In an 
FrontFundr has launched its own fundraising campaign on FrontFundr, which the company said will remain open to the public until November 4.
Yvon Chouinard, Patagonia, Founder announced 
Karsten Wenzlaff, Advisor
August 26th, 2025
Karsten Wenzlaff is a Crowdfunding and Fintech Expert from Germany. He is Secretary-General of Digit[...]
Category Archives: Voices
NCFA: Championing Open Banking with Senator Colin Deacon and Mahi Sall
About NCFA Canada | Oct 17, 2022
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association of Canada (NCFA), true to its mission of providing education, industry stewardship, networking, growth, and funding opportunities for innovative financial technologies and related sectors, is pleased to launch a brand new thought leadership series on Open Banking led by Berlin-based NCFA ambassador and independent expert in Fintech-Bank Partnerships Mahi Sall.
The series is called ‘Canada’s Open Banking Journey’ and aims to aggregate international and domestic perspectives of Open Banking/Finance expert practitioners from around the globe to advance dialogues, key considerations, and explore potential solutions for the development of a made in Canada open banking regime with the following timeline:
- Sep 2018: Canada’s Open Banking journey officially began when the government established a multi-stakeholder Advisory Committee tasked to conduct a review into the merits of Open Banking
- Apr 2021: Advisory committee publishes final recommendations
- Mar 2022: Government appoints Abraham Tachjian – PwC Canada as Canada’s Open Banking lead responsible for convening industry, government and consumers in designing the foundation of the system of Open Banking for a launch in 2023.
- Oct 2023: Phase 1 implementation expected
Speakers:
Senator Colin Deacon, Senate of Canada
Mahi Sall, NCFA Ambassador, Open Banking
Themes:
0. Introduction
1. Championing Open Banking * THIS VIDEO *
2. Current State in Canada
3. Governance
4. Success
5. Implementation Risks
6. Future Outlook
NCFA Open Finance, Open Banking and Beyond Banking interviews:
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, 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
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
NCFA Open Banking Series Introduction
About NCFA Canada | Oct 17, 2022
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association of Canada (NCFA), true to its mission of providing education, industry stewardship, networking, growth, and funding opportunities for innovative financial technologies and related sectors, is pleased to launch a brand new thought leadership series on Open Banking led by Berlin-based NCFA ambassador and independent expert in Fintech-Bank Partnerships Mahi Sall.
The series is called ‘Canada’s Open Banking Journey’ and aims to aggregate international and domestic perspectives of Open Banking/Finance expert practitioners from around the globe to advance dialogues, key considerations, and explore potential solutions for the development of a made in Canada open banking regime with the following timeline:
- Sep 2018: Canada’s Open Banking journey officially began when the government established a multi-stakeholder Advisory Committee tasked to conduct a review into the merits of Open Banking
- Apr 2021: Advisory committee publishes final recommendations
- Mar 2022: Government appoints Abraham Tachjian – PwC Canada as Canada’s Open Banking lead responsible for convening industry, government and consumers in designing the foundation of the system of Open Banking for a launch in 2023.
- Oct 2023: Phase 1 implementation expected
Speaker: Craig Asano, CEO, NCFA Canada
Themes:
Introduction * THIS VIDEO *
1. Championing Open Banking
2. Current State in Canada
3. Governance
4. Success
5. Implementation Risks
6. Future Outlook
NCFA Open Finance, Open Banking and Beyond Banking interviews:
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, 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
| | |
|---|---|---|
| | |
Mark Zuckerberg: TikTok ‘Very Effective Competitor’. ‘Sort of Missed’ a Giant Shift in Social Networking
CNBC | Jonathan Vanian | Oct 13, 2022
In an interview published Wednesday in analyst Ben Thompson’s Statechery newsletter, the Facebook founder said he “sort of missed” a newer way that people “interact with discovered content” via social networking services.
- Social feeds: People are increasingly using their social networking “feeds” to discover compelling content as opposed to viewing the media shared by the friends that they follow, he explained.
- Competition: Zuckerberg referred to TikTok as a “very effective competitor” during the interview and acknowledged that the company was ″somewhat slow to this because it didn’t fit my pattern of a social thing, it felt more like a shorter version of YouTube to me,” he said.
See: Monetizing the Creator Economy Through Social Tokens
- AI recommends all content: Zuckerberg also believes it’s important for Meta to develop AI that can recommend a range of content including photos and text to users besides just short videos.
