22 August 2013, Rotterdam (NL)– Equidam, which has developed a platform to standardize the online valuation of small and medium private businesses as well as start-ups, has successfully concluded its first seed financing round of EUR 60.000. Symbid and Principe Management led the investment round which was underwritten within 24 hours. The other investors consisted of small angels in Equidam's own network, who could now gather their forces in order to fund Equidam. The remainder of 30% funding was put in via uknown crowd investors. Equidam can now easily manage the financial resources already present in their own network. The money will be used to further develop the quality and depth of the product and to develop related tools such as an automated periodical report.
Equidam’s valuation service is a natural complement to equity crowdfunding since it smoothes the negotiation field between investors and entrepreneurs. The service benefits both entrepreneurs and investors by improving and speeding the decision-making process.
The Equidam valuation service combines financial theory and business practices, thus analysing both financial and qualitative data. Managing Director of Equidam, Gianluca Valentini: “the Equidam methodology provides the use of the best valuation models developed by experienced business angels and leading business universities as they are being used most common valuation practices. I’m convinced that we have created the most sophisticated online valuation product on the internet, and try to set a reporting standard.” Leading financial and educational institutions (who've chosen to remain anonymous) have already approached the company for its valuation services.
Symbid, which is a leading European equity based crowdfunding platform, was involved with Equidam three years before the seed funding round by co-developing the online valuation tool together with Equidam’s founders Gianluca Valentini and Daniel Faloppa. Korstiaan Zandvliet, CEO of Symbid explains; “Many experienced as well nascent entrepreneurs have always struggled with creating a valuation report for their (start-up) company. We were happy to contribute our experience and knowledge to help developing the Equidam tool that gives entrepreneurs and investors a clear scientific and objective valuation report, which is a necessity for them to attract capital and to steer their business.”
The other company leading the seed investment round is Amsterdam based Principe Management, which supports start-ups with business services and business development for the start-up entrepreneurs to focus on developing their successful business idea rather than boundary conditions. Principe Management is managed by investment specialist Don Ginsel who became interested in Equidam earlier this year. Don Ginsel: “I saw immediately that the Equidam tool is a valuable addition to the startup-investor relationship. Reference valuation as well as standardised reporting on companies is a bare necessity in today’s market that is overflowing with newly started business”. He adds, “The involvement of Symbid has been invaluable for the development of Equidam as a tailored tool for equity crowdfunding websites as well as for the roll out on crowdfunding platforms throughout Europe.”
Leading the seed round, both Symbid and Principe Management have taken minority positions within Equidam.. Equidam is currently planning a next funding round for the end of this year. Crowdfunding is the most likely option yet still under consideration.
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