Lendopolis AI Overview on 09/2025

Lendopolis Overview 🏙️

Lendopolis is a French crowdfunding platform that lets people invest in renewable energy projects (solar farms, wind parks, etc.) by lending money to project developers. It was launched in 2014 and is regulated by the French financial authorities, ensuring a transparent and secure process. Investors can start with as little as €20 and earn interest (around 6% on average) by financing green initiatives. Key advantages include its impact-driven model (contributing to the energy transition) and no fees for investors ✅. However, there are significant risks ⚠️ – the loans are unsecured (no guarantee of repayment), illiquid (no secondary market to sell investments early), and project delays or defaults can occur (meaning you might receive payments late or even lose your capital). Overall, Lendopolis offers accessible, high-impact investments but requires investors to accept the risk of loss and long-term commitment.

Lendopolis Investment Products and Model ⚡

Product Offering: Lendopolis specializes in debt crowdfunding, primarily offering loans and bonds to finance renewable energy infrastructure. In some cases, it has also facilitated equity crowdfunding (unlisted shares) and green bonds for projects. Investors choose a project on the platform and enter into a loan or bond agreement with the project company, earning fixed interest payments funded by the project’s revenues (e.g. selling electricity) or eventual refinancing. The legal structure involves Lendopolis acting as an intermediary: it holds a Prestataire de Services de Financement Participatif (PSFP) license under the EU crowdfunding regulation, overseen by the AMF in France. Projects are typically French renewable ventures, though the platform (now under a larger group) is exploring other EU countries for expansion (Source 1; Source 4). Typical Terms: Most loans run for 1 to 5 years, and current renewable projects offer interest rates roughly between 4% and 7% annual gross (with some past SME loans reaching up to ~10%). The minimum investment is only €20, making it very accessible, while there is usually no formal maximum per project (investors may fund as much as the project allows). Major Risks: Investors face the risk of borrower default (losing part or all of the money), payment delays, illiquidity (funds are locked until loan maturity), and project underperformance. Lendopolis clearly warns that these investments are not covered by deposit insurance or investor compensation schemes, meaning due diligence and diversification are crucial.

Lendopolis Company Background and Ownership 🏢

Founding and Ownership: Lendopolis was founded in 2014 by Vincent Ricordeau, Ombline de Lasserre, and Adrien Aumont – the same entrepreneurs behind KissKissBankBank (a well-known French crowdfunding group) (Source 1). The platform initially operated as part of the KissKissBankBank & Co. group, and in 2017 it became majority-owned by La Banque Postale, a large French bank, which acquired the group to bolster its fintech offerings (Source 1). Under La Banque Postale’s ownership, Lendopolis gained strong backing and distribution (the bank offered Lendopolis projects to its own clients as a citizen investment product). In October 2024, a major change occurred: Lendopolis was spun off from La Banque Postale and merged with its competitor Lendosphere, which is part of the 123 Investment Managers group (Source 2). This merger created one of the largest European crowdfunding platforms focused on energy transition. Current Structure: As of 2025, Lendopolis operates under the Lendosphere/123 IM umbrella, and is no longer a bank subsidiary (though La Banque Postale continues to partner by referring clients). The company is registered as a Société par Actions Simplifiée (SAS) in Paris. Key executives include Aurélien Gouraud, who is Managing Director of Lendopolis. Lendopolis is a member of the industry association Financement Participatif France and holds all required licenses. Regulation and Licenses: The platform is regulated by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF). It transitioned in 2023 to the new EU crowdfunding passport regime, obtaining AMF authorization as a PSFP (EU Crowdfunding Service Provider) in 2023 (registration number FP-2023-30) (Source 4). Previously, it was registered with ORIAS as a Conseiller en Investissement Participatif (CIP) and Intermédiaire en Financement Participatif (IFP) under French crowdfunding law. All these ensure that Lendopolis is supervised and compliant with national and European crowdfunding rules, offering a regulated environment for investors.

