Karsten Wenzlaff, Advisor
August 26th, 2025
Karsten Wenzlaff is a Crowdfunding and Fintech Expert from Germany. He is Secretary-General of Digit[...]
Category Archives: P2P, Lending, Digital Bonds, BNPL, Private Credit
Crowdfunding: enabling global entrepreneurship, the future of Canada’s innovation economy
NCFA Canada | Oct 28, 2015
Dear Prime Minister-Designate Trudeau,
On behalf of the National Crowdfunding Association of Canada (NCFA), I would like to extend our congratulations on your victory in last week’s federal election. We believe that your new government has provided Canada with the opportunity to effect real change in public policy, including as it involves crowdfunding.
Crowdfunding is about harnessing the power of the internet to unlock transparent and cost effective sources of capital for early-stage companies and projects from a wide range of stakeholders. Online financing is an innovative approach that brings together investors, entrepreneurs and borrowers in a way that simply didn’t exist ten years ago.
In 2014, global crowdfunding funding volumes grew to $16.2 billion across all crowdfunding models (eg., equity, debt/loans, reward/product and donation) according to a leading industry report (with 2015 predictions approaching $35 billion). The World Bank forecasts that the crowdfunding industry will represent a $96 billion industry annually by 2025, and the World Economic Forum has included crowdfunding as one of the 6 major disrupters of the future of financial services.
In Canada, we can quote one of Canada’s first and largest crowdfunding marketplaces, “35% of the listed companies are from the technology sector and more than 20% of the ventures listed are owned and/or operated by female entrepreneurs. Alternative financing is helping bridge the gender gap and directly accelerating the growth of early stage ventures. With over $20 million raised in 2014 and an expected $100 million to be raised by the end of this year, clearly crowdfunding is helping entrepreneurs acquire the necessary funds to jump start their business, while also boosting the Canadian economy which in turn will generate countless jobs."
Back in March 2013, NCFA recommended a set of principles to guide the implementation of emerging equity crowdfunding regulations including developing a robust, transparent and inclusive set of rules to maximize opportunity for all involved without missteps.
To nurture development and help these complex alternative finance and hyper markets grow proportionately to the opportunity at hand amidst increasing pressures from global competition, we offer the following principles to help guide policy makers in the near term to avoid any lost opportunities.
1. Canada needs to commit to not falling behind other leading countries
The absence of a national securities regulator in Canada makes it difficult to comply with a ‘patchwork’ of regulations across 10 provinces and 3 territories.
If friction points are too great and impassable, the ability for new entrants to emerge becomes impractical. So, we would encourage your government to move quickly with the Canadian Cooperative Markets Regulatory Authority and work to bring the remaining provinces onside as participants.
Regulations that were designed in the 19th century and implemented in the 20th century need to be updated to reflect conditions in the 21st century. Let’s ensure Canada has an internationally competitive regime that is developed for current times and revisit outdated restrictions, such as qualifying CCPC (Canadian Controlled Private Corporations) must have less than 50 investors.
Not falling behind also means increasing the amount of support for and access to early stage capital such as the amounts that crowdfunded ventures can raise from investors and the amounts that investors can put into crowdfunded projects and companies. In the UK, the British government garnered a tremendously positive public sentiment and greatly helped spur the growth of small business by investing £40 million in debt-based crowdfunding and implementing mandatory referral programs in the ecosystem.
Canada aspires to diversify our economy from dependence on natural resources and to create world class new economy businesses. Our early stage funding ecosystem is sorely lacking in capital.
2. There needs to be a level playing field for all who provide early-stage capital
A level playing field means that the newly-emergent P2P business marketplace and consumer lenders are not disadvantaged relative to traditional lenders and that the tax system is structured as to provide equivalent levels of support to all who participate in the innovation economy.
We note for instance that investors in British Columbia have employed the Venture Capital Tax Credit with great success and your party has committed to restoring a retail investor tax credit mechanism that had been jettisoned by your predecessor. Early stage tax incentive programs will help de-risk qualifying investments while also improving market confidence.
In the same vein, it is likely appropriate to carefully re-balance the entire tax treatments for those involved in nurturing innovation. Ultimately, this means revisiting Canada’s treatment of capital gains, stock options and the SR&ED program.
