Lendosphere AI Overview on 09/2025

Lendosphere Overview

Lendosphere is a French crowdfunding platform (launched 2014) that connects investors with renewable energy and ecological projects. It operates as a debt-based crowdlending platform, allowing individuals to lend or invest in green projects (wind farms, solar parks, etc.) in exchange for interest returns.

The platform prides itself on sustainable impact – financing hundreds of wind, solar, and eco-construction projects – and has achieved a 100% campaign success rate to date. 🌱

Key advantages include its strong track record (no investor losses so far) and contribution to the energy transition. However, investors face ⚠️ risks common to crowdfunding: illiquidity (no early exit) and potential capital loss if a project fails.

Lendosphere is fully regulated, but investments are not guaranteed – you should only invest funds you can afford to lock in and potentially lose.

Lendosphere Investment Product

Investment offerings: Lendosphere primarily offers interest-bearing loans (“obligations”) to project companies, and occasionally equity stakes for smaller local projects. Investors typically earn fixed annual interest (generally ~5–8% depending on project risk) paid over the loan term. For example, the average annual yield on Lendosphere projects was ~6.0% historically (net of defaults) and rose to ~7.1% for recent 2023–2024 projects as rates increased. How it works: each project comes with a fixed term (often 2–5 years maturity; ~42 months on average) during which investors receive interest, and capital is repaid (usually at maturity or periodically). Minimum investment is low (usually €50 or €100), making it accessible to retail investors. There is typically no maximum per investor under the EU crowdfunding regime (one recent campaign had no lender limit, and some individuals invested up to €100k). Legal structure: investments are made via transferable securities (loan notes/bonds or shares), not deposits, so they are not covered by bank deposit insurance or investor compensation schemes. Funds are handled by an authorized payment institution for safety (Lemonway in this case) and kept separate from Lendosphere’s own accounts. Major risks: Projects can default or pay late, which may lead to interest payment delays or even total loss of invested capital in worst cases ⚠️. Investments are illiquid (no secondary market available), meaning your money is locked until the project repays. Lendosphere emphasizes thorough vetting, but investors must understand project risks (technical, legal, financial) and diversify accordingly.

Lendosphere Company and Regulation

Company background: Lendosphere was co-founded by Laure Verhaeghe (current CEO) and Amaury Blais in 2014. The company is a French SAS (registered in Paris) and since 2021 it has been majority-owned by 123 Investment Managers (123 IM), a private investment group that bought into Lendosphere to support its growth. This backing by 123 IM provides financial strength and industry expertise. Lendosphere’s team is led by experienced professionals in crowdfunding and green finance; co-founder Laure Verhaeghe continues to oversee strategy and operations. The platform often partners with reputable renewable energy developers (e.g. Akuo, Innovent, Valorem) to source projects, benefiting from those companies’ sector experience.

Regulation: Lendosphere is regulated in France and the EU. It originally operated under French crowdfunding licenses (Conseiller en Investissement Participatif and Intermédiaire en Financement Participatif) and was supervised by the AMF (Autorité des Marchés Financiers) and ACPR. In November 2023, it obtained the new European Crowdfunding Service Provider approval (PSFP status) from the AMF, under registration number FP-2023-22. This EU license allows Lendosphere to offer cross-border crowdfunding services in Europe in compliance with harmonized rules. The company carries professional indemnity insurance (Allianz) and is a member of the French crowdfunding association, indicating its adherence to industry standards.

Supervision: The AMF is Lendosphere’s primary regulator (notably for securities offerings), and the platform’s payment flows are managed through Lemonway (a licensed payment institution) under Banque de France/ACPR oversight. Overall, investors can take confidence that Lendosphere operates legally and under regulatory scrutiny 🛡️.

Lendosphere Volumes and Performance Results

Funding track record: Lendosphere is one of France’s leading green crowdfunding platforms with €386.8 million total financed (cumulative) as of 31 August 2025. This capital has funded 689 projects in renewable energy and ecological transition sectors by that date. (The platform’s live counter in late 2025 shows ~753 projects and €394 M raised, reflecting ongoing growth.)

Investor base: Over 42,000 users have signed up on Lendosphere, of which thousands are active lenders (community size as of Aug 2025). The average project size has grown – recent campaigns often raise hundreds of thousands or millions of euros, occasionally alongside institutional co-investors.

Default and returns: Impressively, Lendosphere reports 0% defaults and 0% loss rate to date – no funded project has resulted in a capital loss for investors (as of early 2025). Even late payments are extremely rare; as of January 2024 the platform had no payment delays over 6 months and no borrower bankruptcies. (One project experienced a minor delay in 2025 but was communicated and managed before it became serious.) Thanks to this strong portfolio performance, average investor returns have been around 6% net annual (after risk) historically.

