Karsten Wenzlaff, Advisor
August 26th, 2025
TechCrunch via Yahoo Finance | | Dec 8, 2021
Crowdfunding platform Kickstarter is making a big bet on the blockchain, announcing plans to create an open source protocol "that will essentially create a decentralized version of Kickstarter’s core functionality." The company says the goal is for multiple platforms to embrace the protocol, including, eventually, Kickstarter.com.
Kickstarter is launching a new organization called Kickstarter PBC, which will begin development of the protocol. Kickstarter is funding the project, appointing an initial board for the organization and committing to be one of the first platforms on the protocol, though no specific timelines were offered for when such a transition might take place.
The company also announced that they're establishing an "independent governance lab," which will publish research and engage with the community on the topic of protocol governance.
It's an interesting path for Kickstarter, which already shares some philosophical DNA with blockchain products allowing consumers to support projects and build up a community around them while taking a stake in the success of those products. While the "stake" in Kickstarter's model has been a completed physical or digital product, newer blockchain crowdfunding platforms are upending that model by giving users tokens tied to the projects which can accrue in value as the product matures. Some of these efforts are questionably legal, but there are endless ways to obfuscate what exactly is being bought and sold by users.
For the time being it seems Kickstarter is aiming to proceed slowly in terms of how the protocol will impact the user experience.
"As a user, the Kickstarter experience you’re familiar with will stay the same. You won’t 'see' the protocol, but you will benefit from its improvements," a blog post from the company reads.
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
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InsurTech Insights | Dec 5, 2021

As the cyber risk environment evolves from occasional data theft to rampant extortion, cybersecurity experts believe that the current cyber insurance model – where policies are easily accessible – is ripe for a change.
This comes as several insurance providers have decreased coverage and pushed up rates in recent years as a surge in ransomware attacks have left them smarting from hefty payouts.
One of these insurers, Lloyd’s of London, which accounts for almost a fifth of the global cyber insurance market, has reportedly discouraged its syndicate from taking cyber business next year, according to Reuters.
“Cyber insurance was only ever meant to be for a novel, an unforeseen catastrophic event,” Jess Burn, senior analyst at advisory firm Forrester, told SC Magazine. “When things like ransomware were limited to someone’s grandmother on their old PC, that was a license to print money. But now that music has absolutely stopped and they’re reeling from those losses.”
Data from market intelligence firm S&P Global has shown that the loss ratio from cyber insurance has risen in recent years. From 43 cent for every dollar in 2016, the figure has jumped to 73 cents per dollar in 2020.
Industry insiders that SC Magazine interviewed said that the cybersecurity sector responded by “trying to consolidate data aggregation to create a more sustainable industry.” This led to the formation of CyberAccuView, a data-sharing service aimed at creating a more standard practice.
However, the experts still predict that policies will be dependent on “higher base security standards offering lower maximum payouts.”
They added that “a new breed” of fintech firms that are placing emphasis on data-driven security policies, including the use of network monitoring software, can help create a sustainable model for cyber insurance.
“We see a positive trend in the cyber insurance market where organisations embrace the risk assessment process required by insurers as an opportunity to justify and accelerate cybersecurity initiatives,” Chris Reese, head of insurance at Cowbell Cyber, told SC Magazine. “Many businesses welcome the resources provided by cyber insurance providers to help them achieve insurability.”
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
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Forward Security Inc. | Farshad Abasi | Nov 17, 2021

