Vicinity

Yes, in the sense that matters for a crowdfunding portal: Vicinity LLC is registered with the SEC as a funding portal (007-00223) and is a FINRA member, its registration discloses no disciplinary history, and AltStreet located no regulatory action or lawsuit naming it, VentureSouth or the funds, or naming their principals in connection with them. As a funding portal it must screen issuers and their insiders for disqualifying history and fraud risk, but that is not a recommendation: the FAQ says 'Each company provides their own information and they vouch for themselves', and many issuers stop reporting after the raise.

Vicinity is the Regulation Crowdfunding side: public offerings any US adult can invest in, usually local businesses and real estate. VentureSouth is the accredited, invitation-only angel network ($3,000 a year) that invests in early-stage technology companies with sidecar funds. They combined in 2025 under Vicinity Ventures, Inc.

Issuers pay 6% of the amount raised in cash and 2% in the securities they sell, plus $3,000 for a Testing the Waters page. Investors pay nothing up front and 1% of any payments they later receive. Venture Club costs $49 a month or $500 a year and VentureSouth $275 a month or $3,000 a year. VentureSouth's sidecar funds charge a 2% management fee on a step-down basis.

Extra securities the issuer gives some investors at no added cost, in the same class: 5% more for Venture Club members ($500 a year) and 10% more for VentureSouth members ($3,000 a year). Some offerings also give size or timing bonuses to anyone, and some switch the membership bonus off; the offer page and Form C say which. A non-member gets about 9.1% fewer securities than a VentureSouth member for the same check. The bonus is in private securities, not cash: on $10,000 invested, a 5% bonus is nominally $500, the cost of a year of Venture Club.

About $19.8 million across 40 Reg CF issuers from 2020 to November 2026, from the issuers' progress updates or the marketplace's totals, plus $799,000 that two issuers state only in their annual reports. The largest raises are Trueline-Greenville ($5.0 million) and Windjammer Sailing ($3.17 million); the median closed raise is $254,650. VentureSouth reports more than $100 million invested by its members since 2008, separately.

There is no public record either way. AltStreet located no public repayment, distribution or exit history for any Reg CF issuer in the sources reviewed, and 16 of 22 closed issuers with an annual report due missed at least one. VentureSouth reports 'over 30 exited companies' and $8.7 million of 2025 proceeds against $8.4 million invested, and shares detailed results with members only.

Not easily. For the first year, Reg CF securities can be transferred only to the issuer, an accredited investor, a family member or in a registered offering. After that the Reg CF restriction ends, but the issuer's documents may still restrict transfers, and the FAQ says 'There is not a developed secondary market'. You can cancel a commitment up to 48 hours before the offering closes.

In escrow with North Capital Private Securities Corporation until the target is met; if it is not met, the money is refunded.

In VentureSouth Funds' Form ADV of February 14, 2024, all seven funds it advises reported no annual audit. That is the latest Form ADV located, so whether any fund has been audited since is not public; ask VentureSouth.

Reg CF offerings currently set minimums of $1,000 to $2,500. VentureSouth members invest at least $5,000 per deal; the sidecar funds required $25,000 to $50,000, and the Mallard Fund $250,000.

The officers and directors on Vicinity Ventures Inc.'s Form D are Matt Dunbar, Paul Clark and Charlie Banks (VentureSouth co-founders), Joshua Rollins and John Crawford (Vicinity Capital co-founders) and Wilson Hunter.