KUALA LUMPUR (March 28): The total funds raised via equity crowdfunding (ECF) rose 73.51% to RM221.63 million in 2021, from RM127.73 million in 2020, according to the Securities Commission Malaysia’s (SC) 2021 Annual Report released on Monday (March 28).

Since its inception, the total funds raised via ECF stood at RM420.86 million.

104 issuers have successfully fundraised via 104 campaigns in 2021. The total number of issuers increased by 33% in 2021, from 2020.

The majority of issuers in 2021 were based in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.

According to the report, 53% of issuers in 2021 were technology-focused companies.

The majority of issuers in 2021 have established their businesses for five years or less, with more issuers in 2021 having business operations of less than two years compared to 2020.

Campaign sizes in 2021 continued to be of larger fundraising amounts, with 86% of the campaigns raising beyond the RM500,000-mark.

The highest amount of funds raised in 2021 by a single campaign stood at RM18.89 million.

The “Professional, Scientific, and Technical Activities” sector received the most funds in 2021, with RM60.25 million.

54% of campaigns in 2021 fundraised for Series A, with the main purpose for fundraising in 2021 listed as business expansion.

Since ECF was first introduced, the total number of participating investors surpassed the 11,000-mark.

For a year-on-year comparison, investor participation increased from more than 3,000 in 2020, to more than 5,000 in 2021.

Read more stories from the SC Annual Report 2021 here.