Lendopolis Volumes and Performance 📈

Funding Volumes: Lendopolis has demonstrated significant growth in funded volumes, especially after pivoting to renewable energy finance. By mid-2023, the platform had surpassed €200 million in total funds raised since inception (Source 3). Later that year, in November 2024, it crossed the €300 million mark in cumulative investments, of which about €275 million were exclusively in renewable energy projects (Source 2). The momentum continued into 2025 – as of August 2025 Lendopolis has facilitated approximately €358 million in funding for projects overall (Source 5). This makes it one of the top crowdfunding platforms in France by volume. Projects Funded: Since 2014, Lendopolis has financed around 469 unique projects (as of late 2024) via roughly 800 individual fundraising campaigns (some projects raised funds in multiple tranches) (Source 2). These include dozens of solar parks, wind farms, and a few biogas and energy-efficiency projects across France. Under its earlier model, Lendopolis also funded small business loans and a handful of real estate developments – in total it supported over 800 French SMEs and projects before refocusing on energy. Investor Base: The platform’s investor community has grown rapidly. By July 2023 there were over 55,000 registered users on Lendopolis, of whom more than 21,000 are considered active investors (having funded at least one project) (Source 3; Source 2). The typical retail investor on Lendopolis invests in multiple projects; in fact, investors participate in an average of 4 projects each, with an average ticket size around a few hundred euros per project. Returns and Performance: Lendopolis advertises project interest rates generally between ~4% and 8%, depending on project risk and term, with an average realized yield of about 6.1% gross for investors (Source 4). Notably, these returns are before tax and assume no defaults. Default and Loss Rates: A key risk indicator is the default rate of projects. During its early years (financing broad SME loans), Lendopolis encountered high default levels – by 2017 around 16% of the loan volume was in delay or default, reflecting the riskiness of small business lending (Source 1). This prompted a strategic shift. After 2019, as the platform focused on vetted renewable energy deals with established sponsors, performance improved dramatically. In 2019 and 2020, none of the renewable energy projects funded had any late payment or default – a 0% default record during that period (Source 6). Currently (2024–2025), Lendopolis boasts very low default metrics: the loss rate is about 0.5% of capital and the serious default rate (>6 months overdue) is under 0.9% of outstanding amounts (Source 5). These remaining problem loans stem from older SME projects before 2019 – the company has clarified that all defaults so far came from the pre-2019 small business portfolio, whereas the renewable energy portfolio has performed exceptionally well (Source 4). Investor Returns: For investors, the average annual return net of defaults has been around 5–6%. The best-performing loans (usually shorter-term bridge financings) have offered around 8–8.5% interest, whereas lower-risk deals (e.g. senior project debt with bank co-financing) might yield closer to 4%. It’s important to note that these rates are gross returns – investors still owe taxes on interest earned, and actual net returns depend on each investor’s tax situation.

Lendopolis Risk Management Approach 🔒

Project Selection: Lendopolis employs a strict due diligence process to select which projects get listed, aiming to maintain the low default track record in the renewable sector. Each prospective project undergoes multi-step vetting: the company reviews the borrower’s legal and financial records, ensures the project has necessary permits and revenue contracts (e.g. a government feed-in tariff or power purchase agreement), and analyzes the business plan and cash flows. The platform’s analysts perform a feasibility study and risk analysis for every project submitted (Source 7). In the initial years, Lendopolis even assigned letter risk grades (A, B, C) to borrowers based on financial health, which corresponded to different interest rate ranges (for example, Grade A projects paid lower interest around 5–7%, while Grade C paid ~10–12%) (Source 6). Today, because Lendopolis focuses on established renewable energy developers, it mainly lists projects that meet high standards (most are considered moderate risk, akin to the old A/B category). Filters and Criteria: The platform specializes in energy transition projects – since 2020 it no longer finances general SMEs or unrelated sectors. This specialization means Lendopolis deals mostly with professional energy developers and often projects that have won government renewable tenders or subsidies, indicating a certain quality and support. The geographic focus remains France, ensuring the legal and regulatory environment is familiar (though its sister platform Lendosphere has expanded to other EU countries, Lendopolis itself keeps a local emphasis on French projects ready to build). Lendopolis gives priority to projects by experienced sponsors with proven track records in solar/wind development (Source 6). The platform also enforces criteria like having building permits approved, grid connection secured, and co-financing in place before a project can fundraise – this reduces the execution risk. Risk Mitigation: By concentrating on secured renewable assets (which start generating revenue once built), Lendopolis mitigates some risk compared to unsecured SME lending. Many projects on the platform are bridge loans or mezzanine debt that bridge gaps until bank financing arrives; these often have shorter durations (e.g. 18–24 months) and a clear exit (refinanced by a bank loan or equity injection). Lendopolis structures such deals with covenants and seeks to align with bank timelines to limit investor exposure. The platform does not provide any guarantee or insurance against losses – if a project fails (for example, a developer goes bankrupt or a project underperforms), investors bear the loss. To manage this, Lendopolis encourages diversification and often sets a max investment per project for each investor (to prevent one person putting, say, all their savings in one project). Monitoring and Reporting: Once funded, projects are monitored by Lendopolis. Borrowers typically provide progress updates on construction and operation, which Lendopolis relays to investors via the online dashboard. Investors receive scheduled reports of payments (interest and principal) and any project news (e.g. delays, early repayments). In cases of delays or issues, Lendopolis may negotiate with the borrower on behalf of investors. Notably, if a project needs to extend its loan term, the platform usually must seek investor approval (often via a vote mechanism) because it changes the contract terms. For example, in 2023 some projects requested 6-month extensions on bridge loans, and Lendopolis held investor votes on these; such instances are handled transparently, though they highlight that even carefully chosen projects can face timeline risks (Source 9). Overall, Lendopolis’s risk management relies on careful project curation upfront and active oversight, but investors should remember that crowdfunding carries inherent risk – even with due diligence, unforeseen problems can occur, and there is no guaranteed return.

