Amir Mohammad Mehrad, Secretary General of the National Entrepreneurship Organization of Iran, highlighted the country’s current economic conditions and stated that crowdfunding has experienced significant growth since 2020, following the imposition of sanctions and tighter regulations by the Central Bank on loan issuance. According to him, over 1,000 projects have been funded through this method so far, and the total volume of crowdfunding in the country had surpassed 130 trillion IRR by January of this year. Additionally, more than 500 companies have utilized this tool to secure financial resources.
He also noted that currently, 39 licensed crowdfunding platforms operate under the capital market authority, of which 37 are actively functioning. Furthermore, the top five platforms account for more than 57% of the total market volume in crowdfunding.
Concerns Regarding the Future of Crowdfunding
Mohammad Hossein Sajadi Niri, Chairman of the Board of the Iran National Venture Capital Association, emphasized in this meeting that crowdfunding is one of the key instruments for supporting the knowledge-based and innovation ecosystem. Referring to certain barriers, including regulatory challenges and issues related to interest rate determination, he stated that the development of this financial tool requires reforms and necessary institutional support.
Sajadi Niri pointed out that crowdfunding in Iran is currently conducted primarily in the form of lending (debt-based crowdfunding), and other models have not yet been widely adopted. Expressing concern over the delayed involvement of regulatory bodies and the potential for sudden restrictions, he added: “We fear that this industry, after achieving growth, may face regulatory setbacks similar to those experienced by cryptocurrency exchanges.”
Alireza Daliri, Scientific Secretary of the Conference, stated that based on global analyses, including World Bank reports, access to finance is the most critical need for companies. Highlighting the existence of over 40 financing methods, he introduced crowdfunding as one of the most effective modern tools. Emphasizing the need for government-level support, he noted that the upcoming conference can play a significant role in promoting and expanding crowdfunding in Iran.
The conference is scheduled to be held on February 19 at the Iran Chamber of Commerce, and interested individuals can register via the event’s official website.
Crowdfunding, as one of the modern tools for financing innovative companies, has witnessed notable growth in recent years. During the recent gathering of stakeholders, the significance of this tool in supporting the knowledge-based ecosystem and the need to remove regulatory obstacles were strongly emphasized. The Iran National Venture Capital Association, with active participation in these discussions, reiterated its commitment to addressing the concerns of stakeholders and to advocating for necessary regulatory reforms. Discussions on crowdfunding models and potential development risks reflected the association’s problem-driven approach in supporting innovative financing pathways. With a mission to promote modern financial instruments, the association acts as a communication bridge between regulators and market players and continuously monitors developments in this field to ensure the creation of supportive frameworks aligned with the innovation ecosystem’s needs.
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