Money that works at home: How to invest directly in companies and real estate

Where does the money we invest go, and what value can it create in our local economies? Investors are increasingly looking beyond expected returns to consider the tangible impact of their investments. Crowdinvesting enables them to finance specific companies and real estate projects directly and participate in their growth. Marek Baranyai of the regulated investment platform Crowdberry explains how this form of investing works, what it offers companies and investors, and the risks involved.

Crowdfunding is often associated primarily with public fundraising campaigns. What is crowdinvesting, and how is it different?

The principle of raising funds from a large number of people is not new. One notable historical example is Joseph Pulitzer’s 1885 campaign, which raised more than $100,000 to complete the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. Approximately 125,000 people contributed, with most donations amounting to one dollar or less. A geographically and culturally closer example is Prague’s National Theatre, whose construction was supported by public donations from across society.

In these cases, however, people contributed without expecting any financial benefit. Crowdinvesting works differently: individuals directly finance specific companies or real estate projects with the aim of earning a financial return. They can provide capital in the form of a loan or acquire a minority equity stake in a company.

How is investor interest in this form of investing evolving?

It is growing steadily. Investors are increasingly looking for ways to diversify their portfolios and invest directly in companies or real estate assets they know and understand. They want to know where their capital is going, how it is being used, and what tangible impact it can have.

Today, more than 16,000 investors from Slovakia and the Czech Republic are registered on the Crowdberry platform. Over more than a decade, upwards of 50 companies and real estate projects have been financed through the platform, with total invested capital exceeding €100 million and more than €7 million paid out to investors in returns. The companies financed include well-known names such as GymBeam, Isadore, Refresher, MultiplexDX, Eyerim, Footshop and Sensoneo.

Alternative investments are thus gradually becoming a natural part of modern portfolios. Crowdberry’s core purpose is to connect ambitious Slovak and Czech companies with investors who want to put their money to work directly in the real economy.