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A few years ago, crowdfunding revolutionized how European individuals and businesses access funding, allowing them to connect with backers across borders. This shift was accelerated by the European Crowdfunding Service Providers Regulation (ECSPR) in 2023, which enabled businesses across EU countries to raise capital internationally, fostering a more unified European crowdfunding market.

With numerous platforms catering to different needs—whether it’s debt, equity, rewards, or donation-based crowdfunding—it’s important to pick one that aligns with your goals.

In this article, we explore the European crowdfunding landscape and provide a curated list of the best platforms available today for tech startups.

What is crowdfunding

Crowdfunding is a way for startups to secure capital by pooling small contributions from a large number of individuals. Unlike traditional fundraising methods, which often rely on securing significant investments from venture capital firms or angel investors, crowdfunding allows founders to connect with a wider audience and potential customers directly.

How does crowdfunding work for startups?

Crowdfunding platforms enable founders to pitch their ideas to a broad audience. In return for their contributions, backers receive incentives that can include: equity, early access to your product and company journey and exclusive perks.

A successful campaign can be a launchpad for market validation, customer acquisition, and brand building. By running a campaign, you can test demand, gain insights, and engage with early adopters, helping you refine your product and scale.

The evolution of crowdfunding platforms

Globally, the crowdfunding market is expanding rapidly. Between 2024 and 2032, it is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.24%, growing from USD 24.05 billion in 2024 to an impressive USD 91.88 billion by 2032.

Europe, as a key player in this market, continues to witness significant adoption of crowdfunding as a financial tool for startups, real estate, and creative projects. In 2024, there were 225 licensed crowdfunding platforms, with leading countries like France (59 platforms), Italy (40), and Spain (24) driving the market.

Source: ESMA - Crowdfunding in the EU 2024

Top European crowdfunding platforms

Companisto

Companisto is an investment platform founded in 2012 for startups. They support the start-up culture in Germany and Europe by partnering with business angels and investors.

Key features:

• Opportunities for accredited investors: Yes
• Minimum investment ticket: €10,000
• Traditional crowdfunding: Yes
• Minimum investment ticket: €250
• Investment type: Equity
• Investors: +150.000
• Focus: Startups and growth-stage companies
• Secondary market: Available
• Pricing: Companisto charges startups a commission of 15% of the total funds raised during a successful financing round. This fee covers the entire processing of the financing round, including payment processing and marketing expenses.
• Startup support: Companisto provides post-investment support by facilitating follow-up financing opportunities. Their investment agreements are designed to enable further funding rounds with co-investors, business angels, and strategic investors.

Crowdcube

Crowdcube is an equity crowdfunding platform founded in 2010, primarily focused on the UK market, where innovative startups can raise capital for their development, and investors can earn by supporting new businesses.

Compared to other market players, Crowdcube offers two fundraising solutions: one focused on raising capital quickly, with no lead investment required, and a second solution for public campaigns.

Key features:

• Opportunities for accredited investors: No
• Minimum investment ticket: 10 GBP.
• Investment type: Equity
• Investors: +370.000
• Secondary market: Yes
• Focus: Early-stage startups, SMEs
• Startup support: Offers fundraising tools and visibility to build engaged communities.

Doorway

Doorway is an Italian venture capital investment platform founded in 2016.

Key features:

• Opportunities for accredited investors: Yes
• Minimum investment ticket: €5,000
• Traditional crowdfunding: No
• Investment type: Equity
• Investors: +2000
• Secondary market: Not available
• Focus: Seed stage up to Series B
• Pricing: At the time of application, you will be required to pay 200€ + VAT in order to be evaluated by the Investment Team. After approval, a due diligence cost (up to 10k EUR) and 8% of the raised amount.
• Startup support: Startups get access to a series of meetings (online and face-to-face) with an audience of qualified investors, business angels, and private banker networks. Companies also receive access to a 360° community of founders, investors, and Professionals.

FunderNation

FunderNation is a German-based equity crowdfunding platform founded in 2014 for private investors to invest in companies, offering professional guidance and the ability to build a portfolio.

Key features:

• Opportunities for accredited investors: No
• Traditional crowdfunding: Yes
• Minimum investment ticket: €100
• Investment type: Equity, debt
• Secondary market: Not available
• Focus: Early-stage startups from various industries like GreenTech, Healthcare, MedTech, Aerospace, Digitalization & IT, and highly innovative technologies.
• Startup support: Offers co-investment opportunities for companies, business angels, venture investors, and online investors.

Gateway Ventures

Gateway Ventures is an Austrian equity crowdfunding platform designed to connect early-stage startups with private investors. The platform focuses on enabling startups to secure funding during their pre-seed and seed rounds, leveraging a network of angel investors and private backers to support their growth.

