Debt-based crowdfunding platform ECrowd! is one of the first Spanish sites to receive a formal operating license from the Comision del Mercado de Valores (CNMV), the securities regulatory agency in Spain. ECrowd!, based in Barcelona, has joined Crowdcube Spain, Lendix and MyTripleA in receiving official approval as a Collaborative Finance Platform under regulations enacted in 2015.
Upon receipt of the approval earlier this month, Matthieu van Haperen, CEO of ECrowd!, stated;
“This is obviously a very important step for us as it validates the thoroughness of the processes we have put in place within ECrowd! to fully comply with the regulation and being able to continue to operate as an authorised entity. However, at least as important as the stamp of approval given by the authorities, is the fact that we can now demonstrate to all our existing and future clients that we operate in a fully regulated environment. When it comes to investments, trust is paramount for all parties. In this aspect, the licensing process is absolutely essential to the healthy growth of our industry.”
Jordi Solé Muntada, COO of ECrowd! called the approval a “momentous achievement” for ECrowd!. He stated they were on track to achieve 100% growth during 2016.
ECrowd! is a debt-based impact crowdfunding platform that helps to finance projects that are profitable and generate a positive impact on society or the environment. Examples of such investments can be in energy efficiency, renewable energy or community-based projects.
Cofounded by van Haperan and Muntada, van Haperan worked for over 6 years in the renewable energy sector as a founder/director of Solariza Energía. Before that he worked in strategy consulting at McKinsey&Co, and at ABB. Muntada is an economist with an MBA from the Pompeu Fabra University and a european financial analyst (CEFA). For more than 18 years he has worked as credit risk analyst in the banking sector, analyzing companies and projects.
