Webinar Event: Crowdsourcing & Crowdfunding for Small Businesses
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
Event Montreal (March 21, 2013): Crowdfunding Night #2
Posted by: Seeding Factory | February 26, 2013 | Last updated March 5, 2013
“Crowdfunding is nothing new. What most people don't know is that the Statue of Liberty was crowdfunded.”- Erica Labovisz, CMO indiegogo.com, 2011.
Crowdfund Night #2
Sign-up for this event now: here
What's Crowdfund Night?
Crowdfunding is the next big thing for all doers and makers. Crowdfund Night is a unique event in Montreal you need to attend if you want to learn and share about that revolution.
Industry experts and successful crowdfunders will share hands-on advice on how to prepare and manage a crowdfunding campaign to kickstart your project.
Following the success of the first edition, Crowdfund Night is coming back with the same objective of promoting the crowdfunding movement in Canada.
Who should attend?
- Entrepreneurs
- Artists (filmmakers, musicians)
- Hackers & Makers
- Individual investors
- Small Business Owners
- Lawyers
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Agenda
6.45 – 7.30 pm : MARKET
Dedicated space to showcase upcoming campaigns, share your work and get feedback. Send an email to showcase your campaign!
7.30 – 8.30 pm : KEYNOTES + DEMO
FOREWORD – Crowdfunding opportunities and challenges for entrepreneurs: how it can be a valuable tool to build a great company?
CHRIS ARSENAULT, INOVIA CAPITAL (Linkedin / Twitter)
Chris has been an early stage technology investor and entrepreneur for the past two decades. Today he’s an active board member of the Canadian Venture Capital Association (CVCA), is Co-Chair of the Canadian Innovation Exchange (CIX) and is active Charter Member of Silicon Valley based C100 (the Top Canadians in the Valley organization).
A boom in the crowdfunding industry in Quebec and Canada. 
JOHN VASKIS, INDIEGOGO (Linkedin / Twitter)
John Vaskis is the Vertical Gaming Lead for Indiegogo , the leading global crowdfunding platform where he is in charge of all gaming campaign on the platform. Previously John was a Senior Developer Partnership Manager at Oberon Media where he led the company’s efforts around flash game acquisition and merchandising, and managed relationships with over 350 game developers at gaming companies including Electronic Arts, Telltale Games, and
The Art and Science of making a crowdfunding video.
HERI RAKOTOMALALA, SEEDING FACTORY + STUDIO DU PLATEAU (Linkedin / Twitter)
Heri Rakotomalala is a partner at Seeding Factory and Le Studio du Plateau. In the past 5 years, he has co-founded and advised many technology startups, and brings both business skills and a strong technical foundation to Seeding Factory. Heri is also passionate in photography and cinema, and has directed and produced successful crowdfunding videos, with his strong visual skills and creative talent.
How I overpassed by +700% my crowdfunding objective on Kickstarter?DAN KIM, CLONE MANGA (Website / Twitter)
Dan Kim has been creating online comics for the last thirteen years. Winner of two Joe Shuster Awards and a bronze International Manga Award from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Recently he raised $45,000$ for the NNN Hardcover Book project on Kickstarter.
A look into Equity Crowdfunding: Europe, US, and next Canada?
BRUNO RAKOTOZAFY, SEEDING FACTORY (Website / Twitter)
Bruno Rakotozafy is a crowdfunding evangelist in Quebec and partner at Seeding Factory. For the 3 past years he’s been working on alternative way of developing business (marketing + finance) and developed a passion for crowdfunding. With one leg in Europe he participated in the world-premier crowdfunding exit for a biotech start-up.
DEMO - Alter Ego: The Water Filtration Bottle With a Mission 
NOEMIE DESROCHERS, AQUAOVO (Linkedin / Twitter)
Noémie co-founded AquaOvo 5 years ago with her brother after having lived and travelled in Asia for 6 years. Outside of her wonderful family, she enjoys the outdoors, rock climbing, Ultimate freesbee, traveling, eating well and MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD. With Alter Ego, she finally feel that she can!
