Karsten Wenzlaff, Advisor
August 26th, 2025
Karsten Wenzlaff is a Crowdfunding and Fintech Expert from Germany. He is Secretary-General of Digit[...]
Category Archives: Fintech and Networking Events
Indiegogo is Going on a Canadian Road Trip!
Indiegogo Blog | Ayah | September 10, 2013
We love a good story. Canada, you’ve given us many.
The first Canadian Indiegogo campaign launched in 2009, and since then, Canadians across the country have raised millions of dollars for their creative, entrepreneurial, and cause campaigns. Over the last year alone, the number of active Canadian campaigns increased by more than 200%. Nice work, Canada!
Indiegogo has had a great summer in Canada — with City Sessions in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver — and we’ve met inspiring campaigners, amazing contributors, and other awesome Canadians who can’t wait to crowdfund.
Now, we’re ready for fall!
Starting September 16, we’ll be traveling from coast-to-coast to share the stories of what Indiegogo Campaigners have and are bringing to life. We’ll showcase past and current campaigns, large and small, across categories… and of course, celebrate all things Canada.
We’ll also be holding casual meetups in each city, packed with crowdfunding know-how, community, and of course, a pint or two. Whether you’ve run a campaign, are thinking of starting, or just want to know more about Indiegogo and crowdfunding, this is a great opportunity to meet with experts and hear firsthand stories from our community. Check the link below to find out more and RSVP for a meetup in your city!
- Halifax: September 16
- Montreal: September 17
- Ottawa: September 18
- Toronto: September 20
- Winnipeg: September 23
- Saskatoon: September 24
- Calgary: September 25
- Edmonton: September 26
- Vancouver: October 1
We’re also happy to announce our partnership with Startup Canada. Startup Canada is a national, grassroots, volunteer-run and entrepreneur-led movement to enhance the nation’s competitiveness and prosperity by supporting and celebrating Canadian entrepreneurship. They’re also Indiegogo campaigners themselves, having raised over $36,000 to bring to life a national online platform for entrepreneurs to plug into the startup community. You’ll hear more on their story when we meet with them in Ottawa!
Stay tuned here for our roundups on each city on our tour. We’ll share campaigner stories, secrets, and lots of fun inside peaks at their initiatives. It’s your behind-the-scenes primer on all things Canada from the world’s funding platform.
Get involved at #gogoCA. See you on the road!
Source: Indiegogo Blog: Canada Road trip
Event Toronto (Sept 19, 2013): TechCONNEX Crowdfunding Seminar
via TechCONNEX | Pat shaw | Posted on Sept 9, 2013
Event Details:
Date: Sept 19, 2013
Time: 8:00am – 10:30am
Location: MCC- 7271 Warden Avenue, Markham ON L3R 5X5 (Google map)
Registration: NCFA Member – $50.85 (CAD)
Overview:
Crowdfunding is one of the newest and most innovative forms of funding for businesses today. It is an area with huge potential for growth of those businesses that access the interest and imagination of “the crowd”.
Crowdfunding is an avenue for entrepreneurs, start-ups and SMBs to solicit working capital from non-accredited investors. Many investors in “the crowd” will be from family, friends, Angels and Venture groups, pre-existing networks, mentors, and former colleagues.
As an attendee you will:
- Learn about the dramatic growth of the Crowdfunding market
- How to promote value and visibility for your idea or solution
- Develop an extensive understanding of the most effective ways to achieve Crowdfunding goals
- Learn the fundamental elements of an effective Social Media marketing campaign to support your goals
- Learn about the legal, legislative, financial and compliance aspects of Crowdfunding
- Learn about Crowdfunding business practices and insights from Canadian success stories
- Prepare to network your way to a successful campaign
Presenters:
Craig Asano is the Founder and Executive Director of the National Crowdfunding Association of Canada, Canada’s dynamic and inclusive Crowdfunding advocate. NCFA Canada works closely with industry partners, technology platforms, academia, affiliate groups and business associations to create a strong and vibrant crowdfunding industry and voice across Canada.