3. Canada needs a robust crowdfunding education and literacy program and industry metrics and benchmarks
As an educator yourself, you are keenly aware of the value of continuous learning. In our opinion, to maximize the opportunity for democratizing finance, many more people in this country will need to be educated about the opportunities that crowdfunding offers for early stage-capital raising, such as the ability to tap into global markets and resources that will help small businesses achieve international scale and commercialization of their venture.
Building on our expertise, the government of Canada should partner with the NCFA to deliver these programs from sea to sea. Invest in a national crowdfunding literacy program based on data-driven research and best practices so that all involved, from investors to issuers, can confidently use these new and exciting financing tools.
4. There needs to be a Royal Commission on the Innovation Economy
Ultimately, it is time for a wholesale review of how Canada can better stimulate the innovation economy and improve the rate of commercialization of new discoveries in high-tech, scientific, medical and environmental fields.
Our recommendation is that you speedily name a Royal Commission on the Innovative Economy. This Royal Commission, modeled after the former Macdonald commission of three decades ago, would be composed of eminent persons with the mandate to consult Canadians who would report back to you within twelve months with a set of recommendations for energizing the new economy.
This new Royal Commission could be directed to finding the best ways of unblocking the bottlenecks that are now choking our collective ability to best deploy the ideas, energies and entrepreneurs now emerging from our institutes of higher learning.
We welcome the opportunity to collaborate. The time to act is now.
Yours sincerely,
NCFA Canada
Note to readers: This post is written on behalf of the NCFA Canada, its members, and affiliates. Special thanks to the following participating members for their valuable contributions in our collective effort to develop Canada into a world class alternative finance crowdfunding centre: Andrew Graham (Borrowell), Cato Pastoll (Lending Loop), Craig Asano (NCFA), Daryl Hatton (FundRazr), Diana Yazidjian (DFY Consulting), Gil Michel Garcia (Financement Participatif en Capital Québec), Jaimy Warner (Raindance), Marcus New (InvestX), Matthew McGrath (The OCMX), Peter-Paul Van Hoeken (FrontFundr), Richard Remillard (Remillard Consulting Group), Rubsun Ho (Crowdmatrix inc.), Sandi Gilbert (SeedUps Canada), Sean Ballard (ATB Financial), Sunny Shao (NCFA) and Tim McKillican (Open Avenue)
The National Crowdfunding Association of Canada is the leading and only nationally organized non-profit working with over 1300 social and investment stakeholders across the country, and the national voice of an industry that is fast becoming an integral part of the start-up financing ecosystem. Learn more About Us or visit ncfacanada.org.
Lending Loop Launches Online Marketplace for Canadians to Lend Directly to Main Street
Marketwired | October 7, 2015
Lending Loop offers all Canadians a better way to borrow and a smarter way to lend
TORONTO, ONTARIO - Lending Loop has launched its Online Marketplace across the country to provide Canadians a better way to borrow and a smarter way to lend. Middle class Canadians can grow their personal wealth by lending to the small businesses at the heart of their community and across Canada.
Traditionally, Canadians have had little choice when it comes to investing their money. Purchasing stocks requires substantial capital, time and knowledge. Mutual funds make hard earned money less accessible. Bonds pay little in the way of interest and bank savings accounts yield even less.
"Today is a brand new day for Canadians and small businesses across the country," explains Lending Loop CEO, Cato Pastoll. "With as little as $50, Canadians can lend their money to the thriving local coffee shop that needs new equipment to grow or the farm around the corner requiring staff to develop a farm-to-home produce delivery program."
Lending Loop was founded by entrepreneurs Cato Pastoll and Brandon Vlaar who, after witnessing firsthand the difficulties their friends and loved ones experienced as small business owners dealing with big banks, realized the need for a new financial model for small business to have fast and easy access to the capital needed to grow in a global economy.
Lending Loop Offers Small Business the Chance to Compete
Although small businesses are unquestionably the backbone of the Canadian economy, the traditional lending model offered up by big banks often makes it difficult to access the capital they need to compete against global conglomerates and big-box stores.
Small and medium sized businesses employ nearly 90 per cent of Canadians working in the private sector and produce 40 per cent of the country's GDP. Yet many are rejected by traditional financial institutions when seeking financing because they don't fit the rigid lending requirements of big banks. Too often, this means their only recourse is to source alternative or private lenders who charge rates well in excess of 20 per cent.
Canadian-owned and developed Lending Loop is leveraging technology to make the financial sector work more effectively for all Canadians, and small businesses in particular. It is the first peer-to-peer lending platform in Canada, and offers small businesses a better way to borrow, with a quick and easy application, flexible repayment options and considerably lower interest rates than alternative lenders. By using Lending Loop to access the capital they need to grow their business and expand their market, small business will be able to compete and win.
