Karsten Wenzlaff, Advisor
August 26th, 2025
Karsten Wenzlaff is a Crowdfunding and Fintech Expert from Germany. He is Secretary-General of Digit[...]
Category Archives: Research
Projector vs. Monitor: What You Should Buy for Display on Your PC
January 23, 2026
Choosing the right display for your PC can significantly impact your productivity, entertainment experience, and overall satisfaction. Two of the most popular options available today are projectors and monitors. Each has its advantages and drawbacks, and the best choice ultimately depends on your specific needs, environment, and usage patterns. In this comprehensive comparison, we break down the key differences between projectors and monitors to help you decide which is the ideal choice for your PC setup.
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What Is a Projector?
A projector is a device that casts a visual image onto a large surface, typically a wall or projection screen. Projectors vary in size, resolution, brightness, and price, but all share the basic function of turning a flat surface into a large display area. Projectors are widely used in home theaters, business presentations, and classrooms.
Projectors typically connect to a PC via HDMI, USB-C, or wireless display adapters. Modern projectors can deliver high definition (HD) and 4K resolution and even support HDR content.
What Is a Monitor?
A monitor is a dedicated display screen designed to show visuals with clarity and precision. Monitors come in various sizes, resolutions, refresh rates, and panel types such as IPS, TN, and VA. They are the standard display for desktops, laptops, and gaming PCs.
Unlike projectors, monitors have built-in screens with consistent brightness levels, reliable color accuracy, and support for fast refresh rates that benefit gaming and professional work.
Projector vs. Monitor: Key Factors to Consider
When evaluating whether to buy a projector or a monitor for your PC, it helps to compare them across several essential criteria:
1. Display Size and Viewing Experience
Projector
The most obvious advantage of a projector is its ability to produce a large image. Depending on the model and throw distance, you can create a display that ranges from 60 inches up to 150 inches or more. This makes projectors ideal for home cinema, group presentations, and immersive media consumption.
However, the viewing quality heavily depends on the projection surface and ambient light conditions. A darker room and a dedicated projection screen will deliver the best results.
Monitor
Monitors offer precise, consistent image quality at fixed sizes, typically between 21 inches and 49 inches for consumer displays. While they cannot match the sheer size of a projector image, monitors provide sharp visuals ideal for close-up work like graphic design, spreadsheets, and gaming.
Monitors are also easier to position and use without worrying about distance or external light sources.
2. Image Quality and Resolution
Projector
Projectors have come a long way in image quality. Modern units support Full HD (1080p) and 4K resolution, and some models offer enhanced color and contrast. However, due to projection optics and surface limitations, projectors may not deliver the same sharpness and detail as monitors of similar resolution.
Brightness is another concern. Measured in lumens, projector brightness affects how well the image holds up in well-lit environments. Unless you choose a high-lumens model, bright rooms can wash out the projected image.
Monitor
Monitors generally deliver superior image clarity and crispness at similar resolutions. Because they generate their own light, monitors perform well in any lighting condition and maintain consistent brightness. This makes them ideal for tasks where accurate visuals matter, such as photo editing or video production.
High-end monitors can also offer professional color accuracy with wide color gamut support (sRGB, Adobe RGB, DCI-P3), which is crucial for creative professionals.
3. Space and Setup Requirements
Projector
Projectors require more setup consideration. You’ll need space for the projector, a flat wall or screen, and sufficient throw distance to achieve the desired screen size. Mounting options include ceiling mounts or placing the projector on a desk or shelf.
Cables may need to be routed carefully, and you might need additional accessories like speakers if the projector’s built-in audio is insufficient.
Monitor
Monitors are generally plug-and-play. They fit well on desks, require minimal setup, and have straightforward cable connections (HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C). Monitors also take up less physical space and don’t require external screens or darkened rooms.
4. Performance for Productivity and Gaming
Projector
Projectors are not typically designed for performance-intensive tasks like gaming or professional productivity. Input lag, refresh rates, and response times tend to lag behind monitors. While some projectors improve these specs, they still cannot match gaming monitors with high refresh rates (144 Hz, 240 Hz) or low response times (1 ms).
For presentations, multimedia, and casual gaming, projectors can perform well, but competitive gaming or fast-paced tasks may suffer.
Monitor
Monitors excel in performance applications. Gaming monitors offer high refresh rates and adaptive sync technologies like FreeSync and G-SYNC, which reduce screen tearing and improve visual smoothness. Productivity monitors often include ergonomic stands, multiple ports, and split-screen software support.
