VentureCrowd
VentureCrowd is an Australian multi-asset crowdfunding platform covering startup equity, property and debt-based investment opportunities.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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History
VentureCrowd was founded in Sydney in October 2013 by Artesian, an Australian alternative investment management company. The brand was created during a period in which online crowdfunding was developing as a mechanism for connecting businesses, developers and investors, but Australia's legal environment still placed significant limits on public access to equity crowdfunding. The platform launched its first startup equity-crowdfunding deals in October 2014. Rather than focusing exclusively on donations, rewards or creative projects, VentureCrowd concentrated on investment products. Its model covered equity in private companies, property-related investments and debt-based opportunities. This multi-asset structure became a defining feature of the brand. In April 2015, VentureCrowd entered property crowdfunding through a partnership with Mirvac. The following month it completed a reported $4.2 million equity raise for Ingogo, a taxi-booking and payment software company. The transaction was described as the largest Australian equity-crowdfunding raise at the time and was later ranked eighth on a list of the highest-funded equity-crowdfunding projects. It established VentureCrowd as a prominent participant in Australia's emerging online private-capital market. The platform's property activity expanded in 2016 through projects with ClearState. In June, it raised more than $900,000 for a 35-lot residential development in Riverstone East in Western Sydney. In August, a second project raised $1.7 million for a 44-lot development in Austral. These campaigns demonstrated the brand's use of online investor pooling for residential development finance. The Australian regulatory context was important to VentureCrowd's early operation. At the time, equity crowdfunding was generally unavailable to the public and was restricted to wholesale or sophisticated investors, including people meeting specified wealth or income thresholds. A 2014 report by the Corporations and Markets Advisory Committee proposed a framework for crowd-sourced equity funding, including annual retail-investor limits and caps on the amount that could be invested in an individual company. In the 2015 Federal Budget, the Australian government announced measures intended to make crowd-sourced equity funding easier for small businesses and allocated funding for the Australian Securities and Investments Commission to implement and monitor a framework. These developments formed the broader policy environment in which platforms such as VentureCrowd operated. In 2022, VentureCrowd Holdings Pty Ltd used the VentureCrowd platform to raise $3.9 million as part of a broader $10 million Series A round. The company's subsequent corporate affairs became the subject of legal proceedings over a disputed share buyback. The Queensland Supreme Court ordered the company to pay more than $2.4 million to a former shareholder, and an appeal was dismissed by agreement in early 2025. VentureCrowd Holdings later attempted to raise a further $1 million through a Series B+ campaign on its platform; the campaign had raised $348,000 by its March 26 deadline. Reference material reports that VentureCrowd Holdings entered external administration in April 2026 after a secured party appointed W. Roland Robson. Claims presented at an initial creditors' meeting totalled $7.3 million. Co-founder and chief executive Steve Maarbani characterized the proceeding as a corporate debt restructuring and stated that operating subsidiaries and managed funds were not affected and continued trading. Creditors subsequently voted to replace Robson with Barry Wight and Stephen Earel of Cor Cordis. The final effect of the administration on the holding company, brand and platform remains unclear from the available material.
- 2026
External administration reported
[1]VentureCrowd Holdings was reported to have entered external administration, with creditor claims stated at $7.3 million.
- 2025
Share buyback litigation appeal dismissed
[1]An appeal relating to the contested share buyback proceedings was dismissed by agreement after a Queensland Supreme Court order requiring payment to a former shareholder.
- 2022
Corporate Series A fundraising
[1]VentureCrowd Holdings raised $3.9 million on its own platform as part of a broader $10 million Series A.
- 2016
Riverstone East property campaign
[1]More than $900,000 was raised for a 35-lot residential development in partnership with ClearState.
- 2016
Austral property campaign
[1]A ClearState-related 44-lot development project raised $1.7 million.
- 2015
Property crowdfunding introduced with Mirvac
[1]The platform entered property crowdfunding through a partnership with Mirvac.
- 2015
Ingogo raises $4.2 million
[1]VentureCrowd completed a reported $4.2 million equity crowdfunding raise for Ingogo.
- 2014
First startup equity crowdfunding deals launched
[1]VentureCrowd began offering startup equity crowdfunding opportunities.
- 2013
VentureCrowd founded in Sydney
[1]Artesian founded VentureCrowd as an Australian multi-asset crowdfunding platform.