Lending Loop's borrowers also have built-in advocates for their business - the lenders who want to see the company succeed because it helps their community and investment grow.
If you're a Canadian small business, join Lending Loop today for a better way to borrow. Apply here to get started today.
Lending Loop Brings Peer-to-Peer Lending to ALL Canadians
Lending Loop makes investing far more accessible to every Canadian by providing access to a new type of asset class: growing small businesses. Exposure to a brand new asset class allows Canadians to diversify beyond real estate and traditional public market investments.
Lending Loop makes it possible for Canadians to support the local businesses they love and support instead of putting their money into faceless corporations. Lending Loop makes lending more accessible and affordable for Canadians than ever before by allowing them to lend as little as $50 to a business. Lending Loop also makes it incredibly easy for any investor to build a healthy, diverse portfolio across a number of small businesses and industries.
To protect the hard earned money of lenders, Lending Loop uses an all or nothing funding model, where loans only come into effect if the borrower receives the full amount of their loan request in total pledges. Ensuring a project or business is fully funded maximizes the likelihood for the borrower to be in a positive position to repay lenders.
Lending Loop offers all Canadians a smarter way to lend. Sign up here to start lending in just a few easy steps.
For more information or to arrange an interview with a Lending Loop representative, please contact Ciara Dalziel.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Ciara Dalziel
Strategic Objectives
416-366-7735 x 237
ciara.dalziel@strategicobjectives.com
The National Crowdfunding Association of Canada (NCFA Canada) is a cross-Canada non-profit actively engaged with both social and investment crowdfunding stakeholders across the country. NCFA Canada provides education, research, leadership, support and networking opportunities to over 950+ members and works closely with industry, government, academia, community and eco-system partners and affiliates to create a strong and vibrant crowdfunding industry in Canada. Learn more About Us or visit ncfacanada.org.
Join 25 Leading Crowdfunding and Fintech Speakers in Vancouver Sep 29
NCFA Canada | Craig Asano | Sep 23, 2015
Some Highlights:
- Most comprehensive crowdfunding content and industry networking opportunities in the rest of 2015
- Immersive and interactive half-day conference and networking reception
- Learn from successful crowdfunders who have raised in excess of $1M CAD for project/venture funding
- Equity crowdfunding for investors guidebook
- Opportunity to access to top 50 investor lists for your business
- Mentoring, eco-system support and leadership for small businesses, entrepreneurs, emerging retail investors and industry funding portals, dealer-broker platforms, services providers and business/marketing/finance consultants
SOLD OUT!
See you there!
The National Crowdfunding Association of Canada (NCFA Canada) is a cross-Canada non-profit actively engaged with both social and investment crowdfunding stakeholders across the country. NCFA Canada provides education, research, leadership, support and networking opportunities to over 1100+ members and works closely with industry, government, academia, community and eco-system partners and affiliates to create a strong and vibrant crowdfunding industry in Canada. Learn more About Us or visit ncfacanada.org.
VanFUNDING 2015 brings Canada’s crowdfunding leaders to Vancouver
Betakit | | Sep 11, 2015
Crowdfunding in Canada’s tech sector is only getting bigger, as startups, enterprises, and everything in between are looking for ways to fund, brand and grow their operations. Globally, crowdfunding markets grew from $6.1 billion in 2013 to $16.2 billion in 2014. But what does the future hold on the crowdfunding front – and what do the tech innovators of today need to do to prepare for it? To meet the need for answers, the National Crowdfunding Association of Canada (NCFA), and lead sponsors, The OCMX and SeedUps Canada will host VanFUNDING 2015, an interactive and immersive half-day crowdfunding conference on September 29 in downtown Vancouver’s iconic Library Square location.
Speakers and event partners for VanFUNDING are a veritable who’s who crowdfunding and marketplace lending platforms in Canada along with leading service providers, such as Crowdfund Suite, PwC, Frontfundr, FundRazr, Grouplend and Lending Loop. To get a preview of what to expect at the event, we asked Crowdfund Suite CEO Bret Conkin, about the state of the crowdfunding marketplace.
See:
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Canadian Crowdfunding Directory
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Chance to WIN VanFUNDING 2015 Conference and Networking Reception Tickets!
