• submit a suitable and detailed regulatory business plan;
• have adequate non-financial and financial resources;
• have an operational or close to operational website; and
• understand the requirements for FCA authorisation and the permission profile – i.e. apply for the regulated activities that are necessary for their business model.
Supervision
The FCA outlined its approach to supervising crowdfunding platforms during 2014. For investment-based crowdfunding platforms this included engaging with senior management, monitoring websites and reviewing monthly management information. As a result, the FCA has made a number of interventions, mainly to ensure the proper protection of consumers (for example, ensuring only that appropriate investors could invest and that financial promotions are clear, fair and not misleading). Some firms also failed to satisfy their expected regulatory capital requirements.