Exeter-headquartered crowdfunding platform Crowdcube has acquired secondary liquidity site Semper for an undisclosed amount.
The secondary marketplace, which lets investors purchase assets from other investors, will continue under the leadership of founders Mathias Pastor and Balthazar de Lavergne.
“We started Semper to help iconic companies attract and retain top talent by making equity more tangible,” said Lavergne.
“Together, we can provide a wider range of liquidity solutions for European startups throughout their growth journeys, with participation from both institutional and retail investors.”
Paris and London-based Semper lets shareholders, such as early employees who have received options, sell their stake before an exit event like an IPO or an acquisition.
Bill Simmons, co-CEO of Crowdcube, said: “The potential to create the largest private market investment platform in Europe is vast, and we are just getting started.”
Acquiring Semper will allow Crowdcube to “capitalise” on the current activity surrounding the private markets, added Simmons.
Semper says it has underpinned over €10m (£8.7m) in secondary sales since it was established in 2021.
Crowdcube is additionally led by Matt Cooper, who along with Simmons took up the co-CEO position in January. Businesses including Monzo and Revolut have previously used Crowdcube to fundraise.
Last year London-based rival crowdfunding platform Seedrs was acquired by US private investment firm Republic in a £86.5m deal.