For nearly 15 years, the heart of Spreds has beaten for one thing: supporting job creation in Belgium. From the start, our focus was clear. Start-ups are the primary net creators of jobs, and we wanted to give pre-seed and seed-stage entrepreneurs a platform to showcase their innovation. We’ve always backed projects that deliver positive social and environmental impact, and we have grown into Belgium’s leading equity crowdfunding platform.

The problem we wanted to solve was also clear: the equity gap. Start-ups with little track record (pre-seed and seed start-ups) have very limited options to get funded, especially in Europe. They often have to look to their “FFF” (friends, family, and fools). But they don’t have a broad enough network, nor the regulatory means to raise large amounts within their own community. That’s what Spreds stands for: expanding the FFF to a network of investors willing to support great projects and hoping to share their success.

Today, with our portfolio of over 350 companies, we are proud of the ecosystem we are building together.

But as our entrepreneurs grow, so do we. Today, we are officially launching a new activity: loans to SMEs.

A market gap: Why banks are stepping back

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are the undisputed backbone of the Belgian economy, yet they are facing a “perfect storm” in traditional financing.

The primary hurdle is the implementation of international banking regulations that fundamentally changed how banks lend.

The capital constraint: As of 2026, banks are under increased pressure to hold more capital against “riskier” assets, which means that they cannot lend as much as before to SME’s.
The credit gap: According to recent data, while SMEs’ need for bank loans has increased, but availability has tightened, creating a “financing gap” (the difference between the need for and availability of funds) in the Eurozone.
The service gap: Beyond regulation, traditional banks are often not structured to support the agile, specific needs of smaller companies.

Exactly like it did for start-ups, by stepping into the SME loan space, Spreds is helping to bridge this gap, ensuring that the “real economy” in Belgium—the companies that maintain our local employment—has the fuel it needs to grow.

Investor demand: diversification with impact

We’ve listened to you, our investor community. You’ve told us you want more ways to put your capital to work.

While equity crowdfunding offers high potential returns, it also comes with a higher risk profile and longer timelines. SME loans offer a complementary risk-return profile:

Predictable returns: Fixed interest rates and clear reimbursement schedules.
Shorter horizons: Typically shorter commitment periods compared to equity.
Tangible impact: Your money goes directly toward Belgian companies that are already established, helping them scale or transition.

We’ve already tested the waters. Our recent lending campaigns in green energy—such as the successfully reimbursed 2021 loan to Quares—and our work with the Etterbeek municipality proved that there is a massive appetite for these diversified, real-world assets. Our investor community can thus further diversify their portfolios within their same trusted crowdfunding platform.

Spreds: the logical next step

Why Spreds? Because we’ve spent 15 years learning what makes a company—and an investment—successful.

Our portfolio is maturing: Many of our 350+ portfolio companies have successfully graduated from the start-up phase. They are now stable SMEs with new financial needs. It only makes sense that we continue to support them through their next chapter.
Improved quality: This year, we are implementing new tools to help entrepreneurs communicate better and prepare more thoroughly. This means higher-quality dossiers and more transparent data for our investors.
Expertise in selection: We aren't just a platform; we are a filter. Our experience allows us to identify projects that don't just look good on paper but have the operational grit to succeed.

Looking Ahead

Our mission hasn’t changed; it has expanded. By supporting SMEs through loans, we are doubling down on our commitment to Belgian employment and offering our investors a seat at the table of the real economy.

If you’d like to receive exclusive updates and priority access to these new opportunities, we invite you to fill out your investment preferences in your Spreds profile today.