If you rely on your PC for work, creative projects, or gaming sessions, a monitor is usually the better choice.
5. Cost and Value
Projector
Projectors can vary widely in price. Budget models may start under $300, while high-end 4K cinema projectors can exceed $2,000. Remember that projectors may also require additional expenses such as a screen, mounting hardware, and external speakers.
Projectors offer excellent value if your priority is a large display experience in a dedicated media room.
Monitor
Monitors also vary in price, from affordable options under $150 to professional-grade displays over $1,000. For the average user, a mid-range monitor (1080p or 1440p) offers excellent performance for both work and play.
Monitors tend to deliver better overall value for everyday PC tasks due to their simplicity and versatility.
Final Verdict
When deciding between a projector and a monitor for your PC, your choice should match your primary use case. A projector can transform your space into a home theater and deliver an impressive screen size for shared viewing. A monitor, on the other hand, delivers superior clarity, performance, and ease of use for daily computing tasks, gaming, and professional work.
See: BC Backs VR and Gaming Studios With Tax Credit Boost
Before purchasing, consider your room size, lighting conditions, budget, and how you intend to use your PC. By aligning these factors with the strengths of each display type, you can make an informed decision that enhances your computing experience.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
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Canadian VC Fundraising Contracts And Concentrates In 2025
Fundraising | Jan 22, 2026
Image: RBCx Capital Under Pressure Canadian VC Fundraising Report 2025
RBCx VC Report Shows Lower Capital, Higher Concentration, and Less Money for New Deals
In January 2026, RBCx released the Capital Under Pressure report on Canadian VC fundraising in 2025 (42 page PDF), with data analysis that examines how capital flows from investors into Canadian venture funds, and how those fundraising dynamics affect fund sizes, investor concentration, and the amount of capital available for new investments in founders.
Fundraising Volumes Fall Below Long Term Levels
The report shows Canadian VC firms raised just over $2.1B in 2025. This level sits well below the long term average of roughly $3.1B and places 2025 among the weakest fundraising years since 2016. A brief rebound in 2024 did not continue, indicating sustained pressure rather than a short term disruption.
New Fund Formation Continues Despite Lower Capital Raised
Even with lower fundraising totals, 21 new venture funds completed their fundraising process in 2025. In plain terms, these funds finished raising investor commitments and became active for investing. The data shows that while total capital declined sharply, the number of new funds coming to market remained relatively steady with the adjustment occurring through smaller fund sizes rather than fewer funds being formed.
Capital Concentration Reaches A Record High
Capital concentration increased materially in 2025. The five largest Canadian venture funds captured 83% of all capital raised during the year, the highest level recorded in the dataset. This reflects investor behaviour in lower liquidity environments, where commitments concentrate around established managers rather than being spread across a broader range of funds.
Emerging Manager Fundraising Hits A Record Low
Emerging managers raised $249M in 2025, the lowest annual total recorded in the report. In contrast, established managers accounted for the majority of new capital raised. The data shows fewer new and early stage funds accessing capital, narrowing the range of investors available to back companies at the earliest stages.
See: DealMaker Raises $20M to Expand AI Capital Platform
Government Backed Capital Remains Material
Reliance on federal capital programs has declined but remains significant. Capital linked to VCAP and VCCI accounted for 36% of total Canadian VC fundraising in 2025, down from 53% in 2015. While the share has fallen, government backed capital continues to anchor a meaningful portion of venture fundraising activity.
Dry Powder Shifts Away From New Investments
The composition of available capital shifted materially in 2025. Only 42% of remaining dry powder is available for new investments, with the majority reserved for follow on funding in existing portfolio companies. This is the lowest share of initial investment capital recorded and directly limits the amount of domestic venture capital available for new company formation.
Fund Sizes Reset To Historic Lows
Fund size compression accelerated in 2025. The median Canadian VC fund size declined to $29M, while the top quartile fell to $43M. Both figures represent the lowest levels observed since 2013, confirming that less capital is available per fund even as fund formation continues.
Implications For Fintechs Raising Capital
With less venture capital raised overall, higher concentration among a small number of large funds, and only 42% of remaining dry powder available for new investments, fintech founders should expect slower fundraising processes, narrower investor funnels, and higher expectations around proof of traction. In practical terms, this environment favours companies that can demonstrate clear revenue quality, customer retention, regulatory readiness, and capital efficiency earlier than in prior cycles.
