Latest news with #Crowdcube
Scottish Sun
13 hours ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Gemma Atkinson turns to crowdfunding to raise £500k to launch her beauty brand, but angry trolls rage she can ‘do one'
GEMMA Atkinson has sparked controversy after turning to crowdfunding to raise £500,000 to launch her own beauty brand. The actress has already attracted an impressive social media following for her skincare company Gem & Tonic, which aims to provide products to "simplify your beauty regime". 5 Gemma Atkinson has sparked controversy after turning to crowdfunding to raise £500k to officially launch her beauty brand Gem & Tonic Credit: Instagram/glouiseatkinson 5 The fundraising effort has already raised nearly £50,000, but investing isn't without risk, which a warning on the Crowdcube page stresses Credit: crowdcube/gemandtonic 5 She shared a look into the company's successes to date, but trolls weren't impressed Credit: Instagram/glouiseatkinson "Every single product combines scientifically-proven ingredients with mineral rich gemstones," she said. As she prepares to "officially launch" the brand in September 2025, Gemma has decided to try and raise funds through Crowdcube - which asks people to "invest in Europe's best startups". On the Crowdcube page, which has already raised £48,296 from 354 different investors, Gemma says: "We're now looking to raise £500,000 to officially launch in September 2025 to continue the movement and the community we've already started. "If you're looking to invest in a brand with a real community in real demand, you've found yourself a real good gem." The page also highlights some of the company's successes to date, including the fact they made £127,000 in pre-order sales in just three weeks. The equity investment has a share price of 90p and a pre-money valuation of £2.25 million. "The Company had already raised £250,000 prior to the Crowdcube raise," the page reads. "For the avoidance of doubt, this has been included in the pre-money valuation displayed in the pitch." And for those investing in the business, there are various 'rewards' for doing so - all of which start from an investment of £50. Investing £50 will get you a signed thank you card from Gemma, while for £25,000 you'll get to "meet Gemma and have lunch with the G&T team", as well as an investor-only lifetime discount of 15%, a product bundle, an invite to the press launch, lifetime early access to new products and Gemma's signed thank you note. Gemma Atkinson reveals her hit CBeebies show has been AXED after just one series However there's also a warning at the top of the Crowdcube page, which reads: "Don't invest unless you're prepared to lose all the money you invest. "This is a high-risk investment and you are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong." News of Gemma's crowdfunding efforts quickly made its way onto social media, with trolls using the comments section of the videos to have their say on the controversial move. "Why hasn't she used her own money?" one wrote. "I don't want to Invest of your not engaged to the hilt in every financial way." "Crowd funding to make herself rich," another added. What is crowdfunding? Crowdfunding is a popular choice for startups trying to raise money, typically via the internet. It's described as an alternative way to fund projects "without standard financial intermediaries". There are four different ways of crowdfunding: rewards-based, equity-based, debt-based and donation-based. Judging by Gemma's Crowdcube page, it seems she has adopted a reward-based approach to the funding attempt, with investors offered perks in exchange for their financial support. "Ok send me money and I'll start a business!" "So she wants people to help her… doesn't she know about the cost of living crisis us normal people are dealing with?" a third commented. "Over 1/2 mil in her bank - usual rich get richer!" someone else sighed. "Crowd funding? Gemma can do one," another raged. "Bloody hell she has more than most for money!" someone else said. And as another labelled it ridiculous, someone else agreed, writing: "Clearly not confident in her own idea to fully invest herself, putting up her property as collateral. "Guaranteed to fail." "She's got a nerve!" another commented. However, there were those in the comments who came to Gemma's defense. Crowdfunding to make herself rich! Social media commenter "She isn't making you invest!" one wrote. "I say fair play to her and wish her well." "Think she's asking for £10 as a minimum, which is reasonable," another added. "She's kept her community involved from the get go - naming, scents etc so I don't see the issue." "Shame to see so many women tearing other women down regardless of their status or financial situation!!" a third sighed. "So much hate in the world these days already." 5 Some angry commenters even told Gemma to "do one" after hearing about her crowdfunding efforts Credit: Instagram/glouiseatkinson
The Sun
13 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Gemma Atkinson turns to crowdfunding to raise £500k to launch her beauty brand, but angry trolls rage she can ‘do one'
