Mahi Sall, Advisor, Fintech-Bank Partnerships, Payments and Financial Inclusivity
January 25th, 2023
Mahi Sall is the CEO & Founder of FinXpair, a Berlin-based strategic advisory boutique firm focu[...]
Category Archives: Equity Crowdfunding, Alternative Funding
William Shatner Feature-length Documentary Reaches $790,000 Equity Crowdfunding Goal (less than a week)
Variety | | Jan 31, 2023
Image: Wikipedia, William Shatner
William Shatner fans bought up all the shares in the actor’s forthcoming feature-length documentary “You Can Call Me Bill” in less than a week — shelling out nearly $790,000 and topping the film’s crowdfunding goal.
- Legion M’s equity crowdfunding round for the Shatner documentary, exploring the life and career of the beloved 91-year-old actor, as of Monday had sold out from reservation holders before the company opened the offering to the public. Within four days, the project raised $789,655 from 1,338 investors.
- Distribution: The documentary has a production budget of $565,101, according to Legion M’s listing. After “You Can Call Me Bill” deducts expenses to third parties for accounting, legal, marketing and administrative fees, 100% of any revenue generated will be distributed proportionally to the film’s investors until they have recouped their initial investment. Any additional net revenue after that will be split, with 33% going to shareholders and 67% distributed to the producers of the film.
- With the Shatner doc, fans were able to invest directly in the Shatner documentary for a minimum of $100, subject to certain SEC restrictions, and they will recoup their money before any profits are shared with Shatner, Legion M or the film’s producer.
- The film is touted as “an intimate portrait of William Shatner’s personal journey across nine decades of a boldly lived and fully realized life.” The documentary “strips away all the masks he has worn during his storied career” — from Captain James T. Kirk to T.J. Hooker and from Alexander the Great to the Priceline Negotiator — “to reveal the man behind it all.”
See: Equity Crowdfunding Growth: It Took UK Seedrs 8 Years to Raise the First £1Billion and Only 2 Years for the Next Billion
William Shatner:
“For years I’ve had people approaching me to do a documentary about my life, but I turned them all down because it didn’t feel like the right fit. When I heard how Legion M wanted to incorporate audiences to be a part of it, it was perfect. Fans have been responsible for my career — it only seems right that they should own this doc.”
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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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Fractional Music Ownership Platform: SongBits
Crowdfund Insider | | Jan 25, 2023
SongBits.com
is a new platform that is planning to launch later this year that will allow users to invest in “a bit of a song from world-class artists.” Investors may then share in the song’s streaming revenues for life, according to the company.
- A private launch is taking place at the end of this week where invitees may choose to purchase “bits” of songs by DJ, Ashley Wallbridge.
See: Fund Tokenization: Fractional Issuance, Streamlined Redemption, and Servicing Benefits
- How does it work (from their website)?
- Owning a bit has three clear benefits over just listening to a song: firstly, you receive a share of the song’s streaming revenue each and every time the song is streamed worldwide on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Amazon, and more.
- Secondly, a purchase often comes with additional exclusive benefits such as exclusive shows, tickets, downloads, merch or other cool stuff depending on the artist.
- Finally, in addition to the benefits of actually owning a bit of a great song and all the bragging rights that go with that, you are able to gift your bits to someone else or even re-sell them at a later date.
The “music marketplace” is designed to allow investors to purchase fractional ownership in songs from “chart-topping artists, sharing in the song’s streaming royalties for life.”
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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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Want to get insider access to some of the most innovative advances happening in #fintech. Register for #FFCON23 and hear from global thought leaders what’s next! Click below for Open Access tickets to all virtual programming and on-demand content from FFCON23. |
European Crowdfunding Platforms Licensed Under ECSPR
Crowdfund Insider | | Jan 24, 2023
In November 2021, pan-European crowdfunding rules became actionable after approval by the European Union in 2020. Under the new rules, or European Crowdfunding Service Providers Regulation (ECSPR), a platform may raise up to €5 million from investors in all member states. This opens up investment crowdfunding to over 300 million EU citizens.
- The industry has heralded the new rules as a transformative event – a change in policy that took around 9 years of advocacy from industry insiders.
- At the same time, ECSPR is foundational to the concept of European monetary union – the ability for goods and capital to flow seamlessly across the EU.
- Under the new rules, a securities crowdfunding provider must be approved by the “relevant authority” within the country where it is based. This has led to some discrepancies between regulators as some have moved quicker to craft a process for ECSPR approval while others have moved more slowly. The disparity between countries led the EU to delay full compliance until November 2023 (originally set for last November).
