Crowdberry Investment Management is the manager of an ERDF financial instrument, specialising in investments in start-ups, small and medium-sized enterprises operating in Slovakia and real estate projects. They provide growth capital and technical support during and after the investment process. Companies can apply for fund investments in the range of EUR 200 000 to EUR 1.6 million, with the possibility of doubling the amount of investment in one investment round via the Crowdberry platform, which is the largest Czech-Slovak alternative investment platform with a network of 3 000 investors.

Fare Bio S.S is an horticultural and organic farming start-up that also offers clients farm stay holiday homes in the north-eastern Italian town, Dignano. Agriculture entrepreneur, Gilberto Ambotta, realised the business could not boost their production without investing in new, high-quality equipment. With the support an EAFRD loan, he was able to build a warehouse according to his needs and afford advanced technologies to optimise the planting of seedlings. The farmers can now place up to 20 000 plants in just 24 hours!

Set-up with EUR 93 million from the Friuli Venezia Giulia’s Rural Development Programme and regional resources, this EAFRD Loan Fund has helped hundreds of farmers in the region to improve production processes and become more competitive.

Rongo Design works with different kinds of waste from industrial partners and local farmers, combined with and a range of fungus species, to create 100% organic acoustic panels for interior design. These panels are then used in ecological building across Romania, giving waste a second life. Thanks to a loan under the EAFRD risk-sharing financial instrument, Rongo Design’s Founder, Gabriel Barta, was able to buy the proper equipment and start to scale up his business.

Small and medium-sized farms in Romania often have strained economic performance. This video case study shows how the EAFRD Risk Sharing Loan financial instrument plays a key role to facilitate access to finance for farmers in Romania, stimulating growth and job creation in the sector.

Raspberry farmer, Valentin Verzea, focuses on local production and boasts the freshest supermarket raspberries in Romania. Valentin’s successful transition from bank manager to farmer was made possible thanks to a EUR 500 000 loan under the EAFRD risk-sharing financial instrument. Thanks to this financing, Mr. Verzea was able to buy new equipment, expand his irrigation network and upgrade the refrigerating facility. The loan also helped him transition from soil production to pots and substrate, doubling production and improving quality.  

Small and medium-sized farms in Romania often have strained economic performance. This video case study shows how the EAFRD Risk Sharing Loan financial instrument plays a key role to facilitate access to finance for farmers in Romania, stimulating growth and job creation in the sector.

Explore highlights from FI Campus 2023, where the European Commission and the European Investment Bank convened experts and practitioners to delve into the evolving landscape of financial instruments for EU shared management funds. Key topics such as green transition financing, urban development, equity investments, and the Common Provisions Regulation were discussed alongside interactive sessions focusing on audit, microfinance, worker buyouts, social impact investing, and sustainable fisheries and aquaculture support.