Picture this. You are the CEO of a large financial services company and are looking to acquire a smaller fintech company to expand your business. Everything within the company’s infrastructure looks normal.
Turns out, technology and security of the company wasn’t thoroughly tested, and after acquiring the company, you inherit a major security breach along with it, costing you millions of dollars. Believe it or not, this is exactly what happened to Paypal, when it acquired TIO Networks and they are not alone.
Paypal’s example proves the importance of incorporating thorough technology due diligence into the acquisition process of a company.
To gauge what the due diligence process entails, let’s consider the example of a VC or a CEO of a fintech company who is interested in preparing their company for acquisition. After taking the first step to hire an investment banker to show the company to investors, there are three main stages of the Due Diligence Process. The first round of bids includes a high-level company evaluation, addressing the condition of the business, financials, and management team. A handful of bids progress to the second round of bids, which takes a deeper dive into the business. The interested party then submits a Letter of Intent (LOI) to indicate interest in acquiring the company.
At the LOI stage, things could go awry if issues are found while evaluating the health of a company during the due diligence process (including legal diligence, accounting diligence, customer diligence, and technology/cybersecurity due diligence). After the LOI stage, if the investor is still interested in the company, the deal moves to the closing stage.
In any investment, buyers are clearly looking for no problems with the company, as this could cost them millions in the future.
A buyer’s priority is to minimize risks and solve for sustainability and scalability through assessing three aspects of the company: people, process, and technology. Risks surrounding people could involve code development and knowledge distribution, while risks around the process typically entail sustainability and scalability. Risks surrounding technology often involve security issues and documentation surrounding open-source code. If you think your company will need to embark on the due diligence process in the next 6-12 months, it’s crucial to be thorough with documentation regarding all aspects of due diligence.
To prove that a company doesn’t have issues, it’s important to provide the correct documentation and engage security from the beginning of the development process and have it ready for the due diligence process. Engaging security from the start leads to strong foundations in governance and policy as well as in the applications themselves. Consistent and diligent documentation from the start of the process also strengthens the validity of the company’s security posture.
Regarding the technology and security aspect of due diligence, it’s important to note that doing a risk assessment shows buyers that a company is truly worth the investment. It’s also crucial to know where your security issues lie by having a 3rd party look at the code to find loopholes. It assesses business impact and how likely a security breach is to occur, making it more valuable than security gaps or vulnerabilities. If any security issues are found, it’s key to have a plan of action for the investor or show progress on the issues that were found. Where open-source software is used, keeping thorough documentation on what is used will help tell the company’s story while preventing it from being put on the defensive.
Going forward, sellers should expect more scrutiny for technology and security aspects of the company. Therefore, any preparation on this front would be valuable. Buyers are also becoming more aware of what breaches exist and will ask sellers how they’ve prepared themselves. Buyers need to be able to ensure these breaches aren’t impacting them, as they don’t want to inherit liabilities.
In short, add security early in the development process and document your controls to cover your bases. Apply security best practices while building your company and applications. Though it may seem more efficient in the short run, refrain from cutting corners, and get professionals to support you during the due diligence process. Spending money on a 3rd party assessment to find potential security loopholes is valuable, as this could save millions in transaction value. Remember, investing in security initially to ensure a strong security posture will only save millions of dollars in the long-term.
If you’re looking to learn more about what to do to secure your company including your products and infrastructure, check out the Security 4 Startups (S4S) framework: https://www.security4startups.com/. S4S was designed by a group of investors and small, mid, and large-corporation CISOs to help startups combat their biggest security risks in a balanced manner. If you’re looking for an in-depth security consultation, Forward Security and RiskAware are always here to help, so get in touch: contactus@fwdsec.com.

At Forward Security we are all about doing application, cloud, and information security better. Our team tackles security using a systematic approach, leveraging standards based and repeatable processes. We are incredibly passionate about delivering the best security solutions, and are driven to help our clients achieve the highest level of security to enable business growth. https://forwardsecurity.com/

RiskAware was incorporated in 2018 to help address the gap with organizations utilizing part-time or fractional CISO and to offer executive leadership services. We serve organizations of all sizes and specialize in small and mid-size businesses (SMBs) in all verticals, including Not-For-Profits and Startups. https://riskaware.io/
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
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OFSI | Nov 11, 2021

This Guideline establishes OSFI’s expectations related to technology and cyber risk management and applies to all federally regulated financial institutions (FRFIs). These expectations aim to support FRFIs in developing greater resilience to technology and cyber risks.
FRFIs should implement the expectations in this Guideline commensurate with its size; the nature, scope and complexity of its operations; and risk profile. OSFI’s expectations are technology-neutral, anticipating the need for FRFIs to compete effectively and take full advantage of digital innovation while maintaining a sound technology posture.
A.2.1 This Guideline is organized into five domains. Each sets out key components of sound technology and cyber risk management.
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
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CNN | | Nov 4, 2021
The US State Department is offering up to $10 million for information leading to the identification or location of senior members of a Russian-speaking ransomware gang that forced major US fuel operator Colonial Pipeline to shut down in May.
"We need to use all the tools we have, and this is a good and hopefully effective one," Christopher Painter, a former top State Department cybersecurity envoy, told CNN.
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
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