Andy Murray has "expanded his business empire" by making three investments in U.K. start-up companies, according to Rebecca Burn-Callander of the London TELEGRAPH. It has emerged that he has taken a stake in Tossed, the salad bar chain, as well as investing in 3D virtual reality shop company Trillenium, and the Fuel Ventures Fund, "the venture capital outfit founded by serial entrepreneur and investor Mark Pearson." Murray: "The three businesses I've chosen to kick off my crowdfunding investment portfolio are all in areas of industry I find interesting. Healthy eating is something I have to be passionate about as a sportsman, so Tossed was immediately one to consider, and the other two businesses are really pushing the boundaries of technology" (TELEGRAPH, 8/19). REUTERS' Freya Berry reported the alternative finance market, "which includes peer-to-peer lending and invoice trading as well as crowdfunding, has grown rapidly in the past decade." It is predicted to reach £4.4B ($6.9B) by the end of '15, according to figures from innovation charity Nesta and the University of Cambridge. Crowdfunding, "while a small portion of that market, has grabbed attention, partly because of the well-known businesses becoming involved," from Sony to Scottish ale producer BrewDog. Would-be investors can put as little as £10 ($15.68) into businesses in return for a stake (REUTERS, 8/19). BUSINESS INSIDER's Oscar Williams-Grut reported the three ventures are the "first publicly announced investments from Murray, who joined the Seedrs advisory board in June." Seedrs said that Murray plans to "make more investments in businesses crowdfunding on the platform in future." As well as investing through Seedrs, Murray owns a management company, 77, and luxury Scottish hotel Cromlix (BUSINESS INSIDER, 8/19).
