Property technology (Proptech) firm, Propcrowdy has launched a crowdfunding intermediary (CFI) platform into the Nigerian market. The launch is sequel to approval and licensing of the platform by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
With the approval and licensing, Propcrowdy is the first platform in Nigeria authorised to perform crowdfunding business under the rules and guidelines of SEC.
Propcrowdy says it is an inclusionary crowdfunding investment platform that is set up to make it possible for individuals who earn minimum wage to access and climb the real estate investment ladder in Africa.
The Founder/Chief Executive Officer, Propcrowdy, Roland Igbinoba said: “Doing this also enables us to raise project finance for small construction and development companies,”
The startup is focusing on two main target audiences, which are Nigerians who earn from $80 to $1,000 per month. It is estimated that over 127 million Nigerians fall in this category and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) real estate developers whose annual turnover is less than $5million. There are over 3,600 of these SMEs
Igbinoba recalled that SEC had recently prohibited the activities of all Agritech and crowdfunding investment platforms due to the massive failure and fraudulent activities of many of the platforms.
He said: “SEC had observed with concern the fraudulent activities of some unregistered investment crowdfunding platforms and had strongly advised the investing public against making investment with or through any crowdfunding platform not registered with the commission.
The commission, in recognition of the potentials and importance of crowdfunding platforms and the need to protect investors through effective regulation had, in January 2021, published its crowdfunding rules and requested well-intending crowdfunding platforms to register with it.”
He noted that to build investors’ confidence and trust, Propcrowdy has taken the long and hard road to securing a crowdfunding license from SEC, adding that the platform was incorporated in 2019 when there was no regulation for crowdfunding.
Igbinoba quoted Head of Product Design, Williams Omoruyi, as recognising that low income earners and small real estate businesses in Africa lack the financial capacity to scale, adding, “at Propcrowdy, we are solving the twin problems of social impact and inclusiveness for those at the bottom of the pyramid and creating wealth and economic development for small and medium sized real estate developers.”
He said that funded developers on the platform must meet Propcrowdy’s requirements of environmental, social and governance factors alongside the security and financial metrics in the appraisal and investment decision-making process.
Igbinoba emphasised that success for Propcrowdy would be measured by how much they have been able to successfully democratize real estate investments within the low and medium income category in Africa, thereby empowering them and improving their wellbeing.
He assured that their contribution to net zero and the reduction in carbon emissions is of utmost importance.
