{"id":32478,"date":"2021-10-18T12:49:21","date_gmt":"2021-10-18T10:49:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bettervest.com\/faq\/"},"modified":"2026-04-09T18:53:47","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T16:53:47","slug":"faq","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bettervest.com\/en\/faq","title":{"rendered":"FAQ"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAny\r\nquestions?\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWe have nothing\r\nto hide.\r\nOn the contrary.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The topic of investing is complex, just like the problems in our world. Here you will find everything you need to know about sustainable investing, crowdfunding and bettervest. If you still have questions, please feel free to contact us by email or phone.\u00a0<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Questions according to bettervest<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat is bettervest?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t

bettervest is an online investment platform for sustainable investments that contribute to a livable future for people and planet.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow does bettervest work?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t

bettervest GmbH is a contractually bound intermediary in the sense of \u00a7 2 para. 10 German Banking Act (KWG) and acts in the brokerage of financial instruments exclusively in the name, for the account and under the liability of the financial services institution Effecta GmbH Florstadt. Effecta GmbH is an institution regulated by the German Banking Act (KWG).<\/p>

We broker securities and investments between investors and issuers (the project owners). Investors can invest their money with us in an uncomplicated and future-oriented way. There is the possibility to invest in bonds (securities) as well as subordinated loans (investments) of different issuers. In this way, investors can diversify their portfolio and have the opportunity to earn attractive interest rates without any disadvantage to people or the planet. Project owners, in turn, receive financing or partial financing through our platform, with which they implement socially and ecologically sustainable measures, e.g. the purchase of solar products, the installation of an efficient combined heat and power plant or the energy-efficient renovation of a property. Each project either generates cost savings or generates income. These are used to repay the loans including interest.<\/p>

The entire investment process is handled online. This is faster, cheaper and saves a lot of paper and unnecessary shipping.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow does bettervest earn money?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\r\nThere are many sustainable and impactful projects waiting to be funded and many people who want to put their money to good, meaningful use for profit. We create a space where project owners and investors meet to jointly close this funding gap. We provide the technical infrastructure and the necessary know-how. We involve trustees and paying agents to protect the flow of funds and ensure lean and smooth processes.\r\n\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat sustainability criteria does bettervest pursue?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t

At bettervest, sustainability is not just the focus, it is part of our DNA. Since our founding in 2012, our focus has broadened from CO2 savings to sustainability at large. In doing so, we have specifically made the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals our mission.<\/p>

We always follow strict social and environmental criteria when selecting our projects. In this way, we ensure that you only finance projects that contribute to a future worth living. For example, projects related to factory farming, weapons and tobacco are excluded. So, of course, is the burning of fossil fuels such as coal and oil. But we focus much more on positive criteria. First and foremost, projects must have a positive impact on people, the environment and the climate. Our focus is on the careful use of resources such as water or energy. A detailed list of our inclusion and exclusion criteria can be found in our Ethics Policy<\/a>.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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It is important that projects meet our sustainability criteria, which are listed in detail in our Ethics Policy<\/a>. On the other hand, projects go through a project selection process in which, depending on the project, an external energy consultant evaluates the energy measures.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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The founding team of bettervest has various competencies that are important for our business model: Futurology and cognitive science, IT architecture and software development, and engineering in the field of renewable energy and development cooperation. Get to know our team here<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Since December 2019, bettervest is a so-called tied agent under the liability umbrella of Effecta GmbH. As the operator of the bettervest.com platform, bettervest GmbH, Frankfurt am Main, acts as a “contractually bound intermediary” within the meaning of Section 2 (10) of the German Banking Act (Kreditwesengesetz) when brokering investments and in doing so acts exclusively in the name, for the account and under the liability of Effecta GmbH, Florstadt.<\/p>

We continue to ensure that the projects are presented on our platform based on our strict socio-ecological and economic criteria. Investors also continue to invest via the bettervest.com platform, but in accordance with the requirements of the Money Laundering Act, they must first go through an identification procedure (online via the Deutsche Post service), just as one does, for example, when opening a bank account.<\/p>

All data collected on bettervest.com will only be passed on to Effecta within the framework of the legal requirements and will not be used for advertising or other purposes.\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Questions regarding Donation-Based Crowdfunding on bettervest<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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We realized that not every important solution can be financed through investments with repayment. Many non-profit organizations do impactful work but cannot generate financialreturns.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

With donation crowdfunding, we create the opportunity to support exactly these kinds of projects. We remain true to our principles: impact, transparency, and careful evaluation. Together with PHINEO, we ensure that projects on our platform demonstrably make a difference.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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All donation organizations featured on our platform are independently reviewed by our experts. Through years of experience in selecting impact investment projects, we have builtexpertise to assess organizations for long-term viability and real social value.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Each organization must meet at least one of the following criteria:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>