uPledge, a Netherlands based crowdfunding solution that helps investors improve their financial wellness, while connecting them to verified sustainable startups, today announced its pre-seed capital raise of over US$300,000. The capital will support uPledge’s go-to-market strategy in the Netherlands and across Europe.

The pre-seed round was led by investors from the Netherlands, as well as from broader Europe and Asia. The investment party strategically involved individuals across a series of verticals and geographic regions, mirroring the journey and convergence of the founding team from Malaysia, Spain and Kenya.

The equity financing comes as uPledge concluded its sustainability accelerator program with Startupbootcamp in the Netherlands (after making the program’s shortlist of Top 10 global sustainability startups only within 3 months of incorporation). “The uPledge team is highly energetic, relentless, knowledgeable, and with a strong vision; they blew us out of the water” said Kauan Von Novack, Managing Director at Startupbootcamp. Prior to Startupbootcamp, uPledge has also been selected, and featured in, multiple regional programmes across Asia, the UK, the Middle East and Africa.

"Every single person has the propensity to impact the world, there is unlockable potential," said Andrew Chong, CEO of uPledge, "the team behind uPledge believes this deeply, because they too have the same personal ambitions. It is a very human feeling."

In support of the UN's Sustainable Developmental Goals, uPledge believes that equity crowdfunding needs to provide an investor experience that is more sustainable without compromising on a positive financial impact in the lives of ordinary people and the broader community.

“As an experienced investor, I can see the value in the design and gamification aspects in order to engage with the younger folk. I have two children in college and can see how this approach to educating can be appealing to them,” noted a sophisticated investor from the Netherlands. “Getting access to clear, simple and automated information on potential investments would make me likelier to invest in the companies on the uPledge service,” said a retail investor during a pre-seed showcase.

uPledge’s mantra is “wealthcare” meets impact crowdfunding. It allows impact investment startups to engage their target audience directly and with trust and transparency, while providing a platform for conscious investors who want to ensure that their money is invested not just for their own financial future, but to help meet wider-ranging goals relating to the environment and society in which we live. For more information, please contact uPledge on general@upledge.app.