In the era of the “digital economy” and constant progress the financial sector is undergoing significant changes that have led to the emergence of a new financial instrument - crowdinvesting, which opens up access for non-professional investors to the investment process. However, it is important to keep in mind the fact that investing in start-ups and small businesses carries with appropriate knowledge. In this regard, there is a need to develop a methodology for assessing the risks associated with investing in crowdinvesting projects in order to protect the interests of non-professional investors from losing their investments. Equivalents of credit ratings, developed with regard to the characteristics of start-up companies, can be an effective valuation method.