The biggest driver of interest in crowdfunding today is the sheer growth of capital being raised, Conkin explains. “We’re going to see growth from $16.1 billion in 2014 to a projected $34.4 billion in 2015, according to industry researcher Massolutions. It’s entered the mainstream. Now, many entrepreneurs want to know about their platform options and the new startup crowdfunding regulation brought into six provinces. What are the guidelines? Where and how can they take advantage?”
Another trend has been the launch of lending loop or marketplace lending in Canada via platforms like Lending Loop and GroupLend, Conkin adds. “The sheer innovation in FinTech, from smart contracts and bitcoin to blockchain technology will also be a key area of discussion.”
If this event and others like it are a sign that Canada’s community is getting on the crowdfunding bandwagon, the truth is that in some regards we’re a bit late to this party. “Crowdfunding is taking off globally and Canada is at risk of falling behind,” says Craig Asano, Founder and Executive Director of NCFA Canada.
“China, by way of an example is organizing a several thousand person conference in October and is flying in international speakers to participate and share what they’ve learned,” Asano adds. By comparison, we’re going to have some catching up to do.
Continue to the full article --> here
The National Crowdfunding Association of Canada (NCFA Canada) is a cross-Canada non-profit actively engaged with both social and investment crowdfunding stakeholders across the country. NCFA Canada provides education, research, leadership, support and networking opportunities to over 1100+ members and works closely with industry, government, academia, community and eco-system partners and affiliates to create a strong and vibrant crowdfunding industry in Canada. Learn more About Us or visit ncfacanada.org.
Startup bringing peer-to-peer lending to Canada this fall
The Globe and Mail | CLARE O’HARA | Sep 11, 2015
Canada’s first peer-to-peer lending platform is set to launch this fall allowing Canadian investors the opportunity to fund small local business ventures.
Peer-to-peer lending has been a controversial issue within the Canadian marketplace, with many providers opening their platforms only to institutional and accredited investors. (An accredited investor generally has to have minimum individual income of $250,000.)
But a new online lender – Lending Loop – will open its doors to allow Canadian investors with as little as $50 to participate in its online lending platform.
Lending Loop allows small businesses to apply online for business loans up to $500,000. Once approved, businesses are added to an online marketplace where individual investors can peruse the online shelves for investing opportunities.
Before handing over any cash, investors are able to see a company bio, the amount of the loan requested by the business, the reason for the loan and the amount of interest the business will be paying to acquire the loan. Putting all your eggs into one basket is frowned upon by the online provider and investors are encouraged to spread their investment across multiple businesses to diversify risk.
“The more businesses you lend to, the more you are spreading your risk and the greater chance you have of earning a positive return,” says Cato Pastoll, chief executive officer of Lending Loop. “In terms of investor education, we prioritize in advising investors about the role of diversification on our platform.”
The big incentive for investors will be the potential for robust returns – which will be 1.5 per cent less than the borrowing rate (which varies between 6 per cent to 15.5 per cent). There is no maximum amount an investor can loan, although individual investors are not permitted to fund an entire loan for one business to lessen the degree of risk involved. Investors will contribute along with other investors to make up the total amount a small business is requesting.
For investors forking over the cash it can be a risky investment product. The loans can take anywhere from six months to five years to repay. Investors receive monthly blended interest and principal payments. If a business ends up defaulting on the loan there is no guarantee on your principal amount.
See:
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How Consumers Can Benefit from Traditional Peer-to-Peer Business Loans
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Lending Loop Launches Online Business Lending Marketplace on Back of Seed Funding
For that reason, Lending Loop tries to determine the creditworthiness of the business before approving them as a borrower. Businesses must be operating for at least two years and currently have greater than $200,000 in annual revenue.
In the United States and the United Kingdom, peer-to-peer lending has been operating for almost a decade with online providers matching up individuals looking to borrow money with individuals looking to loan the money for an attractive return.
Despite being robust in other countries, peer-to-peer lending has proved to be a murky situation for Canadian investors. Unlike in some countries, peer-to-peer lending in Canada does not have a legal framework adapted to its specific characteristics. As loans are interpreted as “securities,” peer-to-peer lending is regulated by the Securities Act of each province or territory.
Last June, the Ontario Securities Commission put out a notice stating that providers in the peer-to-peer lending market may be subject to regulation and could even be required to register as investment dealers.
The OSC said the emerging companies appear to have different structures and they may be subject to regulation, depending on how loans are provided and whether the loan products constitute a “security” under Ontario legislation.
