The number of crowdfunding platforms operating in the UK rose by over 50 per cent in 2013 according to Nesta, the UK’s innovation foundation.  Nesta releases these figures as its crowdfunding directory CrowdingIn.com celebrates its one year anniversary.

The number of crowdfunding sites in the UK has shot up since the start of 2011, with the majority having launched in the last three years. There are now 87 platforms active in the UK, 27 of which launched in 2013 - followed by a further seven since the beginning of 2014.

The free to use Crowdingin.com was developed by Nesta to assist those looking to raise money via crowdfunding whether for for-profit-businesses or to raise money for charitable projects.

Crowdingin.com, which was the UK’s first crowdfunding directory, allows users to filter by the type of funding being sought and the sectors that platforms specialise in.  For each of the 87 platforms listed on the website, a summary of services provided and their conditions of use are listed to help users make choices about the platforms which meet their needs.

Liam Collins, Senior Researcher at Nesta, explains that a combination of modern technology and the financial crisis has made the crowdfunding market ripe, “We’ve seen phenomenal growth in the number of platforms over the last five years, across every type from reward-based crowdfunding to peer-to-peer lending. Crowdfunding has proved immensely popular, both in the UK and globally, and these figures show that this trend is set to continue.”

Crowdfunding is just one aspect of the alternative finance market which has rocketed over the last few years. Past Nesta research2 shows that almost £1bn was raised by alternative finance in 2013 in the UK, predicted to rise to £1.6bn in 2014.

Notes to editors

For media enquiries please contact Natalie Hodgson on 020 7438 2614 or [email protected]

About Nesta: Nesta is the UK’s innovation foundation. www.nesta.org.uk

• 1 These figures were calculated by Nesta using data from CrowdingIn.com
• 2The Rise of Future Finance: http://www.nesta.org.uk/publications/rise-future-finance
• Nesta updates Crowdingin.com with new market entrants that meet the website's criteria
• Alternative finance definition: Intermediaries facilitating funding through online portal such as Crowdfunding, peer-to-peer and online invoice discounting
• Crowdfunding definition - a method of getting finance by sourcing small amounts from a relatively large number of people rather than getting large amounts from one or a few. While this is something that has a long history it has become increasingly popular recently in its modern form of online crowdfunding. This allows individuals or organisations to source funds from anyone via a website or crowdfunding 'platform'. The platform hosts the fundraisers pitch for funding and facilitates the transfer of money from the funders.