Continue to the full article --> here
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, 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
| | |
|---|---|---|
| | |
Congratulations to NCFA Advisor Robin Ford | Treasury Board of Canada Announces Renewed External Advisory Committee on Regulatory Competitiveness
Treasury Board of Canada | Release | Oct 3, 2022
The External Advisory Committee on Regulatory Competitiveness brings together external stakeholders to develop recommendations on how to improve Canada’s regulatory system.The Committee was established in the 2018 Fall Economic Statement. During its initial term, which ran from 2019 to 2021, the Committee made a series of recommendations on how to make Canada’s regulatory system more competitive, innovative, and effective.Budget 2021 announced the renewal of the Committee until 2023. Under its renewed mandate, the Committee:
- provides advice on how to promote regulatory excellence by supporting innovation, competitiveness and economic growth while ensuring health, safety, security, and environmental outcomes;
- brings together representatives from across the country to provide an independent perspective on improving Canada’s regulatory system; and
- supports the modernization of Canada’s regulatory system, seeking to make the system more flexible, adaptable, and sustainable for the future.
The Committee’s work is structured into four themes:
- COVID-19 lessons learned;
- regulatory stock reviews;
- the Cabinet Directive on Regulation; and,
- monitoring the first Committee’s recommendations.
To learn more about the full scope and authority of the committee, consult the committee’s terms of reference.
Composition and membership
The Committee is composed of seven members, representing a diverse range of perspectives from academia, consumer advocacy, business, and civil society. A Chair is selected by the President of the Treasury Board from among the members.
See:
NCFA Response to FINTRAC’s ‘Knee Jerk’ Regulations Requiring Donation Crowdfunding Platforms to Register and Comply with AML/ATF Legislation
NCFA Advocacy
The renewed committee is composed of three returning members and four new members. This reflects advice from the 2019-2021 Committee to ensure continuity and maintain momentum while incorporating new perspectives.
Committee members participate on a pro bono basis without remuneration. Eligible travel and accommodation expenses for members are reimbursed in accordance with the Government of Canada Travel Directive when in-person meetings are required.
Membership
- Chair: Laura Jones (Returning)
- Yves Bourgeois
- Christian Dandeneau
- Robin Ford (linkedin profile)
- Keith Mussar (Returning Member)
- Shino Nakane
- Nancy Olewiler (Returning Member)
“The renewed External Advisory Committee on Regulatory Competitiveness will help to ensure that our efforts to strengthen Canada's regulatory system continue to be informed by the diverse experiences and views of Canadians."
– The Honourable Mona Fortier, President of the Treasury Board
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, 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
| | |
|---|---|---|
| | |
Reg CF in the U.S. Created 300,000 Jobs and Boon for Local Economies, Women. and Minorities Seeking Funding
Crowdfund Insider | | Sep 29, 2022
In 2021, the SEC took an important step in helping the ecosystem by increasing Reg CF from an anemic funding cap of $1.07 million to $5 million. Industry insiders believe the cap should actually be more than that – at least $10 million, or higher. The JOBS Act 4.0 seeks to improve upon Reg CF alongside other capitol formation policy goals. Hopefully, Congress will bump #J4 to the top of the legislative list, by now, the benefits should be clear.
See: JOBS Act of 2012: Ten Years of Legalized Investment Crowdfunding
This past week, the Association of Online Investment Platforms (AOIP) visited with multiple House and Senate offices, along with the Securities and Exchange Commission, to share the success of the exemption, alongside the other exemptions that help companies raise money online.
Crowdfund Capital Advisors (CCA) was helpful in providing an update on Reg CF. Sherwood “Woodie” Neiss, Principal at CCA, stated that Washington, DC needs to be reminded of the success. Some key points provided by CCA, include:
- Companies that have raised funds online have pumped over $3.4 billion into local economies by purchasing goods and services mainly from local vendors.
- Another interesting data point is that women and minority founders are seeing a higher success rate (67%) than white male founders (48%).
- The economic value of successful issuers is scaling and will lead to some sizable returns for investors
- Companies are receiving funding all across the USA, in more than 1,500 cities, and in over 500 different industries
- The success rate of issuers raising funds online is greater than other forms of financing which is why women and minorities are turning to investment crowdfunding as their preferred method for capital formation
- Over 300,000 jobs have been created or supported as a direct result of investment crowdfunding proving it can be a jobs engine and live up to its namesake, the JOBS Act.
