Questions & Answers
Questions about Sciety
You can invest in Swedish growth companies in life science which have been the subject of our selection process. We monitor the industry to continuously evaluate and select companies. Sciety has a large network of both entrepreneurs, researchers and professionals in the business community.
Everyone who resides within the EU/EES and is older than 18 and companies registered with the EU/EEA are welcome to invest via Sciety.
Investments in early stage companies provide the possibility of a high yield but also incur high risks. If the company fails to succeed, which is not uncommon, the investors most probably loose their capital. The company can also grow but without generating a significant yield for its shareholders. A third risk is that the company does not grow as expected and additional capital is required at a lower valuation.
It is important to remember that 1) even successful early stage companies seldom provide dividends as they need their capital for continued expansion and 2) finding a purchaser when they want to sell the shares can be difficult (if the company is not listed).
More information regarding risks is found in our Risk Policy.
No. Sciety selects companies according to specific criteria but never gives advice or recommendations on investment in a given company.
The decision on the companies you wish to invest in is entirely your own decision.
Sciety monitors industries and also receives a large number of queries from a variety of companies seeking financing. We first compile the information required and, then, undertake a commercial assessment of the companies. Companies passing this test are, then, reviewed on a legal basis.
Our reviews should, however, never be seen to comprise recommendations for investment in a given company and it is you, yourself, who is entirely responsible for your investment decision.
Sciety is registered as a payment service supplier with Finansinspektionen. This implies that our management and major shareholders have been approved, that we have formal routines to ensure the handling of client funds and that we have routines against money laundering and financing of terrorism.
Please note that we are registered with Finansinspektionen and that we are subject to their supervision.
Sciety does not participate in the investments; however, we invest our own funds in conjunction with new share issues on the same terms as those applying to the members in the network.
Our primary role is to act as a go-between to facilitate transactions between the companies and investors in conjunction with new share issues.
There are no costs. We charge a fee to the companies seeking capital.
If you are taxable in Sweden and you and the company in which you invest meet the Swedish Tax Agency’s criteria, your share purchase can incur the right to tax deductions.
For more information refer to the Swedish Tax Agency’s home page.
Generally, the companies appreciate advice and new Board Members with relevant experience.
If the possibility of involvement in a company is important to you, you should discuss this with the company prior to undertaking an investment.
Investment process
In order to invest as a company, you need to establish a “company profile” in the platform. This can be done after you have logged into your personal account.
After you have initiated an investment in a company, you will be asked whether you wish to invest as a private person or if you want to establish a company profile. You can also create a company profile by accessing “Menu” and clicking on “My profiles”.
Payment details are sent to you via e-mail after you have registered your investment in the platform.
You pay via bank giro to Sciety’s client funds account with SEB where the funds are held until the share issue is completed. We transfer the funds to the company only after we have checked to ensure that you are registered in the company’s share register.
If the share issue terms are not met, we transfer the funds back to your bank account.
Share payments are kept in our client funds account with SEB. This implies that your funds will be protected even in the very improbable event that Sciety would go bankrupt. We transfer funds to the company you have invested in only if the financing round succeeds. Otherwise, we refund the payment to your bank account. Sciety has permission from Finansinspektionen to handle client funds.
Yes, you receive a confirmation via e-mail when we have received your payment. Please note that we receive payment details from the bank after lunch on the following weekday.
We verify your identity as a stage in our controls against money laundering and financing of terrorism. The verification of identity is an important step in protecting you and your co-investors, as well as the company in which you are investing, from unlawful actions.
If your ID document is not approved in our system, you will receive an e-mail explaining the reason for this. This e-mail also contains information as how you can make a new registration of you ID document.
The minimum amount is determined by the respective companies in consultation with Sciety and can, therefore, vary. The amount is usually between SEK 50,000 and SEK 500,000.
Yes, if you invest as a private person you have the right to change your mind within 14 days after your commitment to subscribe to shares. This is in accordance with the Swedish Distance and Off-Premises Contracts Act. Contact our support function for more information.
When the share issue is completed, the company and Sciety finalise the administration after which you receive a confirmation of your share ownership and are invited to participate in the company’s shareholders meetings. Companies also usually send out information to shareholders each quarter or half year.
The legal evidence of a shareholding is comprised of registration in the share register and this is usually sent out after the completed share issue. Companies often use digital share registers where you log in to access your holding.
You also have the right to request, at any point in time, a copy of the company’s share register.