Volume in numbers: crowdfunding allows lots to give little, for big totals.
Keystone / John Lent
Crowdfunding campaigns – contributing money to a project, usually online – are booming in Switzerland. Total amounts raised jumped 38% between 2017 and 2018.
The marked increase to a total of CHF516.6 million ($514 million) is even more impressive when viewed in the context of just a few years ago: in 2015, for example, just CHF27.8 million was raised in online campaigns.
The figuresExternal link, published on Monday by the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, also show where most of the cash is being funnelled: to start-ups and small and medium-sized businesses, rather than cultural or sporting projects, which are struggling to attract.
And while overall numbers of campaigns slightly dipped, the larger total of cash suggests that average campaign volumes are increasing; real estate and business projects, in particular, drove this trend, the report says.
By international comparisons, last year’s stats put Switzerland towards the top of the pile with an average of CHF61 per person, much higher than per capita figures in neighbouring countries like France or Germany. In absolute terms, China (2017 figure: CHF345 billion), the US (CHF38.7 billion) and the UK (CHF7.8 billion) are way out in front.
Since such campaigns first began, some 10 years ago, a total of around CHF1.1 billion has been raised in Switzerland, the report says.
There are two main types of crowdfunding: “crowdlending” and “crowdinvesting”. The former allows individuals to lend credit to businesses or projects and to be subsequently reimbursed through interest payments; the latter is more of a classic investment model whereby participants buy into, for example, apartments, and then receive a share of profits.
More
More
Crowdfunding science: ‘An adventure into the unknown’
This content was published on
Though most campaigns have met their funding goals, success at Switzerland’s first science crowdfunding platform isn’t just measured in Swiss francs.
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
This content was published on
Geneva, which is facing several days of very hot weather, has raised its level of vigilance with regard to the risk of forest fires and is issuing an appeal for caution.
Zurich arbitration authority rules in favour of tenants of ‘Sugus Houses’
This content was published on
A conciliation authority says the terminations of 105 flat leases in the so-called "Sugus Houses" in the centre of Zurich were abusive. The tenants therefore do not have to move out - at least for the time being.
This content was published on
Visitors to Switzerland spent CHF19.6 billion ($23.9 billion) last year, a 2.2% rise compared to the previous year, the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) said on Monday.
This content was published on
Despite the current tense economic situation, Swiss consumer sentiment remains positive. The Swiss spent more money in May than the previous year, particularly on restaurant visits and leisure activities, as shown by the latest figures released by PostFinance.
This content was published on
A bear killed four sheep in the Lower Engadine region near Scuol, canton Graubünden, last week. This was the first bear attack on local livestock in four years.
This content was published on
Experts believe that economic development in Switzerland will be weaker in 2026 than the forecasts made three months ago. They have also lowered their predictions for the current year.
This content was published on
Fewer people in Switzerland have a religious affiliation and the proportion who practice their religion regularly is steadily declining, a survey finds.
Study: trees have major cooling effect even in extreme heat
This content was published on
Plane trees in cities have an important cooling effect even in extreme heat, according to a new study by the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL).
EPFL launches digitised version of Battle of Murten panorama
This content was published on
To mark the anniversary of the Battle of Murten on 22 June 1476, the Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) has launched a website that offers the public an immersive experience of the huge panorama painting of the historic battle.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Crowdfunding campaign hits goal to pay Swiss players’ FIFA fines
This content was published on
A crowdfunding campaign has secured sufficient pledges to be able to pay the fines FIFA handed to three Swiss football players for their Albanian eagle hand celebrations.
This content was published on
The arts are one of the major beneficiaries of crowdfunding in Switzerland. But that isn’t to say that every project is successful – far from it.
This content was published on
Swiss crowdfunding platforms dealt with CHF375 million ($377 million) in 2017, almost three times as much as the previous year.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.