In a climate where traditional VC funding is contracting, fintechs benefit from widening their capital strategy beyond venture capital alone. Non-dilutive programs that support technical development and commercialization, such as Eurostars international R&D collaboration programs, can extend runway without ownership dilution when equity capital is scarce. At the same time, alternative finance models, including equity crowdfunding, can provide more aligned and patient capital from users, customers, and sector participants when institutional funds slow initial investments.
See: AI, Capital, Money Rewire Financial Infrastructure In 2026
These approaches do not replace venture capital, but they can strengthen balance sheets, validate market demand, and reduce dependency on a single capital source at a time when venture capital is increasingly selective.
Closing
For fintech founders, the takeaway is not to pause growth plans but to adapt capital strategies to the realities of the market. Stronger evidence, clearer execution, and diversified funding paths matter more than ever. Companies that treat capital raising as a multi channel strategy rather than a single event will be better positioned to navigate this cycle and remain competitive as conditions evolve.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
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AI, Capital, Money Rewire Financial Infrastructure In 2026
January 21, 2026 | Report Insights
Image: ARK Invest, Big Ideas 2026 report. AI inference cost data reproduced for commentary and analysis.
In 2026, Systems Run Continuously Instead of at Human Pace
In January 2026, ARK Invest released its annual research report Big Ideas 2026, building on trends first measured in Big Ideas 2025. The 111 page report spans artificial intelligence, tokenized assets, decentralized finance, Bitcoin, consumer AI platforms, and what ARK describes as the Great Acceleration. Rather than summarizing each theme in isolation, this article focuses on how these technologies accelerate change together inside financial systems.
What felt experimental in 2024 and operationally strained in 2025 now shows up as baseline reality in 2026. AI costs collapse, investment capital concentrates in infrastructure, digital assets move closer to settlement rails, and consumer AI platforms compress decision cycles. These forces do not arrive sequentially. They compound. The result is technically a financial system that no longer needs to pause between decisions.
See: Canada Confronts a Changing World at Davos 2026
ARK’s data on collapsing AI inference costs explains why this shift becomes unavoidable. At the same time, investment capital continues to concentrate in infrastructure designed for continuous operation. Together, these forces change how money moves, settles, and gets controlled.
Finance is AI-native by design. It already runs on software, explicit rules, and constant feedback. As AI becomes cheap enough to run continuously, software acts directly inside financial systems instead of waiting for human input.
AI Is Moving From Advice To Continuous Action
ARK’s Big Ideas 2026 research shows AI inference costs dropped more than 99% in the past year. That single data point explains why continuous operation becomes economically viable at scale for the first time.
When inference costs fall that far, AI stops being something teams consult occasionally. It becomes something that runs all the time. Human prompts, batch reviews, and periodic decision cycles turn into friction rather than safeguards.
See: NCFA Weekly Fintech Intelligence Jan 10-16, 2026
In financial systems, this breaks a long standing boundary. AI no longer stops at scoring, forecasting, or recommendations. It initiates actions. Payment routing adjusts automatically. Exposure limits rebalance in real time. Liquidity thresholds enforce themselves continuously. Software no longer waits for approval at every step.
Founders experience this when systems stay busy all the time instead of spiking occasionally. Investors see it when infrastructure costs stop falling as predictably even while revenue continues to grow. Operating leverage behaves differently because systems no longer rest between decisions.
Investment Capital Concentrates In The Rails
ARK’s capital analysis shows where investment capital flows as systems scale. In 2025, annual investment in data center systems reached roughly $500B, nearly 2.5 times the long term average from 2012 through 2023. Since the ChatGPT moment, ARK shows growth accelerating from about 5% to 29% annually. The report projects this category of investment could approach $1.4T by the end of the decade.
That level of spending signals where long term value accrues. Capital is not chasing surface automation features. It is concentrating where compute, data availability, uptime, and recovery determine whether systems can operate continuously without failure.
See: OpenAI Revenue Surpasses US $20B, Raising Fintech Stakes
For fintech teams, this breaks a familiar assumption. Products designed for occasional use face redesign pressure. Infrastructure built for constant operation gains structural leverage. Cost structure, resilience, and throughput now shape competitive advantage more than feature differentiation.
Payments Run Without Pausing
Traditional payment systems assume a person initiates the transaction. AI breaks that assumption. Software now initiates payments, manages balances, and settles obligations automatically as conditions change.