Key features:

• Opportunities for accredited investors: Yes
• Minimum investment ticket: €10.000
• Traditional crowdfunding: No
• Investment type: Equity
• Secondary market: Not available
• Investors: 3000
• Focus: Early-stage startups from various industries like Fintech, Regtech, Insurtech, Proptech, Future of Work, Industry 4.0, IoT, Smart City, Cyber Security, HealthTech, MedTech, BioTech, DigitalHealth, Personalized Health and Diagnostics, and startups with a focus on Sustainability, Impact Environment, Circular Economy, GreenTech and EdTech.
• Startup support: Access to relevant experts and other successful founders for fundraising lessons and best practices and enable follow-on rounds.

Invesdor

Invesdor is an equity crowdfunding platform founded in 2012 and operating in multiple European markets. Based in Finland, It helps startups, scaleups, and established businesses raise capital from private investors and institutional backers.

Key features:

• Opportunities for accredited investors: No
• Traditional crowdfunding: Yes
• Minimum investment ticket: €250
• Investment type: Equity, debt, tokens
• Investors: +150,000
• Secondary market: Not available
• Focus: Early-stage startups and SMEs from various industries like Sustainability, Green energy, Health & Science sector.
• Startup support: Access to a dedicated investment manager to lead you through the fundraising process.

Republic Europe

Republic Europe is an equity crowdfunding platform that allows investors to support startups and growth businesses by purchasing shares. Formed through a 2023 merger with Seedrs, it focuses on the UK and European markets.

Key Features:

• Opportunities for accredited investors: Yes
• Minimum investment ticket: between $1K-10K
• Traditional crowdfunding: yes
• Minimum investment ticket: €10
• Investment type: Equity, debt, tokens
• Secondary market: Available as “Secondary Marketplace”
• Focus: Early-stage startups & scaleup companies.
• Pricing: Republic collects 7% of the total amount raised and 2% of securities offered in a successful financing.
• Startup support: Access to customized templates and a dedicated campaign manager, dedicated customer support, and an affiliate marketing studio with full-service capabilities.

Verve Ventures

Verve Ventures is a European venture capital platform that allows private investors to participate in startup funding. It connects individual and institutional investors with early-stage and growth-stage companies across various industries, including technology, healthcare, and deep tech.

• Opportunities for accredited investors: Yes
• Minimum investment: EUR/CHF 10,000
• Traditional crowdfunding: No
• Investment type: Equity
• Secondary market: Not available
• Focus: Early-stage and growth-stage companies across various industries, including technology, healthcare, and deep tech.
• Pricing: on investors
• Startup support: Verve Ventures offers value-added services to startups post-investment, such as introductions to potential clients, assistance with hiring, and facilitation of partnerships.

SeedBlink

Part of SeedBlink’s all-in-one private markets infrastructure, SeedBlink’s equity crowdfunding arm is a European investment platform that connects tech startups with individual and institutional investors. It streamlines the capital raising process for early-stage and growth-stage companies and allows investors to access curated, high-potential startups across various industries.

• Opportunities for accredited investors: Yes
• Minimum investment ticket: €2,500 for regular investors & €1000 for SeedBlink Club members
• Traditional crowdfunding: Yes
• Minimum investment ticket: €500 (via community stars)
• Investment instruments: Equity, SAFEs, CLAs
• Investors: +110.000
• Secondary market: Yes - via the SeedBlink Bulletin Board (Note: Secondaries opportunities are available also outside of the Crowdfunding platform, via SeedBlink secondaries).
• Focus: Early-stage technology startups & scaleups.
• Co-investment opportunities with venture capital firms and angel investors, ensuring a diversified funding approach at the same deal terms.
• Community deals: For startups with strong community support.
• Pricing: Plans and add-ons
• Startup support: Offers end-to-end fundraising assistance, including campaign structuring, pitch reviews, round simulations, investor matchmaking, and post-funding guidance to help startups scale and attract long-term investment.

Access a suite of preparation and raising tools.

Why SeedBlink stands out

SeedBlink simplifies fundraising by integrating multiple tools into a single platform - allowing tech startups to leverage both SeedBlink's strong investor network via crowdfunding and their own connections via private investments.

With built-in equity management and post-investment governance, primary as well as secondary investments, SeedBlink streamlines the entire capital-raising process for companies from early stage to pre-IPO. Whether securing private or public funding, managing equity, or motivating your team with stock options, SeedBlink offers a comprehensive and founder-friendly solution.

Get started free with SeedBlink today.