Experienced early stage investor, who has backed Facebook and Deliveroo, joins Equi founders Baroness Michelle Mone OBE and businessman Doug Barrowman to disrupt venture capital

EQUI, a game-changing cryptocurrency-powered investment platform that opens up venture capital to a wider audience and provides high-tech innovators and entrepreneurs a new route to investment, today announces that highly experienced investor Duncan MacInnes has joined the Advisory Board. Duncan has extensive business and investment experience having founded his first business in his teens, exiting in his early twenties. This experience enables him to identify promising early stage startups and make successful investments. He has been an early stage backer of some of the greatest technology success stories of our time, including Facebook and Deliveroo.

Duncan has been brought in to to compliment the skills of Founders, Douglas Barrowman and Baroness Michelle Mone OBE, the Investment Team and the existing members of the Advisory Board. This EQUI Advisory Board also includes digital entrepreneur Mark Pearson, who established Fuel Ventures, an early stage investment fund focusing on high growth business, and business leader Morten Tonneson, CEO of advertising and marketing technology giant Ve Global. Together the team is identifying a strong pipeline of high-growth technology startups to invest in and mentor.

Always an entrepreneur at heart, Duncan founded his first business at the age of 14.He has long been interested in technology with the majority of his investments in this sector. In 2004, he founded Kineta Trading Inc, which at the time was one of the largest algorithmic arbitrage companies trading on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. In 2009, this company became The Xenfin Group, which continues to be one of the largest non-bank market-makers. His current venture, 465, has 53 companies in its portfolio, heavily weighted towards technology. The fund also also covers financial services and the crypto and blockchain space.

Duncan commented, “EQUI has the potential to disrupt and transform investment. What excites me most about this is that it will open up investment opportunities to individuals. They will be able to invest – alongside the established investment team - in high-growth technology companies; companies that could be the future Facebook or Deliveroo. This has previously only been open to those in the business or with connections. EQUI is democratising investment - it is the investment portal of the future.

Duncan continued: “I additionally see great value in the mentoring that EQUI will bring entrepreneurs dealing with the struggles and stresses of starting and succeeding in business. This type of mentoring is something I wish I had more of over the years and I am looking forward to working with others on that same journey.

Co-founder, Baroness Michelle Mone OBE, said: “The EQUI team provides a board of very successful business people, who can help entrepreneurs of high-growth tech startups. EQUI will provide not only investment, but also mentoring and guidance. The board is made up of entrepreneurs who have been in the position of those we are investing in and understand the rollercoaster journey they are on.”

Doug Barrowman, founder of EQUI said: “We have a strong team and Duncan MacInnes’ addition to the advisory board is testament to our vision. Duncan brings the expertise and experience as both an entrepreneur and an investor, providing valuable insights to the companies we will bring onto the platform. EQUI will enable non-industry professionals to back the next hot investment that is traditionally the preserve of institutions and ultra-high net worth individuals.”