Crowdfunding Has Never Been This Easy

Invst Guru is your bi-weekly digest that explores the dynamics of equity crowdfunding. Delivered every Wednesday and Sunday, we connect startups with the power of the crowd and provide investors with access to groundbreaking ventures.

In each issue of Invst Guru, we'll spotlight the latest trends, share success stories, and offer insights from industry leaders. We aim to equip you with the knowledge and opportunities to participate effectively in equity crowdfunding, whether you're looking to fund your innovative startup or invest in potential unicorns.

📬 Deal in Focus: Thin Blue Wine

A mission-driven wine label turning bottles into badges of honor and donations.

“In vino veritas.” In wine, there is truth.

And sometimes, there’s a purpose too.

Let’s open this week’s spotlight with a story not about technology but legacy: how one California wine company is using something as timeless as Cabernet to fuel something as sacred as remembrance.

Thin Blue Wine, based in Paso Robles, CA, is blending its mission with the marketplace's. The brand donates $2 per bottle sold to charities supporting families of fallen law enforcement officers, turning every glass poured into a gesture of solidarity.

In an industry full of novelty flavors and influencer-backed labels, this company is proving that purpose, not gimmicks, can drive loyalty — and growth.

🍷 What Thin Blue Wine Does

Thin Blue Wine is a boutique wine brand founded by Michele and David Harrington, a husband-wife team with deep ties to public service, entrepreneurship, and community leadership. Each bottle sold contributes $2 directly to vetted nonprofits supporting law enforcement families. These aren’t donation-based perks; this is real, consumer-grade wine, bottled with meaning in partnership with Paso Robles winemakers.

Customers aren’t just buying wine. They’re honoring a legacy. Toasting a fallen comrade, sending a retirement gift that resonates.

🧩 The Bigger Problem: Mission Fatigue in Wine

Let’s face it, the U.S. wine market is oversaturated, with over 11,000 wineries competing for shelf space and mindshare. Many brands rely on surface-level differentiation, such as canned cocktails, celebrity endorsements, or glitter-infused rosé.

Thin Blue Wine goes deeper. It speaks directly to a well-defined, values-aligned audience: law enforcement professionals, their families, and supporters.

Why it works:

• 🎯 Clear audience focus — not trying to please everyone.

• 💸 Quantifiable impact — $2 per bottle donated, with public-facing nonprofit partnerships.

• 🚫 No hype — grassroots over glamour, mission over marketing stunts.

💡 The Business Model

Thin Blue Wine’s growth model is a modern direct-to-consumer (DTC) approach backed by thoughtful brand extension:

This hybrid structure helps Thin Blue Wine minimize reliance on digital ads and instead tap into authentic, word-of-mouth community marketing.

🧪 Market Opportunity: Where Wine Meets Identity

Younger consumers are drinking less wine, but they're drinking more intentionally. According to Nielsen, 73% of millennials are willing to pay more for brands that support causes they believe in.

Meanwhile:

• U.S. wine sales top $53B annually.

• The DTC wine channel continues to grow post-COVID.

• Over 800,000 active U.S. law enforcement officers represent a powerful niche market with deep affinity and trust networks.

Thin Blue Wine isn’t trying to convert Whole Foods shoppers. It’s earning loyalty from those who see wine as more than a flavor; they see it as a statement.

🔧 Infrastructure & Fulfillment

Behind the scenes, Thin Blue Wine is tech-enabled and legally fortified:

• Shopify storefront for mobile-first shopping

• 3PL partnerships for compliant alcohol fulfillment

• State-by-state shipping compliance managed through licensed providers

• Email + merch funnels for list growth and repeat buyer conversion

This stack isn’t flashy, it’s built to scale with operational precision.

🧬 Meet the Founders: Michele & David Harrington

Michele Harrington, CEO, Board Member

Michele is a Winery Owner, Author, and Entrepreneur passionate about helping others achieve their dreams. She enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving as a C-130 aircraft mechanic while earning her degree from Chapman University.

After building and selling her own real estate company, Michele became CEO of California's largest privately held real estate firm. A devoted mother of five, including two adopted children from Ethiopia, Michele leads Thin Blue Wine with the discipline of a Marine and the heart of a mission-driven entrepreneur.

David Harrington — President, Board Member

David served with the Orange County Sheriff's Department for nearly three decades, retiring as a Sergeant in 2013. He later served two terms as mayor in his local city of California, where he focused on civic growth and safety.

In 2019, David and Michele co-founded Thin Blue Wine Cellars, inspired by a shared love of fine wine and one unforgettable 1995 bottle of Opus. For David, it’s not just about wine. It’s about continuing a lifetime of service, reimagined through craftsmanship and community.

⏰ What’s Next

Thin Blue Wine is currently raising capital through a Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF) campaign on StartEngine.

Funds from this community round are intended to:

• Expand production capacity to meet demand

• Scale marketing across LEO networks nationwide

• Launch special-edition co-branded bottles with department partners

• Pilot regional retail placements with mission-aligned vendors

🌐 Why This Matters in the Reg CF Ecosystem

Thin Blue Wine isn’t the most extensive campaign on StartEngine. It’s not pitching a blockchain-powered future or AI-driven wine analysis.

What it is doing is showcasing the true strength of community-based capital:

• 🔒 Trust from within a niche audience

• ❤️ A purpose-driven product with recurring purchase appeal

• 📢 Organic advocacy from customers who become believers

It’s a reminder that equity crowdfunding isn’t just about trends. It’s about unlocking ownership for people who care.

📎 Want to Learn More?

Explore the official campaign, read the SEC filings, and review the full set of risk disclosures here:
👉 Thin Blue Wine on StartEngine

💬 Your Turn

Would you invest in a wine brand that toasts to remembrance?

What communities do you think are still underserved by the traditional venture ecosystem?

Hit reply and share your take, we feature thoughtful responses in next week’s issue.

🛡 Required Legal Disclaimers

Today’s Sponsors 💰

Apple's New Smart Display Confirms What This Startup Knew All Along

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When Apple moves in, it doesn’t just join the market — it transforms it.

One company has been quietly preparing for this moment.

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Act Fast- Apple’s Halo effect is coming

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