Frequently Asked Questions

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Eureeca is the first global equity crowdfunding platform. It enables members of its investor network, who range from casual and angel investors to institutional firms, to buy shares in growth-oriented businesses, while providing operational businesses with crucial access to capital. Eureeca is a regulated platform, having received licensing from the UK Financial Conduct Authority (which is also the regulatory body for our Branch Office in The Netherlands) and the Securities Commission Malaysia in 2015. From its global offices, Eureeca offers high-yield potential investment opportunities from the Middle East, Europe, and Southeast Asia to its 25,000-strong investor network. Businesses raising funds can leverage this network for capital, strategic connections, and expansion into new markets.

We are authorised and regulated by the UK FCA to provide Equity Crowd Funding services and to hold your client funds in our segregated client accounts.

Please note therefore that unless you are based in Malaysia, the regulatory body that will govern your relationship with Eureeca will be the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) of the UK; and your rights and our obligations are governed by the framework provided by the FCA per the Terms of Business and other relevant policies you have agreed to when joining Eureeca.

Eureeca was founded by seasoned entrepreneurs and investment bankers, Sam Quawasmi and Chris Thomas. Sam has 14 years experience working for international investment banks in London and MENA-region investment banks in Dubai. Prior to founding Eureeca, he served as Director for MENA Equities at Arqaam Capital, and Vice President of Equity Capital Markets at SHUAA Capital. Chris has over 10 years experience setting up and running businesses. He exited his last major business, an FCA-regulated online brokerage with 60 staff in 12 countries, in 2010. He has made numerous angel investments, owning two online businesses and a property company in Brazil.
Crowdfunding is a catchall term for a number of fundraising models that allow “the crowd” to pool funds and finance endeavors, projects, or businesses. Crowdfunding can be split into three general categories: rewards/donation, debt, and equity. Rewards/donation crowdfunding is the model most associated with crowdfunding and has been brought to prominence by platforms such as Kickstarter and Indiegogo. This model allows people to back projects or ideas in exchange for a product, early access, or just the satisfaction of supporting a cause they believe in. Debt crowdfunding, typically in the form of peer-to-peer lending, allows individuals or businesses to take out loans from the crowd, which are paid back with regular interest payments over a fixed period. Equity crowdfunding, the model used by Eureeca, allows investors of nearly all profiles to buy equity (shares) in growth-oriented private businesses. Investors effectively become co-owners of the business and are naturally incentivised to help it succeed.
The crowd is the collective term for the people who can invest in a business on a crowdfunding platform. It is comprised of friends and family, customers, casual retail investors, angel investors, and institutional firms.
No, equity crowdfunding does not replace angel investors and VC funds. What it does do is serve as an alternative financing option for SMEs that is complementary to angel and venture capital investing. However, given that equity crowdfunding makes capital raising and investing more accessible, efficient and transparent than more traditional sources of capital, we do expect that it will carve out a sizable space in private capital markets. In fact, the global trend in equity crowdfunding is that, rather than replacing angels and VCs, the model is serving as a vehicle for them invest in SMEs, along with the rest of the crowd.
 
Eureeca is an equity crowdfunding platform that connects businesses with investors. Apply to raise funds here , and if your business successfully passes through our screening and due diligence processes, you can then launch a fundraising campaign on the platform.

Crowdfunding through Eureeca makes the process much more accessible, transparent, efficient, and cost effective than raising from more traditional sources of capital.
 
The eligibility criteria are simple: at a minimum we need you to be an operational SME raising at least $250,000. Ideally your business will be revenue generating and you will have raised capital previously. Get in touch and we can let you know if you meet our requirements.
 
Eureeca is a global product providing a global solution for businesses and investors to connect online so there are very few limitations as to where a business must be based to raise funds on Eureeca.

You should, however, bear in mind that we currently operate in three global regions: the Middle East, Europe, and Southeast Asia, and this is primarily where our investors are based. Because of this it is unlikely that we will choose to list a business from Argentina, for example, because of we lack an investor network there, which reduces the likelihood it would be funded.

