Folkeinvest AI Overview on 09/2025

Folkeinvest – Overview 🚀

Folkeinvest is a Norwegian equity crowdfunding platform (founded 2015 in Trondheim) that connects retail investors with startups and growth companies. It facilitates unlisted share issues (typically <€1 M per round) so ordinary Norwegians can co-invest alongside professional investors. Folkeinvest emphasizes democratizing early-stage investment: the minimum ticket is only NOK 500. The platform is licensed as a securities firm by Norway’s Finanstilsynet, and is a member of Norsk Crowdfunding Forening. Key strengths include its focus on small, tech or sustainability-minded companies and detailed company disclosures. Main risks: these are all high-risk, illiquid startup shares (no buyback guarantee), so investors may lose up to 100% if companies fail. Finanstilsynet noted that early-stage investments have “høy risiko” (high risk) and “begrenset likviditet.”

Folkeinvest – Product Details 💡

Folkeinvest offers equity crowdfunding only: investors buy new shares directly in SMEs and startups. Companies list equity raises (under ~€1 M) on the site, and investors subscribe via the web. The platform provides detailed materials (budgets, market analysis, business plans) for each offering so investors can make their own assessment. There are no fixed maturities or guaranteed returns: any gain depends on the startup’s success (e.g. acquisition or IPO) or dividends if they pay out. Typical funding rounds cover diverse sectors (tech, health, consumer, etc.), usually in Norway or the Nordic region.
Investment metrics: Minimum ~NOK 500; no formal upper limit (campaigns cap the round size). Returns are highly variable – successful exits can give high yields, but many startups fail. All major risks apply: illiquidity (shares are untradable) and potential total loss. Folkeinvest does not offer buyback guarantees; investors assume full business risk.

Folkeinvest – Company Structure and Regulation 🏢

Folkeinvest AS (org. 916 545 061) is the main operating company, based in Trondheim. It was co-founded by Sverre Konrad Nilsen and Erik Haugane in 2015. Current management includes CEO Amalie Farmen Holt (since April 2025) and Chairman Sverre Nilsen. Ownership is split among related entities (e.g., Kørven AS ~29.9%, Tøff AS ~15.8%, Hasselhaug AS ~13.0%). In 2023, Sparebank 1 SR-Bank (Sparebank1 Sør-Norge) bought a ~38% stake, showing institutional backing. Folkeinvest AS also had subsidiaries: notably Folkeinvest Formidling AS (a loan brokerage, now sold) and Caplist AS (formerly acquired equity platform). All parts were regulated by Finanstilsynet; Folkeinvest AS holds a license as a securities firm under Norwegian law. The now-sold lending arm (“Formidling”, ex-Monio) was a licensed payment institution and registered loan broker.

Folkeinvest – Volumes and Results 📊

Folkeinvest has facilitated significant funding. By Q1 2023, it had placed NOK 882 million across 152 companies, with ~54,764 registered investors. A 2023 report noted that since inception (2016) the platform had reached about NOK 1 billion in capital raised from roughly 60,000 investors. (Other summaries credit it with ~NOK 1.19 bn and ~70,000 investors as of 2024.)
Financials: Recent annual results show very low revenue (NOK 7.5 k in 2024) and heavy losses in the group. In 2024 Folkeinvest posted a NOK 171 million net loss (mainly write-downs), largely due to impairments on subsidiaries (the P2P lending arm and an acquired equity platform), not direct losses on investor capital. There is no public data on investor return rates (each round is unique). On the loan side, only one loan was ever issued (summer 2024) before that business was halted. Defaults/overdues on loans have not been a material factor (the loan arm has now exited). Average investor returns for equity deals depend entirely on each company’s fortunes – many will fail (as some reviews note).

Folkeinvest – Risk Approach & Management ⚠️

Folkeinvest vets issuers through its application process, publishing issuer documents for investor review. The platform states it provides comprehensive information, including financials and market analysis, on each deal. However, Norway’s regulator found gaps in risk controls: in 2025 Finanstilsynet criticized Folkeinvest for not fully checking issuer budgets and for risk warnings that weren’t “sufficiently balanced, clear or visible.” Management has acknowledged these findings and says it is tightening due diligence procedures. There are no private credit ratings or risk scores; investors must do their own analysis of each startup. Folkeinvest allows anyone (retail or professional) to invest, with no accreditation filter.
Focus: largely Norwegian/EU SMEs under the EEA/EU rules.
Monitoring: issuers are asked to update investors via the platform; for loans (when offered) updates were expected at least quarterly. Folkeinvest is accountable to Finanstilsynet for compliance.

Folkeinvest – Platform Functionality 🔧

Web-based (Norwegian language) with a user dashboard showing each investor’s holdings and campaign participation. No automated investing feature or secondary marketplace for selling shares – liquidity is generally only via company buyback or exit. Investors must manually pick and subscribe to campaigns. Educational resources and statistics are provided (e.g., historic funding totals).
Currencies: NOK only.
Security: no specific insurance/guarantee on investments; the platform acts as an intermediary, not as a financial advisor.

Folkeinvest – Pricing 💰

Investor fees are minimal: investors generally pay no platform fee to participate. Companies pay a success fee (often around 15% of the amount raised; terms vary by deal), taken as a service charge on the equity issuance. There are no withdrawal or performance fees mentioned for investors. Pricing for issuers is straightforward but exact figures are set in mandate/issuer agreements.

Negative Publicity about Folkeinvest ⚠️

Several red flags have emerged:

• Divestment of lending arm (2025): Folkeinvest sold its entire lending subsidiary to a Danish crowdlending firm, citing streamlining after a challenging year of losses.

• Large 2024 loss: The parent group reported a NOK 171 m net loss (primarily write-downs on subsidiaries).

• Regulatory findings: Finanstilsynet formally rebuked Folkeinvest for weak due diligence and risk disclosure, requiring remediation.

• User reviews: Public reviews are poor (small sample), with complaints about follow-up and losses, and some calling it “100% gambling.”

No formal regulatory sanctions are reported, but these credibility issues and financial losses are meaningful risk signals for prospective users.

Folkeinvest – Success Stories 🌟

• Industry recognition: Named “Company of the Month” by NHO Trøndelag in 2022 for rapid growth.

• Scale milestone: Surpassed NOK 1 billion in total equity raised by late 2023, a first for a Norwegian equity crowdfunding site.

• Institutional backing: Sparebank 1 SR-Bank acquired a 38% stake in 2023.

• Large rounds: Helped notable startups secure sizeable raises (e.g., a record NOK 80 M round in Q1 2023).

Despite headwinds, Folkeinvest has grown to 60k+ investors and 200+ campaigns and is recognized for pioneering “folkeinvestering” in Norway.

Is Folkeinvest safe and regulated?

Yes—licensed as a Norwegian securities firm under Finanstilsynet supervision. But investments are high-risk startup shares with no capital protection.

What returns can I expect?

No guarantees. Outcomes range from total loss to high multiples on rare successful exits; the latter are exceptions.

Main risks?

Total loss, illiquidity, very long horizons, and execution/fraud risk (mitigated but not eliminated by regulation and platform vetting). Diversify and only invest what you can afford to lose.