Products and positioning
A multi-asset Australian alternative-investment platform connecting eligible investors with private-company, property and debt opportunities.
Equity crowdfunding · 2014
Startup equity crowdfunding
VentureCrowd's startup and private-company equity offering gives eligible investors access to selected businesses seeking growth capital. The platform's best-known transaction was the reported $4.2 million Ingogo raise completed in 2015. Australian rules historically limited this type of investment to wholesale or sophisticated investors, distinguishing the service from mass-market retail crowdfunding.
Property investment · 2015
Property crowdfunding
The property segment pools investor capital for real-estate development or related property opportunities. VentureCrowd began property crowdfunding through a Mirvac partnership in 2015 and subsequently promoted residential development campaigns with ClearState, including projects in Riverstone East and Austral.
Debt investment
Debt-based crowdfunding
VentureCrowd has also operated in debt-based crowdfunding, offering investment opportunities structured around lending or debt exposure rather than ownership equity. The available reference material does not identify a complete product catalogue, pricing model or current availability.
Controversies
2026
External administration of VentureCrowd Holdings
VentureCrowd Holdings was reported to have entered external administration following the appointment of an administrator by a secured party. Creditor claims at the initial meeting were reported at $7.3 million.
2025
Disputed share buyback litigation
VentureCrowd Holdings became involved in legal proceedings concerning a contested share buyback. The Queensland Supreme Court ordered the company to pay more than $2.4 million to a former shareholder, and an appeal was dismissed by agreement in early 2025.
Marketing campaigns
- 2025Series B+ campaign
Australia
VentureCrowd Holdings sought a further $1 million through a Series B+ campaign hosted on the VentureCrowd platform.
Outcome. The campaign had raised $348,000 by its March 26 deadline.
- 2022VentureCrowd Holdings Series A
Australia
VentureCrowd used its own platform to seek capital for VentureCrowd Holdings Pty Ltd as part of a broader Series A financing.
Outcome. The platform campaign raised $3.9 million within a broader $10 million round.
- 2016Riverstone East residential development
Australia
VentureCrowd partnered with ClearState on a campaign for a 35-lot residential development in Riverstone East, Western Sydney.
Outcome. The campaign raised more than $900,000.
- 2016Austral residential development
Australia
A second ClearState-related campaign financed a 44-lot residential development project in Austral.
Outcome. The campaign raised $1.7 million.
- 2015Ingogo equity crowdfunding raise
Australia
VentureCrowd hosted a reported $4.2 million equity crowdfunding raise for taxi-booking and payment software company Ingogo.
Outcome. The raise was described as Australia's largest equity crowdfunding raise at the time.
Brand decisions
2026
Entry into external administrationOtherBackground
A secured party appointed an administrator to VentureCrowd Holdings amid reported creditor claims.
Action taken
W. Roland Robson was appointed initially, and creditors later voted to replace him with Barry Wight and Stephen Earel of Cor Cordis.
Aftermath
Management stated that operating subsidiaries and managed funds continued trading, but the final effect on the holding company and brand remains unclear.
Claims reported at initial creditors' meeting. $7.3 million (2026)
2022
Self-hosted corporate fundraisingStrategyBackground
VentureCrowd Holdings sought capital as part of a larger Series A financing.
Action taken
The holding company used the VentureCrowd platform to raise $3.9 million.
Aftermath
The campaign formed part of a reported $10 million Series A round.
Amount raised through the platform. $3.9 million (2022)
2015
Expansion into property crowdfundingStrategyBackground
The company sought to diversify beyond startup equity offerings.
Action taken
VentureCrowd launched property crowdfunding through a partnership with Mirvac.
Aftermath
Property became a second major investment category on the platform.
2014
Launch of startup equity crowdfundingStrategyBackground
Artesian established VentureCrowd to broaden access to selected alternative-investment opportunities.
Action taken
VentureCrowd launched its first startup equity crowdfunding deals.
Aftermath
The move established equity crowdfunding as one of the platform's core business lines.
Recent events
VentureCrowd partners with Uniseed to feature university research ventures[4]
Reported:
VentureCrowd and Uniseed partnered to make university research ventures available for individual investment on VentureCrowd’s platform.
Sources4 sources
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