Crowdcube: opening investment to everyone

Raising funds through the crowd is no longer just a trend, it’s a new way of building companies. Crowdcube, Europe’s leading equity crowdfunding platform, allows anyone to invest in startups and become a shareholder. For companies like Skyted, it’s an opportunity to grow not only with investors, but with a community of true believers in innovation.

But what exactly is Crowdcube? How does it work, and why are more and more startups turning to this model?

What is Crowdcube?

Founded in 2011 in the United Kingdom, Crowdcube is an equity crowdfunding platform that lets individuals invest in private companies in exchange for shares. Unlike donation-based or reward-based crowdfunding (like Kickstarter or Indiegogo), Crowdcube investors actually become shareholders.

Over the past decade, the platform has helped fund more than 1,300 companies and raised over £1.5 billion from its growing community of investors.

Crowdcube operates under the regulation of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK and is licensed to run campaigns across the European Union. It has supported well-known brands such as Revolut, Monzo, and BrewDog, offering early access to investment opportunities previously reserved for venture capitalists. 

How Crowdcube works

A Crowdcube campaign follows a clear process:

1. Preparation and due diligence

Before a campaign launches, startups go through a detailed review process. Crowdcube’s team verifies financials, governance, and documentation to ensure compliance and transparency.

2. Campaign launch

Once approved, the company publishes its campaign page, including a video pitch, financial overview, and target raise. Startups set a minimum target (the amount required to activate funding) and often a maximum goal. Crowdcube uses an “all or nothing” model: if the minimum target isn’t reached, no funds are collected.

3. Investor participation

Both retail and experienced investors can participate; investors choose how much they want to invest, and in return, receive equity: real ownership in the business. 

4. Completion and share issuance

If the campaign meets its goal, the funds are transferred to the company (minus Crowdcube’s commission), and investors receive their digital share certificates. If the target isn’t reached, all funds are returned to investors.

5 reasons to choose Crowdcube as a startup

• Engage the community: Customers, early adopters, and supporters can become shareholders.
  
  
• Build brand awareness: A campaign attracts visibility, media coverage, and momentum.
  
  
• Validate the market: Every new investor is a real-world vote of confidence in the company’s mission.
  
  
• Diversify capital: Crowdfunding complements traditional VC (Venture Capital) rounds, grants, and corporate partnerships.
  
  
• Align interests: Shareholders from the community are motivated to see the company succeed.
  
  

FAQ on Crowdcube

What makes Crowdcube unique?
Crowdcube offers equity in exchange for investment: you become a shareholder, not just a backer.

Who can invest?
Anyone over 18 can invest, though each campaign defines its own minimum and maximum contribution levels.

Is investing through Crowdcube safe?
Crowdcube is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and provides transparent information.

Can I sell my shares later?
Not immediately. Most shares are illiquid until the company is acquired, goes public, or offers a secondary sale.

What happens if a campaign doesn’t reach its goal?
If the minimum target isn’t met, no money changes hands: investors are not charged, and the company doesn’t receive any funds.

Conclusion

Crowdcube has redefined how startups and communities connect. It turns investors into advocates and customers into shareholders, blurring the line between participation and ownership.

For innovative companies like Skyted, preparing a Crowdcube campaign means more than raising capital. It’s about inviting our community to take part in our journey, to believe in our mission, to invest in our growth, and to share in our future success.

Because innovation grows stronger when it’s shared.