DEMO - Ma Mairie: Increase civic engagement in Montreal’s City Hall
ELLIE MARSHALL, OPEN NORTH (Linkedin / Twitter)
Ellie Marshall is the Communications Manager for Open North, a Montreal-based non profit civic technology provider. Established in 2011, Open North is the group behind tools like BudgetPlateau, Gazette Documents, Patiner Montreal and more. Their newest initiative, MaMairie.ca is an open government monitoring platform that looks to increase civic engagement and access to information in Montreal’s City Hall.
8.30 – 10.00 pm : NETWORKING + FREE CONSULTATION
Talk to other crowdfunders and build great connections!
Grab the opportunity to schedule a free 15-min consultation with Bruno and/or Heri from Seeding Factory to get valuable advice and insights for your next campaign. Click here to schedule now
Venue
Crowdfund Night 2 will be hosted at Centre Saint Pierre, in the very heart of Montreal. It’s easily accessible by car (private parking) and by metro (100m from Beaudry station) and for mobility impaired people.
Organizers
Crowdfund Night is organized by a team of young volunteers (Heri, Eleanor, Lisa & Bruno) who intend on educating and convincing others that crowdfunding will be the next big thing.
Resources
Seeding Factory - Crowdfunding Consulting and Management
Sign-up for this event now: here
Event Toronto (Feb 26, 2013): Exploring Equity Crowdfunding: Seeking input from entrepreneurs and investors
When |
Feb 26, 2013 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. |
Where |
MaRSCR-2101 College Street |
Register for this Event
About the Speaker
Jo-Anne Matear
Manager, Corporate Finance
Ontario Securities Commission
Jo-Anne Matear joined the Ontario Securities Commission in August 2003 and became a member of the management team in the Corporate Finance Branch in 2006. She leads a multi-disciplinary team in the formulation, administration and interpretation of Ontario securities law as it pertains to both public companies and companies that conduct offerings in the exempt market. In that capacity, she has led a number of policy initiatives, including the Commission’s ongoing review of capital raising in the exempt market. Prior to joining the Commission, Jo-Anne practised corporate and securities law at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP in Toronto and at Clifford Chance LLP in London, England.
On December 14, 2012, the Ontario Securities Commission published OSC Staff Consultation Paper 45-710: Considerations for New Capital Raising Prospectus Exemptions. The paper explores whether the Commission should adopt any new prospectus exemptions that may assist capital raising for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), while protecting the interests of investors. It sets out four concept ideas for new prospectus exemptions, including a concept for an exemption to allow crowdfunding, which is subject to limits for SMEs seeking to raise capital and investors seeking to make equity investments on a crowdfunding portal.
Who should attend this session?
- Retail and institutional investors, including existing angel investors, early-stage venture capital firms, and individuals who are not currently accredited investors but may be interested in an opportunity to make equity investments in SMES through a crowdfunding portal
- Entrepreneurs and managers of issuers, particularly smaller issuers at an early stage of development
- Investment dealers and advisors to investors
- Internal and external legal counsel, auditors and other professional advisors to issuers
This session will allow time for discussion and commentary. Join us to provide your input!
Register for this Event
Event Toronto (March 5, 2013): Crowdfunding Experts Discussion Series @ Rotman
Rotman School of Business | via Christopher Charlesworth
SESSION SPONSOR: India Innovation Institute at the University of Toronto
Event Details
Speaker Series
| Date: |
Tuesday March 05, 2013 | 05:00 PM - 06:15 PM |
|---|---|
| Speaker(s): | Christopher Charlesworth (Rotman MBA 07), Cofounder, HiveWire Inc. Murray Metcalfe, Professor - Globalization, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, U of Toronto Tonya Surman, Cofounder and CEO, The Centre for Social Innovation Verki Tunteng, Associate, Heenan Blaikie LLPMODERATOR: Dilip Soman, Corus Chair in Communications Strategy and Professor of Marketing, Rotman |
| Topic: | Crowdfunding – Implications and Opportunities |
| Venue: | Event Hall (2nd floor, South Building) | map Rotman School of Management, U of Toronto, 105 St George Street Toronto, ON M5S 3E6 |
| Location: | Toronto |
| Cost: | $20 per person (includes HST) per person |
Register for this event now
SYNOPSIS: Crowdfunding is the aggregation of small amounts of capital from a large number of people, usually over the internet, directed to specific projects or companies. With greater than $2.8Bn (2012 projected) being raised globally through crowdfunding (source: Massolution report 2012), this emerging area is poised to have a significant and disruptive effect on start-up financing. In addition, it is possible that debt and equity based crowdfunding will be legalized in some form in a Canadian securities jurisdiction within 2013/2014. This panel will discuss the implications and opportunities of this rapidly growing sector from an industry insider perspective. Topics will include current trends, legal issues, and key industry facts and figures. The Centre for Social Innovation is a global leader within the social enterprise space, and successfully utilized a community bond structure to finance its expansion. Increasingly crowdfunding is being used to enable social enterprises, and the Centre for Social Innovation has partnered with HiveWire Inc. to create a rewards-based crowdfunding platform that supports these organizations. HiveWire is(a Canadian-based crowdfunding solutions provider. Heenan Blaikie is one of Canada’s premier law firms and provides extensive legal services to businesses, including advising on crowdfunding in support of this effort.
