Invesdor Granted a MiFID License to Expand Debt and Equity Crowdfunding Services across All 31 European Union and EEA countries.

Invesdor First in Europe to Receive an EU License to Boost Cross-Border Crowdfunding in SME Sector

 By Robert Hoskins

Helsinki, Finland – Invesdor has been granted a Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) license by financial authorities, to expand debt and equity crowdfunding services across all 31 European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) countries.  The fundraising site is the first crowdfunding platform to receive this level of operational license, part of the European Commission’s drive to harmonize financial regulations across Europe.

Invesdor has been granted a MiFID license by financial authorities, to expand debt and equity crowdfunding services across all 31 EU and EEA countries

“Making the fundraising process fair, transparent and standardized for all participants is very important for us,” says Invesdor CEO, Lasse Mäkelä. “We give growth companies an alternative way of fundraising, and now we can scale our business across Europe,” he adds.

Global crowdfunding almost tripled last year, becoming a $16 billion dollar industry, and the new license means that Invesdor will be able to operate freely in Europe, without having to start from scratch in each country, and apply for a new operating license every time. As Invesdor expands into new countries, startups across Europe can apply for funding on the platform.

Even before receiving the new pan-European operating license, Invesdor had established itself as one of the Nordic region’s most innovative, secure and transparent equity crowdfunding platforms, holding a 46% market share in the Nordic region, based on a recent report by the University of Cambridge and E&Y. Invesdor intends to become the dominant cross-border funding platform for new ventures in Europe.

“Through Invesdor, people become part of great stories and diversify their investment portfolios,” explains Tero Weckroth, Chairman of the Board. “We’re not only helping tech and software startups achieve their full potential in a wider market, but other companies in the sports, medical, musical, and hospitality and catering industries are also current clients,” he says.

Over 30 crowdfunding projects have already raised 4.4 million euros of equity-based funding on the Invesdor platform. The largest round received more than 780 investors and the most international round received investments from 27 different countries around the world.

To build its crowdfunding platform, Invesdor itself has raised more than €800,000 through crowdfunding rounds and public grants. The company will open its new equity crowdfunding round to the public on May 5 at 10AM GMT to boost the platform’s international growth, allowing anyone to be part of its growth story.

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Kickstarter Crowdfunding Campaign Kicks Off for HAPIfork to Help People Slow Down How Fast They Eat

By Robert Hoskins

HAPILABS announced the launch of their Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for the manufacturing and distribution of HAPIfork – the world’s first connected fork that helps people monitor how much they eat.

HAPIfork is the world’s first connected fork. The personal technology tool monitors how fast people eat and helps them slow down

HAPIfork transforms people’s relationship with food as it monitors how fast the user is eating and helps them slow down. Unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January, HAPIfork was selected among the finalists for the CES Innovations Award, Health & Wellness category. The word quickly spread in over 50 countries globally culminating in hundreds of articles, blog posts, tweets, television and radio appearances as well as a fun shout out from The Colbert Report.

“While our product is still a prototype, we’re thrilled by the global response so far,” says Fabrice Boutain, HAPILABS founder. “We believe this is affirmation of the growing consumer health awareness movement to gain better control of issues impacting weight and digestive issues as well as more serious issues such as diabetes and other chronic conditions.”

Keeping in line with Kickstarter rewards at various funding levels, the HAPIfork will be offered as a perk for up to 2,500 people funding $89, and at the $99 level for anyone else who would like to be in the first commercial batch. In addition, the opportunity to be part of the beta testing program, receiving the HAPIfork at the earliest possible availability date, is offered at the $300 level perk. The campaign, which starts today and runs until May 31, 2013, has a fundraising target of $100,000.

HAPIfork was designed by French entrepreneur and inventor Jacques Lépine whose idea was based on research which shows that by eating slower, people can improve the way they feel, improve their digestion and lose weight. HAPIfork aims to modify eating behavior by slowing down how fast people eat and being more present with when and how long it takes to eat, leading to an overall healthier state of being and living.

Unlike other health related tools, the HAPIfork is inconspicuous and appropriate for out of home use. The Bluetooth enabled smart fork also collects information for future analysis or monitoring in clinical settings. All data is transmitted to a ‘personalized online dashboard’ when the HAPIfork is connected to the users computer or mobile device making it easy to monitor eating habits and health improvement at home or on the road.

HAPIfork will be released in three colors (blue, green and pink) and will ship to Kickstarter funders first before the general public. HAPIfork comes with a color coordinated case making it easy to carry everywhere. The product will initially go on sale in the US and EU in the fourth quarter of this year.

HAPILABS helps individuals in the 21st century take control of their HAPIness, health and fitness through applications and mobile connected devices. HAPIfork is part of suite of devices, applications and services from HAPILABS aimed at improving overall health, well being and happiness. Products in development include the HAPIwatch to help people sleep better and the HAPItrack to help people stay in great shape. Offering elegant and simple solutions, HAPILABS helps people achieve a healthier and happier lifestyle.

Related articles

• HAPILABS Begins Kickstarter Campaign For Connected Fork
• Remembering What Really Matters During a Kickstarter Campaign
• HAPIfork Now Available for PreOrder on Kickstarter
• HAPIfork Starts Crowdfunding On Kickstarter
• ‘Smart fork’ may help you lose weight
• Get your HAPIfork – Kickstarter launch

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