Lendopolis Platform Features and Functionality 🖥️

Investing Process: The Lendopolis platform operates through a user-friendly web interface (in French). Investors can browse available project listings, each with a detailed profile including a project description, location, funding target, interest rate, term, and risk notes from the Lendopolis team. If interested, an investor can pledge an amount (>= €20) and pay via bank transfer or credit card to Lendopolis’s escrow (handled by a payment partner). Once the campaign reaches its target, the funds are transferred to the project and the investor’s account shows the investment. Dashboard and Tracking: Investors have an online dashboard where they can see all their active investments, interest schedules, and past repayments. The platform provides regular reports on payments – typically interest is paid monthly or quarterly depending on the loan structure (some bonds pay annually or at maturity). The dashboard also stores important documents like loan contracts and annual tax statements (for French investors, an IFU form is provided to help declare interest income). No Auto-Invest: Unlike some peer platforms, Lendopolis does not offer an auto-invest or robo-invest feature. All investments are done manually, allowing investors to choose specific projects (this fits the platform’s philosophy of local, conscious investment – users often pick projects in regions they care about). Investors are encouraged to diversify across projects, but they must allocate funds project by project. No Secondary Market: Importantly, Lendopolis does not have a secondary market or exchange for selling loans. Once you invest in a project, your money is locked in until the loan’s term ends and the borrower repays. There is no mechanism to exit early (apart from the borrower possibly repaying ahead of schedule). This illiquidity means investors should be confident they won’t need the money before the project’s end date (Source 6; Source 7). The platform’s FAQ explicitly reminds users that funds will be tied up and not readily withdrawable. Project Reservation Features: Some projects on Lendopolis are restricted to certain local investors for an initial period. For example, when a project receives a regional subsidy, the government may require that residents of that region get first priority to invest. Lendopolis handles this by implementing “department reservations” – if you live in the project’s department (area), you might get exclusive access for a few days before it opens to all investors (Source 6). This is a unique feature that strengthens community involvement but can surprise non-local investors when they see a project “reserved”. Diversification and Tools: While no automated tool is provided, Lendopolis does advise spreading investments. The site might show statistics such as average portfolio size or suggest new projects to existing investors for diversification. They also sometimes offer promotional bonuses (e.g. €20–€30 signup bonuses for new investors using a code, as seen in community forums) to encourage trying the platform (Source 5). Languages and Currencies: Currently, Lendopolis’s platform and support are in French, and all investments are in EUR. With the new EU license, it could potentially attract European investors in the future, but as of 2025 it remains primarily a France-focused service in terms of language and currency. Investor Support: The platform provides customer support via email and phone (during business hours). User feedback indicates that support is responsive and helpful – many Trustpilot reviews praise Lendopolis’s team for quickly answering questions about technical or tax issues (Source 4). Additionally, the platform has a detailed FAQ/Help Center covering topics like how to invest, risks, fees, and tax considerations. Analysis and Education: For each project, Lendopolis includes a section with analysis and commentary by its team, explaining why they believe the project is viable and outlining key risks or mitigants. This helps investors make informed decisions (though it’s not independent research – it’s provided by the platform itself). Some experienced users cross-check these details with external info (e.g. the developer’s track record). There is no separate “expert rating” service on Lendopolis, but the community on external forums often discusses projects, providing another layer of due diligence for engaged investors.