Resources and Links:
India Innovation Institute, University of Toronto
Hivewire
Center of Social Innovation
Heenan Blaikie
Wrap-up: Event Toronto (Feb 12, 2013): CROWDFUNDING in the CANADIAN CONTEXT
NCFA Canada | Posted by Craig Asano | February 13, 2013
Toronto, Canada: On Tuesday, Feb 12, 2013 (1:00pm-5:00pm) the CVCA and EMDA co-hosted “Crowdfunding in the Canadian Context”, an event/conference held in Toronto in the main dining room of The National Club.
The sold out event attracted nearly 200 high profiled attendees from the financial services industry including registrants, regulators, venture capital firms, angel groups and crowdfunding industry associations and professionals including the National Crowdfunding Association of Canada.
The conference was moderated by Geoff Ritchie, Executive Director of the EMDA, and started off with introductions by representatives of the co-sponsors of the event including Brian Koscak, EMDA Chairman, and Richard Remillard, Executive Director of Canada's Venture Capital and Private Equity Association.
Cindy Gordon, CEO & Co-Founder of Sales Choice covered crowdfunding basics and delivered a compelling presentation on the motivation, merits and challenges of the industry from a global perspective.
Douglas Ellenoff, Partner, Ellonoff, Grossman & Schole LLP (a leading crowdfunding lawyer in the US), then provided an update on what’s happening in the US. He informed us that the SEC and FINRA (regulatory bodies tasked with creating the rules around the JOBs Act) are facing a number of real challenges that are being addressed accordingly, and he has every confidence that when the rules are announced that it will be done properly. With the newly appointed SEC Chair now in place (Mary Jo White), US regulators are in a position to resume the task of creating crowdfunding regulations around the JOBs Act, which was passed into law back in April 2012.
Cassels Brock and Blackwell LLP was well represented with Brian Koscak, (EMDA Chairman and Partner at Cassels Brock), Peter Dunn (Senior Partner, Cassels Brock) and Michael Brown (Lawyer, Cassels Brock and Ex-OSC Regulator) covering the topic of ‘An Equity Crowdfunding Framework for Canada’ from a legal perspective, which included a unique comparison of the various provincial securities laws today and how equity crowdfunding principles can be viewed as disruptive to current frameworks. One insightful point talked about the expectations of various flavours of crowdfunding portals, and how, depending on the level of service and transaction provided to users (e.g., issuers and investors), a portal may be required to become a licensed dealer-broker or not.
Lastly, the financial crowd really enjoyed the banter and Equity Crowdfunding Industry Perspectives panel moderated by David Kaufman, President/CEO of Westcourt Capital Corp and included a lively set of speakers such as Sunil Sharma, Managing Director and ‘Chief connector’ at Extreme Startups and Jacoline Loewen, Director, Crosbie and company and regular panelist on BNN’s show, ‘The Pitch’. Other speakers included Vicki Saunders, Special Innovation Advisor to Ryerson University and Advisor to the Office of Social Enterprise for the Ontario Government, and Stephen Harrington, Senior Consultant at Deloitte. The panel covered a lot of ground on the subject exploring the many triggers and ideas around striking the right balance between investor protection and efficient capital formation markets; certainly a challenging task for the OSC who were treated as VIPs with their own round table at the front of the historical National Club dining room.