See: Harmonized European Crowdfunding Rules Kickoff Allowing up to €5 million
- After a two-year period, the updated rules are expected to be reviewed, and there is a possibility the funding cap will be raised.
- The harmonization is expected to generate more competition as well as consolidation in the industry. Invesdor is one platform that moved quickly to merge with other platforms. ECSPR will also encourage international (or non-European) platforms to enter the EU.
- Wefunder, one of the largest Reg CF Funding Portals in the US, was only recently approved to provide securities crowdfunding service in the EU.
- Seedrs, once a top UK platform that has been active in Europe, was purchased by Republic in 2021.
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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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Want to get insider access to some of the most innovative advances happening in #fintech. Register for #FFCON23 and hear from global thought leaders what’s next! Click below for Open Access tickets to all virtual programming and on-demand content from FFCON23. |
Reg A+ Offering Platform Announces Expansion into Canada: Issuance
Crowdfund Insider | | Dec 6, 2022
Image: Pixabay/TheDigitalWay
Issuance, a platform that specializes in aiding issuers raising capital under Reg A+, has announced its expansion into Canada.
- According to a company statement, Issuance is now an “endorsed service-provider partner” of the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE). The arrangement allows Issuance to offer preferred rates for CSE-listed companies, including reduced onboarding fees.
- Issuance said that it sees Canadian digital markets as underserved, representing an opportunity for firms enabling online capital formation. That being said, Issuance will have multiple competitors that facilitate private securities sales for a market that tends to punch above its weight class.
Darren Marble, co-founder and CEO of Issuance, said they are excited to partner with CSE, an exchange known for supporting Canadian entrepreneurs.
See: Listed Issuer Financing Exemption: Canadian Securities Regulators Adopt Streamlined Capital-raising Option
“As one of the limited number of platforms approved by the CSE as a recommended service provider for issuers, we believe this supports our position as one of the top platforms in the space.
“With equity crowdfunding limited in Canada as compared to the United States, we continue to see a growing number of Canadian issuers looking south to raise capital from both accredited and non-accredited investors,” said Marble. “The CSE has served these entrepreneurs well, and we at Issuance look forward to doing the same.”
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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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Want to get insider access to some of the most innovative advances happening in #fintech. Register for #FFCON23 and hear from global thought leaders what’s next! Click below for Open Access tickets to all virtual programming and on-demand content from FFCON23. |
Canadian Equity Crowdfunding Firm, DealMaker, Named 3rd Fastest Growing Company in Canada
Crowdfund Insider | | Sep 23, 2022
DealMaker, a crowdfunding company based in Canada but providing services across the US, has been named the 3rd fastest growing company in Canada – reporting a huge 500% rate of growth. While based in Toronto, DealMaker reports 124 employees with a presence in both the US and South America.
- Co-founded by two attorneys, Rebecca Kacaba and Mat Goldstein, DealMaker is a Toronto-based company that offers sophisticated capital raising tools for companies raising money by selling securities online.
- DealMaker powers a portfolio of primary issuance, shareholder management, and capital raising solutions that includes equity crowdfunding, investor ranking algorithms, and data tools to support all capital raise types and all securities.
- DealMaker enables the full stack of securities exemptions in both the US and Canada – including Reg A+, Reg CF, and Reg D as well as the OM exemption [Offering Memorandum] and private placements.
See: JOBS Act of 2012: Ten Years of Legalized Investment Crowdfunding
- Since the firm’s launch, DealMaker has processed a whopping $1.6 billion in funding enabling more than 650,000 investments. The company claims to have enabled more funding than any other competitor in North America.
- They have a Broker Dealer license, operating via DealMaker Securities
“Our innovation is advancing the equity crowdfunding space by increasing access to capital to founders who previously have been under-funded while also providing pre-IPO investment opportunities for those not behind the gilded gates of Wall Street. We have always been issuer-focused. We’ve built a platform that allows issuers to white-label our technology so they can effectively raise capital on their own website. This is a far cry from the competition, which aggregates multiple deals with a focus on attracting and delivering value to investors,” explained Kacaba.
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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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Want to get insider access to some of the most innovative advances happening in #fintech. Register for #FFCON23 and hear from global thought leaders what’s next! Click below for Open Access tickets to all virtual programming and on-demand content from FFCON23. |
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
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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
| | |
Want to get insider access to some of the most innovative advances happening in #fintech. Register for #FFCON23 and hear from global thought leaders what’s next! Click below for Open Access tickets to all virtual programming and on-demand content from FFCON23. |
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.
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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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Want to get insider access to some of the most innovative advances happening in #fintech. Register for #FFCON23 and hear from global thought leaders what’s next! Click below for Open Access tickets to all virtual programming and on-demand content from FFCON23. |
