10th February 2025
Crowd2Fund has always been at the forefront of innovation, bridging the gap between investors and entrepreneurs to create mutually beneficial opportunities. As we step into an exciting new chapter under the leadership of our new CEO, Toby Wootton, we sat down with him to discuss his journey, vision, and ambitions for the platform. With extensive experience in fintech and a passion for making a tangible impact, Toby brings fresh energy and insight to the team. In this interview, we explore his plans for growth, innovation, and enhancing the investor experience, as well as a few personal perspectives that fuel his motivation.
- What attracted you to Crowd2Fund?
I’ve been working in the Fintech space for over a decade now and wanted to be part of a business that made a strong positive impact. I really like the way C2F builds ‘campaigns’ for entrepreneurs to help connect them with investors. The personal touch is still there, and of course, it’s a win-win - providing a return for investors and supporting small businesses to expand. I can see massive growth potential at C2F and a huge opportunity to help more small businesses achieve their visions.
- Before joining Crowd2Fund, what accomplishment are you most proud of and why?
I’m lucky to have worked in some incredible organisations and to have lived and worked with teams all over the world. From a work perspective, there was something quite special about my time working on massive transformation programmes in New Zealand Government where you could see the positive impact and ripple effects from the work that you were doing right across the country for citizens of New Zealand.
- What’s your vision for Crowd2Fund in the next five years, and how do you plan to bring it to life?
It’s very early days for me, and I am still very much in ‘listen and learn’ mode, but in short, 2025 will be a year of growth. I want to build on the successes C2F has enjoyed over the last 10 years. I want to build the team and to build our capability. I want to deliver excellence in everything we do, and I want to retain the people-centric approach we have been recognised for to date.
One thing that I want to stress is that embarking on this new chapter, I am keen to hear from customers, stakeholders and partners - with their ideas, feedback and stories. This input will be invaluable in shaping the next phase of our journey.
- How will you elevate the investor experience and further strengthen their trust in the platform?
Our role is to facilitate the relationship between investor and borrower. Elevating the experience from an investor perspective is about providing great investment opportunities, a slick, frictionless platform to manage those investments and probably most importantly, exceptional customer service, communication and ongoing support whilst those loans are under management and being repaid. I’m also keen to build our Investor community, to run regular events and connect like-minded individuals together.
- What’s your plan to keep the platform at the cutting edge of digital innovation?
We are a FinTech - a tech business at our core. The platform is the tool that underpins the ability to connect borrowers and investors. We shall be investing in the Platform this year to improve the User Experience for borrowers and investors. From a business perspective, taking advantage of technologies such as Open Banking, Machine Learning and leveraging some of the excellent Compliance technologies available in the market will really help our Operations teams by streamlining repeatable processes. We can use tech to help with our compliance, AML and KYC processes; we can use it to help our Credit and Underwriting teams to make quicker and better decisions. So, in summary, Technology and Data are at the heart of our business and are crucial to delivering a great client experience and also to C2F being an amazing place to work.
- Are there plans to expand Crowd2Fund’s reach, either internationally or to new audiences?
It’s early days, and I want to ensure we are delivering a first-class experience to our borrowers and investors in the UK. The global market is a massive opportunity, so there is definitely scope for us to expand into new markets in the future. I guess the answer is ‘watch this space.’
- What’s a hobby or passion outside of work that keeps you energized and creative?
I like to set personal challenges that give me a long-term focus, and in April of last year, I completed the Marathon des Sables, which is seven marathons in seven days in the Sahara desert. As well as that, I am really able to lose myself and be creative when woodworking. I think everyone needs a mindful outlet where they can be in the present and distance themselves from work to recharge. Whether this is fitness or building a deck in my back garden, this allows me to bring my best self to work.
- What’s one item or habit you can’t live without in your daily routine?
This might sound like a cop-out answer, but if I find myself needing something or can see a habit forming, I tend to break it. I have always been an agent of change - in work and at home. The seven days in the desert - stripped back to the basics was a good reminder of what is important. I must confess to enjoying my first cup of tea of the day though and am not really a coffee chap.
We are delighted to have Toby onboard and leading the way. His ambition, adaptability, and clear commitment to excellence—both professionally and personally—make him the perfect fit to steer Crowd2Fund into its next phase of success. With a keen focus on innovation and a deep understanding of the fintech landscape, Toby is poised to bring new opportunities for investors and entrepreneurs alike.
If you’d like to connect with Toby, please email info@crowd2fund.com, and we’d be happy to arrange an introduction.
