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, stocks and bonds. And it also counts that savings hardly yield anything. I have a part set aside for emergency.

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 in 2019. 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. AndersFinancieren and GeldVoorElkaar merged.

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. I have decided to keep investing through Collin, Andersfinancieren and CrowdAboutNow and not Seedrs. Seedrs became part of Republic Europe.

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

The last platform I invest through 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. 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. I invested in the projects through CrowdAboutNow: Groei van Broei, Coffeelab, Blue Bananas Pancake Cafe, Bloem Eten & Drinken, Oogst- De nieuwe boerenwinkel, VAAT & Soep'er.

Groei van Broei

In 2016, I successfully  invested in growth of Broei through the crowdfunding platform CrowdAboutNow. Broei wanted to grow from 'koffiehoek' to a restaurant. I sat their in the past and planned one of  my travels. They are still located in Utrecht Vaartsche Rijn. The food they serve is vegetarian. Broei Utrecht successfully repaid back their loan with interest and is still in business.

Coffeelab

I used to sit at Coffeelab in Den Bosch whenever I had to be in Den Bosch. When I saw a crowdfunding campaign for the Coffeelab Breda in 2020 I invested in them. I love their banana cake. I bought it once at Coffeelab Breda on my way to the train. They are repaying the borrowed money with interest.

Blue Bananas Pancake Cafe

I liked the story of Blue Bananas Pancake cafe. They had to change their name and  launched during COVID lockdowns, but they are still in business. I visited the restaurant in Groningen to see what it looked like and taste what they were serving, when I was in Groningen. Their crowdfunding campaign ran in 2020 through CrowdAboutNow. They are repaying the borrowed money with interest.

Bloem Eten & Drinken

In 2021, I invested in Bloem Eten & Drinken through CrowdAboutNow. I received a gift certificate to eat at Bloem Eten & Drinken. I never used it and never visited the restaurant. This was not a loan, but a gift. I received a gift for my investment.

Oogst - De Nieuwe Boerenwinkel

I eat almost all kind of fruit and vegetables. I believe that fruits and vegetables should be produced in a way that benefits the farmers and the  surrounding community. I liked the story of Oogst- De nieuwe boerenwinkel and invested in their crowdfunding campaign in 2022. I have yet to visit one of their stores. They are repaying the borrowed money with interest.

VAAT

Vaat sells tea and kitchen towels that I still want in my kitchen. I think they look nice compared to other tea towels and kitchen towels. They are a bit pricey, though. In 2023, they had a successful crowdfunding campaign through CrowdAboutNow. I invested in them and received interest on my loan and a set of tea towels and kitchen towels. VAAT successfully repaid their loan with interest. VAAT is still in business.

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! I was one of the crowdfunders in 2024 through CrowdAboutNow. All crowdfunders got a spot on their wall through a soup spoon with their name on it. Soep-er successfully repaid back their loan with interest and is still in business.

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.