Get in touch with us to find out if you’re specifically eligible.
Upload your funding proposal here
 
Application (1-2 weeks) - Submission of the necessary documents to the Eureeca team, followed by a discussion with the Origination (business development) team to determine suitability for a campaign.

Onboarding (2-3 weeks) - Campaign preparation with Eureeca Curation team (our “fit for funding” specialists).

Live Campaign (1-90 days) - The 90 period to raise capital from the crowd.

Closing (2-4 weeks) - For successful campaigns, this includes the signing of shareholders’ agreements, the restructuring of the company (if needed), the issuance of shares, and the payment of fees. It concludes with the receipt of funds.

We are here to help you throughout the process so get in touch if you have any further questions. Contact us either via Ask Eureeca or entrepreneurs@eureeca.com.
We have tried to make the process as easy as possible. You simply need to go register, and the system takes you through a series of steps that are user friendly and easy to follow.

Once you have passed our initial filters, you will be asked to provide documents and information that will support your funding proposal.

  • Pitch deck
  • Business plan that highlights the management team, business value proposition, market segment, revenue model, and use of funds
  • Financials: historical and projected (3-5 years)

Don’t worry, we’re here to help, so get in touch if you have any questions regarding what is required. Contact us either via Ask Eureeca or entrepreneurs@eureeca.com.
 
Almost any kind – from tech to retail – and everything in between. What is important is that your business is at the very least operational, and preferably generating revenue, and raising a minimum of $250,000. Ideally you will have raised capital previously.

Eureeca serves a two-sided market of entrepreneurs and investors. We therefore only accept businesses that we deem will be attractive opportunities to our network of investors.
You have 90 days in which to raise your funds.
 
Crowdfunding through Eureeca is a stable and secure method of raising funds for your business. We will discuss with you what needs to be done to give you the best chance of getting funded.

However, we warn you that there is a lot of work that you will need to put into your proposal and campaign. You need to have a go-getter attitude, provide quality documentation and information, and be readily available during your campaign to respond to questions and comments from the crowd.

We’ve found that businesses that effectively convert their customers and contacts into investors, while simultaneously delivering a resonating pitch to the Eureeca crowd, are most likely to get funded. We provide you with the tools and guidance needed to do just that.
Yes, once you’ve reached your funding target you can either close the round or opt to raise additional funds by entering “Overfunding”.
 
Most crucial is continuing to work on getting people from your personal networks to invest. Early traction from these investors will help validate your business and the campaign, inspiring confidence in the crowd to invest.

You must also provide clear, honest answers to any questions or comments being raised. Your ability to obtain the funds will be dependent on this. You have a legal responsibility to act truthfully and with integrity at all times. Be genuine, engage often and don’t be defensive – all questions are legitimate.
The fees are simple. You pay nothing to apply and there are no upfront fees during introductory conversations. Once a company has been approved and the Terms of Business have been signed, there is an application fee of $1,500.

The company is then assessed by the Investor Committee.
  • If it passes, the company is eligible to list on the platform.
  • If it does not pass, the $1,500 application fee is refunded in full.

If a campaign is successful, Eureeca takes a success fee of 7.25% of the amount raised, minus the $1,500 application fee.

There may be additional third-party legal fees applicable during the closing process, depending on the current corporate structure and/or if necessary documents require attestation, for example..
Eureeca is only for businesses raising a minimum of $250,000, but beyond that, how much you raise is entirely up to you. We provide a marketplace through which you can raise the amount of funds you need to meet your requirements. We would advise, however, that you should look to split your fundraising into manageable chunks to meet specific milestones. The best way is to raise enough funds to hit one key milestone in your company’s development journey, and then go back to the crowd for future raises.
We are largely sector agnostic, meaning that we don’t focus on specific sectors or industries. However, we aim to list businesses that are suitable SME private equity investment opportunities and will interest our investor network, and we select businesses accordingly.

