Italian crowdfunding rules to allow SMEs from 2017
Italy’s Stability Law will extend online investment opportunities to all small and medium companies that are looking to raise capital from 2017. Prior to this, only those deemed “innovative” were able to raise capital online. The amendment was approved by the Committee for Budget, Treasury and Planning Issues on 23 November, with industry advocates calling it the “most advanced” European law for SME innovation. There are 16 approved investment crowdfunding platforms in Italy, on which €6m has been raised.
According to multiple reports, the Italian Stability Law for 2017 extends investment crowdfunding to all small and medium companies that want to raise capital online. Previously only “innovative” SMEs were able to raise capital online but now crowdfunding will be opened up to the 136,000 small firms that power the Italian economy.

È legge: EQUITY CROWDFUNDING esteso a tutte le PMI, non solo alle innovative.

Con qualche sbavatura normativa, ma troveremo una soluzione — Alessandro M. Lerro (@alessandrolerro) December 7, 2016

An amendment submitted by the Deputies Mrs. Adriana Galgano and Mr. Giampiero Giulietti was approved during the session of the Committee for Budget, Treasury and Planning Issues at the Italian Chamber of Deputies on November 23, 2016. Some industry advocates were describing the update propelling the Italian regulatory regime as the “most advanced European law”, similar to the UK, in terms of policies for growth and development of Innovative Ecosystem for SMEs.

According to the Observatory of Politecnico di Milano only €6 million has been raised on Italian platforms since investment crowdfunding was first approved. There are 16 authorized investment crowdfunding platforms in Italy.

Carlo Allevi, founder and operations manager at WeAreStarting, an approved online crowdfunding platform commented on the regulatory change;