Only a year after its launch, Anton Gelman's young technology company secured its first round of investment in January and he is already laying the groundwork for a second, much larger injection of capital.

His company, which provides a platform for freelance photographers and video journalists to pitch their content to major news outlets, and has its sights set on a niche group of backers — those with a passion for free press and the evolution of journalism. But Gelman is constrained by financing laws, which prevent entrepreneurs from touting their private equity offerings to the mass market.

"It's nearly impossible to target investors who are not already familiar with your company, especially if you're looking for ones who have specific interests," Gelman, founder and chief executive of Washington-based Cont3nt.com, said in an interview. "So at the moment, we're very limited in our ability to reach out to the people we need."