BrewDog, the largest independent brewery in the UK today, last week announced a new equity crowdfunding offer that if fully funded will become the UK record holder for a direct issuer. BrewDog wants to raise £25 million via crowdfunding – something that is indicative of the growing importance of raising capital online. The “Equity for Punks” campaign is old hat for the iconoclastic business – this will be their 4th go of asking their consumers to invest in their future (and to keep drinking their brews too).
James Watt, one of the BrewDog founders, visited the studios of Closing Bell on CNBC to share their vision. Asked if the crowdfunding campaign was due to difficulties in raising capital from institutions and funds, Watt explains,”We did not want to use venture capitalists, investment bankers … we did not want to take on a parent company, we wanted the people that own our company to be as passionate about beer as we are.” BrewDog wants to introduce a new approach to small business finance. While this may be heresy for traditional bankers it has been effective for the successful BrewDog brewery. Having 15,000 investors is viewed as also having 15,000 brand ambassadors and fans. Shame we cannot easily purchase shares in the States.
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