Equi confirms Apple’s Steve Wozniak as co-founder

APPLE co-founder Steve Wozniak has joined up with Baroness Michelle Mone to help her crypto-backed peer-to-peer platform identify technology companies to invest in.

Wozniak (pictured right with Mone) was rumoured to be a co-founder behind a relaunched version of Equi, which had put an initial coin offering (ICO) on hold earlier this year to focus on a global rather than UK offering.

A statement from Equi Global – launched by Mone and  her venture capitalist partner Doug Barrowman – said up to 80 per cent of investment will be in technology companies with the balance of 20 per cent being in non-tech assets, such as real estate and investment collectables such as art and vintage cars.

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“I get ideas pitched to me every single day in fact dozens and I always say no. Since I co-founded Apple with Steve Jobs, this is about the second time in 20 years that I actually said yes, I want to be a part of this,” Wozniak said.

“It has to be something I really believe in and I really believe in Equi.

“We are the teachers and I believe in that so strongly because, Apple was strongly mentored.

“The enjoyment we had, the passion, starting the company, the excitement, it’s the most exciting thing.

“I like to see it happen for others and just to be a part of being able to help make it happen for a lot of others out there is going to be a big deal for me. I think I have an important role and I can help a lot.”

The initial ICO was expected to last for six weeks before being extended to 30 June, but reports later emerged that it failed to hit its target and that those who helped promote the campaign – known as bounty hunters – were unhappy with how much they had received in return.

The bounty hunters were due to receive two per cent of what was raised in the ICO, but a dispute emerged over whether this should be after refunds to investors.