Silicon Gorge Winners: Englebert

The annual Silicon Gorge pitching competition came to a close for 2023 at the Investor Showcase last. We were blown away by the caliber of applicants and witling it down from almost 70 entrepreneurs to 24 finalists to eventually just 13 winners was no mean feat.

We landed on 13 standout startups, specialising in sectors from health tech to green tech. We were super impressed by them all on the day and cannot wait to see what happens next for the fantastic entrepreneurs. Thanks to Cintra Global and our fabulous Investment Activator Partners for supporting Silicon Gorge.

As part of the competition, we’re sharing profiles of those startups who made it through the heats. Next up is Wayne Green, co-founder of Englebert.

1 – What does your company do?

Englebert is a cutting-edge compliance consultancy specialising in the crypto industry. We provide expert guidance and support to crypto projects, assisting them in obtaining regulatory authorization in the UK, USA, and BVI. Our services range from helping start-ups navigate the complex regulatory landscape to aiding established firms with compliance issues and international expansion.

2 – What problem are you trying to solve?

We address the significant challenge faced by crypto projects in achieving and maintaining compliance with the ever-evolving regulatory requirements. Navigating the complex frameworks of the UK, USA, and BVI can be daunting, especially for start-ups lacking expertise and established firms seeking international expansion. The Englebert team helps projects streamline the compliance process, saving time and resources, while ensuring our clients operate legally and gain trust from investors and users.

But we have a vision to create a product that streamlines cryptoasset promotions in the UK. From December this year, in order to market a token in the UK the person issuing the promotion needs to be authorised by the FCA or have an FCA authorised person sign off on it. With only 15% of projects who have tried to obtain some kind of authorisation in the UK succeeding, Englebert will be that person.

3 – What makes your solution unique?

Englebert stands out through our unique combination of deep crypto industry knowledge and regulatory expertise. Our team comprises top-tier professionals, lawyers, and financial services CEOs with a comprehensive understanding of both the technical aspects of cryptocurrencies and the intricate financial services regulatory landscape.

This dual proficiency allows us to provide tailored solutions that bridge the gap between regulatory compliance and cutting-edge crypto innovation. Additionally, our upcoming productised-service, which will approve cryptoasset promotions in the UK under new regulations, sets us apart by offering a groundbreaking solution to a pressing industry need. HM Treasury itself said it had expected firms to come forward to offer this service but so far, none had. We want to be the first.

4 – What are you most proud of so far?

We take immense pride in our track record of successfully guiding numerous crypto projects through the compliance journey, helping them obtain regulatory authorization and thrive in the market. Our clients’ achievements are a testament to our expertise and commitment.

Moreover, we are proud of our forward-thinking approach, as evidenced by our upcoming productised-service. By proactively addressing the forthcoming regulatory changes, we are poised to become leaders in enabling cryptoasset promotions in the UK, ensuring our clients stay ahead of the curve and capitalize on new opportunities.

5 – How much are you raising and what do you want to use investment for?

We are currently seeking to raise £250,000 in investment to fuel our growth and propel Englebert to the forefront of the crypto compliance industry. This funding will primarily be allocated towards two critical areas:

1. Obtaining FCA Authorisation: A significant portion of the investment will be utilized to secure authorization from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK. This regulatory milestone is crucial for our business, as it will enable us to provide our unique productised financial promotions approval service, granting us the authority to sign off on cryptoasset promotions under the new regulations. The funds will be allocated to cover the necessary expenses associated with the authorisation process, including legal and regulatory compliance fees and the necessary holding of €75,000 of regulatory capital.
2. Building the Productised Service: The remaining portion of the investment will be dedicated to the development and launch of our innovative productised service. This comprehensive solution will streamline the compliance process for crypto projects, ensuring efficient approval of their promotions while adhering to regulatory guidelines. The funds will be utilised for the recruitment of additional talent, technology infrastructure, software development, marketing efforts, and operational expenses necessary to bring this ground-breaking service to market.

By securing this investment, we will be equipped to achieve our key objectives of obtaining FCA authorisation and building our productized financial promotions approval service. This will strengthen our market position, enhance our revenue potential, and solidify our role as the go-to compliance consultancy for the crypto industry.

We invite potential investors to join us on this exciting journey, as we revolutionise the world of crypto compliance and shape the future of the industry.

6 – What tools/people/services/organisations helped you most?

There have been too many people who have helped us on our journey to name them all, but they include Will Foulkes and Steve Cochrane as founders of Stabiliti; Alexandre Liege and Charles Packer of AlloyX, Glenn Smith of Roqqet; all of the team at the NatWest Accelerator including Jason Nichols, Elly Rowley and Rosie Gilbert; Jess Saumarez of The Marketing Plot and Will Andrews, animator extraordinaire.

7 – Where can we find out more about you?

We’re on LinkedIn here, and my personal LinkedIn here. Our web address is www.englebert.xyz.