Editor’s note: This article was first published in February 2013. It is a snapshot of the Spanish crowdfunding scene then, including platform sizes and Emprendelandia being in beta. Spain regulated equity and lending crowdfunding platforms in 2015 and the EU in 2021, so the description of investor terms may no longer apply.
Every day, more entrepreneurs are finding the funding they need for their project or business through crowdfunding platforms. And for investors who want to be part of a business from the ground up, this may be their chance.
Put briefly, these platforms work like this: an entrepreneur explains their project and how much money they need to cover it. Investors who are interested can then contribute to the project with a small or large investment. The entrepreneur and the investors would then agree on the terms, including the return.
We’ve split the platforms into two groups. The first is for businesses or large projects, where investors put in money with the aim of earning a return on it. The second group is for other kinds of projects (films, books, non-profit organizations, etc.), where contributions tend to be smaller and, instead of a financial return, you get some kind of reward (the book itself, your name listed as a backer of the project, etc.). In this second group, you could say, many projects get off the ground thanks to hundreds of small donations that are more social in nature.
1. Socios Inversores
Website: SociosInversores.es
Probably the largest platform in Spain, which has already funded hundreds of businesses, from €6,000 up to projects of more than €1 million. You can see the projects that have already been funded at this link.
2. Iverem
Website: Iverem.es
Another big platform with a wide range of projects and quite a few successfully funded cases already. See funded projects.
3. Emprendelandia
Website: Emprendelandia.es
Here, future entrepreneurs who need funding find micro-patrons, collaborators and co-funders who contribute money through crowdfunding in exchange for non-monetary rewards. Still in beta, Emprendelandia aims to encourage job creation by making it easier for entrepreneurs to access funding.
4. Nestarter
Website: Nestarter.com
All kinds of projects and social initiatives. Nestarter describes itself as a platform that goes beyond crowdfunding, because it gets actively involved in the projects it funds.
5. Lanzanos
Website: Lanzanos.com
A platform where the people who put in money aren’t looking for a financial reward. Here you can raise money for an album, a book, a scientific study and much more. Contributions can range from €3 to €600 or more, and depending on how much you contribute, you receive one reward or another. All of this is spelled out on the page of the project you’re going to fund.
6. Verkami
Website: Verkami.com
It funds original projects, although it’s perhaps more geared towards artists (filmmakers, musicians…). As with the previous platform, backers aren’t looking for a financial return, and the creator can offer any kind of exclusive product (a signed album plus a T-shirt, a mention in a film’s credits, etc.).
7. Goteo
Website: Goteo.org
A major platform that has already got several charitable causes off the ground, among many other projects. Here too, projects are funded by small contributions from many people in exchange for non-financial rewards: discounts on future products, exclusive gifts and so on.
Other ways to fund a business
Besides crowdfunding platforms, which are an excellent initiative and opportunity for entrepreneurs and investors alike, a while ago we wrote about solidarity bonds, a way for your customers to fund your business.
Then there’s something many people don’t know about: many cities have Solidarity Funds, usually organizations or companies that receive donations so the money can be lent without charging any interest. They tend to lend both to people who urgently need money because of the crisis and to unemployed people who want to open a business. With a bit of luck, your city may have one of these Solidarity Funds, which don’t usually advertise much.
Further reading
Featured image: ColaBoraBora, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr.
