Crowdfunding platform Crowdcube celebrates 100 campaigns of £1m-plus investment

Equity crowdfunding platform Crowdcube has announced that more than 100 fundraisings of over £1m have taken place on its digital investment platform.

The company, founded seven years ago, now sees venture capital firms backing campaigns alongside members.

Balderton and Index Ventures participated in the Revolut raise, while Passion Capital contributed to Monzo’s campaign and Draper Esprit took part in a raise for POD Point.

Of all the £1m-plus investment rounds completed on Crowdcube to date, over 50% involved one or more venture capital firms or institutional investors.

Crowdcube co-founder Luke Lang said: “Having seen the 100th company raise over £1m on Crowdcube since we started in 2011, the impact equity crowdfunding is having on the investment landscape is clear.

“These 100 raises, as well as the move to raise the prospectus limit to €8m, demonstrates a change in the nature of equity finance. Businesses beyond the startup stage, the likes of Revolut, Monzo and Mindful Chef, now recognise the benefits of continuing to allow your customers to become your investors. It all points towards the democratisation of finance.”

The first Crowdcube raise to break the £1m barrier was a campaign in 2011 for leisure operator The Rushmore Group. The £1m mark has been broken on Crowdcube 19 times in 2018 so far.

Of the 100-campaign total, 11 were for cleantech businesses, 14 for consumer goods firms, 15 for consumer internet ventures, 13 for fintechs and 19 for food and beverage companies. Others were for enterprises in the restaurant, leisure, fitness, sports and manufacturing sectors.

Crowdcube is currently hosting a £1m-plus raise for luxury boutique travel firm Mr & Mrs Smith. The company had a target of £1m but has already drawn over £4.8m.