If you as a company wish to widen your funding base and tap into an alternative funding source besides bank lending and share capital, then crowdfunding could be the answer. Crowdfunding is already a reality in many countries and is slowly but surely gaining ground in Belgium. MyMicroInvest, market leader in crowdfunding in Belgium, and BNP Paribas Fortis, partner of the companies in Belgium, are aware of this trend and will collaborate closely on crowdfunding in future. MyMicroInvest and BNP Paribas Fortis have entered into this partnership with the aim of boosting private enterprise in Belgium.
Crowdfunding in Belgium is rocketing. A recent survey by KPMG shows that crowdfunding will raise more than two million euros this year, a rise of no less than 80% on last year’s figures. BNP Paribas Fortis, the bank for a changing world, is aware of this trend and therefore wishes to make crowdfunding accessible to its customers. BNP Paribas Fortis will put entrepreneurs, who are looking for more diversification in their funding and are seeking alternative sources of funds, in contact with MyMicroInvest, an investment platform that has already been active in the Belgian market for a couple of years and can build on its experience in this area.
MyMicroInvest can suggest various forms of funding (loans, shareholdings, etc) to companies depending on their objective and requirements. In addition, MyMicroInvest offers two different funding sources for each project: on the one hand the general public can finance these companies through a loan or shareholding, and on the other professional investors such as investment funds and/or business angels can also get involved. Another special aspect of MyMicroInvest’s business practices is that it makes sure that detailed information on each project is available to the investor, regardless of the sum to be raised.
“This partnership has set BNP Paribas Fortis on a new path and has removed an obstacle to companies gaining access to alternative funding sources. BNP Paribas Fortis, conscious of the real needs of the Belgian economy, has taken this initiative in response to the needs of a number of its customers. It fully realises that some customers have needs that cannot always be fulfilled through traditional channels. That is why BNP Paribas Fortis has entered into partnership with MyMicroInvest, an investment platform that places great importance on its obligation to provide information to investors. With this partnership, which is a first step for BNP Paribas Fortis with regard to crowdfunding, the bank demonstrates that she is a trustworthy and innovative partner of private enterprise in Belgium,’ says Max Jadot, BNP Paribas Fortis CEO.
“This partnership confirms the relevance of crowdfunding as a source of finance for start-ups and innovative companies. Besides the supply of alternative funds, crowdfunding ensures that entrepreneurs can rely on a strong community of ambassadors which will heighten the visibility of their project and which will support the company in its development,” explains José Zurstrassen, co-founder and chairman of MyMicroInvest.
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More about crowdfunding
Generally speaking, there are four forms of crowdfunding, each of which attracts a different type of financial backer (funder): |
Press contact
MyMicroInvest
Charles-Albert de Radzitzky (NL)
Tel: +10 68 05 17 / GSM: +32 0479 87 12 32, charles@mymicroinvest.com
Guillaume Desclée (FR)
Tel: +10 68 05 17 / GSM: +32 0477 53 72 68, gui@mymicroinvest.com
BNP Paribas Fortis
Pamela Renders
Tel : 02 312 37 35/GSM: +32 477 39 99 79, pamela.renders@bnpparibasfortis.com
MyMicroInvest (www.mymicroinvest.com) is a Belgian platform for crowdfunding that was set up in September 2012. Since then, it has attracted over 20,000 members, who have together invested 5.1 million euros (professional investors included) in the formation of 19 innovative start-ups, via lending-based and equity-based crowdfunding. MyMicroInvest gives private investors the opportunity to invest with an initial stake of 100 euros. MyMicroInvest is one of the top five European platforms for crowdfunding and is the first European platform for crowdfunding to publish an issue prospectus approved by the market regulator (FSMA).
BNP Paribas Fortis (www.bnpparibasfortis.com) offers the Belgian market a comprehensive package of financial services for private individuals, the self-employed, professionals and SMEs. In the insurance sector, BNP Paribas Fortis works closely with Belgian market leader AG Insurance. The bank also provides wealthy individuals, corporations and public and financial institutions with custom solutions for which it can draw on BNP Paribas’ know-how and international network.