Having assumed an advisory role at crowdfunding platform Seedrs in June 2015, with the intention of backing businesses in the health, sport and wearable technology spaces, Murray has now diversified into food, alternative finance, digital media and travel.
Making various “undisclosed investments” into each company, Murray also plans to make further commitments during the rest of 2016. His new portfolio companies include annual travel ticket subscription service CommuterClub, which was named Disruptor of the Year at the Real Business’ 2015 Everline Future 50 awards.
Also receiving investment from Murray are Oppo Ice Cream, which we found out at the start of 2015 began through attempting a world record, peer-to-peer lending platform and fellow Everline Future 50 member Landbay, global film streaming service We Are Colony and Readbug, which is dubbed “Netflix for magazines”.
Murray, who recently had his first child with wife Kim Murray, commented: “Giving recognition and support to British entrepreneurs is important to me, especially those who are the driving force behind growth-focused businesses. Every one of these entrepreneurs is inspirational and dedicated to their business and I’m excited to have invested in their team’s vision and work ethic.”
Read more about Andy Murray:
- Andy Murray takes a whack at grooming and 3D printing with two new investments
- Andy Murray builds on crowdfunding advisory role with three new investments
- Tennis star Andy Murray takes up crowdfunding role to work with entrepreneurs of tomorrow
The investments come as Seedrs moved beyond the £100m level of funding raised on its platform, with 320 deals closed since it was founded in 2009. That equates to £7m banked per month for the finance mechanism that was backed by fund manager Neil Woodford.
“It’s been an exciting start to 2016 for me, for many reasons. To see Seedrs reach £100m on the platform and so many ambitious and dynamic businesses currently fundraising, means it’s a great start to 2016 for them as well,” said of the landmark.
Murray’s previous investments included Tossed, Trillenium and Fuel Ventures, a fund established by myvouchercodes.co.uk founder Mark Pearson. The partnership is not the first time that the tennis player has made moves in the business world. In 2013 he purchased Perthshire property Cromlix House for £1.8m, before opening it as a five-star hotel a year later.
Jeff Lynn, CEO and co-founder of Seedrs, said: “It’s great to see Andy supporting British entrepreneurs so actively on Seedrs by investing in their businesses. Seedrs is now the most active seed-stage equity investor in the UK, and our continued growth and leading position in the market are testament to our reputation and the support from people like Andy.”
It’s boom time: The UK’s equity crowdfunding success will take tech investments to $8.2bn by 2020.
Share this story
