Crowdfunding: Regulation, Labels, Expertise, What Credibility?
Crowdfunding: Regulation, Labels, Expertise, What Credibility?
Sustainable finance is no longer reserved for institutional investors. It has increasingly opened up to individuals through crowdfunding, which allows direct support for projects with environmental and social impact.
In this space, one question keeps coming up: how can we distinguish platforms that are truly committed from those that merely engage in green talk?
Contrary to popular belief, the answer does not lie solely in labels. In impact crowdfunding, regulation and operational expertise take precedence over labels.
The PSFP Approval: The Only Truly Mandatory Certification
Since the entry into force of the European Crowdfunding Service Providers (ECSP) Regulation in 2023, any crowdfunding platform operating in Europe must be PSFP-approved (Participatory Financing Service Provider). This approval now forms the common regulatory foundation for European crowdfunding:
It is mandatory to operate legally;
It imposes strict requirements on governance, transparency, risk management, and investor information;
It is granted by national regulators (in France, the AMF), under the coordination of ESMA (European Securities and Markets Authority).
Today, there are around 220 PSFP-approved platforms in Europe (source: ESMA), all subject to the same regulatory framework, regardless of their sector focus. It is therefore the PSFP approval not a voluntary label that primarily ensures investor protection.
Labels vs. Expertise: The Real Debate
Labels play a useful role in certain segments of sustainable finance, particularly for investment funds:
ISR Label
Greenfin Label
Finansol Label
They help classify and compare standardized financial products. But in crowdfunding for climate and impact projects, the logic is different. Platforms do not offer packaged products, but concrete projects that are often complex, technical, and heterogeneous.
In this context, the determining factor is not the label, but the platform’s real expertise.
What makes the difference:
The ability to source credible projects;
To analyze their technical, financial, and environmental viability;
And to monitor their performance over time.
What Investors Should Really Check
To assess the robustness of an impact-focused PSFP, investors should focus on three key criteria, which are far more revealing than a displayed label.
1. Team Expertise
Professional experience in sustainable finance, climate, or energy
Technical knowledge of the funded sectors (cleantech, climatetech, biodiversity, etc.)
Proven analytical ability (e.g., experience in due diligence, structured finance, impact investing)
2. ESG and Impact Analysis Methodology
Existence of a structured and documented analysis framework
Systematic integration of environmental, social, and governance issues
Alignment with recognized standards (SDGs, European taxonomy, etc.)
3. Transparency of the Process
Clarity of the selection methodology
Measurable and verifiable impact indicators
Regular reporting accessible to investors
For established platforms, the track record of funded projects and exits is also an indicator of maturity. For newer platforms, team expertise and methodological rigor are the determining factors.
The We Take Part Model: A “Proof-Driven” Infrastructure
At We Take Part, we chose to build a platform based not on displaying labels, but on a proof- and analysis-driven infrastructure.
A team from sustainable finance, combining financial, regulatory, and impact expertise
Systematic impact analysis for each project, aimed at demonstrating real, measurable positive impact (not just claimed)
Transparent and structured reporting, enabling investors to track the progress of projects over time
This approach moves beyond declarative claims to a factual and measurable logic, essential for combating greenwashing in crowdfunding.
Regulation and Expertise: The True Pillars of Sustainable Crowdfunding
In impact crowdfunding, trust does not rely on the proliferation of labels, but on:
A robust regulatory framework, common to all PSFP-approved platforms;
Strong operational expertise, capable of evaluating, structuring, and monitoring complex projects;
Ongoing transparency toward investors.
It is this combination that allows PSFPs like We Take Part to fully play their role: channeling savings into projects with real, measurable, and lasting impact, while protecting investors.
Risk Warning: Investment in startups and unlisted projects carries the risk of total or partial loss of the invested capital, as well as illiquidity risk. Only invest amounts you can afford to lose.
Sources: ESMA PSFP Register, France FinTech, AMF
We Take Part is an EU-authorized Crowdfunding Service Provider (CSP), regulated by the French Financial Markets Authority (AMF) under registration number FP-2024-11, effective as of 10.06.2024. The company is covered by Professional Civil Liability Insurance under AIG. WE TAKE PART SAS, 13T-15 Rue Auguste Gervais, 92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux, France. Registered with the RCS Nanterre under number 912 891 868.
We Take Part is a member of France Fintech National Crowdfunding college
Secure payments via MIPISE Payment Services.
Investing in startups involves a risk of total or partial loss of the invested capital and a risk of illiquidity. Only invest what you are willing to lose.
Useful Information
Legal Information
Newsletter
Our social networks
Receive our monthly newsletter with insights on the Cleantech sectors, the latest funding campaigns, and our news.
© We Take Part 2026