Crowdcube says it will manage the service and believes that the new offering will provide the likes of accountants, angel networks and venture capital funds with an ‘added value service’ which could help to drive revenue and increase the number of small businesses with access to finance.

Through the service, affiliates of Crowdcube will be able to direct clients or members to Crowdcube. If the investment reaches its target amount the ‘success fee’ will then be split between the parties. Alternatively organisations can now set up a co-branded site and list businesses they know there.

Launched in February 2011, Crowdcube provides small companies with access to seed investments from the general public. So far the platform has raised £2.2 million for eight early stage businesses through its registered user base which is approaching 10,000.

In November The Rushmore Group, owner of three London members’ clubs, raised £1 million through 143 investors, represting the largest amount of finance secured through Crowdcube to date.

Darren Westlake, co-founder and CEO of Crowdcube, adds, ‘Since our launch nearly a year ago, Crowdcube has gone from strength to strength and our Affiliate Programme marks another significant milestone on our journey so far.’

Funding business Pegasus Funding has signed up to the new programme, and Peter Kelly, partner at the firm, comments, ‘Equity finance can come form a number of sources, but has always been difficult to find. Typically only 2 per cent of companies succeed in finding equity investment.

‘Crowdcube is revolutionising access to equity investment and we’re delighted to be able to offer our clients such an innovative solution to a difficult challenge.

Another to sign up to the programme is mentoring and coaching company The Growth Academy. Managing partner Craig McKenna adds, ‘We are always looking at ways to grow the services we provide based on core business challenges.

‘Raising finance is one of those core challenges facing growth companies today.’