In 2023–2025, as interest rates rose, new projects have offered ~7%–8% annual yields, boosting the platform’s average yield (e.g. 7.26% average in 2025 for projects launched that year). Note: Past performance is not a guarantee, but Lendosphere’s record of timely repayments and steady ~5–8% yields highlights its effective project selection. Investors typically achieve returns in line with project rates (before the 30% French flat-tax on interest) – e.g. a 7% project would net ~4.9% after tax for a French taxpayer.

Overall, Lendosphere’s portfolio quality has been excellent so far, though prudent investors should still expect that defaults can occur as the project pool expands.

Lendosphere Risk Management Practices

Project selection: Lendosphere employs a rigorous vetting and due diligence process to select projects. It focuses on projects with solid fundamentals – resilient business models, experienced project owners, proper permits, and reliable revenue streams (e.g. long-term power purchase contracts). The team analyzes each potential deal’s financial viability, technical and legal aspects, and environmental impact before listing. Only established renewable energy developers or vetted companies are allowed to raise funds, which has contributed to the 0% default track record so far.

Unlike some platforms, Lendosphere does not use a public letter-grade risk rating for each project. Instead, investors must review the detailed Key Information Document (Document d’Information Réglementaire Synthétique) provided for each offer, which outlines the project’s risks, finances, and any guarantees or securities. Lendosphere’s due diligence criteria include checking that projects have necessary regulatory approvals and evaluating the borrower’s creditworthiness; many campaigns involve projects already in advanced stages (construction or operation), which lowers risk.

The platform favors projects that contribute to local communities – often requiring that a portion of funding be reserved for local residents, which also indicates support from local authorities.

Risk mitigation: In case of borrower default, Lendosphere may enforce guarantees or collateral if available (some loans have parent-company guarantees or assets pledged). The platform itself has arrangements to protect investors operationally: funds are held by Lemonway (ensuring that if Lendosphere ceased operating, loan repayments can still be processed). Lendosphere also maintains professional liability insurance and adheres to industry best practices (e.g. it’s a member of Financement Participatif France, which has a common framework for reporting defaults).

Monitoring and reporting: Investors have an online dashboard to track repayments, and Lendosphere sends email notifications for key events (for example, if a payment is delayed or a project has an update). However, some investors would appreciate more granular reporting tools (e.g. visualizing personal portfolio performance or any late payments – see Platform Functionality below).

Overall, Lendosphere’s risk management is cautious and thorough, evidenced by its default-free history, but investors should still diversify across many projects and recognize that renewable energy projects carry industrial risks (construction delays, regulatory changes, etc.).

Negative Publicity about Lendosphere

Lendosphere has maintained a positive reputation in the alternative investment community, and there have been no major controversies or scandals reported as of 2025. The platform has no known regulatory sanctions or warnings, and its clean default record means there haven’t been high-profile investor losses in the press. Most investor feedback is favorable, highlighting the platform’s reliability. On Trustpilot, Lendosphere holds an “Excellent” 4.4/5 rating (Aug 2025), albeit from a modest 30+ reviews. Users often praise the timely repayments and the feeling of “investing with meaning” in eco-friendly projects.

Criticisms: The negative points raised are relatively minor and center on platform features rather than integrity. For example, some investors note the lack of a secondary market as a drawback, since it means money is locked in until project term. A few experienced users also wish for better transparency in the dashboard regarding late payments – currently, if a payment is delayed there isn’t a prominent alert or summary, making it “très compliqué de savoir où l’on en est des remboursements” according to one community review. Lendosphere’s interface does not provide a quick way to see if any projects are running late, which could be improved (⚠️ transparency issue).

Additionally, because the platform often finances projects from a core group of repeat developers, some blogs advise investors to watch out for concentration risk – if you invest heavily in many projects by the same borrower, an issue at that company could impact multiple loans. It’s also mentioned that Lendosphere offers limited ways to interact or ask questions (no public Q&A forum), which is a slight drawback for those who like more community engagement.

Regulatory/investment risks: While not a reflection of wrongdoing, it’s worth noting that crowdfunding in renewables carries external risks (changes in subsidy policy, grid connection delays, etc.), and some industry observers caution that as the sector matures there could eventually be defaults (despite none so far). Lendosphere’s acquisition of competitor Lendopolis in 2024 also drew attention – it was seen positively as a sign of consolidation, but came on the heels of Lendopolis’s parent (La Banque Postale) exiting the market due to sector challenges. This underlines that the crowdfunding industry is competitive and under cost pressure, though Lendosphere itself has been growing.

✅ Summary: No red flags have emerged on Lendosphere’s conduct; criticisms are mainly feature requests and cautionary advice. Investors should be mindful of the platform’s illiquidity and ensure they use the available information to diversify and monitor their investments (even if the UI could better assist in that).

