Crowdcube vs Republic Europe (formerly Seedrs)
Two UK equity crowdfunding marketplaces: an independent B Corp, and the former Seedrs, now part of the US Republic group
Crowdcube and Republic Europe (formerly Seedrs) are both UK equity crowdfunding marketplaces where you choose which private companies to back. Both are directly authorised by the FCA, and both are open to retail investors who complete the FCA's high-risk investment checks, as well as to high-net-worth and sophisticated investors.
On both platforms your shares are usually held for you by a nominee company. The differences are in how you can sell early, which tax reliefs deals carry, and what else each marketplace offers besides startup shares.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Crowdcube | Republic Europe (formerly Seedrs) |
|---|---|---|
| Operator | Crowdcube Capital Limited (Co. no. 09095835) | Seedrs Limited (Co. no. 06848016) |
| FCA status | Directly authorised (FRN 650205). Also: EU ECSP licence (Spain, CNMV); Gibraltar FSC incoming MiFID services | Directly authorised (FRN 550317). Also: EU ECSP licence (Ireland, Central Bank of Ireland) via Seedrs Europe Limited |
| Who can invest | Retail investors (restricted), high-net-worth and sophisticated investors | Retail investors (restricted), high-net-worth and sophisticated investors |
| Minimum | £10 | £/€20 |
| What you buy | Shares and bonds, held through a nominee | Shares, fund units, interests in special purpose vehicles and loan notes, held through a nominee |
| Returns | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Investor fees |
|
|
| Selling early | Exits mainly via company sale, event-driven secondaries (often alongside a primary round, possibly at a discount) or buybacks. Liquidity fee 5-7.5% on secondary sales; 5% success fee on exit profits. Shares illiquid otherwise. | Bulletin-board secondary market for eligible shares held in the nominee; listings last up to 90 days; 2% fee charged to both buyer and seller (min £/€0.50) plus 5% carry on seller profits; trade size £/€10-25,000 (help page says £/€20 min lot); price up to 500% of valuation price; insiders cannot sell. Otherwise exit only on acquisition/IPO, often 10+ years. |
| ISA, pension and tax wrappers | EIS | EIS and SEIS |
| Auto-invest | — | Yes |
| FSCS protection | Only if the firm itself fails in its regulated activity; investment losses aren't covered | Not covered |
| Founded | 2011 | 2012 |
| Scale | £1.5bn invested (Oct 2025) | £2.8bn invested (Sep 2026) |
Generated from Other.'s facts files, which are checked against the FCA Register, Companies House and each platform's own site. Dates show when a figure applies.
Key Differences
1. Selling early. Republic Europe runs an always-open secondary market as a bulletin board: you list your shares, a buyer has to accept, and a fee is charged to both sides. Crowdcube has no always-open market. Shares can be sold in company-led secondary events, often alongside a new funding round, and since February 2026 Crowdcube has listed offers on the London Stock Exchange's Private Securities Market, where shares trade in periodic auctions under the UK's PISCES framework. Crowdcube acts as a registered auction agent there.
2. Fees. The fee on each investment and the fee on profits at exit are close on the two platforms. They differ at the edges: Republic Europe caps its investment fee, while Crowdcube's can be higher on some deals. The table shows each platform's current terms.
3. Tax relief. Deals on both platforms can qualify for EIS. Only Republic Europe lists SEIS deals; Crowdcube's help centre says it doesn't run SEIS raises.
4. What else is on offer. Republic Europe also offers venture capital funds and Mirror Notes: contingent payout notes that track a private company, such as ByteDance, without giving you shares or voting rights. They are issued by RepublicX LLC, which is not FCA-authorised, so the FSCS and the Financial Ombudsman Service don't cover them. Crowdcube also lists mini-bonds and some later-stage offers.
5. Ownership. Crowdcube is not owned by a larger platform and has been a certified B Corp since November 2022. Republic Europe is Seedrs Ltd, which the US platform Republic bought in September 2022; it has traded as Republic Europe since July 2024.
6. Regulation. Both firms are directly authorised by the FCA. Crowdcube was given the new Public Offer Platform permission in January 2026. Since 23 March 2026 Republic Europe has had an FCA requirement not to onboard new high-risk customers, which is an anti-money-laundering control rather than a limit on retail investors.
Who Is Each Platform Best For?
Crowdcube
- Investors who want a marketplace not owned by a larger group
- Investors interested in the London Stock Exchange's private-market auctions
- EIS investors (Crowdcube doesn't run SEIS raises)
Republic Europe
- Investors who want to be able to list shares for sale at any time
- SEIS as well as EIS investors
- Investors who also want venture capital funds on the same platform
Verdict
The choice is mostly about selling early and tax relief. If you want to be able to list shares for sale at any time, or you want SEIS deals, Republic Europe fits better, bearing in mind that its Mirror Notes sit outside FCA protection. If you prefer a marketplace that isn't owned by a larger group, with company-led secondary events and access to the London Stock Exchange's private-market auctions, Crowdcube fits better. On both, startup investing is high risk: many companies fail, and any return usually takes years.
Disclaimer: Investing in startups and early-stage businesses involves risks, including illiquidity, lack of dividends, loss of investment and dilution. Invest only as part of a diversified portfolio. This comparison is information, not financial advice.
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