Overall, judging by the vibrant conversations (Hivewire, Toronto-based crowdfunding solution provider was in the house), cocktails and steady stream of delicious h’orderves flowing in the lounge post-conference, ‘Crowdfunding in the Canadian Context’ was a successful event and garnished high interest from Toronto’s financial crowd.
Resources and Links:
Crowdfunding 201
The National Crowdfunding Association of Canada is Canada’s Crowdfunding Advocate. Newly formed, dynamic and inclusive, NCFA Canada works closely with industry groups, government, academia, other business associations and affiliates to create a strong and vibrant crowdfunding industry and voice across Canada.
JOIN today and be a ‘stand out’ in the crowd. Download eBrochure to learn more…
Contact Us
Craig Asano, Executive Director
(416) 618-0254
casano@ncfacanada.org
ncfacanada.org
Event Webinar (Jan 24, 2013): Crowdsourcing & Crowdfunding for Small Businesses
Sandbox, An Idea to Launch Company
Startups and small organizations need at least 3 things. A Great Business Idea & Product, an excellent team and FUNDS!
Anastasia Valentine , CEO of Sandbox PM An Idea to Launch Company will discuss how businesses can leverage crowdsourcing to create amazing products and crowdfunding as an alternative for traditional project or company funding.
Join me for this FUN and INTERACTIVE session to explore ways that you can tap into the crowd to grow and fund your business! You will also get Anastasia’s take on the ability to raise funds in return for equity in your company.
Webinar Event: Crowdsourcing & Crowdfunding for Small Businesses
Thursday, January 24, 2013
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM EST
Register for this FREE Webinar Now ---> Click
Event Toronto (Feb 12, 2013): Crowdfunding in the Canadian Context
| When: | February 12, 2013 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM |
| Where: | The National Club 303 Bay Street Toronto, Ontario Canada |
| Contact: | Elena Mazur (emazur@emdacanada.com) |
| Registration Information |
|---|
| Online registration is available until: 12/02/2013 |
  Presents |
CROWDFUNDING in the CANADIAN CONTEXT |
***PLEASE NOTE THE VENUE CHANGE***Due to an overwhelming response in RSVPs we are moving to the larger venue! |
| Tuesday, February 12, 2013 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM |
| The National Club Main Dining Room 303 Bay Street, Toronto, ONLocation for the cocktail reception from 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM: The National Club Marconi Lounge 303 Bay Street, Toronto, ON |
EVENT DETAILS |
| Exempt Market Dealers Association of Canada (EMDA), in partnership with the Canada’s Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (CVCA), invites you to attend CROWDFUNDING in the CANADIAN CONTEXT on February 12, 2013.
Crowdfunding represents a new part of the capital-raising ecosystem and is being seriously considered by securities regulators in Canada, along with the other new capital raising prospectus exemptions. On December 14, 2012, the Ontario Securities Commission published its concept proposal titled OSC Staff Consultation Paper 45-710 – Considerations for New Capital Raising Prospectus Exemptions, which you can review here.To engage our respective members in a discussion on the key issues, and to help prepare our respective responses to regulators, CVCA and EMDA have joined together to bring you this unique event.Please forward this event invitation to your industry contacts interested in the event. |
| Who should attend: |
| - professionals in private equity, venture capital, corporate finance industries - lawyers, entrepreneurs, exempt market dealers, investment bankers |
AGENDA |
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REGISTRATION FEES |
| EMDA or CVCA Members: $25 + HSTNote: If you are CVCA Member, please contact Elena Mazur at emazur@emdacanada.com to receive a special promo code. Thank you! |
| Non-Members: $35 + HST |
| Space is limited.Online registration is available until: 12/02/2013Register for this event » |
Event Montreal (Dec 17, 2012): Crowdfunding for Success 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM (EST) Montreal, QC
By Maxime Lévesque de Fundo.ca
Training on crowdfunding (French only)
Crowdfunding is growing fast. Canada will not miss this trend. Fundo offers the opportunity to understand the concept and help you create a crowdfunding campaign with success.
Event Details:
- When: Dec 17, 2012 - Crowdfunding for Success 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM (EST)
- Where: Montreal, QC (French Only)
Contents:
- Crowdfunding history
- The successful campaigns
- How to create your own successful campaign
Book your ticket now (Tickets are Limited!!!): http://fundoca.eventbrite.com/
