How Do I Invest In Crowdfunding?

Index

My First Investment In Crowdfunding

In 2013 I became acquainted with crowdfunding through one of the Coffee Networks in region Utrecht. Investors were sought for the company EHBODoos (First Aid Box). I knew both the owners of the EHBODOOS through the network and talked to one of them about why he was looking for investors and what he expected from his investors. It appealed to me, and I invested my first 1.000 euros at a nice percentage. After a few years I had my investment back with interest. And the company EHBHODoos could grow further. This was all neatly arranged through the notary, so there was some certainty, even though no investment has security!

Continue Investing In Crowdfunding?

It tasted like more, because this is a bit more personal investing than investing in savings and stocks and bonds. And it also counts that savings hardly yield anything. I have a part set aside for emergency, but everything else I think is a shame, because my money is worth less due to inflation, but that is my opinion!

What also counts is that I can help small entrepreneurs, and also earn something from it. So I looked for other platforms to invest in and picked a few to try out, such as Seedrs, Collin platform, AndersFinancieren and Crowdaboutnow. These platforms have in common that they arrange everything and give the entrepreneurs the space to pitch, so that the crowd will invest in them. What is great about these platforms is that investing is already possible with small amounts from 50 euros.  I can spread the risk well with these small amounts. I am also not alone if there are problems with repayments of the crowdfunding loans, because yes, it remains a loan to the company. It is also very important to know that it is often subordinated to the mortgage as a loan. Which means I am the last to claim my money. So there is some risk involved and I should not do this with money I need! (UPDATE: Sept 2024: student debt €0 euro).

AndersFinancieren

The platform AndersFinancieren is the platform to invest in social projects in The Netherlands. I invested in the Bernhoven Hospital in Noord-Brabant. It is money well spent, because after that COVID-19 happened they were one of the hospitals totally dedicated to the care of COVID-patients.

Seedrs

Seedrs is a new platform that I am testing, because LendAHand did crowdfunding themselves to expand their platform. So I invested in LendAHand through Seedrs and will see if I will invest in other things on this platform next year. It's a UK platform.

Collin

On the Collin platform, Knab had its own crowdfunding platform until it went to the mother platform Collin itself. The transition went well. Even though I miss what the platform was like when it was Knab's. Collin is a more business like variant of crowdfunding and I often invest in companies that want to grow further. There are also risks involved. Sometimes an entrepreneur goes under and I don't get my money back, but usually it goes well. The motto is to diversify and only invest in companies that appeal to me and where the figures tell me that it is financially responsible!

Crowdaboutnow

And the last platform I invest in is Crowdaboutnow. I like these investments the most, because they often involve entrepreneurs with a story who want something. This is how it really comes to life what will happen to my money. Of course, there are also numbers and interest here. I started investing on this platform in the popular café Broei in Utrecht. This one wanted to expand. Everything was neatly repaid with 9 percent interest. What is important to know is that the company will only receive the money when the total amount has been crowdfunded and otherwise the crowdfunders will get their money back minus a small fee. This year I invested for example in the project Soep-er with them. 

Soep-er

Soep-er is located in a beautifully decorated central location in the center of Utrecht. Soep-er obviously sells soup and other goodies and they run a small hotel. I like the soup there, it is delicious!

To Get Crowdfunding Or To Invest In Crowdfunding Data Is Collected

When I invest in a company or a project through crowdfunding I look at all the data they present on the platforms and also on their website. Besides that I Google some more about these projects/companies and their owners. I myself than collect and combine data. This is temporary Big Data before and during the investment. With this it is possible to have my own Big Data collection.