Slovenská sporiteľňa and Crowdberry: 18 months of partnership building a stronger private capital market

In October 2024, Slovenská sporiteľňa, Slovakia’s largest digital bank and a member of Erste Group, became a shareholder in the investment platform Crowdberry. It was the first-ever direct investment by a leading Slovak bank into a regulated fintech company in the country’s history. Eighteen months into the partnership, it is clear that this was far more than a symbolic move. The collaboration has delivered tangible results, new investment products and infrastructure with ambitions extending well beyond Slovakia.

Crowdinvesting that supported the growth of Slovak companies

What do GymBeam, MultiplexDX, Boataround and Sensoneo have in common? Beyond their well-known and highly regarded founders, these companies have all grown with the support of crowdinvesting capital raised through the Crowdberry platform.

Their achievements speak for themselves. GymBeam is on track to generate total revenue of up to €300 million this year, with year-on-year growth of more than 30%. Boataround has grown from a small six-figure business into the European market leader in yacht rentals, with total booking value approaching €80 million. Thanks to Pavol Čekan’s MultiplexDX, the first patients have been able to access diagnostics supporting personalised cancer treatment. Sensoneo, meanwhile, has expanded from two countries to 85 markets, becoming a global leader in smart waste management.

To date, private investors have deployed €110 million through Crowdberry into 52 local companies and real estate projects, while the combined value of companies in investors’ portfolios exceeds €900 million.

Why a bank invested in an investment platform

Securing alternative sources of capital for business growth and investment in innovation is becoming increasingly important for the economic competitiveness of Slovakia and the European Union as a whole.