Australian equity crowdfunding platform VentureCrowd Pty., Ltd. has raised AU$2 million (US$1.45 million) through a combination of 30 wholesale investors and through its own crowdfunding service.

The money was raised on a pre-money valuation of AU$10 million (US$7.26 million).

Along with the news of the new funding, VentureCrowd also announced a new partnership with Melbourne, Australia-based small cap fund Kentgrove Capital that will allow Australian investors to invest in Israeli startups through their service.

Founded in 2013, VentureCrowd is Australia’s first multi-asset class equity crowdfunding investment platform, providing access to alternative traditionally non-public investment opportunities online.

The service gives wholesale investors the ability to access and invest in curated alternative assets, choosing where, when and how much to invest in a range of deals, including early-stage businesses, premium residential properties and alternative debt opportunities.

VentureCrowd founder Jeremy Colless said in a statement sent to SiliconANGLE that the Kentgrove Capital deal was the first of several international agreements to provide alternative asset deal flow for the crowd.

“Investors and issuers in China and Southeast Asia have adopted online financial portals and crowdfunding platforms with great speed and interest,” he said. “In time, we expect to see two-way dealflow, with Asian investors gaining access to Australian alternative assets via VentureCrowd, as well as local investors gaining access to international opportunities.”

Fortuitous timing

VentureCrowd’s new funding comes at a fortuitous time following the Australian’s government’s announcement of its new Innovation Policy that includes a range of incentives for startups, including the ability for both start-ups and established small businesses to tap retail investors for equity financing via online platforms.

Under the new laws, participation in crowdsourced equity funding will be made available to public companies that had AU$5 million or less in assets and AU$5 million or less in turnover, and those companies would be able to raise up to AU$5 million in any year.

VentureCrowd has raised nearly AU$10 million (US$7.26 million) in 10 funding rounds since launch and recently closed a $200,000 crowd-funded investment for online airport shuttle ride booking service Jayride Technology Pty., Ltd.

The company said is would use the new fund to accelerate its plans to provide the crowd with access to alternative assets, which have previously had high barriers of entry, including private equity and venture capital, alternative credit (venture funding and invoice financing), and real assets, such as property, agriculture and commodities.