Lendopolis Fees and Pricing 💶

For Investors (Lenders): Lendopolis is free for investors – there are no account fees, no commission on investments, and no fees on interest earned. Creating an account, depositing funds, investing in projects, and withdrawing repayments all come with zero charges to the lender. This means the interest rates you see on projects (e.g. 5% or 6% annual) are gross rates paid to you without any cut taken by Lendopolis. The platform sustains itself by charging fees to the project owners instead. Investors should note, however, that standard taxes will apply to their earned interest (see FAQ section on taxation), but that is outside the platform’s fee structure. For Project Owners (Borrowers): Lendopolis’s revenue model is based on charging the borrower companies a combination of one-time and ongoing fees. The main fee is a success commission on the amount raised: typically around 3–4% of the funds collected, depending on the size and duration of the loan (Source 7). For example, a large project with a longer loan might pay 4% of the loan amount as a fee. This commission is usually deducted from the disbursement – if a project raises €100,000, they might receive only €96,000 after a 4% fee. In return, Lendopolis handles the investor onboarding, campaign promotion, legal structuring, etc., for the borrower. In addition to this upfront fee, Lendopolis may charge a management fee on repayments to cover transaction costs (for payment processing, managing hundreds of micropayments, etc.). This is often around 1% of each repayment or a similar periodic fee (Source 8). Over a multi-year loan, such fees can add roughly another ~1–2% annual cost for the borrower. There are no explicit “listing” fees to start a campaign (costs are only incurred if the fundraising is successful). If a campaign fails to reach its target, the project pays nothing and all investor pledges are refunded without fee. Transparency: Lendopolis is transparent about not charging investors, and it discloses to project owners the fee structure in advance (though exact percentages may be negotiated based on project specifics). According to forum discussions, the total fees for borrowers can range up to ~5–10% of the amount raised (including success and ongoing fees) (Source 8). While this is a significant cost for the borrower, it’s comparable to other crowdfunding platforms and is justified by the access to capital and community engagement that Lendopolis provides. Investors generally don’t need to worry about these fees except to understand that the interest rates offered on projects are net to them, and that the borrower’s cost of capital is higher (interest + platform fees). No Hidden Fees: There are no surprise fees for investors – no entry fees, no exit fees, and no performance fees. Withdrawal of your funds (once a project repays or if you have idle cash) is free, aside from any bank wiring fees on the investor’s own side. Overall, the pricing model is straightforward: investors earn interest with no fees, and borrowers pay commissions to Lendopolis for facilitating the deal.

Negative Publicity and Controversies about Lendopolis ⚠️

While Lendopolis has a generally positive reputation among investors, there have been a few negative incidents and criticisms noted in media and forums:

• Early Default Issues: In its initial years financing small businesses, Lendopolis experienced higher default rates. By late 2017, around 16% of the platform’s outstanding loans were in trouble (late or defaulted), which was highlighted in the press (Source 1). Some critics felt Lendopolis’s vetting of SMEs was insufficient back then. This issue largely resolved after the platform stopped SME lending in 2019, but it remains a point in history that cautious investors remember.

• Project Delays and Extensions: A frequent complaint is about projects running late. For example, in 2022–2023 several renewable energy projects did not get their expected bank refinancing on time and asked Lendopolis investors to approve loan term extensions (e.g. from 18 months to 24 months). On the Lendopolis forum, some investors were upset, feeling that extending the term reduced their effective returns and that a penalty interest should be added for the delay. One discussion titled “Lendopolis se moque de nous” (“Lendopolis is mocking us”) had investors debating a 6-month extension where the loan remained at 3.5% interest with no extra compensation – some felt this was too low and pushed for a higher rate during the extension period (Source 9). These cases highlight that even “successful” projects can face delays, and not all investors were happy with how they were handled (though ultimately the majority often voted to accept extensions to avoid default).

