Equity Crowdfunding Investor Requirements & Limitations

ECF investing is open to all investors. As a regulated Equity Crowdfunding platform, pitchIN is required to comply with legal and regulatory requirements to prevent fraud and money laundering. It is vital for investors to carefully read and comply with these requirements.

In order to begin investing, investors must meet the following criteria:

• You must be at least 18 years old, regardless of whether you are a Malaysian citizen or a non-Malaysian citizen.
• If you are a Malaysian citizen, you will need to provide your IC (identity card) number.
• If you are a non-Malaysian citizen, you will need to provide your passport number or any other identification document recognized by the authorities.

If you have fulfilled all the necessary criteria, it's important to understand the investor category that applies to you and declare if you're a politically exposed person (PEP).

The Securities Commission Malaysia has divided investors into three categories: retail investors, angel investors, and sophisticated investors. This affects the amount you are allowed to invest per year. It is self-declared and necessary in order to comply with regulations.

• Interested in supporting and potentially benefiting from start-ups or small businesses.
• An individual who is not an angel or sophisticated investor. 

• A tax resident of Malaysia; and
• Total net personal assets exceeding RM3 million; or
• Gross total annual income greater than RM180,000 (or RM250,000 jointly with spouse)

• An accredited investor; or
• Total net assets (individual or jointly with spouse or child) exceeding RM3 million, where primary residence does not contribute more than RM1 million; or
• Gross total annual income greater than RM300,000 (or RM400,00 jointly with spouse or child); or
• Total net personal investment portfolio (individual or jointly with spouse or child), in any capital market product exceeds RM1 million; or
• [New Feb 2024] 5 consecutive years working experience in finance, economics, actuarial science or accounting while holding a Bachelor's or Master's degree in: finance, economics, actuarial science, accounting or MBA; or
• [New Feb 2024] 5 consecutive years working in a capital market intermediary relating to product development, trading, advisory or financial analysis; or
• [New Feb 2024] Holds any membership with: Active Member of Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute, Chartered Banker of Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers (AICB), Ordinary Member of Financial Markets Association Malaysia (FMAM), Chartered Accountant, C.A(M) of Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA), Ordinary Member of Malaysia Association of Tax Accountants (MATA), Accredited Angel Investor of Malaysian Business Angel Network (MBAN), Certified Member of Financial Planning Association of Malaysia (FPAM), Ordinary Member of Malaysian Financial Planning Council (MFPC); or
• An individual who acquires any of the capital market product or Islamic capital market product offered a recognized market exceeding RM250,000.

Complete definition for a sophisticated investor can be found on Securities Commission Malaysia.

Always remember to invest sums that you can afford to lose. The limits are set so that investors are aware of the risks taken. You may change your investor type at any time, provided you meet the requirements, in your profile settings.

Investors may invest in any issuer hosted on the ECF and PSTX platform, subject to the following limits:

Investor	Annual Investment Limit (ECF + PSTX)
Retail investor	Up to RM5,000 per issuer per year Up to RM50,000 per year
Angel investor	Up to RM500,000 per year
Sophisticated investor	No investment limit

A Politically Exposed Person (PEP) is defined as:

• An individual who is or who has been entrusted with prominent public functions domestically or by a foreign country, for example, Head of State or of government, senior politician, senior government, judicial or military official, senior executive of state owned corporation, important political party official;  or
• Person who is or has been entrusted with a prominent function by an international organization which refers to a member of senior management, i.e. director, deputy director and member of the board or equivalent functions.