Our History – From Marketplace to White Label Provider.
Jude & Andrew met at an Edinburgh University Business School E-Club event. They discussed the idea – why not use the internet to mobilise first round friends and family funding for early stage investment. At the time no investment based crowdfunding platforms existed anywhere in the world. It seemed an obvious thing to do!
From 2011 to 2014 two key insights inform our strategy to pivot from crowdfunding platform to white label provider.
The winner doesn’t take it all.Investment platforms don’t have the same characteristics as Facebook or Google. There is a limited network effect with Investors. Investors are sector/product sensitive. Acquiring investors is costly and so they need to like all your deals. Successful platforms focus on a niche.
Although highly regulated there are e-commerce business parallels.Any new e-commerce play would not build their own tool – the SaaS proposition is just too compelling. ShareIn will offer a robust product at a price that stacks up: 20x cheaper, 10x faster to market. With the know how and experience.
The Timeline
- 2019
July
ShareIn launch ShareInPay.
April
ShareIn approved to hold Client Money.
January
George McNaughton joins as head of compliance.
- 2018
August
ShareIn moves office to cope with growing team.
July
The team reaches 20 people
June
ShareIn Co-founder and CEO Jude Cook joins the board of FinTech Scotland and ShareIn Head of Finance Mark Howitt is appointed Director of the UKCFA.
February
Launch of Triodos crowdfunding. We help launch the first crowdfunding platform by a UK bank.
- 2017
December
The team is now 14 people!
October
ShareIn make a profit in the financial year ended 31st October 2017. Moving from startup to scale up!
June
First multi-lingual and multi-currency platform.
- 2016
December
ShareIn become authorised as an Innovative Finance ISA Manager
March
Our first Bond Platform – Downing launch a renewable energy bond that raised £3.2m
January 2016
ShareIn take on our first Appointed Representative.
- 2015
July
Launch our first cross border US-UK equity Crowdfund from our very own Microsite.
Summer
Take on our first employees!
January
ShareIn change strategic direction, pivot away from a marketplace platform to becoming a white label provider of technology.
- 2014
June
ShareIn become directly authorised by the UK Financial Conduct Authority and therefore cease being an Appointed representative.
March
Close our first deal – Holoxica raise funds for their amazing 3d Holographic Technology. Move into Codebase.
- 2013
December
Launch ShareIn – Tech and Health Focused Equity Crowdfunding Platform
September
ShareIn become an Appointed Representative.
June
ShareIn apply to the FCA for direct authorisation.
- 2012
December
Busy building the platform.
January
ShareIn become founding members of the UK Crowdfunding Association.
- 2011
October
Company formed – ShareIn.
Spring
Jude and Andrew meet at an Edinburgh University Business School E-Club event and Andrew gets hooked on ShareIn.