Other presenter to follow (TBD)
Click here to Register Now
About TechCONNX
Take advantage of the strength and network of our 30-year history; with a reach extending throughout the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). With over 200 member companies, TechConnex provides a unique opportunity to interact with many senior people who have experienced challenges similar to yours. LEARN MORE
Raindance with Indiegogo at the Toronto International Film Festival
Indiegogo Blog | Andrew Nunnelly
Staying true to our crowdfunding roots in indie film, Indiegogo recently launched a partnership with Raindance Film Festival and Schools — to foster independent filmmakers as well as to amplify and enhance Raindance’s work. Since 1992, Raindance has organized a cutting-edge festival in London and offered filmmaking classes in major cities around the world. This isn’t their first time being mentioned in the same sentence as Indiegogo — you might remember when they funded their first, original feature on Indiegogo earlier this year.
We wanted to kick-off our partnership with Raindance in a big way, so we decided to do so at another big gathering place for the independent film community: The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). This year, we’ll be at Raindance Toronto’s TIFF Industry Party where shoptalk and liquid inspiration are sure to be free-flowing. Indiegogo’s Chief Film Geek (and author of Crowdfunding for Filmmakers: The Way to a Successful Film Campaign), John T. Trigonis, will be on hand, doling out crowdfunding know-how and hosting a Pitch Video Contest.
Whether or not you’ve run a crowdfunding campaign before, you know that the art of getting a film made all starts with your pitch. Put your pitching skills to the test by telling us about the film project you’d like to make — for a chance to win $2,000 gogobucks to get your crowdfunding campaign off the ground! Find out more and enter to win here!
If you live in Toronto or will be in town for TIFF, Indiegogo and Raindance hope to see you at:
What: Raindance@TIFF Industry Party and Pitch Contest
When: Monday September, 9th, 2013 @ 7pm EST (to 12am EST)
Where: Blackline Studios, 577 King West, Toronto
Why: You love film (and want to meet John T. Trigonis)
Have questions? Get more info about the party and contest and find out how to RSVP! And feel free to tweet at @IndiegogoFilm!
Source: Indiegogo Blog (Raindance with Indiegogo at the Toronto International Film Festival)
FundRazr chosen for London startup networking events
Business Vancouver | By Nelson Bennett | Fri Sep 6, 2013
FundRazr, a Vancouver startup that specializes in charityCrowdfunding, is off to London to participate in two high-tech startup networking events in September.
FundRazr is one of just four Canadian companies invited to participate in the C100 annual 48 Hours intensive mentoring program. It was one of 72 Canadian startups that entered a competition to participate.
C100 is an organization formed by Canadian entrepreneurs working in Silicon Valley. It holds a two-day event – 48 Hours in the Valley – every year in California.
This year, a 48 Hours event is being held in London as part of a kickoff of a new London-based chapter of C100. While there, Canadian startups will meet with British entrepreneurs and venture capitalists.
Coinciding with that event, four Canadian companies have also been selected to participate in UK Trade & Investment’s Global Adventure Competition.
The 48 Hours event is a chance for startups to meet with potential investors, while the UK Trade & Investment’s Global Adventure Competition is geared towards meeting potential partners.
“Our biggest market is the United States,” FundRazr founder and CEO Daryl Hatton told Business in Vancouver. “Our second biggest market is the U.K. So we’re looking at getting in there and develop the market for us, either through partnerships or joint ventures. It’s our first step offshore to try to establish a beachhead where we can do more work into Europe.”
Continue to full article --> here
Workshop Montreal (Sept 11, 2013): SeedingFactory Workshop – Basic Level
NCFA Ambassadors | SeedingFactory | Posted on Sept 6, 2013
Crowdfunding Workshop - Basic Level
Presented by SeedingFactory
Wednesday, September 11, 2013 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM (EDT)
Montreal, QC
A unique workshop to gain extensive knowldege about crowdfunding and apply it to your project
Click here to register - NCFA Members receive a 20% discount
Looking to raise funds for your project, but find it a daunting task?
Crowdfunding is really just classic community fundraising meeting new technology tools and is a great way to boost your project budget and profile. Yet, too many doers & makers don’t reach their funding goals due to lack of planning and attention to making the campaign successful.
This workshop based on Seeding Factory's methodology will help you:
- Understand the crowdfunding space,
- Identify how and why your project can benefit from a crowdfunding campaign,
- Learn psychologic, financial and social triggers behind successful campaigns and bypass major mistakes.
Who should attend?
This workshop is for entrepreneurs, creatives, artists (filmmakers, musicians), hackers & makers, activists, inventors, designers, small business owners, and anyone who wants to make their idea a reality.
>> Limited Capacity: 20 people <<
This workshop is a perfect preliminary to the "Advanced Workshop".