GEMMA Atkinson has sparked controversy after turning to crowdfunding to raise £500,000 to launch her own beauty brand. The actress has already attracted an impressive social media following for her skincare company Gem & Tonic, which aims to provide products to "simplify your beauty regime". 5 5 "Every single product combines scientifically-proven ingredients with mineral rich gemstones," she said. As she prepares to "officially launch" the brand in September 2025, Gemma has decided to try and raise funds through Crowdcube - which asks people to "invest in Europe's best startups". On the Crowdcube page, which has already raised £48,296 from 354 different investors, Gemma says: "We're now looking to raise £500,000 to officially launch in September 2025 to continue the movement and the community we've already started. "If you're looking to invest in a brand with a real community in real demand, you've found yourself a real good gem." The page also highlights some of the company's successes to date, including the fact they made £127,000 in pre-order sales in just three weeks. The equity investment has a share price of 90p and a pre-money valuation of £2.25 million. "The Company had already raised £250,000 prior to the Crowdcube raise," the page reads. "For the avoidance of doubt, this has been included in the pre-money valuation displayed in the pitch." And for those investing in the business, there are various 'rewards' for doing so - all of which start from an investment of £50. Investing £50 will get you a signed thank you card from Gemma, while for £25,000 you'll get to "meet Gemma and have lunch with the G&T team", as well as an investor-only lifetime discount of 15%, a product bundle, an invite to the press launch, lifetime early access to new products and Gemma's signed thank you note. Gemma Atkinson reveals her hit CBeebies show has been AXED after just one series However there's also a warning at the top of the Crowdcube page, which reads: "Don't invest unless you're prepared to lose all the money you invest. "This is a high-risk investment and you are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong." News of Gemma's crowdfunding efforts quickly made its way onto social media, with trolls using the comments section of the videos to have their say on the controversial move. "Why hasn't she used her own money?" one wrote. "I don't want to Invest of your not engaged to the hilt in every financial way." "Crowd funding to make herself rich," another added. "Ok send me money and I'll start a business!" "So she wants people to help her… doesn't she know about the cost of living crisis us normal people are dealing with?" a third commented. "Over 1/2 mil in her bank - usual rich get richer!" someone else sighed. "Crowd funding? Gemma can do one," another raged. "Bloody hell she has more than most for money!" someone else said. And as another labelled it ridiculous, someone else agreed, writing: "Clearly not confident in her own idea to fully invest herself, putting up her property as collateral. "Guaranteed to fail." "She's got a nerve!" another commented. However, there were those in the comments who came to Gemma's defense. "She isn't making you invest!" one wrote. "I say fair play to her and wish her well." "Think she's asking for £10 as a minimum, which is reasonable," another added. "She's kept her community involved from the get go - naming, scents etc so I don't see the issue." "Shame to see so many women tearing other women down regardless of their status or financial situation!!" a third sighed. "So much hate in the world these days already." 5
Entrepreneur
13-06-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Entrepreneur UK's London 100: Belong
Belong, a wealth-building platform aimed at, and founded by millennials, aims to make forms of wealth-building that have traditionally been the domain of a wealthy few, accessible to a wider demographic. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur United Kingdom, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Industry: Fintech Founded by former investment banker Avion Gray and behavioural economist Samantha Rosenberg, Belong, a wealth-building platform aimed at, and founded by millennials, aims to make forms of wealth-building that have traditionally been the domain of a wealthy few, accessible to a wider demographic. In March of 2024, Belong launched after securing £2.95m in pre-seed funding - the largest ever European pre-seed round by a female founding team. To make profitable long-term investment more accessible for a younger generation, Gray and Rosenberg have developed a unique Boost Loan feature that matches the amount the user has invested. Having launched a Crowdcube campaign this February, they have successfully closed the round having raised just shy of half a million pounds at £490,000. The fund got immense support from the get-go having reached its target of £300,000 in less than five hours. The funds will go towards helping to develop new and financial products for their ever-growing list of customers in addition to their novel 'Boost loan' proposition. Backed by the likes of Octopus Ventures, serial entrepreneurs Ricky Knox and Gautham Radhakrishnan and Nutmeg co-founder, William Todd, Belong is on a mission to disrupt the investment industry.
