Monzo-backer Passion Capital opens latest £45m fund to retail investors via Seedrs

In an industry first, early-stage investor Passion Capital is letting retail investors join its recently-raised £45m fund through a partnership with Seedrs.

Passion has previously backed several of the UK’s most successful fintechs during their initial funding rounds, including Monzo,Tide and GoCardless.

The move comes just days after partner Eileen Burbidge announced that Passion’s third fund had closed, with backing from the British Business Bank.

An additional tranche worth at least £350,000 will now be made available for retail investors, launching on Seedrs at the end of the month.

“We are throwing our doors open to a much wider range of investors in this unique collaboration with Seedrs as we look to diversify our investor base and increase access for investors who might be interested in partnering with us,” said Burbidge.

“This way their single investment will be applied across a range of world-class entrepreneurial talent, rather than through the direct single company investment traditionally made through equity crowdfunding campaigns.”

The only restriction is that retail investors must self-certify as “high net worth” or “sophisticated” to take part.

Since 2011 Passion Capital has made 81 investments in startups and fintechs that are collectively worth more than £3bn.

Burbidge said the third fund has already started deploying capital, with Fronted among the 11 new investments it’s already made, with a further 15-20 planned in the coming years.