Seedrs, one of the leading equity crowdfunding platforms in the United Kingdom, has surpassed another milestone. The young company recently announced their 100th deal for companies offering up equity on their investment platform. This revelation is accompanied by the fact that deal flow is increasing; with over half of these offers occurring in the past 6 months. The innovative platform is now averaging over £1 million invested per month in successfully funded campaigns. Seedrs stated;
“We’re proud of where we have gotten to, but this is only the very beginning.”
The encouraging numbers from Seedrs is indicative of the growing acceptance of early stage investing by a wider public. Investment opportunities as provided by Seedrs was previously the realm of the wealthy few. The United Kingdom has led the way in the global crowdfunding movement. Seedrs, alongside similar sites, has set an example for the world on the possibilities of investment crowdfunding – matching interested investors to small companies in need of capital. As the US regulatory environment has been challenged to allow non accredited investors access to equity offerings previously allowed only to the very wealthy – the UK has charged ahead proving success in funding innovative companies while creating new jobs – and perhaps new industries.
For 2013, according to research by Nesta, equity crowdfunding raised £28 million. A small portion of early stage investing but expectations are for this number to increase rapidly. Current run rates in the UK indicate that for 2014 over £40 million (and probably much more) will be invested via this new approach to funding.