The publication examines financing options for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) owned by Belarusians in the European Union through crowdfunding platforms. The paper notes that Belarusian entrepreneurs in Europe face restricted access to traditional bank loans, mainly due to a lack of collateral, sanctions, and short credit histories. For these businesses, crowdfunding platforms are emerging as an alternative way to raise capital from a broad base of investors.
The authors discuss both the advantages (access to capital, lower financing costs, increased business visibility) and challenges (low investment liquidity, costs of crowdfunding campaigns) associated with this method of financing. The report also provides recommendations, such as launching information campaigns for Belarusian entrepreneurs in the EU and building their financial literacy, which could help them make better use of crowdfunding investment opportunities.
