With just over three months to go before the crucial vote, which could see the UK leave the 28-member bloc, tensions are running high between the ‘leave’ and ‘remain’ camps.

A new survey by UK-based crowdfunding platform Seedrs of 270 business owners and investors shows an even split between the two points of view, with 51% of moneymen and 48% of firms claiming they would vote to stay.

Some 47% of investors and 43% of entrepreneurs want to leave, while 9% and 2% respectively said they had no preference either way.

Jeff Lynn, CEO of Seedrs, said: “The very even split between the in and out vote shows what a complicated issue this is.

“It’s clear that this has become a debate lacking real information and that we are instead hearing soundbites from both sides. There is a need to present people with real information to help them make an informed decision in June.”

Seedrs also asked respondents what impact they thought leaving the EU would have on the UK start-up sector. Almost two-thirds said it would have a negative effect, 16% positive and 21% admitted they didn’t know.

Seedrs itself is in favour of remaining in the EU and Mr Lynn is a member of the Britain Stronger in Europe campaign.

He added: “We are a pan-European platform with London at our core, and we believe that we and our users stand to benefit from the open market that comes with Britain's continued EU membership.”

Bookies think Britain is more likely to vote to stay in the EU, offering average odds of 2/1 on a ‘Brexit’.

Last month, Seedrs announced that it has had more than £100 million invested on its platform since launching in July 2012 and, according to research firm Beauhurst, is the most active seed-stage equity investor in the UK.