Amsterdam-based Oneplanetcrowd, a sustainable crowdfunding platform, and Helsinki-based Invesdor Group, an investment and financing platform, announced that it is merging to create one of the largest crowdfunding platforms in Europe.
With over 170,000 investors, the newly formed company has financed more than €438M in over 800 projects. However, the merger will proceed subject to approval by the regulators.
The announcement follows the introduction of a pan-European licence (ECSP) and the permission to digitise securities using blockchain technology.
The European Union has placed crowdfunding at the top of its political agenda to establish a Capital Markets Union (CMU), which would create a single market for capital across the EU.
Oneplanetcrowd was the third funding platform in Europe to acquire the Crowdfunding Service Provider license (ECSP), which will be brought to the Invesdor Group.
“This ECSP license gives us a big head start in this promising growth market, representing a market value of over €2.47B in our core markets alone. It allows us to position ourselves as one major established player, meeting strict European quality criteria. With these European laws and regulations, the market has become more mature and transparent,” states Maarten de Jong, co-founder and managing director of Oneplanetcrowd.
The Merger
The merger between Oneplanetcrowd and Invesdor Group will give Oneplanetcrowd access to the latter’s established investors based in Finland, Germany, and Austria. In turn, Invesdor can use Oneplanetcrowd’s expertise and network in the Benelux.
The merger will enable growth companies, sustainable energy projects, and impact entrepreneurs to raise funding directly from private and professional European investors at low transaction costs.
Consequently, investors across the EU member states will be able to buy, sell or trade their bonds and shares with other investors, making crowdfunding more liquid, says the company.
Additionally, the merger allows promising companies with international expansion plans to raise financing in their home countries and in other European countries.
Executive panel
Christopher Grätz, co-founder and CEO of Invesdor, will remain CEO of the Group. In addition, Maarten de Jong, co-founder and managing director of Oneplanetcrowd, will join the management team and be in charge of all operations in the Benelux.
“This merger paves the way to accelerate European innovation and the energy transition in the EU. Focussing on growth companies and sustainable energy projects, we are the first platform in the EU to offer this broad range of sustainable financing propositions, connecting investors, project developers, and companies in different EU member states. Furthermore, we will enhance the tradability of our investment products by using state-of-the-art technology. The merger puts us in the forefront of crowdfunding – and we do not rule out acquisitions of parties in other countries in due course,” says Grätz.
Coenraad de Vries and Laura Rooseboom of Start Green Capital – initiators and co-founders of Oneplanetcrowd will remain actively involved in implementing the sustainability policy and internationalisation.
In addition, De Vries will take a seat on the Supervisory Board.
OnePlanetcrowd: What you need to know
Founded in 2012 by Coenraad de Vries, Laura Rooseboom, and Maarten de Jong in Amsterdam, Oneplanetcrowd was one of the first pioneers in the Netherlands with a crowdfunding platform.
The Dutch platform connects innovative entrepreneurs to future-oriented investors to jointly accelerate the transition to a sustainable economy.
With over 43,000 investors and nearly 300 fundings, Oneplanetcrowd passed the €100M capital threshold for social and sustainable companies and projects in September 2022.
Among these 300 companies are leading players, such as VanMoof, Fairphone, and Seepje, as well solar park Bomhofsplas, Europe’s largest floating solar park.
Oneplanetcrowd was initiated by StartGreen Capital, one of the largest impact fund managers that have financed over 300 sustainable entrepreneurs and energy projects.
Invesdor Group: What you need to know
The Invesdor Group is one of the largest pan-European investment and financing platforms, with over €328M of brokered financing volume.
Active in Germany, Finland, and Austria, the Invesdor platform offers tailor-made financing solutions for companies in all stages of their lifecycle.
