SmartCrowd, Dubai’s innovative real estate crowdfunding platform, which allows individuals investors to take a “fractional” share in a rental property, has grown its investor base nearly 6 times since the pandemic. The investor based grew 100% on a Q-o-Q basis. The company recently closed a bridge round in excess of USD $ 3 million.
The bridge funding will enable the rapidly growing company to scale its operations, products and establish a presence in new markets including Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
Mad’a Investment Company, an influential Saudi firm, is the lead investor of the Bridge Round. TriCap Investment, a diversified investments group based in Dubai, made a follow-up investment in SmartCrowd and was joined by Amaana Capital, the venture capital arm of US-based NRD Capital., along with other prominent angel investors in the region.
SmartCrowd CEO and Co-Founder, Siddiq Farid, says: “The rapid growth we are experiencing is down to our innovative approach to property ownership, a market ripe for investment, and the strong economic outlook the UAE is experiencing. Dubai’s real estate transactions are at an all-time high – and that is translating into our growth.
“Meanwhile, our latest bridge funding will help us rapidly scale to new heights and continue our mission on making alternative investment universally accessible to the masses. Average investor has been historically restricted to traditional asset classes such as shares and bonds and unable to diversify their wealth into alternative assets like the wealthy to preserve and accumulate wealth. Now more than ever it is prudent for people to construct investment portfolios that with stand market volatility.”
Individual investors in SmartCrowd take a ‘fractional’ share in a vetted rental property based on a 100-point proprietary screening tool, with investments on the crowdfunding platform starting at AED500. Investors then receive a share of rent, proportional to their investment. Once a property is funded, it is purchased via a special purpose vehicle (SPV) registered in the DIFC, ensuring a safe, secure investment opportunity.
“For anyone looking to earn a decent return on a relatively small investment, SmartCrowd is a revolutionary offering,” adds SmartCrowd’s CEO, Siddiq Farid.
A new SmartCrowd mobile application, now available on iOS App Store and Google Play, makes real estate investments even easier and more accessible.
