With venture capital increasingly more difficult to secure, many startups are taking a different route to the top: crowdfunding.

Online platforms like Wefunder make it simple for retail investors to invest in community rounds for as little as $100. 

To date, the platform has secured more than 500,000 investors, which has led to $673 million raised. 

Here are the hottest investment opportunities on Wefunder for the week of Halloween.

Don’t Miss:

• Get equity and front row seats to the startups and small businesses you love —⁠ for as little as $100.

Reel Paper

Toilet paper, despite seeming innocuous, is unsustainable because of the widespread daily use and reliance on virgin trees for its production. This demand contributes to destroying ancient forests for a product used once and then flushed away.

Reel Paper is looking to change the way toilet paper is produced.

Here are a few of the many highlights of Reel Paper's flagship product:

• Made from sustainably sourced bamboo fiber
• Three-ply composition for premium-level strength and softness  
• Plastic-free packaging
• Modern, contemporary design  
• Septic-safe
• Lint- and dust-free
• BPA free  
• No inks or dyes

Since its founding, gross revenue has nearly doubled with the company projecting $18 million in 2023. With the brand sold in Target stores — along with other retail outlets — there's plenty of room for growth. 

Reel Paper secured $1.14 million from 727 investors at a valuation cap of $55 million.

Olympian Motors

Olympian Motors is making strides in the U.S. automotive industry with its modular electric vehicles. By developing the Modular Vehicle-Drivetrain System (MVDS), the company has slashed tooling and machinery costs by roughly 80%, showcasing its innovative approach to vehicle production.

With a $17 million revenue pipeline and 276 preorders for the upcoming Model O1, Olympian Motors is gearing up to meet its fourth-quarter production capacity target of 320 electric vehicles (EVs). The venture has secured backing from renowned investors like Y Combinator and ClimateCAP, underscoring the market's confidence in its trajectory.

The company's founding team brings a wealth of experience from leading firms such as Tesla Inc. and Ford Motor Co. propelling its technical prowess. Partnerships with industry heavyweights like MIH-Foxconn and academic collaborations with Stanford and Columbia University further enhance its innovative edge.

Test drives in Brooklyn, New York, mark the beginning of Olympian Motors' ascent, with a full commercial launch in New York and California targeted for late 2023. Looking ahead, the company aims to capture a 7% share of the U.S. passenger-vehicle market by 2030, challenging incumbents like Ford and Rivian Automotive Inc.

Humanity

In simple terms, Humanity is an app that helps you monitor your rate of aging and shows you how to slow it down.

Created by founders with a track record of scaling apps to a billion users and successful exits, its exceptional user approval is reflected in a 4.8-star rating on the Apple App Store.

The app boasts superior engagement metrics, with 65% weekly active users and a remarkable 64% retention rate for premium subscribers after 12 weeks. It stands out with a premium subscription conversion rate 10 times the industry average and has been clinically proven to increase user movement by 15%.

Currently in partnership discussions with top health and wellness companies worldwide, the app's growth is supported by prominent investors like Seedcamp and OneWay Ventures.

Nearly 200 investors have invested $2.2 million in Humanity.