EIT Health launches EU-wide crowdfunding through partnership with aescuvest

Innovative approach to funding innovation

EIT Health on 18 September 2018 announced the launch of the first pan-European equity crowdfunding platform for European healthcare companies. Created through a partnership with crowdfunding expert aescuvest, the initiative allows healthcare start-ups and SMEs to promote themselves throughout the EU and makes it easy for EU citizens to invest across borders.

The platform will give both retail and institutional investors access to best-in-class companies in the core health sectors of biotechnology, medical technology and digital health.

It will provide support for promising start-ups on the basis of the classic crowdfunding formula: ventures raise financing from a large number of people, many of whom might invest a relatively small amount. As prospectus-based security offerings, investment opportunities go through a thorough approval process.

The start of the first campaign is expected in Q4 2018. Open to companies from across the EU, the initial funding focus will be on Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and the U.K.

“Crowdfunding stops at country borders these days,” said Jan-Philipp Beck, CEO of EIT Health, explaining that the new partnership can change this situation for the better. “The cooperation with aescuvest.eu enables EIT Health to provide a unique service that will attract lots of start-ups and clearly differentiate us against any other accelerator. aescuvest.eu gives strong visibility, and helps in creating a bigger customer base, higher funding volume and therefore increased chances to succeed and to create impact. aescuvest’s specialisation, expert due diligence and excellent digital reach of professionals within the sector, combined with EIT Health’s incomparable access to hundreds of innovative companies, offers investors an exciting investment opportunity.”

Dr Patrick Pfeffer, CEO & Founder of aescuvest, noted the unique possibilities created by the partnership. “We are very proud to have been chosen by EIT Health as the Partner for this trailblazing project, which is in itself innovative in the financing and crowdfunding sector,” he said. “EIT Health activities are needs-driven and feature the engagement of future users and patients in the development, testing and scaling of solutions in co-creation environments. It is the goal of aescuvest.eu to build a bridge between European citizens, healthcare professionals and healthcare innovators.”

Find out more here.