This pushes pressure into liquidity management, fraud controls, and settlement logic. Batch review fails quietly when systems never pause. ARK’s analysis of AI driven transaction flows emphasizes sustained throughput and recovery under stress rather than peak performance.
Founders building payment infrastructure encounter this pressure early. Systems designed for bursts now operate under constant load, and cost curves change accordingly. Reliability becomes a competitive feature rather than an operational afterthought.
Digital Wallets And Consumer AI Compress Control
ARK’s 2026 research frames consumer AI as an operating layer rather than a feature. AI models converge into a consumer operating system, and adoption accelerates faster than earlier digital platforms. As these systems take on purchasing, allocation, and coordination tasks, decision making shifts closer to software execution.
See: Stablecoin Interest and Rewards A Regulatory Fault Line
Wallets evolve alongside this change. They function less as interfaces and more as control layers for software driven financial activity. Identity, permissions, and payment logic compress into the same layer.
Investors familiar with earlier platform cycles recognize this pattern. Control consolidates where decisions execute, not where they are merely displayed.
Tokenized Assets And DeFi Become Plumbing
ARK frames tokenized assets as market infrastructure moving trillions of dollars in asset value onto blockchains. Tokenization matters because assets move and settle automatically. DeFi matters because financial rules run on software without manual steps.
ARK’s data shows digital asset application revenue reaches roughly $3.8B in 2025, with around one fifth generated in January alone. The report also notes that about 70 applications generate more than $1M each in monthly recurring revenue. Value capture shifts from base networks toward platforms that control execution, coordination, and user interaction.
For fintech builders, this exposes a structural mismatch. Systems designed for batch reconciliation struggle when assets move continuously.
Stablecoins And Digital Money Operate As Settlement Rails
ARK’s research treats stablecoins as payment and settlement rails, not alternative products. Transaction activity reaches record levels because stablecoins can now move value automatically and clear obligations without waiting for manual steps.
Bitcoin functions as a monetary network with predictable issuance and global settlement. In 2026, its relevance aligns with the same requirement driving stablecoin use. When systems run continuously, money must move at software speed.
See: FCA Stablecoin Sprint Puts Payment Models Under Review
This doesn't remove banks, payment firms, or regulators. It changes how settlement works underneath them, reflected in Canada’s Stablecoin Act draft, which outlines how programmable settlement rails are governed.
Regulation Follows System Design
ARK's analysis points to convergence. Continuous systems expose the limits of oversight built around delayed reporting and human initiated workflows. Design, auditability, and real time visibility matter more because systems no longer pause between decisions.
For policymakers, this changes where effective oversight begins. Rules written for periodic review struggle when financial activity runs continuously. Payments oversight, digital asset policy, and AI governance increasingly overlap because the systems themselves overlap.
Teams that design for transparency and control early reduce downstream risk. Regulators that focus on system behaviour rather than product labels gain clearer visibility and fewer surprises.
Outlook
Big Ideas 2026 highlights what happens when AI inference costs collapse by more than 99%, investment capital concentrates at unprecedented scale, digital assets mature into settlement rails, and consumer AI platforms compress decision cycles at the same time. Finance changes faster because it already runs on rules, incentives, and software.
See: Grok AI Sexual Image Failures Trigger Global Backlash
In 2026, the question is no longer adoption. It is readiness. Financial infrastructure rarely fails loudly. It simply stops scaling.
Strategic Q And A
Where do founders underestimate cost first?
AI systems now run continuously. Many teams still model for peak usage instead of sustained operation. The gap appears in compute, monitoring, compliance operations, and incident response long before it shows up in customer metrics.
What do investors misprice in AI driven fintech?
Infrastructure intensity rises faster than application revenue. ARK’s capital data shows control and throughput capture value before features do. Margins do not scale linearly during infrastructure transitions.
Which assumptions break down fastest?
Human initiated workflows. Cost per transaction and average response time lose meaning when systems never pause. Sustained throughput and recovery time under stress become the binding constraints.
Where does policy lag create exposure?
Frameworks assume discrete events. Continuous systems blur those boundaries. Risk appears as operational mismatch rather than enforcement action.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
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Davos 2026 In A More Competitive and Risky World
Davos | Jan 19, 2026
Image: Current Global Risk Landscape (WEF 2026 Global Risks Report)
What Global Risk, Trade Tension, and Capital Uncertainty Mean for Canada
From January 19 to 23, 2026, global leaders are gathering in Davos, Klosters for the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026, one of the few global forums where heads of government, central bankers, investors, and business leaders meet in the same place to discuss economic risk, trade, and long term stability. This year’s theme is "A Spirit of Dialogue", to address growing concerns that cooperation is weakening as global risks are becoming harder to manage.