• Technical Glitches: A few users have reported technical issues on the platform, especially during high-demand fundraising. For instance, some investors experienced payment processing errors or website slowdowns when popular projects went live. There have been complaints about the reservation system for local projects – non-local investors sometimes find the project already partially filled or have trouble reserving once it opens to all. Lendopolis has worked on its IT infrastructure, but occasional glitches have been noted in user reviews (Source 4).

• Communication Critiques: While many praise Lendopolis’s customer service, others have pointed out areas to improve. Some users lamented the lack of email notifications for new project launches – meaning if you don’t actively check, you might miss out (Lendopolis has since added newsletters and alerts, but a few still say they’d like better real-time notices). Additionally, during the business-loan era, a few investors felt project due diligence was lacking for certain failed SMEs, and that risk warnings could have been more explicit.

• No Secondary Market Liquidity: This is not a scandal per se, but often discussed as a drawback. On social media and Reddit forums, some potential investors question the liquidity issue, sometimes misunderstanding that they cannot withdraw early. Lendopolis has had to clarify on forums that once invested, funds are locked (which seasoned users accept, but newcomers occasionally consider this a “negative” if they expected more flexibility) (Source 8).

• Regulatory or Legal Issues: No major regulatory sanctions have been reported for Lendopolis. The platform appears to be in good standing with regulators. It underwent routine checks during the transition to the new EU regime but there have been no warnings or sanctions from the AMF. Lendopolis being owned by a bank (until 2024) likely ensured strong compliance. The only legal disputes that have arisen were related to borrower bankruptcies – in a handful of SME cases that defaulted, Lendopolis represented investors in recovery proceedings. Those cases are standard for lending platforms and not unique controversies.

Overall, public sentiment is largely positive (Lendopolis holds an average 4.4 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot across ~150 reviews) but these critiques show that the platform is not without issues. The pivot to renewable projects improved quality, yet investors remain vigilant. Lendopolis has acknowledged past mistakes – for example, they openly note that all past losses came from risky small-business loans and that since focusing on renewables, performance has been solid (Source 4). The company’s responsiveness to feedback (e.g. addressing technical bugs and providing more project info) has helped maintain trust despite the above hiccups.

Lendopolis Success Stories and Milestones 🌟

Despite some challenges, Lendopolis has achieved notable successes and growth milestones:

• Rapid Growth and Market Leadership: By focusing on renewable energy crowdfunding, Lendopolis grew into one of France’s largest crowdfunding platforms. In 2023 it was reported as the 3rd biggest platform in France for energy projects, and after merging with Lendosphere in 2024, the combined entity became the French and European leader in renewable energy crowdfunding in terms of funds raised (Source 2). This leadership position is a significant achievement in a competitive market.

• Major Funding Milestones: The platform’s funding volumes speak to its success. In July 2023, Lendopolis announced it had crossed €200 million collected since inception – a milestone that took roughly 9 years to reach (Source 3). Impressively, within the next 16 months, it added another €100 million, surpassing €300 million by late 2024 (Source 2). This acceleration shows the strong investor appetite for its projects. These milestones were celebrated in press releases and indicate solid traction.

• Bank Partnership and Acquisition: A success story for Lendopolis was its acquisition by La Banque Postale in 2017. Having a major bank invest and integrate the platform was a vote of confidence in its model. During those years, Lendopolis benefited from the bank’s network, bringing in more investors and projects (many local municipalities and large energy firms felt comfortable working with a bank-backed platform). Later, the 2024 acquisition by 123 IM’s Lendosphere is another success – it allowed Lendopolis to join forces with a like-minded platform to scale up further. The fact that Lendopolis attracted buyers in both instances shows the company built significant value.

