Crowdfunding is one of a number of alternative financing solutions. It is a system that allows the public to finance a project (without going through the banks).
Blue Bees is a crowdfunding company that specialises in the market of solidarity financing for the ecological transition.
There are basically 3 types of participatory funding:
The projects are presented on an internet platform that brings together project owners and investors. It is therefore a communication tool that allows to make one's activity known and also to find future clients and partners.
Blue Bees works on projects in the form of grants or loans, but only for projects that work towards sustainable agriculture and food.
The activities supported are broad and not limited to agricultural production:
This strong social and environmental commitment is reflected in favourable financing conditions, as interest rates are often quite low.
Investors are more motivated by the realisation of a particular project than by the financial return offered. It is in fact an ethical and solidarity-based savings tool.
The company is also approved as a socially useful solidarity company.
Since its launch in 2015, Blue Bees has supported nearly 700 projects (120 of which are led by women) and raised more than €10 million, which represents 6,200 ha preserved.
Donation campaigns average €9,500 with an average payment of €78 per donor.
Loan campaigns average €70,000 with an average payment of €265 per investor.
Blue Bees is remunerated by a commission proportional to the amount of the project.
The project owner can, through a participatory financing campaign with Blue Bees, find funds for his project, carry out a communication campaign and find both customers and partners.
The fact of using this type of financing, generally without insurance and without guarantee, allows a bank which intervenes in complement, to reduce its risks without reducing its guarantees. This can often be a decisive factor in obtaining a bank loan.
The environmental commitment makes it possible to have a low cost of financing (2% on the projects consulted at the beginning of 2022), i.e. fairly close to the conditions of classic bank financing.