Workshop Outline
You will walk away with a clear vision to start crafting your own campaign and the confidence to know how & why crowdfunding works.
Event Niagara (Sept 27, 2013): Canadian Crowdfunding – Roadmap to Success
NCFA Canada | NCFA Canada Ambassador | August 22, 2013
CROWDFUNDING & SOCIAL MEDIA WORKSHOP
Date: Friday, Sept 27, 2013
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Where: Welland Community Wellness Complex, 145 Lincoln Street - Welland, ON
Presented in Partnership By: Brock University, City of Welland, Niagara College Canada
To register for this free workshop, please call 905-735-1700 ext. 4000 by September 23rd
EVENT DETAILS:
Workshop Agenda:
1:00 - 1:15 p.m. Arrival / Registration
1:15 - 2:15 p.m. Canadian Crowdfunding: Roadmap to Success
2:15 - 2:35 p.m. Nutrition Break
2:35 - 3:35 p.m. Social Media Strategies & Best Practices
3:35 - 4:00 p.m. Closing Remarks & Evaluation
Presenters:
James Cooper is film director, author, and a NCFA Canada Crowdfunding Ambassador. James directed the short film Elijah the Prophet, starring Art Hindle & Melanie Nicholls-King, after successfully crowd funding $21,006 for the film’s budget on Kickstarter. He also authored the ebook Kickstarter for Filmmakers, drawing on his experiences funding Elijah the Prophet. You can learn more about James and his work at www.kickstarterforfilmmakers.com or www.james-cooper.ca.
Janice Arnoldi is a Partner at Arnoldi McPherson Social Media Marketing and a former radio journalist who has worked in corporate communications for Ontario Hydro and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. She speaks regularly about social media to business organizations and associations, and has taught New Media at the International Academy of Design in Toronto and at Niagara College.
The National Crowdfunding Association of Canada (NCFA Canada) is a cross-Canada crowdfunding hub providing education, advocacy and networking opportunities in the rapidly evolving crowdfunding industry. NCFA Canada is a community-based, membership-driven entity that was formed at the grass roots level to fill a national need in the market place. Join our growing network of industry stakeholders, fundraisers and investors. Increase your organization’s profile and gain access to a dynamic group of industry front runners. Learn more eBrochure | Prezi or contact us at casano@ncfacanada.org.
Event Toronto (Sept 5, 2013): Crowdfunding for Beginners
NCFA Canada | NCFA Canada Ambassador | August 19, 2013
Join Craig Asano (Executive Director of the National Crowdfunding Association of Canada) and James Cooper (NCFA Canada Ambassador, film director and author) in this beginner's guide to crowdfunding. Find out what it takes to prepare and launch a successful campaign. This session is great for anyone looking to gain a fuller understanding of what it means to be in the trenches of your own funding campaign.
This seminar is free. To register, call the North York Central Library at 416-395-5613.
CROWDFUNDING PRESENTATION:
Date: Thursday Sept 5, 2013
Time: 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Where: North York Central Library Auditorium, 5120 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON
Presenters:
Craig Asano, Founder and Executive Director of the National Crowdfunding Association of Canada (NCFA Canada), is an entrepreneur and world traveler with great perspective – who understands the importance of crowdfunding and what this innovation can do for the economy of Canada. The NCFA was formed as a non-profit with the mandate to provide education, advocacy and to foster the growing crowdfunding industry.
James Cooper is film director, author, and a NCFA Canada Crowdfunding Ambassador. James directed the short film Elijah the Prophet, starring Art Hindle & Melanie Nicholls-King, after successfully crowd funding $21,006 for the film’s budget on Kickstarter. He also authored the ebook Kickstarter for Filmmakers, drawing on his experiences funding Elijah the Prophet. You can learn more about James and his work at www.kickstarterforfilmmakers.com or www.james-cooper.ca.
The National Crowdfunding Association of Canada (NCFA Canada) is a cross-Canada crowdfunding hub providing education, advocacy and networking opportunities in the rapidly evolving crowdfunding industry. NCFA Canada is a community-based, membership-driven entity that was formed at the grass roots level to fill a national need in the market place. Join our growing network of industry stakeholders, fundraisers and investors. Increase your organization’s profile and gain access to a dynamic group of industry front runners. Learn more eBrochure | Prezi or contact us at casano@ncfacanada.org.
