The German Crowdfunding Association (Bundesverband Crowdfunding eV) is launched. This is the first time the German crowdfunding industry has organized itself into a professional interest group. Twenty-two founding members are on board, including Companisto, Giromatch, and Imofunding.
Crowdfunding – the financing of products, companies, real estate, energy projects, and loans to private individuals and companies via the so-called crowd – has long been established in Germany. Commercial platforms have therefore become Federal Association of Crowdfunding (BVCF) based in Berlin. The association was officially registered in March and is now operating as the central advocacy group and network for the crowdfunding industry in Germany. Its goal is to professionalize the advocacy of the crowdfunding industry in Germany. The association's board of directors is made up of representatives from the crowdfunding platforms. The board includes Jamal El Mallouki (photo), Uli W. Fricke, Volker Isenmann, Dirk Littig, Anastasios Papakostas, and Tamo Zwinge.
A total of 22 founding members belong to the federal association. In addition to the platforms Aescuvest, Bettervest, Brickgate, Companisto, Conda, Deutsche Bildung, Exporo, Flmstr, FunderNation, GeldzuGrün, Giromatch, Greenvesting, Immofunding, Investofolio, LeihDeinerUmweltGeld, Lightfin, and Zinsland as full members, the association's co-founders also include associated members Effecta, the law firms KWAG – Ahrens and Gieschen, Schiedermair, and Schenk Lechleitner Krösch, as well as the payment provider Lemon Way.
