Commercial real estate investment platform SyndiFi obtains ASF authorization, opens to retail investors

SyndiFi, an investment platform focused on commercial real estate, has received authorization as a crowdfunding service provider from the Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF), the public institution responsible for regulating and supervising non-banking financial markets in Romania. This authorization complies with Regulation (EU) 2020/1503 on European crowdfunding service providers for business (ECSPR) and Law no. 244/2022. It confirms compliance with the transparency and security standards required to operate on the financial market and marks the platform’s transition to a new stage of development, the company said in a statement.

The ASF authorization validates the company’s business model and provides investors with an increased level of protection. Furthermore, it demonstrates that the platform operates under strict legal rules, allowing the company to attract a much broader base of participants and launch new regulated crowdfunding instruments.

The authorization also confirms that SyndiFi meets the prudential, organizational, and conduct requirements stipulated by Regulation (EU) 2020/1503 and Law no. 244/2022, operating under the continuous supervision of the ASF. The regulatory framework imposes specific measures to protect non-sophisticated investors from EU countries.

“Until now, structuring a syndication deal took 4-6 months and required negotiations with each individual investor. The ECSPR framework allows us to compress this cycle to 30-60 days and make it accessible to any eligible investor, directly from their phone. This is not just a regulatory change; it is a change in market speed,” said Florin Mîndru, CEO & Investment Manager at SyndiFi.

“Commercial real estate represents an attractive asset class, yet the major challenge of this billion-euro market has been restricted access, limited to just a few hundred investors. The new authorization from the ASF resolves this structural issue and eliminates entry barriers,” stated Carolina Mîndru, COO of SyndiFi.

Through its syndication model, by which multiple partners invest together to own a large-scale asset through an SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle), SyndiFi has finalized projects with a total value exceeding €24 million, primarily in the retail and logistics sectors. These assets have generated steady rental yields and benefited from market value appreciation, offering a stable alternative to traditional residential investments.

Following the ASF authorization, SyndiFi has established three clear strategic directions.

The first priority is the launch of a fully automated digital platform that provides users with a modern technical infrastructure. This solution allows users to manage their entire portfolio directly from a smartphone, from identity verification (Know Your Customer/KYC) to the electronic signing of documents, streamlining the entire process.

“We want technology to eliminate the complexity of the investment process. Our goal is to reach a €50 million portfolio by the end of next year and to strengthen our community of investors,” adds Robert Butoi, CIO of SyndiFi.

The second priority is reducing the capital threshold for investment. With the new regulated structure, access to multi-million euro assets becomes possible with entry tickets starting at €1,000. This change removes the financial barrier that previously limited participation for individuals with smaller budgets, giving them the chance to own shares, through an SPV, in a shopping center or a logistics warehouse just like an institutional investor.

The company’s third priority is diversifying its portfolio into new, highly stable sectors. SyndiFi targets acquisitions in areas such as hotel properties, medical hubs, or self-storage and industrial spaces. These segments offer increased resilience against economic fluctuations and complement the risk profile of existing retail projects.