Member Article

Fundraising platform utilised by Katy Perry launches crowdfund ahead of UK expansion

Portuguese fundraising platform eSolidar, who recently set up a UK base in London, has today launched a £200k crowdfunding drive on Seedrs.

The platform, which allows people to shop, sell and donate items for their chosen charitable causes, is hoping to fuel its UK expansion through the crowdfund having raised over €600k in the past couple of years back in Portugal.

Founded in 2014 by Marco Barbosa, who was named as one of Forbes’ 30 under 30 Europe for Social Entrepreneurship in 2016; eSolidar has already attracted some high-profile names in Katy Perry and Elton John who have donated items to the platform, and it scooped up the ‘Best Business Potential’ from the European Young Award.

Founder Marco Barbosa said: “We decided to open the company to those who believe in what we are building and want to follow us more closely along our way. Today, anyone can invest in us and become part of our family.”

Scheduled to run until the end of August, the crowdfunding drive will see the social tech firm aim to get even more charities and non-profits onto its platform, as well as drive its movement into the mobile space with the development of apps for Android and iOS.

Touching upon his vision to bring ecommerce and charities together, Marco added: “We work to empower and develop the social economy. We believe that by bringing together the best of for-profit and non-profit, we can create a social impact ecosystem to strengthen the fragile bridge between these two ‘worlds’.”