Continue to the full article --> here
The National Crowdfunding Association of Canada (NCFA Canada) is a cross-Canada non-profit actively engaged with both social and investment crowdfunding stakeholders across the country. NCFA Canada provides education, research, leadership, support and networking opportunities to over 1100+ members and works closely with industry, government, academia, community and eco-system partners and affiliates to create a strong and vibrant crowdfunding industry in Canada. Learn more About Us or visit ncfacanada.org.
How Consumers Can Benefit from Traditional Peer-to-Peer Business Loans
Lending Loop | Cato Pastoll and Brandon Vlaar | Sep 8, 2015
Debt-based crowdfunding and peer-to-peer (P2P) business lending marketplaces provide consumers and businesses with alternative, transparent and low cost loan options to traditional bank loans
In Canada, the lending market is still dominated by an oligopoly of the big banks, but the Canadian marketplace has seen a number of new entrants launch in the past 12 months that are providing serious options for new ventures and small businesses actively seeking loans. A combination of faster turnaround, simpler application process, and more preferable rates makes these new lending options enticing, and this is no exception for Lending Loop, a newly launched Toronto-based peer-to-peer business lender that is empowering small businesses and small lenders alike:
- Lending Loop differs from other marketplace lenders in Canada in that they are the first P2P platform to offer term debt solutions to small businesses.
- Consumer lenders, or individual investors, are an important part of Lending Loop’s model, as they can access simple and attractive returns by supporting the growth of local Canadian businesses.
- The company has recently soft-launched their platform after beta testing and is already receiving a growing number of live loan applications on its marketplace.
- Lending Loop is set to fully launch its marketplace later this month in September allowing individual investors to fund business loan applications through an all-or-nothing type crowdfunding model.
NCFA Canada caught up with Lending Loop’s co-founders Cato Pastoll (CEO) and Brandon Vlaar (CTO) for an exclusive interview to get some FAQs on P2P lending answered:
NCFA: When did you conceive of the Lending Loop idea?
Lending Loop: Both of us (Cato and Brandon) were raised in entrepreneurial families and witnessed the difficulty of dealing with the bank first hand. We knew there had to be a better way to serve small businesses, so we looked to how the problem was being solved in other parts of the world. The model of peer-to-peer lending is incredibly appealing, as it not only solves the problem for small businesses; it also allows the individuals who support them to thrive alongside them.
Who are your customers?
In terms of borrowers, our customers are business owners who are frustrated with the traditional banking experience, who spend an average of 32 hours working on their loan application! We’ve designed a process that allows small businesses to apply in under 30 minutes from the comfort of their office and get funded within a matter of weeks, not months.
The majority of our initial lenders will likely be early adopters who have an appetite for moderate risk, are looking to support small businesses and are interested in a new class of fixed income returns. Of course, this means they will need a basic level of financial sophistication but we have designed our marketplace to be accessible to anyone who wants to support small business. Lending Loop is built around the values of community and helping small businesses across the country.
See: Lending Loop Launches Online Business Lending Marketplace on Back of Seed Funding
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How is Lending Loop different from some of the other P2P lending models?
As a whole, Lending Loop is quite different than the other “P2P” lenders that exist in Canada today. When we started Lending Loop, we really took the words peer-to-peer to heart and it has been our unwavering objective to bring a model that allows all Canadians to get involved in the future of small business lending.
Most of the P2P lenders that exist in Canada are commonly referred to as marketplace lenders. This is because these platforms leverage institutional capital (banks, family offices, investment funds) to fund their loans. Lending Loop allows any individual to lend as little as $50 to a single business as we believe the P2P model can only really thrive with widespread involvement.
Are the loans securitized by anything?
Yes! Every loan that is listed on our platform provides at least 1 form of security. We have mandated this in order to protect the best interests of the lenders. The form of security is dependent on the loan and is displayed to the lenders on our marketplace.
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Why do you think the size of the marketplace lending industry globally is far larger than the equity crowdfunding industry?
The market for P2P lending is much larger than the equity crowdfunding industry for a variety of reasons. Banks in most markets have failed to innovate and improve their customer experience when it comes to issuing loans to their customers. This created an opportunity for P2P lenders to introduce new technology and offer a superior user experience to both lenders and borrowers.
