Lendahand

Lendahand is an impact-investing crowdfunding platform operated by Hands-on B.V. It allows retail investors, starting from small ticket sizes such as €10, to fund entrepreneurs and small businesses in emerging markets. Rather than lending directly to borrowers, Lendahand channels investor capital through socially driven local financial institutions that have strong regional knowledge, which then on-lend to end borrowers. The platform reports that investors can earn up to 9% annual interest, with repayments typically made every six months. The platform was launched in 2013 and has since grown into one of Europe's better-known impact crowdfunding services. According to its own reporting, more than €232 million had been invested through lendahand.com and lendahand.co.uk since 2013, with 3,555 projects funded and over 1.4 million lives improved. Lendahand states that it is regulated by the Authority Financial Markets in Rwanda, reflecting its focus on emerging-market lending. It also highlights that since 2023 it has only offered investments with a credit score of B or higher, and that 97.4% of such payments were made on time and in full. Lendahand's investor base exceeds 20,000 people, and the platform emphasizes measurable social impact alongside financial return. Reported impact metrics include 13,368 jobs created, 116,748 solar systems installed, 11,580 biogas digesters installed, and 373,180 tonnes of CO2 reduced. The company positions itself at the intersection of sustainable investing and microfinance, aiming to close the estimated $8 trillion financing gap in emerging countries identified by the IFC. Lendahand operates under the legal entity Hands-on B.V. and maintains a presence in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom through its lendahand.com and lendahand.co.uk domains. It is a private company and is not listed on a stock exchange.

Lendahand was founded in 2013 as an impact-investing crowdfunding platform operated by Hands-on B.V. The platform was created to address the financing gap in emerging markets, where small businesses often lack access to affordable credit from traditional banks. By allowing retail investors to fund loans starting from small amounts, Lendahand sought to democratize impact investing and channel capital to entrepreneurs in developing countries. From its early years, Lendahand focused on partnering with local financial institutions rather than lending directly to end borrowers. This model allows the platform to leverage the regional expertise and social mission of microfinance institutions and other socially driven lenders. Over time, Lendahand expanded its investor base and the range of projects available, including renewable energy initiatives such as solar systems and biogas digesters. By the early 2020s, Lendahand had facilitated over €200 million in investments and reported that its investors had improved more than 1.3 million lives. In 2023, the platform tightened its credit standards, deciding to offer only investments with a credit score of B or higher. This change was accompanied by a reported 97.4% on-time repayment rate for such investments. As of its latest reporting, cumulative investments through lendahand.com and lendahand.co.uk exceeded €232 million, with 3,555 projects funded and 13,368 jobs created. The platform also reports being regulated by the Authority Financial Markets in Rwanda, underscoring its commitment to operating within regulatory frameworks in the markets it serves.

• 2023

  Lendahand began offering only investments with a credit score of B or higher.

• 2013

  Lendahand platform launched.

• Cumulative investments through lendahand.com and lendahand.co.uk exceeded €232 million.

Impact investing platform connecting retail investors with emerging-market entrepreneurs through local financial institutions, offering up to 9% annual interest.

• Impact investing crowdfunding platform

  Online platform where retail investors fund loans to emerging-market entrepreneurs via local financial institutions.

• Auto-Invest

  Feature allowing investors to automatically invest in projects.

• Euro Microfinance

  A type of project offering on the platform.

• 2020.05.20

  Reported2020.05.20

  Lendahand reaches its €1 million crowdfunding target[4]Lendahand 达成 100 万欧元众筹目标crowdfundinsider.com

  Lendahand secured its initial €1 million funding target through its equity crowdfunding campaign on Seedrs; the campaign had attracted nearly 425 Seedrs investors.

Read more

1. 1Impact Investing with Lendahand | Sustainable and Social Investinglendahand.com
2. 2Create Impact with Lendahand | Sustainable and Social Investinglendahand.com
3. 3Hands-on B.V. (lendahand) - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Lendahand 达成 100 万欧元众筹目标crowdfundinsider.com