Ahead of Davos, the World Economic Forum released its Global Risks Report 2026 (102 page PDF) based on its Global Risks Perception Survey of more than 1,300 experts across government, business, academia, and civil society worldwide. Participants were asked to rank the risks most likely to trigger a global crisis in the short term, as well as the most severe risks over longer time horizons.
What The Global Risks Report 2026 Shows Clearly
The report identifies "geoeconomic confrontation" as the top risk most likely to trigger a material global crisis in 2026. 18% of survey respondents ranked it first, moving it ahead of state based armed conflict for the first time. The report defines geoeconomic confrontation as the deliberate use of tariffs, sanctions, export controls, investment screening, subsidies, capital restrictions, and technology controls to advance national interests, rather than as temporary trade friction.
See: How Competition Powers Canada’s Economic Growth
The report frames the current period as an age of competition, where economic tools increasingly replace diplomacy. It also shows that confidence in multilateral systems is weakening.
68% of respondents expecting a more fragmented global order, where countries manage multiple regional relationships instead of relying on a single rules based framework.
Economic risks remain elevated. An economic downturn ranks 6th among global risks for 2026, reflecting concerns tied to trade fragmentation, high debt levels, and asset price vulnerability. The report doesn't predict a specific recession size, but it highlights how shocks can spread faster in a highly interconnected financial system.
The report also quantifies risks tied to trust and technology. Misinformation and disinformation rank 5th, driven by faster and more scalable digital amplification. Cyber insecurity ranks 9th, while adverse outcomes of AI technologies enter the top ten for the first time, reflecting concerns around misuse, governance gaps, and longer term economic and security effects. Importantly, the report shows AI related risks increasing significantly over the ten year horizon, as leaders view AI as a structural risk that compounds other pressures rather than a short term crisis trigger.
Why Global Risks Matters For Canada At Davos
Canada doesn't set global rules on its own, but it is deeply affected by how those rules evolve. The Global Risks Report makes clear that mid sized, trade dependent economies face higher exposure when economic pressure becomes a primary policy tool.
Market behaviour already price this sensitivity. Canadian equity markets have shown quick reactions to renewed tariff threats and trade policy signals, reinforcing how closely capital pricing tracks global risk narratives. This volatility isn't driven by domestic structural gaps alone, but by uncertainty in the global trade environment.
See: Global Rules Now Count Intangibles. So Can Canada
In Canada, business leaders are already feeling the pressures Davos is wrestling with. In the Bank of Canada Business Outlook Survey for the fourth quarter of 2025, firms report subdued sentiment and weak recent sales growth, and many point to trade tension and uncertainty as key reasons they stay cautious on hiring and investment. Some exporters also report that they are working harder to sell into markets outside the United States, which fits a broader push toward diversification as global risk rises.
For Canada, the forum offers a place to engage with partners, investors, and institutions that are reassessing risk, diversification, and resilience at the same time. In a world where geoeconomic confrontation leads the risk rankings, visibility and credibility matter.
Fintech Implications
The risks highlighted in the Global Risks Report translate into practical considerations for Canada’s fintech and innovation ecosystem.
First, trade concentration is a measurable risk.
When tariffs, sanctions, and investment controls rise, companies with narrow market exposure face greater volatility. Diversifying customers, partners, and capital sources becomes a defensive strategy, not just a growth choice.
Second, capital follows predictability. The report links economic downturn risk to policy uncertainty and fragmented governance. Investors respond by adjusting risk premiums, which affects valuations, fundraising timelines, and exit options, particularly for scale ups.
See: AI Immerses Youth Today And The Real Question Of Protection
Third, technology risk is contextual, meaning technology itself isn't the main risk. The risk comes from how it is used, governed, and trusted, especially when economic and political tensions are already high. The report doesn't treat AI or digital systems as isolated threats. Instead, it positions them as amplifiers that can worsen misinformation, cyber exposure, and economic disruption if governance and trust break down. For Canadian firms competing globally, credibility around security, governance, and responsible deployment increasingly affects whether they win customers and attract capital.
