Online venue marketplace Hire Space has hit its £500,000 target in less than six weeks after launching a crowdfunding campaign on 16 May.

More than 200 venues, event professionals and private investors helped the platform reach the £500,000 funding target in return for 5.10 per cent equity in the company.

The investment will go towards strengthening Hire Space’s position as one of the go-to platforms for venue booking in the UK and help to develop its technology offering.

Edward Poland, Hire Space co-founder, said: “We’re delighted to have hit our target with time to spare. The response from events professionals has been phenomenal and shows the faith that the UK events community has in Hire Space. We’ll use the funds raised to build a business we believe will revolutionise the events industry in the UK and beyond, and to continue to showcase the memorable venues so loved by businesses and the public.”

The company was founded in 2012 and operates in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool.

In the four years since the site launched it has grown to have thousands of customers – including Facebook, Google, Instagram and Red Bull – and receives more than 100,000 visitors every month.