We provide a stable and transparent platform for members of the crowd to make their own decisions. We ensure the information is displayed in a clear and organized manner, but an individual investor must do their own research and due diligence before making an investment. Get in touch with us via Ask Eureeca or entrepreneurs@eureeca.com,and we’ll discuss the potential of getting your business funded.
No, once the campaign goes live the target amount must remain the same throughout the 90-day period.
The minimum an SME can raise is $250,000. For most jurisdictions, there is no limit to how much an SME can seek to raise.
However according to Malaysian SC regulations, the maximum a Malaysian SME can raise is 3 million MYR within a 12-month period, which can be broken up over multiple rounds.
Yes, you can edit some parts of the proposal after launch, but there are restrictions. For instance, you cannot increase the amount being raised or reduce the amount of equity being offered.
This depends on how much you are looking to raise, at what price, and for what purpose. We have many guidance documents and support tools to help you in this. To learn more, contact us either via Ask Eureeca or entrepreneurs@eureeca.com
 
A valuation is how much you project your company is worth. The valuation of your company is based on many factors and determining your valuation is more of an art than a science. We offer a number of valuation tools through partnerships with third parties that can aid you in fairly pricing your company. To learn more, contact us either via Ask Eureeca or entrepreneurs@eureeca.com
The US has very strict rules on marketing to or receiving investment from US persons. Therefore, we do not allow US persons -- defined as persons with single or dual US nationality, persons residing in the US, or whose primary bank account is in the US -- to invest through Eureeca.
Investors receive equity, or shares, in the businesses in which they invest.
 
Investors can be private individuals as well as institutions. What they will all have in common is an interest in investing in high-yield potential private businesses.
The minimum an SME can raise is $250,000. For most jurisdictions, there is no limit to how much an SME can seek to raise.
However according to Malaysian SC regulations, the maximum a Malaysian SME can raise is 3 million MYR within a 12-month period, which can be broken up over multiple rounds.
Once you have registered and agreed to our Terms of Business, you then deposit funds into your Eureeca account. Once we have received these funds and completed our third-party compliance checks, you are ready to start investing. Find a proposal you are interested in and conduct your own due diligence by researching the business and industry and engaging with the entrepreneur and the crowd. When you feel ready to make an investment commitment, click the “Invest” button and follow the instructions. That’s it, you’re now committed. If the proposal receives 100% of its funding target within the time allowed, we take over and complete the share issuance process. Once completed, you will receive your share certificates.
You can deposit money in your Eureeca account in two ways: 1) using your credit card, or 2) through a bank transfer. Details about the process can be found here. Once you have sent your funds, please notify us by completing the deposit notice fields on the payment page. This makes it easier for us to track it.
Yes, you can withdraw any uncommitted funds back to your bank account or credit card. You may only withdraw to the same bank account from which the deposit orginated. There will be compliance checks placed on any withdrawal of funds. For any withdrawal requests please use the contact us form or email us at contactus@eureeca.com.
There are many reasons to invest in deals on Eureeca. Here’s a list of some of the most popular reasons:
  • To make a return on your investment capital
  • To diversify your portfolio by adding private equity investments
  • To support an industry or company you like
  • To help a friend or client’s business grow
  • It’s fun, rewarding and exciting
All proposals on Eureeca are put through a due diligence process. The proposals not only pass through our in-house screening process but also have undergone basic third-party due diligence. However, it is important that you conduct your own due diligence as you would with any investment. Challenge the assumptions being made by the entrepreneur, view their social networks and see if you have any mutual contacts, and research the wider industry. The more research you do, the more rewarding your investment will be.
The due diligence check ensures that businesses applying to raise funds on Eureeca are legitimate and exist. Eureeca works with third-party compliance firms to assess if the company is incorporated, the duration of operations and that all necessary corporate and legal documents are in place. Additionally, background checks will be done on the team and founders to ensure that there is no history of fraud or other relevant criminal activity.
Yes, you do. Only cleared funds on account can be used to make an investment commitment.
When you make an investment by clicking “Invest” on any proposal, all you are doing is making a commitment to invest your funds held on account with Eureeca. Your money is held within our segregated client account and is only paid out once the funding target has been hit and we have completed the share issuance process.
You will receive your share certificates after our legal team have completed the necessary process from their side. This takes some time and in normal circumstances we aim to provide you with the share certificates within 2 - 4 weeks of the conclusion of the campaign.
 
