
Crowdinvesting is a platform where individuals can invest in projects or businesses, often with the goal of earning a return on their investment. This model allows for a more diverse range of investors and projects than traditional investment methods.
Crowdinvesting platforms typically operate online, making it easy for investors to browse and select projects that interest them. They also provide a way for entrepreneurs to raise funds for their ventures.
One key aspect of crowdinvesting is the risk-sharing model, where investors share the risk of a project's success or failure. This approach can be appealing to investors who want to diversify their portfolios and potentially earn higher returns.
By pooling their resources, investors can support projects that might not have been possible through traditional funding methods.
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What is Crowd Investing?
Crowd investing is a special form of crowdfunding where underwriter ventures are funded by a group of people, also known as the crowd.
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This form of financing is different from traditional crowdfunding, where people contribute to a project or cause, but don't receive any ownership or equity in return.
The crowd investing model allows individuals to participate in equity crowdfunding, where they can invest in startups and small businesses in exchange for a share of ownership.
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Defining
Crowdinvesting is a way for businesses and projects to raise money from a large number of people, typically through online platforms.
The definition of crowdinvesting is still evolving, but it's often considered a type of equity crowdfunding, where investors receive shares or ownership in the company in exchange for their investment.
Equity crowdfunding is different from traditional crowdfunding, which often involves donating or pre-ordering a product.
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My Definition
Crowdinvesting is essentially a way for start-ups and small businesses to raise money from the general public by offering shares in their company.
This type of investment is favored by young start-ups who can't get traditional bank credit due to their weak seniority.
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In return for investing, private investors receive shares in the company and can earn money through dividends if the company makes a profit.
They also have the possibility to earn money by selling their shares at a higher price than they paid for them.
Start-ups and SMEs can raise up to one million euros without going through the traditional financing circuit.
For example, Jessica, the owner of a new app, raised $300,000 by offering 100 shares at $3,000 each.
This is a simple and straightforward way for start-ups to raise the funds they need to grow and develop their business.
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How it Works
Crowdinvesting is a process that involves multiple steps, but the basics remain the same across different platforms.
A project is first reviewed by experts who assess its economic viability. They may even request the project owner to revise their business plan.
Once the project meets their requirements, it's published on the platform. This is where investors can learn more about the project through detailed information materials, such as catalogs, videos, and personal contact with the project owner.
Investors can then choose to invest a minimum amount of money, which varies depending on the platform, such as €250 or €1,000.
How It Works

So you're curious about how crowdinvesting works? Let's break it down.
A project is first reviewed by experts who assess its business idea and economic viability. They might even ask the project owner to revise their business plan.
The project is then published on the crowdinvesting platform, where investors can learn more about it through catalogs, videos, and other information materials. They can also get in touch with the project owner personally.
To invest, you create an account on the platform and choose an investment amount. Some platforms require a minimum investment of €250 or €1,000, for example.
To get started, the project needs to reach a critical minimum capital within a set timeframe. If this doesn't happen, the invested funds are returned to the investors.
If the project is successful, investors receive their agreed-upon return. There are different models for distributing profits, such as fixed or variable annual interest or the ability to sell shares at the end of the agreed-upon period.
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Here are the key steps in crowdinvesting summarized:
- Project review and publishing
- Investor registration and investment selection
- Minimum capital achievement
- Return distribution
In Germany, crowdinvesting is regulated by the Kleinanlegerschutzgesetz (KASG), which requires platforms to clearly warn investors about the risks involved.
Investors can invest up to €1,000 without restrictions. For investments between €1,000 and €10,000, they need to demonstrate their ability to afford the investment through a self-declaration.
For investments over €10,000, only capital companies can invest in a single project.
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Partisan Loans
Partisan loans involve sharing the profit, but not the loss. You won't have a say in how the business is run, but you'll get a share of the profits.
In accounting, partisan loans are treated as debt, or Fremdkapital. This means the business lists them as liabilities in their balance sheet.
Where Is It Used?
Crowdinvesting is used in various sectors, but some areas stand out from the rest.
Immobilien and Start-Ups are the two most popular sectors where Crowdinvesting is widely used.
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In the Immobiliensektor, Crowdinvesting has seen significant growth in recent years. It's often used as a supplementary funding source, making it easier for builders to obtain traditional bank loans.
For Start-Ups, Crowdinvesting offers an unconventional and relatively unbureaucratic way to raise funds. This also allows entrepreneurs to gauge the market's reaction to their business idea and gain exposure to a wider audience.