Outlook
Trade, finance, and technology are now at the center of geopolitical strategy, with direct consequences for businesses and investors. Canada’s fintech ecosystem should plan for sustained volatility. Growth strategies built on stable trade assumptions face higher risk. Founders and investors who understand these quantified global risks will be better positioned to manage exposure, attract capital, and compete responsibly in a more uncertain global economy.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
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[TCS Webinar Jan 28, 2026]: How Canadian Companies Can Choose New Export Markets
Exporting | Webinar | January 14, 2026
Image: Freepik/Rawpixel.com
A Practical Webinar On Reducing Risk and Selecting Markets With Confidence
Many Canadian companies still operate only in their domestic market or to a narrow set of export markets. That limited exposure becomes a problem when trade rules change, demand softens, or geopolitical risk rises like the current trade environment Canada finds itself in.
See: Canadian export resources
On January 28, 2026, Canada's Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) is hosting a webinar for founders and operators called 'Trade diversification: how to select a new market" to better understand the key decisions they must face to determine where to export their business internationally. The session aligns closely with NCFA's community and the hope is that founders will approach choices with more discipline than pure instinct.
Event Overview
Host: Trade Commissioner Service in partnership with the Forum for International Trade Training
Date/Time: January 28, 2026 at 1:00 PM EDT (60 minutes)
Format: Online via Webex
Description: The session introduces a structured approach to evaluating and selecting new international markets based on opportunity, fit, and risk. The webinar also features insights from Chief Trade Commissioner Sara Wilshaw on how Canadian companies can use Trade Commissioner Service support when entering or scaling in foreign markets. The webinar is designed for Canadian companies of all sizes and across all sectors that want to expand internationally, explore new export markets, or strengthen their global growth strategy through diversification. It is relevant for first time exporters as well as firms already active abroad that are reassessing their market mix.
What To Expect
The discussion explains why diversification matters now and how it helps reduce long term business risk.
A certified FITT expert walks through a clear step by step method for choosing the right market.
Canadian exporters share lessons from real expansion efforts including what worked and what they would change.
See: Canada Expanding Economic Ties With UAE India And Africa
The session also explains how the Trade Commissioner Service supports companies with market intelligence, local connections, and on the ground insight.
A live Q and A allows participants to ask questions tied directly to their export plans.
Free Registration
Registration closes January 27, 2026. REGISTER HERE before registration closes on Jan 27, 2026. For questions, participants should contact the Trade Commissioner Service directly at tcs-sdc@international.gc.ca.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
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New CFR Review Highlights Gaps Fintechs Must Close
Compliance | December 11, 2025
AI generated image
CSA and CIRO Guide Fintechs Where to Strengthen KYC, KYP and Suitability
On December 10 2025 the CSA and CIRO released new findings from their second national review of Client Focused Reforms based on 105 firms. The update arrives in a year marked by a CSA record year of 1,011 investor alerts and outreach that reached more than 4.5 million Canadians.
With the imminent arrival of Canada's commercialization of open banking, and the country's work on faster payments and new digital asset rules, fintechs now face a more demanding compliance environment, and firms must focus on fixing gaps to prepare for what comes next.
Two Client Focused Reform Sweeps
Client Focused Reforms arrived in two stages across 2021. Conflicts of interest rules took effect in June 2021 and enhanced rules for know your client, know your product and suitability took effect at the end of 2021.
Regulators did a first sweep in 2022 to confirm whether firms built the foundation. They looked at updated forms, processes and governance. The first sweep focused on whether firms completed the initial implementation work required by the reforms rather than on how well those changes worked in daily practice.
The second sweep tests practical use. Firms have lived with these rules for more than three years. Regulators expected complete records, strong reasoning and evidence of care in client decisions.
What Regulators Found In Fintech KYC Work
Regulators found that some digital onboarding flows move too quickly for the level of detail the rules require.
They saw cases where firms collected risk tolerance but did not collect risk capacity.
They found broad financial ranges that did not support detailed decisions.
See: CSA Review of EMD Selling Groups Exemption
They found missing updates when clients changed jobs, retired or faced major life events.
They also saw records that did not show meaningful conversations with clients.
👉 Regulators want firms to gather clear and complete financial information and to treat risk tolerance and risk capacity as separate concepts. They expect client data to guide decisions, not follow them. They expect fintechs to show that a digital experience still produces real understanding.
What Regulators Expect From Fintech Product Due Diligence
Fintechs often use a select list of products, model portfolios or automated recommendations. Regulators looked closely at these choices and found cases where product review notes were thin or unclear.