Fashion United
26-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion United
Patrick Grant's Community Clothing to launch crowdfunding campaign
Community Clothing, the brand owned by Great British Sewing Bee's Patrick Grant, has announced its intention to launch a crowdfunding campaign. In a post on its website, the company said that it has partnered with the platform Crowdcube on the initiative, with which it intends to 'give everyone the opportunity to become shareholders'. The brand's crowdfunding page currently allows those interested in investing to gain early access to the campaign and submit the amount they hope to invest once it begins. In its profile, Community Clothing said its mission 'is to change the narrative around what we wear', while also 'supporting and creating local jobs' to 'help restore prosperity in communities across the UK'. It is exactly this that has been at the heart of the brand's mission since it was founded nine years ago. According to its website, the company has 'created well over 400,000 hours of skilled work' in the UK, but it wishes to do more. Over the past three years, meanwhile, its sales and impact has grown 400 percent. Community Clothing's story began in 2015 when Grant, a cloth merchant, purchased Lancashire clothing manufacturer Cookson & Clegg. The company found a partner in Selfridges by 2017 and continued to collaborate with other brands and firms, including the Homegrown/Homespun project, which launched growing flax and natural dyes. Community Clothing now has partner factories in Ayrshire, Bolton and South Wales.
Daily Mail
29-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Why did Freetrade crowdfunders have to wait almost a month for payouts?
Crowdfunders of Freetrade were forced to wait almost a month for Crowdcube to release their funds after the investment platform was acquired by IG in January. The delay comes despite the acquisition being completed on 1 April and the funds being received by Crowdcube on 4 April. FTSE 250 listed online trading platform IG purchased the free share dealing app back in January for £160million. This is Money understands Crowdcube was provided with Freetrade's shareholder register two weeks before the transaction was completed and had knowledge of the shareholder register before the deal was announced. Another payment agent executing shareholder payouts completed the majority of payments within 24 hours of the deal closing. A spokesman for Crowdcube told This is Money: 'As an FCA-regulated entity, we are required to carry out Anti-Money Laundering checks at the point of payout - even if these checks were completed at the time of the original investment. 'These are regulatory obligations that must be fulfilled for every transaction and investor. 'The payout timings followed our standard process - we take consumer security seriously and aim to ensure the process is as smooth as possible. 'This exit was particularly complex due to the number of individual shareholders in Freetrade, which exceeds 22,000. Freetrade was backed by crowdfunding investors via Crowdcube, with the platform valued at £650million at one point in 2021. Crowdcube is a crowdfunding platform that allows investors to buy equity in start-up companies as part of fundraising rounds. The firm faced backlash from its crowdfunders after the deal was announced, as many investors realised losses on their initial stakes. In 2023, crowdfunders bought shares at £2.60 each, but some will have received as little as £1.19 per share. Crowdcube added: 'As of Friday last week, the majority of people had been paid. 'Most of the payments still outstanding are to people who have not provided their bank details. Our team is contacting them regularly to get the required information.' One crowdfunder, John Haagensen, received his payment of around £15,000 on Friday. He said: 'It's quite concerning and, frankly, disappointing, especially for the many small investors who continue to support Crowdcube and its mission. 'Their actions are unfair. I have lost a significant gain on the stock market where I had intended to place my funds.' Matthew, another Freetrade crowdfunder, was paid just after 3am on Monday. Before he received the payment, he told This is Money: 'Each day that Crowdcube delayed cost me interest. 'Crowdcube have said that they are completing anti-money laundering checks. I don't see how this can take so long.' Matthew planned to use his payout for an overpayment on his mortgage. 'I'm not sure why this had to be prescheduled rather than them just sending it on Friday,' he said on Monday. Even after being paid, Matthew was unhappy. He said: 'From the sale to IG group, I am expecting to receive £719, so a small profit. 'While I am grateful that I am making a profit rather than a loss, if I were able to participate in a vote on this sale, I would have voted no. I am receiving £1.20 per share. 'However, I understand that the bigger institutional investors are getting £2.60 per share.' He added: 'I honestly feel that us Crowdcube investors have had the raw end of the deal.' Many investors made a loss on their stakes.