While not as prominent, the Ausbau erneuerbarer Energien (expansion of renewable energy) sector also utilizes Crowd Investing to some extent. Additionally, there are projects in the künstlerischen und kulturellen Bereich (artistic and cultural sector) that benefit from this approach.
Here are the top sectors where Crowdinvesting is used:
- Immobilien
- Start-Ups
Comparison to Crowdfunding
Crowdinvesting is distinct from crowdfunding, which has become a major part of the startup ecosystem with an estimated $5.1B crowdfunded worldwide in 2013.
Crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter, GoFundMe, and Fundable allow people and businesses to raise money in exchange for gifts, prizes, or non-ownership benefits. These contributions are roughly akin to donations.
Businesses are prohibited from selling equity on traditional crowdfunding sites, and investments on these sites are not considered loans or equity investments.
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Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding is a way for entrepreneurs to raise funds by sharing their project with a large group of people, called Crowdfunders, who can contribute money to support it.
The term "Crowdfunding" comes from the English words "crowd" and "funding", where "crowd" refers to a group of people and "funding" means financing.
A Crowdfunding campaign can be used when an entrepreneur doesn't have enough capital to fund their project on their own.
In a Crowdfunding campaign, the entrepreneur can offer rewards to the contributors, such as discounts on the product or a thank-you note, but it's not necessary.
Crowdfunding platforms allow entrepreneurs to publish their project and attract Crowdfunders who are willing to support it.
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Crowd Investing vs. Crowdlending
Crowd investing allows private investors to enter a company's capital, receiving shares in return, which can result in dividends or capital gain upon resale.
Equity crowdfunding is favored by young start-ups that can't access traditional bank credit due to their weak seniority.
Start-ups and SMEs can raise up to one million euros through crowd investing without going through traditional financing circuits.
Private investors in crowd investing take on a certain amount of risk, as the success of the project depends on the viability and growth of the project holder.
Crowdlending, on the other hand, offers more reassurance, with borrowers committing to repay the money advanced and interest under contract conditions.
Investing in crowdlending is framed by regulations, providing guarantees and protections for investors.
Raizers is an investment platform that enables private individuals and professionals to lend to real estate developers, offering investment opportunities previously reserved for institutional investors.
Crowdlending does not guarantee capital invested or return on investment, but it does offer a certain level of security through regulations and contract conditions.
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Regulations and Laws
Regulation A+ in the US allows companies to raise up to $20M in a 12-month period through crowd investing, known as a mini-IPO.
In the US, Tier 1 offerings are available to companies with their primary place of business in the US or Canada, and can be used by companies to gauge interest in a mini-IPO before offering their shares for sale.
Non-accredited investors can invest up to 10% of the higher of their annual income or net worth in Tier 2 offerings, which have more regulations than Tier 1.
Here are some key regulations for crowd investing in the US and Germany:
SEC Regulation A+ Highlights
Regulation A+ offers two tiers of offerings for companies to raise capital: Tier 1 and Tier 2.
Companies can raise up to $20M in a 12-month period through Tier 1, often called a mini-IPO.
Tier 2 allows companies to raise up to $50M in a 12-month period without the full listing requirements of a traditional IPO.
To qualify for Tier 2, companies must have audited financial statements, which can be expensive.
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Non-accredited investors can invest up to 10% of their annual income or net worth in any given offering.
For example, if you have a net worth of $500K and earn $100K annually, you can invest $50K in any given offering.
Tier 2 is subject to more regulations than Tier 1, including audited financial statements and semi-annual reporting requirements.
Companies can gauge interest in a mini-IPO online through the SEC's Edgar system before actually offering shares for sale.
Only companies with their primary place of business in the US or Canada can participate in Regulation A+ offerings.
Regulation A+ facilitates the creation of a market for trading shares issued under Tier 2 offerings.
Here's a summary of the key differences between Tier 1 and Tier 2:
Wie ist gesetzlich geregelt
In Germany, the Kleinanlegerschutzgesetz (KASG) was introduced in 2015, requiring Crowdinvest-Plattformen to explicitly warn investors about the risks of this investment form.
The law sets specific limits for private investors. For amounts up to €1,000, anyone can invest freely through Crowdinvesting-Plattformen.
To invest between €1,000 and €10,000, private investors must provide a Selfauskunft, which means they need to prove they can afford the investment. This can be done by showing a free assets of at least €100,000 or explaining that they don't spend more than double their monthly net income.
