NCC NEWS: New Columbia Capital CEO Sean O’Reilly shares insights on side-by-side offering strategies during a Crowdfunding Professional Association webinar.

NCC CEO Sean O'Reilly recently participated in a panel discussion hosted by the Crowdfunding Professional Association (CfPA) on side-by-side offerings—specifically, how growth-stage companies can strategically layer Regulation CF and Rule 506(c) offerings to access both community capital and institutional investment simultaneously.

The webinar, "Side-by-Side Offerings: Can Reg CF Work Alongside Other Capital-Raising Paths?" drew hundreds of founders, advisors, and capital-raising professionals examining the mechanics and business rationale for running concurrent exempt offerings.

"Most founders come to us thinking raising money is just raising money," O'Reilly shared during the panel. "What they don't realize is that choosing an exemption early locks you into communication constraints, investor eligibility rules, and marketing pathways. Get it wrong, and you've severely limited your options."

THE REG CF + 506(C) OPPORTUNITY

O'Reilly highlighted the strategic power of pairing Regulation CF with Rule 506(c)—a combination that allows companies to:

• Build community capital and brand visibility through public Reg CF campaigns (up to $5M, smaller checks, retail/angel investors)

• Simultaneously capture institutional accredited capital through private 506(c) offerings (no cap, larger checks, institutional investors)

• Compress fundraising timelines by running both tracks in parallel rather than sequentially

• Achieve a healthier cap table mix—typically 30-40% community, 60-70% institutional—that validates demand while securing serious capital

"This pairing is designed to stack," O'Reilly explained. "One allows public solicitation, one is accredited-only, and together they hit your full investor spectrum. We've closed raises 2-3x faster using this parallel approach than we would have using a single exemption."

WHY IT WORKS

The Reg CF + 506(c) combination leverages the strengths of each:

Reg CF brings market validation, founder narrative, and brand momentum—critical for consumer-facing, high-growth companies. It's permissive on marketing and accessible to retail investors. But it caps at $5M and requires 21+ days minimum offering period.

Rule 506(c) attracts serious institutional capital—hedge funds, angel syndicates, family offices—who see your Reg CF momentum and want in. It allows general solicitation (critical for scaling), requires accreditation verification, and has no offering limit. It closes faster than Reg CF and commands larger checks.

Together, they're not competing—they're complementary. Your community validates product-market fit; your institutions provide the capital to execute.

AVOIDING THE TRAPS

O'Reilly also warned against common missteps:

Never pair Reg CF with Rule 506(b). "506(b) prohibits general solicitation," he noted. "If you're running a public Reg CF campaign on social media and press, you've engaged in general solicitation. That taints your 506(b) track through integration risk. Pick one path or the other—don't mix them."

For most growth-stage companies raising $5M-$10M, the playbook is clear: Reg CF + 506(c). For companies raising under $2M with a warm network and no marketing appetite, 506(b) alone works. For companies raising $20M+, Regulation A Tier 2 with a 506(c) institutional layer makes sense.

"Your exemption choice constrains everything else," O'Reilly said. "Pick it early, pick it right."

NCC'S EXPERTISE IN PARALLEL OFFERINGS

New Columbia Capital has spent years building expertise in Reg CF campaign management and 506(c) investor outreach for growth-stage companies. We manage the parallel infrastructure—separate legal tracks, cap table allocation, investor routing, compliance documentation—so founders can focus on their business.

We've successfully executed:

• Multi-million-dollar Reg CF campaigns with platform partners like Wefunder and KingsCrowd

• Concurrent 506(c) institutional raises targeting family offices, angel syndicates, and high-net-worth platforms

• Cross-track investor routing and documentation to minimize integration risk

• Cap table integration and close management for parallel offerings

WHETHER YOU'RE RAISING $2M OR $10M—and whether you're exploring Reg CF, 506(c), or both—our team can help you navigate the exemption landscape and structure an offering strategy that actually works.

READY TO DISCUSS YOUR RAISE?

If you're a growth-stage company considering Reg CF, 506(c), or a parallel offering strategy, we'd love to talk through your options.

Schedule a discovery call with our team: https://calendly.com/d/cr5v-xj9-wjp/ncc-discovery-call

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About New Columbia Capital

New Columbia Capital is a boutique investment banking firm focused on private capital raises and M&A advisory for growth-stage companies. We specialize in equity crowdfunding campaign management, 506(c) investor outreach, and multi-exemption offering strategies. Based in Arlington, VA, we work with founders and companies nationwide.

Learn more at newcolumbiacap.com or contact our team.

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Webinar Details

"Side-by-Side Offerings: Can Reg CF Work Alongside Other Capital-Raising Paths?"

Crowdfunding Professional Association

August 19, 2026

Panelists:

• Sean O'Reilly, Founder & CEO, New Columbia Capital

• Marty Tate, Partner, Massey Bean & Lewis

• Brian Christie, Vice Chair 2026, Crowdfunding Professional Association (Moderator)