• Impact and Community Recognition: Lendopolis’s core mission of financing green projects has had tangible impact. By 2024, it had helped fund over 580 MW of renewable capacity (through solar panels, wind turbines, etc.) that contribute to France’s clean energy goals. The platform often highlights success stories like crowdfunding the construction of solar farms that power thousands of homes. It also passed €50 million in “local citizen” investments by 2022 – money raised from residents for projects in their own regions, strengthening public acceptance of renewables. Lendopolis has been recognized as a member of the Mouvement Impact France (a network of socially responsible enterprises) (Source 8), underlining its positive social impact. In 2019, it received an award from French fintech groups for innovation in green finance (one of several industry recognitions over the years).

• User Success and Satisfaction: The platform’s investors have seen many successful exits – dozens of projects have completed their terms and returned capital + interest to lenders. For example, Engie Green (a major utility) partnered with Lendopolis on multiple occasions to co-fund solar parks; those campaigns often filled in hours and have paid investors as promised. Such high-profile partnerships boosted Lendopolis’s credibility. Moreover, investor satisfaction remains high as reflected in reviews: beyond the numeric ratings, users often cite the “real sense of contributing to the community” and the reliable returns as reasons they stick with Lendopolis. Many retail investors have built sizable green portfolios through the platform and share their success stories on forums (e.g. some have earned a steady ~5–6% income while supporting dozens of solar plants). This loyalty and word-of-mouth advocacy are a testament to Lendopolis’s success in delivering both financial and social returns.

• Key Timeline of Achievements: Sept 2014 – Lendopolis launched by KKBB founders. Oct 2017 – La Banque Postale acquired majority stake, validating the model (Source 1). 2017–2018 – Pivot to renewable energy funding, launching first wind and solar campaigns. Dec 2017 – First €10 million financed; 2019 – Exited SME lending to focus on renewables (zero default in renewables that year) (Source 6). 2020 – Despite COVID-19, continued growth in green projects, began funding larger €1M+ projects. Jul 2023 – €200M milestone (Source 3). Nov 2023 – Obtained PSFP license (one of the first in France) to operate under new EU rules. Nov 2024 – Merger with Lendosphere announced, forming a European leader (Source 2). These milestones chart Lendopolis’s rise from a small startup to an industry leader in alternative green finance.

s Lendopolis safe and regulated?

Yes, Lendopolis is a regulated platform in France. It was supervised as a crowdfunding intermediary (CIP/IFP) and in 2023 obtained the AMF’s PSFP license to comply with the new EU crowdfunding regulation (Source 4). This means it’s authorized, monitored, and must follow strict rules on investor protection, disclosure, and handling of funds. While regulation doesn’t eliminate risk, it does ensure Lendopolis operates transparently and securely (investor funds are held in segregated accounts, etc.). There is no guarantee on investments, but the platform itself is legitimate and compliant with oversight by French authorities.

What returns can I expect on Lendopolis?

Returns vary by project, but currently most projects offer between ~4% and 7% annual interest. According to platform stats, the average gross return is around 6.1% per year for investors (Source 4). Some higher-risk or subordinated loans might go up to ~8–9%, whereas more conservative ones (short-term or senior debt) might be 4–5%. Keep in mind these returns are before taxes and assume the project pays as agreed. If a project were to default, returns could be lower or negative (loss of capital). So far, the renewable energy projects have performed well, but you should expect a mid-single-digit percentage return in exchange for the risk and illiquidity.

What are the main risks of investing through Lendopolis?

The main risks are borrower default, illiquidity, and project delays. Default risk means the company you funded might fail to repay in part or whole – if that happens, you could lose the unpaid portion of your investment (up to 100% in worst case). Illiquidity means you cannot easily sell or cash out your investment if you need money sooner (no secondary market). Delay risk is that projects might take longer than expected to repay (e.g. a project’s revenue comes late or refinancing is delayed, so your repayment schedule gets extended). Additionally, there’s interest rate risk (if general interest rates rise, being locked in a fixed low-rate loan has an opportunity cost), and operational risk (issues like construction problems or regulatory changes affecting the project). Lendopolis itself could theoretically go out of business, but even then arrangements exist for loans to continue being serviced by a third party. No investment is guaranteed – you’re not covered by deposit insurance. The platform does stress risk mitigation (through careful selection and diversification). As an investor, you should diversify across many projects to spread risk, only invest money you can afford to lose, and understand that higher interest = higher risk typically. In summary, expect a moderate risk, moderate return profile: you can earn solid returns beating inflation, but with the genuine risk of default or delays in some cases.