Celebrity endorsement experts, Celebrity Group, have responded to news of Andy Murray working with crowdfunding company Seedrs to provide advice to businesses working in the health, sport and wearable technology markets.
Grand Slam champion Andy will advise the London-based equity crowdfunding platform and invest regularly in startups and other burgeoning businesses. Seedrs, which was the first equity crowdfunding platform to receive regulatory approval from a financial regulator, are confident that Andy’s appointment will help the brand reach a global audience.
The equity crowdfunding market has experienced rapid growth in recent years and, since launching in July 2012, Seedrs has reported month-on-month growth of 15%. Crowdfunding involves raising finance through small investments from a large number of people using online platforms. In the crowdfunding process, each individual acts as an agent of the offering, selecting and promoting the projects they choose.
Andy Murray’s appointment marks the first time a major public figure has acted as celebrity ambassador for a crowdfunding company, heralding a significant milestone in the development of crowdfunding and a sign that the industry is growing. Predictions state that the industry is set to double in 2015 to $34.4bn.
Jeff Lynn, chief executive officer and co-founder of Seedrs, described Murray as the “perfect partner for Seedrs” representing “the exact combination of qualities that entrepreneurs need to be successful: determination, focus, integrity and skill”.
Often commenting on industry news, a spokesperson for Celebrity Group said, “Andy Murray’s input will be incredibly important, not only to Seedrs but to the crowdfunding industry as a whole. He’ll bring a lot of media attention and provide visibility of the industry to a much wider, popular audience who may have heard the term but know little about it.
“Andy is not only a top sportsman but also a serious businessman who already owns a management company. What’s important for the Seedrs brand is that as a US Open champion he has transatlantic appeal and can help the brand grow internationally.”
Crowdfunding has become increasingly popular over the last few years as an alternative to traditional finance and, according to a report by Massolution, the crowdfunding market grew 167% in 2014, with platforms raising $16.2bn (£10.6bn).
Celebrity Group are a UK based celebrity agency, hosting a huge database containing a variety of different celebrities in each entertainment sector. They provide free advice when it comes to finding the right choice of celebrity ambassador and can offer competitive prices thanks to the close relationships they have within the industry. For more information on Celebrity Group’s services and database selection, visit www.celebrity.uk today.