Lendosphere Success Stories and Milestones

Since its inception, Lendosphere has achieved several major milestones 🎉. It was a pioneer in green crowdfunding in Europe, being one of the first platforms (in 2014) dedicated exclusively to renewable energy projects. Over the years, it has facilitated funding for numerous impactful projects – for instance, by mid-2021 it had already financed 280 projects contributing to avoiding an estimated 1.5 million tonnes of CO₂ per year. One early success story was a 2021 campaign for La Française de l’Énergie: Lendosphere partnered with ethical bank La Nef to raise €3.3 million for two biogas cogeneration units, where 489 retail investors contributed ~€2.3M alongside €1M from La Nef. This showcased the power of combining crowd investors and institutional funds to achieve a large raise – the project hit 100% of its goal, proving Lendosphere’s capacity to fund multi-million-euro projects. In terms of growth, Lendosphere crossed €100M raised by 2018, €300M by 2022, and is nearing €400M by 2025, reflecting rapid expansion of green investments on the platform. Its investor community also swelled from 18,500 users in 2021 to over 40,000 by 2025 – a testament to its popularity.

Strategic partnerships and acquisitions: A key milestone was in 2021, when Lendosphere became a subsidiary of 123 Investment Managers (123 IM). This partnership provided capital and expertise to scale operations. Under 123 IM, Lendosphere pursued strategic expansion: in mid-2023 it acquired AkuoCoop, the crowdfunding unit of renewable developer Akuo Energy. Rebranded as “AkuoCoop by Lendosphere”, this brought in international projects and broadened the investor base. Another milestone came in November 2024, when Lendosphere acquired Lendopolis, one of its main French competitors (formerly backed by La Banque Postale). This consolidation cemented Lendosphere’s leadership in French green crowdfunding and gave it unmatched scale in the sector.

Recognition and regulation: Lendosphere has been officially labeled “Financement Participatif pour la Croissance Verte” (Crowdfunding for Green Growth) for its exclusive focus on sustainable projects. It is also an active member of France FinTech and Financement Participatif France, highlighting its reputation in both fintech and sustainable finance. In November 2023, it received the EU Crowdfunding Service Provider (PSFP) license, enabling it to operate cross-border campaigns. By late 2024, it had already expanded into markets like Spain, leveraging the European crowdfunding passport.

Awards and reputation: While not focused on publicity, Lendosphere has been recognized by government and industry bodies for its contributions to renewable finance. Its greatest “award” arguably lies in its impeccable track record – no defaults in over 10 years, with thousands of investors earning solid returns while supporting the energy transition. Each fully repaid project – from wind farms to solar plants – serves as proof of concept for its sustainable model.

✅ Summary: With strategic backing, major acquisitions, EU-wide authorization, and a flawless repayment record, Lendosphere has grown into France’s leading green crowdfunding platform. It is well-positioned to fund even larger and cross-border renewable projects in the coming years 🌱.

Is Lendosphere safe and regulated?

Yes. Lendosphere is authorized as a Crowdfunding Service Provider by the French AMF (license no. FP-2023-22). It operates under strict regulations and ensures client funds are segregated via its payment partner Lemonway for security. The platform has an impressive track record with no defaults so far, which sets it apart in the sector. ⚠️ However, your capital is still at risk if projects fail, since there is no guarantee fund. The safest approach is to diversify across multiple projects and invest cautiously, even given Lendosphere’s excellent performance to date. 🌱

💸 What returns can I expect on Lendosphere?

Returns vary by project. Most Lendosphere loans offer 5% to 8% annual interest, with the historical average around 6% per year (before tax) across all campaigns. In recent years (2023–2025), offers have been closer to ~7% or higher, reflecting rising market rates. Your actual return depends on which projects you select and their terms. ⚠️ Note: returns are shown gross. For a French taxpayer, the 30% flat tax reduces a 6% yield to ~4.2% net. So far, Lendosphere has an excellent record – 100% of due interest has been paid with no investor losses. 🌱

⚠️ What are the main risks of investing via Lendosphere?

While Lendosphere has had no defaults so far, investing always carries risk ⚠️. The main risks include:

• Borrower default – if the project company goes bankrupt, you could lose part or all of your investment. Crowd investors are often subordinated to banks in such cases.

• Illiquidity – there’s no secondary market; your funds are tied up until final maturity.

• Delay risk – projects might pay interest or principal later than scheduled (though to date, Lendosphere hasn’t seen long delays).

• Project risks – renewable energy ventures face construction, operational, and regulatory risks (e.g. permitting delays, lower energy output) that can affect repayments.

• Platform risk – if Lendosphere itself failed, Lemonway (its payment partner) would continue loan servicing, but disruption could still occur.

👉 The safest approach is diversification: spread your capital across many projects and only commit funds aligned with your risk tolerance. Lendosphere itself advises not to invest in anything you don’t fully understand. 🌱