertise to Advance Borderless Equity Crowdfunding

The Global Equity Crowdfunding Alliance (GECA) is proud to announce that Chris Lustrino, Founder and CEO of KingsCrowd, has joined our steering committee as a strategic advisor. This appointment marks another significant milestone in GECA’s mission to create a truly connected, transparent global investment ecosystem.

A Distinguished Career in Financial Innovation

Chris Lustrino brings a unique combination of institutional finance expertise and entrepreneurial vision to GECA’s steering committee. His career journey from traditional private equity to pioneering equity crowdfunding analytics reflects the evolution of modern capital markets.

From Private Equity to Crowdfunding Innovation

Before founding KingsCrowd, Chris honed his analytical skills at L.E.K. Consulting from 2014 to 2017, where he conducted due diligence for private equity clients. This institutional background provided him with deep insights into investment evaluation methodologies that would later become foundational to KingsCrowd’s rating algorithms.

Following his consulting career, Chris demonstrated his startup acumen by supporting travel-tech company Freebird prior to the company’s acquisition by Capital One. This experience bridging traditional and innovative finance sectors positioned him perfectly to understand both sides of the investment equation.

Building the Industry’s Data Foundation

Recognizing the data gap in emerging crowdfunding markets, Chris founded KingsCrowd in 2018 with a bold vision: to make private markets “look and feel like the public equity markets” through comprehensive data and analytics. His commitment to transparency and democratized access has driven remarkable results:

  • $7 million raised from over 4,00+ investors, demonstrating strong market validation
  • 7 acquisitions rolling up the best in class services across consumer, institutional and advisory services in the equity crowdfunding space
  • 15 full-time staff building the industry’s most comprehensive database
  • $2M+ in AUM and nearly 60equity crowdfunding investments out of their innovative Kingscrowd Capital fund division
  • 10,000+ companies tracked across Reg CF and Reg A+ markets
  • $3+ billion in deals analyzed, providing unprecedented market insights

Media Recognition and Thought Leadership

Chris’s expertise extends beyond platform building to industry thought leadership. As founder of Simple.Innovative.Change, a fintech publication focused on alternative investments and lending, he established himself as a respected voice in the space. His analytical reporting and market insights earned him recognition as a finalist for the 2018 LendIt Fintech Journalist of the Year.

Transforming Private Markets Through Data

“Companies are staying private longer, and retail investors are finally gaining access to opportunities that used to be reserved for venture capitalists,” Chris explained during a recent industry presentation. “The landscape has shifted, and data is playing a bigger role than ever in helping investors and founders make informed decisions.”

Strategic Acquisitions and Market Leadership

Under Chris’s leadership, KingsCrowd has achieved remarkable growth, serving tens of thousands of investors as well as hundreds of founders and institutions alike. The company’s recent strategic acquisitions of CrowdCheck, the leading legal advisory firm for investment crowdfunding, and Lustro, a premier investor relations platform, demonstrate Chris’s vision for comprehensive market infrastructure.

These moves position KingsCrowd to serve the entire lifecycle of equity crowdfunding -from deal structuring and SEC filings to ongoing investor relations – while providing the data backbone that powers informed investment decisions across the ecosystem.

Aligning with GECA’s Global Mission

Chris’s appointment comes at a crucial time as equity crowdfunding markets mature globally. His expertise in democratizing access to private market investments through data transparency aligns perfectly with GECA’s commitment to breaking down barriers in cross-border investment.

“We’re building toward a truly borderless investment ecosystem,” Chris noted, “and the addition of comprehensive data and analytics strengthens both our reach and our ability to create real-world outcomes for investors and founders worldwide.”

Beyond Traditional Venture Capital

Through KingsCrowd’s research, Chris has demonstrated that successful equity crowdfunding extends far beyond consumer products or “friends and family” rounds. The platform’s data reveals that over 500 companies with revenues between $1 million and $300 million have successfully raised capital through crowdfunding, challenging traditional notions about when and how companies should seek public investment.

“This isn’t just about filling gaps between traditional funding rounds,” Chris emphasizes. “We’re seeing established companies with real traction choosing crowdfunding as a strategic tool for growth, community building, and long-term investor engagement.”

A Data-Driven Future

As GECA continues expanding its global footprint, Chris’s expertise in quantitative analysis and market intelligence will prove invaluable. His pioneering work in developing proprietary rating algorithms and AI-powered investment tools positions GECA’s members to benefit from cutting-edge approaches to deal evaluation and market analysis.

The KingsCrowd Capital fund, which uses data-driven algorithms to invest in highly-rated startups, exemplifies the type of innovation that can accelerate GECA’s vision of efficient, transparent global markets.

Looking Forward

With Chris Lustrino and other recent high-profile strategic appointments to our steering committee, GECA is building the intellectual foundation needed to navigate the complex challenges of international regulatory harmonization, cross-border investment facilitation, and market standardization.

“The future of private market investing is digital, data-driven, and global,” Chris concluded. “I’m excited to work with GECA’s network to ensure that future benefits investors and entrepreneurs everywhere.”

As we welcome Chris to our steering committee, we’re reminded that the path to borderless equity crowdfunding requires not just regulatory innovation, but also the data infrastructure and analytical tools that enable confident, informed investment decisions across markets and jurisdictions.

The Global Equity Crowdfunding Alliance (GECA) is an international organization dedicated to advancing regulatory harmonization, market development, and best practices in equity crowdfunding worldwide. Learn more at thegeca.org.

Contact: For media inquiries about GECA’s steering committee appointments and global initiatives, please contact andrew@thegeca.org

Want to join GECA’s mission? Visit here – to learn about membership opportunities for platforms, service providers, and industry stakeholders.