P2P lending has also penetrated mainstream consumers more than equity crowdfunding because of the fixed income stream that is offered by both consumer and business loans. Equity crowdfunding has been slower to gain mass adoption because of the high risk nature of investing in an early stage company with little or no cash flow.
While we do believe that there is a place for equity crowdfunding, the model of lending to established businesses is significantly more stable and transparent. With any investment, there is always risk involved, but lending to an established small business greatly improves transparency and that is why we believe it’s the next logical evolution of finance in Canada.
See: New online lenders make it easier to get small business loans
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QUESTIONS FOR BUSINESSES:
What requirements do businesses have to meet in order to qualify for your loans?
We encourage businesses of all different types from across Canada to apply for a loan through our platform. At a minimum, these businesses must be incorporated, have been operating for at least 2 years and be currently generating greater than $200,000 in annual revenue. Beyond these basic requirements, we leverage various data inputs in order to evaluate whether the business has the capacity to repay their loan. Our philosophy at Lending Loop is that if you operate a healthy business with a positive financial outlook, you should have no issues getting financing.
What are your interest rates like?
Our interest rates are fixed over the term of the loan and range from 6% to 15.5% annually, which is considerably lower than what the majority of alternative lenders charge. Lending Loop’s interest rates are designed to work for both the borrowers and the lenders: businesses pay a fair rate while lenders can access an attractive fixed income return while supporting the growth of small business.
How fast is your loan approval process compared to banks and traditional financial institutions?
Lending Loop brings convenience to business borrowing by offering an entirely online application that can be completed from the comfort of your desk in under 30 minutes. We approve almost all creditworthy loan applications in under 4 business days.
How is your marketplace similar or different from other crowdfunding marketplaces?
The Lending Loop marketplace is where approved loan requests are displayed to lenders. Lenders are able to browse through the loan requests and view granular information about the businesses listed, including general business information, consolidated financial statements, and a Q&A mechanism for lenders to engage with the businesses. In terms of content, our marketplace is quite similar to what you would expect to see from a crowdfunding marketplace, with an added emphasis on the businesses’ track record and financials.
How do individual investors participate in the loans? If the campaign is unsuccessful or doesn’t reach its target, do I still get the loan?
Unlike other marketplace lenders in Canada, every loan request on Lending Loop is funded by individual investors. The business must receive 100% of what they are asking for before their listing expires on the marketplace or they do not get funded, so in that regard it is very similar to Kickstarter’s all or nothing funding model.
See: Will Crowdfunding Threaten Institutionalised Lending?
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QUESTIONS FOR LENDERS (INDIVIDUALS):
As a lender, what are the main advantages of investing my money with Lending Loop vs. a bank or other traditional financial institution?
When you lend money through the Lending Loop platform, you have the opportunity to choose from a wide variety of businesses. The simple concept here is the more businesses you lend to, the more you are spreading your risk and the greater chance you have of earning a positive return. The being said, we always let our lenders know that these are small businesses so even though your loan may be guaranteed or secured, the nature of business lending means your investment can always go down as well as up.
What we offer is significantly different than any bank or financial institution because we are giving choice and power back to the lender. The P2P model removes the financial intermediary who typically captures a large spread between the rate being charged to borrowers and the interest paid to savers. Lending Loop is reducing that spread and passing savings onto the borrower, and larger returns to the lender. All lenders will have the opportunity to earn significantly higher fixed income returns than they would through any conventional financial institution but as always, there is a risk-reward dynamic at play.
Are there limits on how much money I can lend, or how many businesses I can lend to?
No, there is no limit of the amount that you can lend or the businesses that you can lend to. However, we strongly recommend and promote the concept of diversification. This means spreading the total amount you are lending across as many businesses as possible to minimize your risk.
Can I open a RRSP or Tax Free Savings Account for my Lending Loop loans?
Unfortunately, lending through an RRSP or TFSA is not currently available; however, this is definitely something we would like to add in the future. We’re watching the success of peer-to-peer lending in other more established markets such as the UK and it seems like lending tax free through these types of platforms is really taking off.
See: The Canadian marketplace lenders
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Conclusion
Unlike traditional financial institutions, this new breed of marketplace lenders have built their business models leveraging the latest financial technologies (fintech) in order to service niche markets, new customer groups (e.g. millennials) and underserviced markets. There is a lot of opportunity for these markets as long as entrants continue educating consumers about the alternatives to bank loans and offering them a superior product.