They found approvals without evidence of analysis.
They found firms relying on affiliates even though each firm must complete its own review.
👉 Regulators want product evaluations that show how a firm reviewed the structure, features, risks and costs of a product before deciding to offer it to clients. This work guides what a firm chooses to place on its platform and how it ensures the product suits the clients who may use it. They want clear records that show why a product fits the platform and how the firm reached that decision. They expect firms to understand their products in a practical way and to document that understanding with simple and direct notes.
What Regulators Look For In Fintech Suitability Decisions
Suitability is where digital advice models face the most pressure. Regulators found decisions marked as suitable with little or no explanation.
They found missing concentration checks and liquidity checks.
They found limited cost comparison even when firms offered lower cost fund series.
See: CSA Proposes $50K Harmonized Self Certified Investor Exemption
They saw suitability records that did not update after product changes or after changes to the representative responsible for the account.
👉Regulators want suitability work that explains how the firm connected the client’s information to the recommendation. They want firms to consider exposure levels, liquidity needs, cost differences and alternatives. They want reasoning that shows why a recommendation or a model portfolio fits the client.
How Fintechs Can Close These Gaps With Better Design
Fintechs can improve compliance by treating data, product analysis and suitability logic as design elements. Design and process can impact onboarding flows that gather clear information without slowing clients down.
Fintechs strengthen compliance when they update client profiles after major life events and use product files that link directly to real due diligence notes.
Clear concentration and liquidity checks inside the recommendation engine supports more reliable decisions.
See: Mycroft Raises $3.5M for Agentic AI Compliance Officer
Cost comparison helps firms show why a recommendation fits the client.
Investor education tools help clients understand their choices with more confidence.
Thoughtful use of AI can improve accuracy and consistency when firms understand which processes benefit most from automation.
Strong design choices make it easier to show good judgment and better care for clients.
Why Fintechs Need To Get Ready For What Comes Next
The new CFR review arrives as Canada prepares for major changes in the financial system. Open banking will introduce structured data sharing and clearer expectations for permission and accuracy. Payments modernization will accelerate how money moves, supported by Canada’s payments innovation push toward faster rails. Digital asset rules will mature as Canada moves forward with the first draft of the national stablecoin framework.
These developments point in the same direction. Regulators expect firms to show strong reasoning, accurate information and clear documentation of decisions. Fintechs that build these strengths now will be able to handle the coming changes with confidence instead of surprise.
See: Crypto Enters the Core of Canadian Payments
Good CFR practices support competitiveness and growth. Partners and investors look for firms that manage risk with care and clarity. Clients choose platforms they trust.
The CSA year in review reports 54 permanent bans imposed during the reporting period and 24 enforcement actions tied to crypto assets. This is why strong governance matters at a time when financial infrastructure is evolving.
Fintechs that build accurate data, consistent processes and quality supervision strengthen their position and gain credibility across the market.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
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How Much Economic Freedom Canada Needs To Compete
Economic Research | December 8, 2025
Economic Freedom Provincial Ratings, Fraser Institute 2025
Canada Needs the Right Balance of Flexibility and Stability to Support Stronger Outcomes and Faster Innovation
On December 2, the Fraser Institute published the Economic Freedom of North America 2025 (EFNA report) with fresh data on the conditions that impact income, job creation, and business growth across the North American continent. The report measures how much economic freedom people and companies have to make economic choices and what influences long term outcomes. The findings place every Canadian province in the lower half of the ranking except Alberta, which raises an important question for policymakers and industry. That is, how much economic flexibility does Canada need to stay competitive in a market that moves faster each year?
What EFNA Shows About Economic Outcomes
EFNA ranks 93 jurisdictions across North America. Alberta sits at 30th. British Columbia is tied at 47th. All other Canadian provinces fall in the bottom half of the continental list. Canada’s national score peaked at 7.93 in 2015 and now sits at 7.69. The United States records 7.96. These score gaps look small, but EFNA’s outcome data shows why they matter. The index tracks ten year changes in income, jobs, and population, and these outcomes differ significantly across environments.
See: Market Forces Pressuring Fintech Plans For 2026
EFNA groups jurisdictions into quartiles (statistical value that divides a dataset into 4 equal parts) to show how economic conditions impact long-term outcomes.
| Indicator | Most Free Quartile | Least Free Quartile |
| Average income | $66,367 | $3,510 |
| Income growth | 24% | 3% |
| Job growth | 18.3% | 9.4% |
| Population growth | 8.9% | 0.5% |
These numbers highlight a clear pattern across North America. Regions with more economic flexibility tend to show stronger movement in income, jobs, and population over long periods of time.
