ComunitaeThe new platform, pioneer in Spain as a platform for loans between individuals, begins its operations to discount promissory notes to companies and offer a way of financing working capital.
The birth in Spain of crowdfunding for the working capital of SMEs
To date, the crowdfunding in Spain has been mainly focused on investment in technology startups with platforms such as TheCrowdAngel. Today marks a new milestone in the development of this new financing channel: crowdfunding for SMEs' working capital.
The company applying for the loan was founded in 2011, has 11 employees and an annual turnover of 10.051.386€. Its activity is Import and export of electronic products under its own brand i-joy such as tablets, televisions, mobile phones, dvds....Apply for a loan from 15.860€ from 4 months to 15% It has no incidents in the Register of Unpaid Acceptances, nor of a judicial nature. Comunitae details the information of the operation on its platform.
BBVA Research considers crowdfunding as a financing alternative with a bright future
"Equity and loan-based crowdfunding is a disruptive technology for the banking industry that has the potential to displace banks as the primary source of funding for individuals and small businesses." According to BBVA Research, US Economic Outlook 2Q-2013.
"In the UK, too, the crowdfunding platform Lendio opened the way for loans for SMEs with the help of the government and other American funds. This public-private collaboration can be a good way for this type of financing to have a relevant impact on the economy", says Diego Gutierrez, an expert in alternative financing at ABRA INVEST.
Prestigious investors are involved in crowdfunding platforms.
An example of this in the USA has been the recentand BlackRock, one of the world's largest fund managers. It is Prosperthe US peer-to-peer lending platform that raised $25 million in its latest round of funding. The fundraising operation was led by venture capital fund Sequoiawhich has been supporting these companies since their creation in 2006, and which on this occasion has been joined by the aforementioned Blackrock. According to the specialised technology website Techcrunch, the operation could yield a profit of 9%. Undoubtedly, a far cry from the meagre 3% that can be obtained in US public debt, for example.
In Spain, leading investors in the Internet world have been supporting Comunitae. In 2011 they entered into a round of financing. Cabiedes & Partners, Francoise Derbaix together with other business angels. This is a good sign of the seriousness and good work behind these companies.