NexusCrowd Inc. has launched the first investment platform in Canada that provides accredited investors with exclusive access to co-invest alongside institutional investors in deals that have reached at least 50 per cent of their funding target. It also provides private equity institutions with a ‘frictionless’ way to access additional capital.

“Investing alongside venture capital and private equity firms was previously restricted to institutional investors or ultra-high net worth individuals,” said Hitesh Rathod, co-founder and chief executive officer of NexusCrowd. “We don’t believe that access to investment opportunities should be limited by your connections or your ability to write prohibitively large cheques.”

With its first deal, investors can participate in the development of Galleria Centre, a $100-million retail mall in Mississauga, Ontario. Terracap Investments, the institutional partner, expects to finish the project by the end of 2017.

“Crowdfunding models are an increasingly important source of capital for start-ups,” added Andrew Haughian, partner at Pangaea Ventures Ltd. “Unfortunately this can often be a major burden in terms of time and resources for entrepreneurs and for this reason we are delighted to have partnered with the team at NexusCrowd. This will provide our portfolio companies with a streamlined investment process that leverages the work that has already been done by institutional investors.”