The National Crowdfunding Association of Canada (NCFA Canada) is a cross-Canada non-profit actively engaged with both social and investment crowdfunding stakeholders across the country. NCFA Canada provides education, research, leadership, support and networking opportunities to over 1100+ members and works closely with industry, government, academia, community and eco-system partners and affiliates to create a strong and vibrant crowdfunding industry in Canada. Learn more About Us or visit ncfacanada.org.
* Registration Now OPEN *
VanFUNDING 2015 Crowdfunding Conference
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
See Cato Pastoll and Kevin Sandhu Speak (more info...)
Speaker Lineup Announced at VanFUNDING 2015: Western Canada’s Leading Crowdfunding Conference (Sep 29)
NCFA Canada (About Us) | Sep 8, 2015
VANCOUVER, Sept. 8, 2015 /CNW/ - In just three weeks, the National Crowdfunding Association of Canada (NCFA) will host VanFUNDING 2015, an interactive and immersive half-day crowdfunding conference on September 29 in downtown Vancouver (Library Square).
VanFUNDING 2015 is for innovative ventures and businesses seeking to raise seed/growth capital and expand networks in these quickly emerging markets. This event is the first of its kind in Western Canada, and is being supported by a wide range of venture funding and financial innovation frontrunners. The agenda covers hot topics in crowdfunding, fintech and venture investing through an immersive format that includes storytelling, expert panel discussions, fireside chats and mentoring throughout the day program and networking reception.
Following the adoption of the Start-up Exemption by securities regulators in the Group of 6 provinces (including BC) this May, the conditions are favourable for equity crowdfunding in these jurisdictions, allowing businesses to raise up to $500,000 per calendar year through online funding portals. Global crowdfunding markets grew 167% from $6.1 billion in 2013 to $16.2 billion in 2014, due to heightened market activity, increased infrastructure and better integration and support from traditional capital market ecosystems.
Based off the sold-out success of the inaugural 2015 Canadian Crowdfunding Summit this March in Toronto, VanFUNDING 2015 is about igniting venture funding opportunities in Western Canada. Join us to share in the newest developments, thought leadership, and discover, assist and connect to investors seeking hot prospects and entrepreneurs that are actively raising capital.
Event partners and speakers include high profile and prominent crowdfunding and marketplace lending platforms in Canada along with leading legal and accounting providers in the sectors, including Dentons, PwC, The OCMX, Venture Law Corporation, SeedUps Canada, Crowdfund Suite, Crowdmatrix, Canadragon, Frontfundr, FundRazr, InvestX, Grouplend and Lending Loop.
The newly announced speaker lineup is below:
- Alixe Cormick, President/Founder, Venture Law Corporation
- Bret Conkin, CEO/Founder, Crowdfund Suite
- Cato Pastoll, CEO/Co-founder, Lending Loop
- Craig Asano, CEO/Founder, NCFA Canada
- Daryl Hatton, CEO/Founder, FundRazr
- Heather Gordon, Program Manager Social Finance Solutions, Vancity
- Ian Heine, Lead Tax Partner, PwC
- Kevin Sandhu, CEO/Founder, GroupLend
- Les Schaevitz, CEO/Founder, CanaDragon Enterprise
- Marcus New, CEO/Founder, InvestX
- Matthew McGrath, CEO/Founder, The OCMX / Optimize Capital Markets
- Michael Stephens, Partner, Dentons
- Mike Volker, Director at SFU & WUTIF Capital & GREENANGEL
- Penny Green, CEO, Bacchus Law Corporation
- Peter-Paul Van Hoeken, CEO/Co-founder, Frontfundr
- Rubsun Ho, CEO/Founder, CrowdMatrix
- Sandi Gilbert, CEO/Co-founder, SeedUps Canada
- Viet Le, Senior Manager Tax Services, PwC
For a complete list of conference participants, speakers and event schedule visit the VanFUNDING 2015 conference website.
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About the National Crowdfunding Association of Canada
The National Crowdfunding Association of Canada (NCFA Canada) is a cross-Canada non-profit actively engaged with both social and investment crowdfunding stakeholders across the country. NCFA Canada provides education, research, leadership, support and networking opportunities to over 1100+ members and works closely with industry, government, academia, community and eco-system partners and affiliates to create a strong and vibrant crowdfunding industry in Canada.
SOURCE National Crowdfunding Association of Canada 
For further information: and to inquire about a media pass please contact: Media Inquiries: Craig Asano, 416-618-0254, casano@ncfancanada.org
