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Devin: What is your superpower?

Dawson: Recognizing strengths.

Storytelling is the beating heart of successful investment crowdfunding. While some founders focus on financial returns, the most effective campaigns connect with investors through powerful, resonant narratives. Dawson Russell, CEO and Co-Founder of RaiseLaunch, has mastered this craft, helping clients raise millions by making their stories irresistible.

Dawson explains that campaigns often fail because their story doesn’t resonate with potential investors. "If they can't resonate with it, they're not going to invest," he says. For him, it’s about taking a founder’s vision and shaping it into messaging that makes an investor think, I believe in what you're doing. I want to be a part of that.

His work on the Boxable campaign illustrates the power of this approach. Boxable, a company revolutionizing housing affordability, raised over $150 million in part thanks to a compelling AI-driven video ad Dawson’s team created in less than 24 hours. By harnessing AI tools like Google Veo 3, 11 Labs, and Suno, he demonstrated that great storytelling doesn’t require massive budgets—it requires creativity, clarity, and emotional connection.

In today’s episode, Dawson revealed a shift in investor priorities he’s witnessed since moving from traditional accredited-investor fundraising to Regulation CF and Regulation A offerings. Many crowdfunding investors care less about immediate financial returns and more about supporting a vision they believe in. They want to join a movement, not just fund a company.

For founders, the lesson is clear: numbers matter, but stories move people to act. Whether you hire a firm like RaiseLaunch or DIY with affordable AI tools, invest in crafting a story that makes investors feel they’re contributing to something bigger than themselves.

Dawson’s results prove that a well-told story can turn even modest campaigns into runaway successes. For anyone considering a regulated investment crowdfunding raise, his example offers a blueprint for winning hearts, minds, and capital.

tl;dr:

Dawson Russell shares how compelling storytelling drives successful regulated crowdfunding campaigns, winning investor support through emotional connection.

He explains that many crowdfunding investors value vision and impact more than immediate financial returns.

Dawson details creating Boxable’s AI-powered ad in under 24 hours, demonstrating cost-effective, high-quality content production.

He reveals his superpower of recognizing strengths, focusing RaiseLaunch on storytelling and go-to-market strategy.

Dawson offers advice on leveraging strengths, delegating weaknesses, and aligning work with values to achieve lasting impact.

How to Develop Recognizing Strengths As a Superpower

Dawson described his superpower as the ability to recognize strengths—both his own and those of his team. "You’ve got to recognize what are your strengths and what are your weaknesses and surround people around you that can help," he said. For Dawson, this focus has meant honing in on storytelling and creative strategy for crowdfunding campaigns, rather than trying to "do everything." This clarity has allowed RaiseLaunch to excel by working only on projects that are a strong cultural and skill fit.

Illustrative Story: Several years ago, Dawson realized his agency was stretched too thin, taking on all types of projects. The lack of focus led to unsatisfying work and dropped commitments. The turning point came when he decided to narrow RaiseLaunch’s offerings to their strongest capabilities—storytelling and go-to-market strategy for regulated crowdfunding. This shift not only improved client satisfaction but also fueled the company’s growth. The same strength in recognizing trends led him to adopt AI tools early, helping clients like Boxable create high-impact campaigns quickly and affordably.

Tips for Developing This Superpower:

Regularly evaluate your own strengths and weaknesses with honesty

Delegate or outsource tasks that fall outside your top skills

Look for patterns of success in your past work to identify focus areas

Stay ahead of trends in your industry to align your strengths with future opportunities

Work only with clients, partners, or projects that align with your values and culture

By following Dawson’s example and advice, you can make recognizing strengths a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.

Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!

Guest Profile

Dawson Russell (he/him):

CEO and Co-Founder, RaiseLaunch

About RaiseLaunch: RaiseLaunch is a capital raise marketing agency that helps issuers craft compelling investor stories, build high-conversion funnels, and scale Reg CF, Reg D, and Reg A campaigns with strategy, creative, and automation.

Website: raiselaunch.com

X/Twitter Handle: @dawsonrussell

Biographical Information: Dawson Russell is the founder of RaiseLaunch, bringing over 15 years of experience in capital raise marketing, having helped issuers raise more than $1.5 billion by combining storytelling, strategic positioning, and AI-powered campaigns to connect founders with the right investors.

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/dawsonrussell

Instagram Handle: @dawsonrussell

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Upcoming SuperCrowd Event Calendar

If a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.

Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on August 19, 2025, at 1:30 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.

SuperCrowdHour, August 20, 2025, at 12:00 PM Eastern. Devin Thorpe, CEO and Founder of The Super Crowd, Inc., will lead a session on "Your Portal, Your Future: How to Choose the Right Reg CF Platform." With so many investment crowdfunding portals available today, selecting the right one can be overwhelming for both founders and investors. In this session, Devin will break down the critical factors to consider—such as platform fees, audience demographics, compliance support, industry focus, and overall user experience. Whether you're a founder planning a raise or an investor exploring where to put your dollars to work, you’ll walk away with a clearer understanding of how to evaluate and choose the platform that best aligns with your goals. Don’t miss this practical, insight-packed hour designed to help you take your next step in the Reg CF ecosystem with confidence.

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Successful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events.

NEIGHBR Live Webinar, in partnership with FundingHope, will share NEIGHBR’s story with a wider audience — September 3 at 11 AM EST. Reserve your spot today!

Regulated Investment Crowdfunding Summit 2025, Crowdfunding Professional Association, Washington DC, October 21-22, 2025.

Impact Accelerator Summit is a live in-person event taking place in Austin, Texas, from October 23–25, 2025. This exclusive gathering brings together 100 heart-centered, conscious entrepreneurs generating $1M+ in revenue with 20–30 family offices and venture funds actively seeking to invest in world-changing businesses. Referred by Michael Dash, participants can expect an inspiring, high-impact experience focused on capital connection, growth, and global impact.

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