Altnet Broadband ISP Gigabit IQ to Crowdfund for Fresh UK Investment
Internet access and online security provider Gigabit IQ (formerly Grayshott Gigabit) has begun inviting selected people to invest in their company via crowdfunding, which they rightly warn is a “high risk investment” and one where those who make a commitment are “unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong“.
The idea of crowdfunding in this way is rather unusual for a broadband provider and isn’t likely to scale as well as shares or direct investment agreements (e.g. private equity, debt, bank loans, public subsidy etc.). But for a smaller provider, it could still have some benefits, provided you’re willing to accept the risks.
According to an email sent out by Gigabit IQ, which was seen by Thinkbroadband, the scheme is currently in the “pre-launch” phase. Due to this, we don’t yet know much about how the crowdfunding campaign will operate, what it will seek to raise, its eligibility rules or how the funding will then be used (i.e. will it go toward FTTP network expansion, development of their wholesale internet security products or be used more generally?).
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Gigabit IQ’s Email Invite
Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high risk investment and you are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong
Hi, we’re crowdfunding! What began as a community project in Grayshott is now expanding across the UK. As one of the people who supported us early, we’d love you to join our national journey by offering you the exciting opportunity to share in the exclusive pre-launch to join Gigabit IQ’s first investment round before our crowdfunding campaign goes public.
At Gigabit IQ, we’re not just another broadband company. We are redefining the ISP space by combining full-fibre gigabit speeds, award-winning managed Wi-Fi, and AI-driven online safety tools to protect families, schools, and businesses.
Here’s why now is the right time to get involved:
1. Proven traction: We’ve doubled our customers in the past year and achieved 3x revenue growth in 3 years.
2. Massive addressable market: With access to 1.5 million homes across the UK, we can serve over 500 towns and villages.
3. Award-winning innovation Winner: Best UK Rural ISP and Best OTT Service.
4. Shortlisted: 5x nominations at the ISPA 2025 Awards.
5. Industry leadership in online safety: We’re working with Internet Matters
6. Community-first model: We actively support schools and PTAs, and we’re launching
Overall, it’s an interesting idea, although much will depend upon the detail and what they’re actually planning to do. All of this is very important because Gigabit IQ isn’t a large, familiar brand like some of the market’s other players. People who commit their money to this will want to know precisely what it’s going to support and what targets will be set to ensure some accountability on the delivery side.
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
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We’d like to thank ISPreview for featuring Gigabit IQ’s new crowdfunding campaign and recognising the work we’re doing to deliver a safer, smarter and faster broadband experience across the UK.
As with any campaign hosted on Republic Europe (formerly Seedrs), readers will notice a financial disclaimer attached to our communications. This disclaimer is a regulatory requirement set by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and approved by Republic (Seedrs Limited). It ensures transparency and investor protection, and appears on every crowdfunding campaign in the UK.
Why We Are Crowdfunding?
This campaign is about much more than funding fibre builds. It’s about bringing ownership back to the people who believe broadband should do more to protect families online.
Unlike many alternative networks (AltNets) that rely on private equity or infrastructure funds, we’re taking a community investment approach. Our goal is to grow responsibly, guided by our values of online safety, digital inclusion and community trust. The campaign is open to all, and people can invest as little as £20, to much larger investment capital, all backed by an EIS approved opportunity. https://europe.republic.com/gigabit-iq/coming-soon
At this stage, our crowdfunding campaign is in its pre-launch phase. That means Republic Europe is currently collecting expressions of interest from anyone who wants to pre-register and pledge support ahead of the public launch in a few weeks’ time, when the share price and equity terms will be confirmed.
What We’re Funding
It’s important to note that this raise is not for FTTP infrastructure expansion. We’re already expanding nationwide through established wholesale partnerships, which allow us to serve over 1.5 million premises without laying additional fibre.
Instead, this raise supports the continued development and awareness of our safety-first broadband model — combining full-fibre connectivity, intelligent Wi-Fi, and built-in online protection.
Our focus remains on:
Expanding FamilyGuard+, our award-winning parental control service that helps parents manage screen time, filter harmful content, and apply age-based settings.
Scaling CyberGuard+, which protects every connected device from phishing, scams, and malware.
Enhancing our Gigabit IQ app and managed Wi-Fi platform to give users seamless control and visibility of their home networks.
Promoting digital inclusion through community engagement, education and safer broadband awareness initiatives.
What Makes Gigabit IQ Different
While most ISPs compete on speed and price, we’re building broadband that’s defined by trust, protection and intelligence. Every Gigabit IQ connection is designed to give families peace of mind through advanced safety tools, real-time device control, and award-winning customer support.
We believe broadband should not just connect homes — it should protect them.
Check out our YouTube explainer video: https://youtu.be/jlizq-pn69E
We’d like to thank ISPreview for covering our story and sparking discussion about what comes next for the UK’s broadband market. To learn more about our crowdfunding campaign and why this matters for families, visit: https://www.gigabitiq.com/why-gigabit-iq-is-crowdfunding-safer-broadband/
For details on the campaign or to pre-register your interest, visit:
https://europe.republic.com/gigabit-iq/coming-soon