Eureeca is designed for post-operational, post-revenue businesses. Most businesses listed on Eureeca have been operating for at least 2 - 3 years. High-growth businesses from the digital and tech spaces, as well as retail, are well suited for equity crowdfunding and are often represented on the platform.
Eureeca enables you to engage with entrepreneurs and fellow investors by asking questions, challenging assumptions and making comments. You will be able to follow funding proposals to get status updates, you can follow and interact with individual crowdinvestors, and participate in forums.
Eureeca is designed to host investors of pretty much all profiles, from casual retail and active angel investors to institutional investment firms such venture capital funds -- all of which are looking to buy equity of promising businesses.
Definitely. This is what crowdinvesting is all about. Entrepreneurs are encouraged to promote their presence on Eureeca and the investment opportunity they are presenting. We give each entrepreneur clear guidelines on what they can and cannot do to ensure adherence with the local rules and regulations.
It is up to the entrepreneur or business owner to decide what rights will be given in exchange for the investment obtained. Entrepreneurs can set different levels of funding criteria, which are explained in an investment term sheet that accompanies each business pitch. We encourage entrepreneurs to be very transparent with the crowd through the Eureeca portal to garner and maintain investor trust and keep them updated on the running of the business. The more transparent and responsible a business is, the better its chances of receiving funding. In addition to financial returns, equity investments through Eureeca can offer investors with social returns as well, such as supporting a business you believe in or a local entrepreneur from your community.
Investors will be shareholders in the business throughout its lifetime or until they sell or dispose of their equity stake. If further investment is sought by the entrepreneur this may dilute the relative size of the equity the investor has. However, even in this case, where the business is raising funds at a higher valuation, this may mean that the new equity share is valued higher than the original amount invested. The process works exactly the way it happens offline; Eureeca is only replicating it online.
We have the necessary tools for investors and entrepreneurs to continue using the site for interaction after the business has been funded. We encourage entrepreneurs to continually update investors about their progress. Eureeca manages the necessary procedures involved in the funding and share issuance processes. We have global administrators and legal advisors who will be maintaining the records of the investors and their equity stake in the businesses that get funded through Eureeca. The share issuance and transfer of funds will all be carried out through these legal accredited entities. Eureeca, doesn’t however, help to secure returns. This is dependent on whether a business is successful and provides an exit opportunity.
Yes, there are tax-relief opportunities through the UK Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) or Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) on certain deals on the platform. Click here for more information.
KYC stands for “Know Your Client,” and is the another way of saying due diligence. These checks are performed in order to ensure that all money flowing into the platform is clean, and that investors using our platform have passed global AML (anti-money laundering) requirements. In order for us to perform this check, we will need a copy of your passport and a utility bill to serve as a proof of address. Please contact us at kyc@eureeca.com for any questions or assistance.
That depends on your accreditation status, which differs across different countries and jurisdictions. For example, according to the Malaysian SC, there are three investor classes:
  1. Retail investor
  2. Angel investor
  3. Sophisticated investor
Each classification comes with its own qualification requirements and investor limits, so it's important that you select the one that you fall into (which you will be asked to do upon sign up). For example, retail investors can only invest 5,000 MYR per SME. Currently most jurisdictions follow the UK’s FCA classification, which offers sound advice on investment limits (e.g. do not invest more than 10% of your annual income into risky asset classes), but no actual restrictions.