Setting the Record Straight: A Fact-Based Response on PopCom

I founded PopCom in 2017 with a simple belief: that innovation, AI, and access to customer data can change the future of retail. In 2019, recognizing the inequalities in raising capital and the lack of access everyday, non-accredited investors had to participate in early-stage wealth creation, I decided to open PopCom to equity crowdfunding. It was important to me that anyone who believed in this vision could own a piece of it. As a result, we secured investment from people in 38 states and 12 countries, and I became the first female founder globally to raise over $1 million in a secure token offering and Regulation Crowdfunding under the JOBS Act.

Crowdfunding gave PopCom a high level of visibility, but it also required me to operate with extraordinary transparency-more than is expected of most early-stage founders. I embraced that responsibility because I believe that if I ask the public to support my vision, then I owe the public and my investors clear communication and accountability.

Recently, an article was published about PopCom that contained inaccuracies and omitted critical facts. Although it was not widely circulated, I understand how rumors can gain traction, especially when people outside the PopCom community may not have the full context of our journey, our challenges, and our progress. In the spirit of transparency and to ensure accurate information is available, I am addressing the claims directly.

THE TRUTH ABOUT POPCOM’S FUNDING AND OPERATIONAL HISTORY

PopCom has raised capital through several SEC-regulated crowdfunding rounds. Every offering was fully reviewed by legal counsel, filed through compliant platforms, and supported by audited financials. The article claims the funds we raised “ cannot be accounted for.”

That assertion is false.

✔ Financials were audited and filed with the SEC

PopCom completed full audited financial statements for multiple years. These audits detail:

• How much capital was actually received after fees
• How funds were used
• Payroll, R&D, manufacturing, engineering, legal, accounting, and operations expenses
• The assets created with investor capital
• These documents have been publicly uploaded for years through our offering circulars and annual reports.

WHAT POPCOM BUILT WITH INVESTOR CAPITAL

The claim that PopCom has “ no product, no machines, no assets “ is factually incorrect.

✔ Hardware Assets

PopCom built:

These machines were manufactured through Chapco/FastCorp, a U.S.-based manufacturer, under legally binding production contracts. They were stored securely during our operational pause and remain in excellent condition. I personally inspected them in October 2025.

✔ Software Platform

PopCom built a full proprietary software stack including:

• Computer vision analytics
• Age verification integrations
• Customer traffic data
• Remote device management
• Transaction dashboards
• Enterprise-level API support

These systems were deployed in real customer environments.

✔ Enterprise Customers & Pilots

PopCom worked with several enterprise partners, including:

• E. & J. Gallo Winery (multi-year development and pilot agreement). California Alcoholic Beverage Control approval for automated alcohol retail was secured by E. & J. Gallo Winery specifically to deploy PopCom’s proprietary technology as the licensed operator.
• Ooredoo Qatar, where PopCom deployed a customized PopShop for their innovation showcase
• Partnerships with U.S. manufacturers and engineering firms (Chapco, Big Kitty Labs, StoneHouse IT)

These contracts resulted in real prototypes, deployments, hardware production, and software engineering work. Everything PopCom built was real, documented, and contractual.

THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 AND GLOBAL MANUFACTURING DISRUPTIONS

The pandemic disrupted every part of our operational plan:

• Our team moved to remove work in March 2020, the office/showroom remained open
• Our manufacturing supply chain in China collapsed
• We had to relocate production to the U.S., resulting in significantly higher costs
• Movie theaters shut down, pausing the Gallo deployment
• Our manufacturer experienced severe delays, requiring legal intervention and eventual settlement

Despite these setbacks, we continued building, communicated consistently with investors, and preserved company assets.

INVESTOR COMMUNICATION HAS BEEN CONSISTENT AND DOCUMENTED

The article suggests PopCom went silent. That is inaccurate.

✔ Since 2019, PopCom has consistently communicated through:

• A private PopCom Investor Facebook Group with over 2,700 members, where updates have been shared regularly for six years
• A private YouTube channel where all investor town halls and meetings are recorded and accessible
• An email distribution list of 8,800+ investors and supporters, with open rates above 50%
• SEC-filed annual reports and offering circulars
• Thousands of investors have consistently received updates, joined town halls, watched videos, and interacted in our community.

MY PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO POPCOM AND OUR INVESTORS

Founders who mismanage funds do not:

• Donate 5 million shares back to their own company
• Loan their company $50,000 of personal capital
• Sign personal guarantees on business credit cards
• Endure personal lawsuits (Amex, JobsOhio, office lease) tied to the company’s financial struggles
• Work without salary for years to keep the business alive
• Liquidate personal assets to sustain operations

I did all of the above because I believed in PopCom and because I take my responsibility to my investors seriously. The suggestion that I used PopCom funds to “move to Africa” or invest in real estate is completely false. Over the last two decades, I have earned income independently through my consulting and speaking work under D1 Consulting Group, which has consistently supported my family and me outside of PopCom’s operations. In addition, in 2021, I sold a portion of my founder shares to a Board member, which provided the personal liquidity needed to diversify my investments and create long-term financial stability for my retirement. None of these activities was connected to PopCom’s capital or investor funds in any way. My personal credit, finances, and reputation suffered because I overleveraged myself by refusing to walk away from the company or its obligations.

WHERE POPCOM IS TODAY

In 2025, PopCom resumed operations:

• We have regained access to all machines in storage
• We are preparing for deployment with a new partner
• We are refining our software for modern retail environments
• We are relaunching the company with the lessons and resilience gained from the past eight years with the same partners and development team.
• We are working to resolve any outstanding obligations.
• We are currently raising $500,000 with a full exit strategy in place- https://www.picmiicrowdfunding.com/deal/PopCom/

WHY I AM ADDRESSING THIS NOW

I believe founders who raise from the public have an obligation to respond publicly when misinformation arises. I also believe in accountability-mine and everyone else’s.

The article requested investor feedback. I welcome accountability and transparency, and I encourage any investor who has received updates, emails, or participated in our community to share their experience directly with the author at report@cfwatchdog.com.

PopCom’s story is one of innovation, resilience, and unwavering commitment, not disappearance or misconduct.

This rebuttal is not just a response-it’s a reaffirmation of the values on which I founded this company.

Thank you for allowing me to clarify the facts.

Sincerely,

Dawn Dickson

Founder & CEO of PopCom

CONTINUE TO THE NEXT POST FOR A FULL DETAILED RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS PRESENTED IN THE ARTICLE

Originally published at https://thedawndickson.substack.com.