Investment Platforms and Marketplaces

February 28, 2016 @ 8:55 pm By JD Alois  |  

Global investment crowdfunding platform OurCrowd has invested in many innovative new firms but one sector has caught significant interest: Mobile Technology. The advent of the iPhone was a seminal occurrence that transferred a convenient communication device to mobile super-computer in your pocket.  The data crunching… Read More

February 27, 2016 @ 10:00 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

The global crowdfunding platform, Indiegogo, announced this week its new feature, “Secret Perks.” This will allow campaign organizers to reward early supporters and backers in a different kind of way. The Indiegogo team revealed in a blog post: “Not only will your backers receive an… Read More

February 27, 2016 @ 9:00 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

Earlier this week, crowdfunding portal Crowdfunder UK offered up some advice to campaign organizers looking to raise funds for political projects. The platform shared: “We’ve already raised over £500,000 for hundreds of political crowdfunding projects. There are a few considerations when fundraising for political projects and we’ve worked… Read More

February 27, 2016 @ 8:00 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

On Friday, crowdfunding giant Kickstarter announced a brand new feature called Recommendations. This section helps attract backers to campaigns that are more to their liking. Recommendations is described as a personalized entry point to discovering new projects that are specific to backers interests and tastes…. Read More

February 26, 2016 @ 1:20 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

With the 88th annual Academy Awards (Oscars) airing this Sunday evening, Kickstarter joined in on the event’s festivities by celebrating crowdfunding creators that have been nominated. The famous portal  revealed that since 2011 at least one Kickstarter-funded film has been nominated for an Oscar each… Read More

February 26, 2016 @ 10:13 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

LoanHero, a point of purchase lending platform, announced this week it has formed a partnership with hair removal provider, LaserAway. Through this partnership, LoanHero intends to grow its lending footprint in the alternative and elective healthcare vertical Todd Heckmann, owner of 23 LaserAway locations throughout the… Read More

February 26, 2016 @ 10:07 am By JD Alois  |  

Lending Club (NYSE: LC), the largest marketplace lending platform in the United States, has altered operations in light of concerns over the Madden vs. Midland decision delivered by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in May last year. This court case has cast a bit of… Read More

February 26, 2016 @ 9:25 am By JD Alois  |  

Hibernian FC has roots that go all the way back 1875, is raising capital and it is doing it online. The football club has partnered with ShareIn to allow fans to support the team not only in the stands but by purchasing up to 51% ownership… Read More

February 26, 2016 @ 8:29 am By Midori Yoshimura  |  

Estate Baron, an Australian real estate crowdfunding platform, now has no limit on the number of investors that can participate, which has allowed the company to bring the minimum investment down to $2,000. Founder Moresh Kokane explains this means Estate Baron has made one of the first… Read More

February 26, 2016 @ 8:09 am By JD Alois  |  

Crowdcube Spain has announced that is has received Catalan government accreditation from the Ministry of Business and Knowledge (ACCIÓ) as a quality platform for alternative funding. Crowdcube Spain is affiliated with Crowdcube UK – the largest investment crowdfunding platform in Great Britain. Since 2014, the… Read More

February 25, 2016 @ 4:31 pm By JD Alois  |  

Berlin-based Innovestment has announced the completion of the “First” crowdfunding offer to use a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) in Germany. Use of an SPV or similar structure is prevalent in some jurisdictions. Creating a single shareholder entity can drive benefits for the issuing firm.  One… Read More

February 25, 2016 @ 2:56 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

Money360, a commercial real estate online marketplace lending platform, announced on Thursday the appointment of Prathit V. Thaker joined as Chief Risk Officer, and Peter J. Margolin as Midwest Regional Director.  Thaker reportedly brings more than 20 years of commercial real estate finance experience, specializing… Read More

February 25, 2016 @ 12:43 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

Real estate crowdfunding platform, Sharestates, announced on Wednesday that an east coast private equity firm has selected the portal for the purchase of loans with a 2016 target of $60 million. According to Sharestates, this new partnership reinforces institutional recognition of its underwriting excellence, while… Read More

February 25, 2016 @ 10:31 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

Following the announcement that two animated Kickstarter-funded films have been recognized by The Academy, the crowdfunding giant’s film team has decided to reveal their cartoon movie favorites. Kickstarter’s Liz Cook, George Schmalz, and Dan Schoenbrun have put together a list of animated works that have… Read More

February 25, 2016 @ 9:24 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

On Wednesday, equity crowdfunding platform Crowdcube celebrated the winners of its 2015 awards. The annual event honors many businesses that have funded through the UK portal (which is also celebrating it fifth birthday). The Crowdcube crew previously stated: “The categories range from ‘Pitch of the Year’ and ‘Coolest Brand… Read More

February 25, 2016 @ 6:08 am By Erin Hobey  |  

Ablrate, the UK marketplace lender who specializes in asset-backed transactions, today announced its largest aircraft loan so far has reached its £1.8 million target within 13 days. This  most recent loan takes Ablrate’s total loans since inception past £6 million –£6,069,187.89 at this writing — with… Read More

February 24, 2016 @ 4:13 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

Miami-based urban infill developer, Metronomic Inc., announced last week the launch of the company’s private crowdfunding platform, specifically focused on viable, in-demand, urban infill developments within the City of Miami. Metronomic’s crowdfunding efforts support two market-rate projects within Miami’s urban “core.” The first is GroveHaus, a… Read More

February 24, 2016 @ 3:16 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

On Wednesday, UK-based peer-to-peer lender, Wellesley & Co., announced it has appointed former chief risk officer and board director of the Ulster Bank Group, Stephen Bell, as group chief risk officer. In addition to his most recent role as CRO for Ulster Bank, Bell has a wealth… Read More

February 24, 2016 @ 1:21 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

New York-based investment firm Magna Entertainment recent revealed that Russell Rieger became a director of PledgeMusic in early January. This announcement comes just two years after the firm gave $3 million investment to the website.  Rieger is one of three directors of PledgeMusic, which includes founder… Read More

February 24, 2016 @ 12:09 pm By JD Alois  |  

Lemonade has hired Professor Dan Ariely as Chief Behavioral Officer.  Ariely is a heavy-hitter when it comes to Behavioral Economics.  His bio lists his current status as a professor of Psychology and Behavioral Economics at Duke University. But a recent Tweet by Dan is telling… Read More