Skai, Co-Founder and Guusto catalyst shares his top 5 insights of the first successful Canadian equity crowdfunding (startup exemption) raise in Canada
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
Brandon Vlaar, CTO/Co-Founder of Lending Loop, Joins NCFA’s Ambassador Program
About NCFA Canada | Craig Asano | Aug 31, 2015
TORONTO, ON August 31, 2015 – The National Crowdfunding Association of Canada (NCFA Canada) today announced that Brandon Vlaar, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder, Lending Loop, has joined the Association’s Crowdfunding Ambassadors Program.
“Brandon represents a growing generation of technologists and development professionals who understand modern day online infrastructure and what it takes to co-launch an exciting new and disruptive financial venture like Lending Loop. We are excited to have him participate as an ambassador and resource for the industry and look forward to working together to help grow fintech and debt-based crowdfunding in Canada", said Craig Asano, Executive Director, NCFA Canada.
NCFA Canada Crowdfunding Ambassadors
Crowdfunding Ambassadors (CFAs) are leaders, educators, supporters and advocates of an inclusive and broad-based crowdfunding industry in communities across Canada. They are circles of influence and ‘go to resources’ for small businesses, organizations and investors to connect with, share and learn about crowdfunding via locally hosted events and initiatives. CFAs are specialists and plugged into an international network of shared resources, thought leadership, and industry professionals striving to cultivate and shape the future of crowdfunding in Canada and beyond.
Brandon Vlaar, CTO and Co-Founder, Lending Loop
Brandon is the CTO and Co-Founder of Lending Loop, Canada’s first peer-to-peer lending marketplace for business lending. Brandon is a self-taught software developer who has built online marketplaces for the residential real estate and heavy equipment industries. A graduate of the Ivey Business School’s HBA program, Brandon has held finance positions at one of Canada’s largest financial institutions and SMEs in both Canada and the United States.
"The concept of Peer-to-Peer lending (or Marketplace lending) represents a fundamental shift of how people and businesses access financing. With the support of the NCFA, I and the rest of the team at Lending Loop look forward to bringing the future of finance to Canada that is built by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs." -- Brandon Vlaar, Lending Loop
# # #
About Lending Loop
Lending Loop is an online marketplace for Canadians to lend money to growing local businesses. Lending Loop’s marketplace leverages technology to bring true market efficiency to both lenders and borrowers, resulting in a fairer outcome for everyone. The online model allows businesses’ loan applications to be evaluated using sophisticated decision models supported by hundreds of data points. Using this technology, Lending Loop aims to advance the Canadian lending ecosystem into the twenty-first century by providing accessible capital at fair rates to promising SME’s while simultaneously improving fixed income returns for lenders.
About 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. Learn more About Us or visit ncfacanada.org.
Source: NCFA Canada
For more information please contact:
Media Contacts:
Craig Asano
NCFA Canada
Executive Director
p. (416) 618-0254
e. casano@ncfacanada.org
Cato Pastoll, CEO/Co-Founder of Lending Loop, Joins National Crowdfunding Association of Canada Advisory Board
NCFA Canada | Craig Asano | Aug 31, 2015
TORONTO, ON August 31, 2015 – The National Crowdfunding Association of Canada (NCFA Canada) today announced that Cato Pastoll has joined the Association’s Advisory Board as Advisor, P2P/Lending. He will also participate in the national Ambassadors Program.
"Marketplace business lending in Canada is gaining traction and making it easier for small businesses and early stage ventures to access low cost loans. Lending Loop's P2P lending platform will streamline the loan application process and enable average citizens to participate in fixed income loan products, and as a result, NCFA is delighted to be working with Lending Loop's growing team to help bring new crowdfunding sector fintech opportunities to market”, said Craig Asano, Founder and Executive Director of NCFA Canada.
Cato Pastoll is the CEO and Co-Founder of Lending Loop, Canada’s first peer-to-peer lending marketplace for business lending. Prior to starting Lending Loop, Cato served as the Executive Vice President of a medium sized software consulting business. In addition to holding a senior management position, he attained experience building and managing robust commercial applications. Cato also brings relevant industry expertise from his time developing a loan evaluation and management solution for a private mortgage lender.
"I am tremendously excited to be working with the NCFA to bring Peer-to-Peer lending to Canada, and more importantly, help to educate Canadians on this model. Over the past 7 years, we have witnessed how platforms in established markets across the world have been able to drastically improve the economies of local communities and we can’t wait for the same to happen here in Canada." -- Cato Pastoll, CEO/Co-founder, Lending Loop
# # #
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.
Source: NCFA Canada
For more information please contact:
Media Contacts:
Craig Asano
Executive Director
NCFA Canada
p. (416) 618-0254
e. casano@ncfacanada.org
New online lenders make it easier to get small businesses loans
The Globe and Mail | CLARE O’HARA | Aug 27, 2015
Online business lenders are increasingly popping up in the financial technology (fintech) world and filling a major gap for Canadian small businesses often overlooked by the major banks, but small business owners should take the time to research these various platforms to ensure they fit the company’s needs.