For amounts over €10,000, private investors are not allowed to invest. Only Kapitalgesellschaften can invest in a single project for amounts over €10,000.
Here's a summary of the investment limits:
- Up to €1,000: No restrictions
- €1,000 to €10,000: Selfauskunft required
- Over €10,000: Only Kapitalgesellschaften allowed
Benefits and Features
Crowdinvesting allows individuals to support large projects with a relatively small investment, and the minimum investment amount varies depending on the crowdfunding platform and campaign.
One of the key benefits of crowdinvesting is that it enables a high level of identification and emotional connection between the investor and the company or project they're supporting.
Investors in crowdinvesting can participate in the success of a project not only through dividends or profit-sharing, but also through exclusive discounts and other perks.
Investment Options
Crowdinvesting is a unique form of crowdfunding where underwriter's projects are funded by a large group of people, known as the Crowd.
This form of financing is a special type of crowd investing, where the crowd invests in entrepreneurial endeavors.
In this type of investment, the crowd directly finances underwriter's projects, making it a direct and transparent process.
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Nachrangdarlehen
Nachrangdarlehen are a common type of investment in crowdinvesting, where the claims of crowdinvestors have a lower priority than those of other creditors.
In the event of a company's insolvency, other creditors are paid first, leaving crowdinvestors at risk of losing their entire investment.
Crowdinvestors may not be repaid if the company goes bankrupt, as the claims of other creditors take precedence.
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Feste vs. variable Verzinsung
A feste Verzinsung, also known as a fixed interest rate, is often used in Immobilien-Projekten, where a Verzinsung between 5 and 10 Prozent is common.
Bei fester Verzinsung ist ein variabler, erfolgsabhängiger Anteil manchmal hinzugerechnet.
A variable Verzinsung, on the other hand, is not guaranteed and can vary depending on the project's success.
Bei Start-Ups ist eine Gewinnbeteiligung die übliche Variante.
Investing in a Start-Up can be lucrative, with potential Gewinne von 100 Prozent or more, but it also comes with a high level of risk.
Die Kehrseite der Medaille ist, dass hohe Gewinnchancen auf Kosten der Sicherheit gehen.
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Investment Considerations
When evaluating crowdinvesting platforms, consider the unique "Spielregeln" or rules they impose, which can impact investment decisions.
Crowdinvesting platforms differ in their approach to security and restrictions, so it's essential to carefully review their terms.
You should pay close attention to the specific rules and restrictions each platform has in place.
Some platforms may offer more flexibility than others, so it's crucial to find one that aligns with your investment goals.
Investing in equity crowdfunding allows you to take an ownership stake in a company.
This type of investment is often favored by young start-ups that want to raise capital to grow their business.

Private investors can earn dividends if the company makes a profit, providing a potential source of income.
Investors can also earn money by selling their shares at a higher price than they bought them for, known as a capital gain.
Start-ups and small businesses can raise up to one million euros without going through traditional financing channels.
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Investment Options and Flexibility
Splitting your money across multiple projects can help minimize risk.
By investing smaller sums in each project, you can avoid losing your entire investment if one project fails.
Researching the company behind the projects is also crucial, as some companies may be involved in multiple projects that could be affected by an insolvency.
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Handelbarkeit Der Anteile
In crowdinvesting, your money is usually tied up for the entire investment period, making it difficult to exit early without incurring significant financial losses.
Some platforms offer an internal marketplace where you can transfer your shares to other investors if you find a buyer.
You can't simply withdraw your money or sell your shares on a public market like you would with traditional investments.
Teile dein Geld auf mehrere Projekte

You can reduce the risk of losing your investment by splitting your money across multiple projects. This way, if one project fails, you won't lose your entire investment. Crowdinvesting allows you to do just that, as it's a form of crowdfunding where many people contribute to a project.
By diversifying your investments, you'll also be less likely to experience a significant financial loss. This is because you're not putting all your eggs in one basket, so to speak.
Crowd Investing: Equity Participation
Crowd investing allows you to become a part-owner of a company by buying shares.
As a crowd investor, the money you invest is considered Mezzanin-Kapital, a mix of equity and debt. This means that in case of bankruptcy, you'll get paid only after creditors have been reimbursed.
In equity crowdfunding, you invest in a company's capital in exchange for shares. This is a popular option for young start-ups that struggle to get bank credit due to their limited seniority.
Private investors receive shares in return for their investment, and they can earn money through dividends if the company makes a profit.
You can also earn money by selling your shares for a higher price than you bought them for, a process known as a capital gain.
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