We are delighted to be introducing Michael Wilkinson and Todd Wilson from Crowdcube as a guest speakers at our Happy Hour session on 19th September. As the world’s first and most successful investment crowdfunding platform, Crowdcube enables entrepreneurs to bypass the traditional business angel, venture capital or bank finance routes, giving them more control and access to more investors. For investors, Crowdcube provides them with a way to cherry-pick a stake in an innovative business that traditionally would have been restricted to corporate investors. In addition, they can now benefit from a fixed return per annum by lending money to more established companies offering a mini-bond on Crowdcube. Since February 2011, more than 87,000 savvy investors have registered with Crowdcube, helping to raise almost £36 million of equity finance for over 141 UK business pitches. Check out www.cosmic.org.uk/happy-hour for all the latest news about our Happy hour events and training opportunities.

2. The problem
 “Q1 2013 showed the lowest ever level of use of
external finance by SME’s” – SME Finance Monitor, Aug ‘13
 “Access to finance is a “major barrier” to growth for
more than one in five small companies” – FT, Mar ’12
 “Less than one in five SME’s have attempted to
raise finance in the last year – with 40 per cent of
applications rejected” – RealBusiness, Sept ‘13

3. The solution
 Crowdcube is the world’s first and leading equity crowdfunding platform
giving entrepreneurs a new way to raise investment
 Fully authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

4. The solution

5. The equity solution

6. The mini-bond solution
 More than just financial
considerations
 4-5 years trading
 Capacity to engage with tens of
thousands of customers
 £5 million + turnover
 At least EBITDA profitable
 Investment used for tangible growth
i.e. assets rather than restructuring

7. Creating a buzz

8. Success so far
£37 million
funded so far…
£220,000
average deal
£1.9 million
biggest deal
£250,000
largest single investment
+90,000
members
145+
£2,600
average investment
Successfully
funded deals
Stage of Growth
By
Category

9. Case studies

10. Case studies

11. Growth
2012 2013 Growth
investment £2.2m £12.2 + 562%
deals 22 54 + 145%
UK’s ‘Most Active Seed Investor’ in 2013
Beauhurst report stated Crowdcube has “dominated the
UK equity crowdfunding marketing since launch and was
responsible for 70% of crowdfunded deals in 2013.”
Source: Beauhurst, UK Equity Investment Review 2013, February 2013
average
investment
£1,800 £2,800 + 56%

12. Why do investors love us?
“Crowdcube is
a breath of
fresh air; it’s a
convenient,
easy-to-use
and makes
investing far
more
accessible.”
Rupa Gantra
Crowdcube Investor

13. Why do our entrepreneurs love
us?

14. Summary
 Leading the transformation of UK investment
finance
 No. 1 ‘Seed Investor’ in the UK
 Crowdcube Venture Fund managed by
Braveheart Investment plc
 Enabling Scottish business growth on the
world’s leading investment crowdfunding
platform

15. Michael Wilkinson
Investment Manager
Michael@crowdcube.com
@MW_Crowdcube
www.crowdcube.com