See: Fintech Fridays EP57: 10 Years of Investment Crowdfunding: Past, Present & Future Since the JOBS Act
“As we enter this uncertain period for our economy, we are reminded that the key to keeping local economies strong is supporting local businesses.These local businesses include small/medium businesses as well as pre-IPO startups that aren’t heading to Silicon Valley anymore. As the capital markets recoil, investment crowdfunding will play a larger role in supporting these businesses and our overall economy.” Sherwood Neiss
Continue to the full article --> here
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, 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
| | |
|---|---|---|
| | |
FrontFundr Launches Its Own Fundraising Campaign to Raise Up to $5M | Open to the Public Until Nov 4
Betakit | Josh Scott | Sep 21, 2022
FrontFundr has launched its own fundraising campaign on FrontFundr, which the company said will remain open to the public until November 4.
- Toronto-based FrontFundr has announced that it has helped startups raise over $140 million across more than 100 fundraising campaigns using its equity crowdfunding platform.
- Since Canadian regulators introduced harmonized crowdfunding rules across Canada, making equity crowdfunding more accessible, Van Hoeken has seen its popularity rise, especially as broader economic conditions have worsened.
- So far, FrontFundr has raised a total of $7.3 million CAD from over 900 investors. The company aims to raise another $2.5 million to $5 million through its latest offering to support its product development plans and boost its sales.
- To date, FrontFundr has built a community of more than 30,000 users. The startup’s platform has helped Canadian tech startups like Manzil, Caary, and FrontFundr itself raise capital.
- Van Hoeken also sees a future where FrontFundr can help more public companies raise money using its platform. Over the longer-term, FrontFundr has ambitions to “spread [its] wings” across North America and into the United States.
See: Fintech Fridays EP57: 10 Years of Investment Crowdfunding: Past, Present & Future Since the JOBS Act
Peter-Paul Van Hoeken, Founder/CEO, FrontFundr:
As interest rate increases restrict available capital, more founders and growth stage companies will be looking at alternative financing options to bolster their available capital options along different funding stages, from pre-seed and seed to Series A. Investment crowdfunding offers founders an attractive and viable alternative or additional source of funding to traditional angel and VC investment. As a result, we’ve seen an increasing amount of funding raised through investment crowdfunding.
Continue to the full article --> here
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, 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
| | |
|---|---|---|
| | |
Patagonia: Earth is now our only shareholder
The Guardian | Rupert Neate | Sep 15, 2022
Yvon Chouinard, Patagonia, Founder announced he was giving away all of the shares in Patagonia to a trust that will use future profits to “help fight” the climate crisis.
“Earth is now our only shareholder,” Chouinard, 83, said in a message to staff and customers. “Instead of ‘going public’, you could say we’re ‘going purpose’. Instead of extracting value from nature and transforming it into wealth for investors, we’ll use the wealth Patagonia creates to protect the source of all wealth.”
- Forbes 2017 article: In the article, Forbes crowned Chouinard as a billionaire and added him to its list of the world’s richest people. While many people daydream of achieving a nine-zero fortune, for Chouinard it was a sign he had failed in his life’s mission to make the world a better and fairer place.
- The publication of a magazine article in 2017 “really, really pissed off” Yvon Chouinard, the mountain climber turned reluctant businessman and founder of outdoor clothing company Patagonia.
- I don’t have $1bn in the bank. I don’t drive Lexuses.” Chouinard, who drives a beaten-up Subaru with a surfboard strapped to the roof, says he hopes giving away the company “will influence a new form of capitalism that doesn’t end up with a few rich people and a bunch of poor people”.
- “But that’s not even the point,” Chouinard continued. “Being a dirtbag is a matter of philosophy, not personal wealth. I’m an existential dirtbag.”
See: Bill Gates Announces $20 Billion Donation and Obligation to Return His Resources to Society
-
Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman, Chouinard wrote that if he “had to be a businessman” he was “going to do it on my own terms”. “Work had to be enjoyable on a daily basis. We all had to come to work on the balls of our feet and go up the stairs two steps at a time. We needed to be surrounded by friends who could dress whatever way they wanted, even be barefoot,” he wrote.
“We don’t care when you work, as long as the work gets done”
Continue to the full article --> here
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, 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
| | |
|---|---|---|
| | |
