Seedblink, a tech-focussed crowdfunding platform founded by a team of Romanian entrepreneurs, is expanding its European reach. 

Launched shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic, Seedblink addresses a critical gap in the Central and Eastern European (CEE) market, where countries like Romania and Bulgaria lacked significant funding platforms for startups. This gap, coupled with the European Union's push for pan-European crowdfunding regulation, inspired the creation of SeedBlink.

"We saw an opportunity to create the first crowdfunding platform in CEE, filling a gap in the market," co-founder and CEO Carmen Sebe said in an interview with bne IntelliNews. “Previously, crowdfunding platforms were regulated only within their respective countries, which was an impediment to getting other investors for startups … We decided to create a single pan-European platform."

SeedBlink's founding team brought a wealth of experience to the table, with expertise spanning startup development, technology and finance. Sebe’s background is in the tech sector, where she previously led Gecad ePayments and Avangate to successful exits. Fellow founder and chairman of the board Radu Georgescu is also a tech veteran with decades of experience in founding and developing companies. However, president of the board of directors Andrei Dudoiu and Ionuț Patrahau, in charge of corporate development, both come from a banking background. 

This combination enabled the founding team to focus on finance for technology companies. "What we did that was different is we focussed only on technology companies," Sebe explained. “We know how to do tech, so decided to work with tech companies.”  

The company's pan-European vision began with a local focus. SeedBlink initially worked primarily with companies in Romania, before opening an office in neighbouring Bulgaria. The team then acquired a small Dutch crowdfunding company, one of the oldest in Europe but struggling, and set about to modernise it and extend SeedBlink's reach into Western Europe. Offices in Austria followed, with plans to expand further into Germany and France, despite the current uncertain economic climate.

“We started with this growth in mind, but to get traction we started in Romania," said Sebe. "Our focus remains on CEE, where there's a lot of business to be done. The cultural differences [in CEE] are not as pronounced as in Western Europe, making it easier for us to grow our presence, and at this point we are recognised as the biggest platform in this area.” 

SeedBlink positions itself as an enabler for startups, particularly in collaboration with venture capitalists (VCs). The platform has attracted companies that already have VC backing, allowing it to offer investment opportunities that are vetted and deemed promising. 

In several larger funding rounds, companies have raised funds from Seedblink alongside VCs. They include some of the high-profile startups to come out of the region. A recent major funding round raised €5mn for .lumen from a combination of Seedblink and VCs to support the development of its ‘glasses for the blind’ created using autonomous driving technology to replicate the main features of a guide dog. .lumen raised €1mn in a single day — a record for Seedblink. 

Last year, Bulgaria-based cargo drone airline Dronamics also tapped Seedblink’s community of investors in a €2mn funding round, in its second foray on the platform. For Flowix.ai, a New York headquartered tech company with an engineering team in Romania, SeedBlink participated alongside VCs and other investors in a $9mn seed round led by Dawn Capital. 

“We have some very big names that got more than €1mn from our platform,” pointed out Sebe, adding that another fundraising on a similar scale is expected within the next month. 

Meanwhile, recognising the demand for smaller, early-stage investments, SeedBlink has also introduced a new business line to provide seed and pre-seed funding.

"We realised investors want also to get in smaller types of companies — seed and pre-seed — so we also opened a new line," Sebe said. "We're part of an ecosystem working with VCs, angel investors, high net worth individuals and family offices … we are in the market and we know we are well regarded in the VC ecosystem. They work with us when they want to fill up a round, which is great.”

As SeedBlink has grown, it has diversified its offerings, including with the launch of a pilot for secondary offerings. At present, however, Sebe says the secondary market is not a primary focus for SeedBlink in the near term. "We're exploring the appetite for secondary markets among our investors, but it's not something we're pushing strategically right now," she said.

SeedBlink's investor base is diverse, with 60% of its investors coming from outside Romania. Half of these foreign investors are based in the Netherlands, with others in Bulgaria, Austria, and beyond. The platform has also played a significant role in educating new investors across the region, many of whom are making their first foray into startup investments.

“Something very important for a company, but also very difficult, is to find money to grow," Sebe said. "If you don't have funding, you can't grow, and if you can't grow, you die.” Securing VC funding can be difficult especially in the CEE region, where major VCs select only a handful of companies each year. 

“We have 10-12 opportunities on our platform on a monthly basis, and they are all selected by us. So for the companies we are very important.” 

On top of creating the platform to secure funding, Seedblink also offers infrastructure to facilitate the fundraising process, allowing entrepreneurs to focus on their core business. 

Looking ahead, Sebe envisions SeedBlink as more than just a crowdfunding platform. She sees it evolving into a comprehensive tool for startups. The platform aims to support companies from pre-seed to Series B, providing the infrastructure needed for growth at every stage.

"We want to be a European platform that offers companies more instruments for getting funding, and also management tools," Sebe said. "We’re well recognised in CEE, and our goal is to continue moving forward in the Western part of Europe, while continuing the education in this part of the world."

As SeedBlink continues its expansion, it offers tech startups in Romania and the broader CEE region a lifeline in a region where traditional funding sources are scarce. With plans to expand its footprint across Europe, SeedBlink is poised to become a major player in the global crowdfunding landscape.