4 investors and 4 approaches to investing and diversifying your portfolio

Stocks, bonds, ETFs – these are the traditional financial instruments most people start their investment journey with. But how to enrich your portfolio with something innovative, profitable and, what's more, meaningful? Today’s Slovak investors, including well-known business personalities, are now diversifying their investment portfolios by crowdinvesting in proven local companies and real estate.

Direct investment in companies is often only available to large players with sufficient capital and to investment funds. So, how to access such investment opportunities and possibly invest alongside these professionals? Crowdberry’s crowdinvesting platform gives individual investors the opportunity to get involved and start earning.

Thousands of Slovaks have already discovered direct investing in local companies and now these opportunities are opening up to an even wider audience. Some investment opportunities start from only 1000 € and, by investing through Crowdberry, you can not only become a co-owner of successful companies, but also lend to them and become their ‘banker’.

The magic lies in everyone being able to find their own investment opportunity that is close to them – either because of the nature of the business, or simply the one in which they see the greatest potential for appreciation of their invested capital.

Be inspired by the stories of four people who will convince you that you too can become an investor

Ivan (41 years old), doctor: investments in transparently verified companies

Ivan is a medical doctor and doesn't always have the time to thoroughly vet companies that he would like to invest in directly. However, he has discovered an investment platform where he can find detailed information not only about the investment opportunity, but also about the company itself. This gives him a detailed overview of the company’s business, how stable it is and how his money will be used. In addition, he considers himself to be more of a conservative investor, so prefers to lend capital to companies in exchange for regular interest payments. This is how he lent to the Pohoda Festival, for example. The fact his investment will be paid back at the agreed time with interest gives him a sense of security.

Peter (47 years old), manager: direct investments in prospective growth companies

Peter is an experienced manager who likes to spread his investments across a variety of assets – he holds shares, ETFs and bonds, but has also tried crypto. What attracted him to Crowdberry is that he can invest directly in growing companies that he wouldn't otherwise have a chance to back as a solo investor. He likes specificity – he can see where his money is going and can track the progress of the companies he invests in. Direct contact with projects and companies suits him, which is why he co-owns leading Slovak biotechnology companies with other investors and has also included a commercial real estate project from KLM in his portfolio, which he has already capitalized on as a co-owner in the meantime.

Zuzana (37 years old), pharmacist: local investments to support Slovak talent

The local aspect and support are important to Susan, a pharmacist. She invests through Crowdberry because that's how she funds local companies that create value at home. She sees the people behind these companies, the support of talent and the entrepreneurial environment that Slovakia needs so much. She invested in the cosmetics brand Noili, which is currently being discovered in Western Europe. Zuzana co-owns Noili with other investors through Crowdberry and recently added Freshlabels to her portfolio. This is because she wanted to diversify her portfolio with a less risky instrument. She has only lent capital to the company and is waiting for her first interest payment.

Samuel (28 years old), IT specialist: real estate projects, but also the support of successful Slovak IT-workers

IT-guy Samuel is used to the digital world. But when it comes to investing, he also likes something real. In addition to investing in Netcore, an IT company in Košice, where he sees great potential and has lent it capital, he has also invested in very specific real estate projects, co-owning a retail park in Nitra and a senior living facility. He follows the markets and macroeconomics, and enjoys transferring his observations into his investment strategies. In addition to traditional tools, he also uses Crowdberry and provides patient capital to local companies with the prospect of interesting appreciation. Crowdinvesting is a way for him to invest meaningfully and see the impact of his investments on real companies.