Canada’s Structural Reality And How Much Flexibility It Needs
Canada’s lower ranking results highlight the need to understand what balance of stability and flexibility supports better economic performance. Alberta leads the provinces at an EFNA index score of 6.44, followed by Ontario at 5.67. The remaining provinces sit in a narrow middle band, and Quebec ranks last at 3.10. This tight spread shows that Canada offers stability across the country, but it doesn't produce a high velocity region, so firms cannot rely on domestic momentum the way founders can in faster moving regions.
Another pattern is that income and job growth move at a steady pace. EFNA’s top performers show stronger gains over time. In Canada, steady progress helps households plan, but it also slows the pace at which they change financial behaviours.
Read: Breaking Canada’s Productivity Trap For Stronger Growth
Another pattern is EFNA shows the importance of mobility. Meaning, places with more economic flexibility tend to see more movement of people, jobs, and income. This mobility helps drive stronger results over time.
Canada's objective should be to find the level of flexibility that supports stronger economic movement while keeping the trust and protections that underpin Canada’s success. A practical balance for Canada should include regulatory processes that reduce friction, business and tax structures that attract investment, consumer protections that build trust without slowing innovation, labour rules that support adaptation, and clear frameworks that help firms navigate change.
Canada needs to create an environment that supports both stability and speed. The strongest results come from regions that achieve both.
Implications For Fintech And Financial Innovation
1. Movement Impacts Markets, and Movement Is Slower in Canada
Financial services are intrinsically related to the movement of money, people, firms, and confidence. EFNA outcome data confirms that these forces accelerate in more flexible environments. In Canada, they still move but the pace influences how companies grow. This steady environment affects how/when customers may be willing to try new financial tools and services, and how long new market sectors take to build growth and traction.
For fintechs, it means early fundamentals are more important, especially in the current economic climate. Companies need clearer value, earlier product market fit, stronger unit economics, and a model that can carry the business through longer adoption cycles. Growth comes, but it takes more time to build. Firms that rely only on rapid customer movement might face a harder path.
See: Fintech’s Role in Canada’s Productivity Revival
Government can help shorten this path. Acting as a first customer, reducing administrative friction, speeding approvals, and improving procurement can help credible firms break through sooner. Government can't replace real demand, but it can help companies reach it faster.
2. Scale Requires Mobility, Not Just Stability
EFNA highlights the importance of mobility whether that's economic, labour, or population mobility. Income and jobs move more strongly in flexible environments, and that movement supports scale. Canada’s strength is stability. People stay. Businesses stay. Conditions remain predictable. Stability is valuable, but on its own it doesn't support rapid scaling as well.
Fintechs that want to scale inside Canada need strategies that work in steadier environments. This may include building distribution partnerships earlier, designing products that create immediate and visible value, and targeting segments where switching costs are low. Companies need to shorten the time between awareness, trial, and sustainable use.
Policymakers can support scale by reducing barriers that slow switching, such as streamlining licensing, enabling data portability, modernizing onboarding requirements, and creating space for controlled innovation. These steps do not change stability. They add mobility where it is needed most.
3. Canada Needs the Right Balance of Flexibility and Trust
Canada’s provincial scores are pretty close together. Alberta leads the country, but no province reaches the levels seen in EFNA’s top performers. Canada has trust but it needs more flexibility at the edges to create the right conditions for growth.
For fintech companies, this means building trust and flexibility at the same time. Products must meet high expectations on security and reliability while offering customers faster ways to act, decide, and move money. Fintechs that pair strong trust with simple, flexible choices for customers tend to gain momentum in steady environments.
See: Regulating for Growth by Understanding Innovation
Policymakers play a role by making rules clearer, approvals faster, and compliance pathways more predictable.
Reducing friction does not weaken trust. It helps companies deliver it more effectively. The balance Canada needs is not maximum freedom. It is enough flexibility to let economic movement take shape while protecting the values that matter to Canadians.
Closing
The Economic Freedom of North America 2025 report (166 page PDF) is a data-driven look at the kind of environments that tend to generate stronger outcomes. Canada has strong institutions, talent, trust, and resilience. The question is whether the country can create enough flexibility to strengthen Canada's economic competitiveness. The foundation is here, but the next step is structural change.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
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