Sharefunding platform Broccoli chooses OPP to handle cash flows

OPP and Broccoli partnered to run every cash flow on the sharefunding platform: investor onboarding, multi-split payments that send the money to the company and Broccoli’s percentage to Broccoli, automatic returns and dividends, and the payments behind secondary trading of shares, all in line with the crowdfunding regulation.

Broccoli is a Dutch sharefunding platform. It helps sustainable entrepreneurs in the food and agribusiness sector raise equity in exchange for shares, an alternative to traditional financing for companies building fairer food chains and more sustainable production. Broccoli raised €18 million in its first year, 40 percent of it from its own network.

The partnership: a payment flow as easy as buying a book

Broccoli was built around usability, and the payment flow it set up with OPP is part of that. An investor creates an account, verifies their identity, completes a knowledge and experience test and checks out via OPP. OPP’s multi-split then makes sure the money reaches the company and that a percentage goes to Broccoli, and OPP pays returns and dividends automatically.

The challenge: a provider that understands platforms, and a regulation that raised the bar

Broccoli previously worked with another payment service provider and found that a focus on platforms was missing. Then, in 2023, the new crowdfunding regulation imposed stricter obligations on how platforms like Broccoli handle payments, and stricter quality requirements on their partners, including the payment service provider.

Our solution: a platform specialist, integrated through Bloqhouse

OPP had the processes and the knowledge for the regulation, and relatively little needed to be done to integrate its solution into Broccoli’s platform. Bloqhouse, Broccoli’s IT partner and a software vendor for investment management platforms, had already built a custom solution with OPP, which made the integration between Broccoli and OPP smooth.

“OPP is a platform specialist and has the processes and knowledge to respond to this challenge. We also had the best click with OPP’s team and they offer the best scalable solution. Relatively little needed to be done to integrate OPP’s solution into our platform. Moreover, communication with OPP’s team is approachable, fast and personal. Truly customer-friendly.”

Wouter Hagoort, Founder of Broccoli

Broccoli also lets investors trade their shares among themselves after a certain period, on a digital marketplace inside the platform. When buyer and seller agree on a bid, the buyer automatically receives a payment request through OPP and the seller receives confirmation once the payment is made. That is OPP’s marketplace experience at work inside a funding platform.

The impact: every cash flow in one place, and room to grow abroad

Every payment on Broccoli now runs through OPP: investments going into companies, Broccoli’s own percentage, returns and dividends going back to investors, and payments between investors who trade shares. That gives Broccoli one partner for all its cash flows, and one that meets the requirements the crowdfunding regulation sets for payment providers. It also leaves room to grow beyond the Netherlands.

What this means for you: why funding platforms need a payment partner built for them

If you run a crowdfunding or sharefunding platform, Broccoli’s list is probably yours too: onboarding with the right checks, money that has to be split between the company and the platform, returns paid to many investors, and a regulator that now looks at your payment provider as well.

OPP covers all four, and if your platform is built on Bloqhouse, the integration is already there.

Want to see how OPP could handle the cash flows on your platform? Get in touch to learn more.