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PledgeMe awarded equity crowdfunding license
PledgeMe awarded equity crowdfunding license
PledgeMe, New
Zealand’s first and biggest crowd-funding site, was
awarded one of the first equity crowdfunding licences in New
Zealand today.
“We’re delighted to be awarded one
of the first ever equity crowdfunding licenses in New
Zealand,”PledgeMe co-founder and CEO Anna Guenther
said.
“We are already New Zealand’s biggest
project crowdfunding platform, helping almost 650 Kiwis
raise over $2.5 million in the past two years.
“This
new license from the Financial Markets Authority allows
us to expand the type of crowdfunding we can offer, helping
more kiwis fund things they care about. Specifically it
means Kiwi entrepreneurs can now raise capital by selling
shares in their companies to investors on the PledgeMe
platform.”
The passing of the Financial Markets Conduct Act in April allowed equity crowdfunding in
New Zealand. PledgeMe has been working with the Financial
Markets Authority to gain a license, submitting hundreds
of pages of documents over the past few
months.
“Equity crowdfunding means companies can now
raise capital more easily, transparently, and interactively
than making a public offering of shares or running a private
seed round through friends,” Ms Guenther said.
“It
is also an easy way for anyone to invest in a company they
want to become successful. People in the crowd will have the
potential for financial returns. Some companies may also
offer some cool immediate rewards.
“PledgeMe has
been working with a number of companies ready to start
equity crowdfunding. We will be launching their campaigns on
the 15th of August with a launch party.
“There has
been a lot of interest from companies, supporters and
potential investors. We will be working with our crowd of
40,000 loyal followers to make sure we are not just helping
companies raise money — but also building a community that
will help them grow in the future.”
Read Anna’s
blog post about being New Zealand’s first licensed equity
crowdfunding platform here.
Facts about
PledgeMe
Launched: February 2012
Number of
users: 40,000
Money raised to date: $2.5m
Number of
projects funded:
640
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