Funderbeam gets go-ahead to expand private investment marketplace in Asia

UK-based Funderbeam, the trading platform to buy and sell equity in private companies, has obtained new financial licenses from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). The two licenses, one for Capital Market Services and the other as a Recognised Market Operator, facilitate the platform’s next stage of growth: the creation of a global secondary market for private businesses across Europe and Asia.

Funderbeam’s unique marketplace gives private startups access to more capital, while giving private investors more liquidity.

“Our vision is to be the funding and trading platform of global private companies. To achieve this, we had to introduce a new business model and technology that could overcome the limitations of the existing, regulated alternative markets,” said Kaidi Ruusalepp, the founder and CEO of Funderbeam.

To date, Funderbeam has 39 high-growth portfolio companies on its marketplace, with over 12,000 verified investors across 122 countries exchanging over $3 million worth of investment shares. Now the marketplace will expand to cover a whole new startup ecosystem.

Ruusalepp continued, “We are very pleased to have been recognised by MAS in Singapore – underscoring the high degree of trust towards our vision. As we will soon be operating in two continents, obtaining recognition from the MAS adds further assurances to the robustness of our established marketplace and distinguishes us as a truly global funding and trading platform.”

Founded in Estonia in 2013, the company has pursued a global vision for several years, including their collaboration with Tokyo-based APAC investment firm, Mistletoe.

Taizo Son, founder of Mistletoe said, “Since March 2017, Mistletoe has been taking a journey together with Funderbeam to create a startup funding ecosystem in Asia centered around Singapore. Mistletoe and Funderbeam will form a community of startups, investors and family offices in Asia, open up Asian investment opportunities to Europe and support various startups to make positive impacts in Asian countries. I’m so thrilled to move forward together with Funderbeam.”