Investing in early-stage and other growth-focussed businesses can be very rewarding, but it involves risks and challenges. GyroGear is an early-stage company particularly focused in alleviating the debilitation wrought by hand tremors.

This page provides a brief outline of common risks associated with any investment. The information here does not constitute legal or financial advice. Please seek relevant professional advice where appropriate.

Here are five considerations when investing in early-stage startups:

Most early-stage businesses and many other growth-focussed businesses do not succeed. You should not invest more money in the types of businesses displayed on the platform than you can afford to lose without altering your standard of living.

Investment in early-stage startups are often highly illiquid. It is very unlikely that there will be a liquid secondary market for the shares of the business. This means you should assume that you will be unlikely to be able to sell your shares until and unless the business floats on a stock exchange or is bought by another company; and, even if the business is bought by another company or floats, your investment may continue to be illiquid. Even for a successful business, a flotation or purchase is unlikely to occur for a number of years from the time you make your investment. For businesses for which secondary market opportunities are available, it can be difficult to find a buyer or seller, and investors should not assume that an early exit will be available just because a secondary market exists.

Early-stage businesses rarely pay dividends. This means that if you invest in a business through the platform, even if it is successful you are unlikely to see any return of capital or profit until you are able to sell your shares. Even for a successful business, this is unlikely to occur for a number of years from the time you make your investment.

Any investment you make in an early-stage business is likely to be subject to dilution, given the likelihood of subsequent funding requirements. This means that if the business raises additional capital at a later date, it will issue new shares to the new investors, and the percentage of the business that you own will decline. These new shares may also have certain preferential rights to dividends, sale proceeds and other matters, and the exercise of these rights may work to your disadvantage. Your investment may also be subject to dilution as a result of the grant of options (or similar rights to acquire shares) to employees of, service providers to or certain other contacts of, the business.

If you choose to invest in early-stage businesses, such investments should only be made as part of a well-diversified portfolio. This means that you should invest only a relatively small portion of your investable capital in such businesses, and the majority of your investable capital should be invested in safer, more liquid assets. It also means that you should spread your investment between multiple businesses rather than investing a larger amount in just a few.