The Canadian marketplace has seen a number of new entrants join the online lending space in recent months. Mogo Finance Technology Inc. was the first Canadian online lender to go public in June and announced it will enter the small business lending space over the next year.
Lending Loop, a peer-to-business lender where individual investors will finance small business loans, is set to launch its lending site at the end of September. The platform is already open for small businesses to submit loan applications. Once approved, businesses will be added to an online ‘marketplace’ where individual investors will be able to fund the loans.
See: Will Crowdfunding Threaten Institutionalised Lending?
One of the biggest attractions of online lenders is the speed in which they can process an application. While banks can take between four to six weeks to process a business loan application, most online providers can process in one to two days of the application.
Bill Finley, co-owner of Hemp and Company, was approved in less than 48 hours for his business loan with Company Capital, an online provider that offers short term lending options for small to medium sized businesses.
Based in Victoria, B.C., Mr. Finley has been running his organic clothing shop for 16 years. His first online loan was four years ago when he was looking to increase his inventory. He had the option of applying for a short term business loan or a merchant cash advance, and decided on the latter.
A merchant cash advance allows a company to borrow a sum of cash up front but pay back the amount based on a percentage of daily sales vs. a fixed monthly payment.
For example. Mr. Finley borrows $15,000 for his inventory purchase. The amount he will pay back, including the amount of borrowing is predetermined upfront to be $16,700.
The length of time he has to pay back the loan depends on how aggressive he wants to be with the payments.
During the summer months when Mr. Finley’s business produces higher sales, he pays back the loan at 15 per cent of his daily sales until the loan is paid in full.
See Also:
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Canadian Marketplace Lenders
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Lending Loop Launches Online Business Lending Marketplace on Back of Seed Funding
The advantage – especially to seasonal businesses – is the percentage of daily sales can be adjusted accordingly. If the winter months are a slower season, business owners can choose to lower the percentage of sales going toward their loan payment. The downside is the lower you go, the longer it will take to pay off.
Small business owners should also be aware that the price tag of borrowing with online lenders is much higher than that of the major banks. Interest rates can be as low as 10 per cent but also has high as low- to mid-20s, depending on the provider and loan application.
To qualify, businesses need to be Canadian based and running for at least one year. Thinking Capital is one of the few providers that look at businesses that have been open for just six months.
To complete an online application, depending on which provider, small business owners may need to provide: A company address; how long a company has been in business; name of owner(s); how much money the owner(s) have invested in the company; a sales history of the company, as opposed to a full financial statement (the sales history is generally acquired by the company’s third party point-of-sales provider); estimated annual revenue; and social media accounts, as in some cases a company’s Facebook or Twitter account can help verify the health of their business with the number of followers or connections.
“Our underwriting doesn’t rely on financial metrics alone,” says Anthony Lipschitz, chief strategy officer at Thinking Capital, which has been in the Canadian marketplace since 2006. “Technology has rapidly changed since we first started and we have spent the last few years really focused on building our technology from a servicing standpoint.”
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.
The Canadian Marketplace Lenders
Lend Academy | | Aug 11, 2015
What’s most interesting to me is that although marketplace lending is starting to become a global trend, each market has it’s own nuances. This is certainly the case I learned in Canada as I spoke to executives of several companies to learn about the challenges they face in their home market. Similar to Australia, there is an oligopoly of five stable, highly profitable banks that have between 70-80% of the market in Canada. One of the biggest challenges is consumer behavior, where consumers tend to be much stickier to the household names. The NPS score of these banks are not as low as in the U.S. The general positive attitude towards Canadian banks is partly due to the fact that Canadian banks were far less affected by the financial crisis.
This results in lack of competition to the banks, stagnant products, stifled innovation and high fees. Thus, the opportunity for these marketplaces is much larger. These new entrants must focus on educating consumers and offering them a superior product.
On the investor side, due to the regulatory environment in Canada, loans listed by any of these companies are not available to retail investors. For borrowers, the FICO credit score is based on a maximum of 900, not 850 as we have in the U.S. To give you a little perspective for comparison, a score of 690 in Canada would be equivalent to a 665 or 670 in the U.S.
As you’ll find out by reading about the biggest marketplace lenders in Canada, you’ll find that it is very much in its infancy in Canada with these lenders coming to life less than a year ago. They are several years behind the U.S. market. However, after talking with each company, it’s clear that the market opportunity large.
Borrowell
I spoke to Andrew Graham (CEO) and Eva Wong (COO) of Borrowell to learn more about their offering. Borrowell provides fixed-rate personal loans to borrowers and began originating March 31st of this year. Since then, they have received over $100 million (Canadian) in loan applications. They noted that they were excited and surprised about the amount of interest from consumers. Given the demand, they are still taking a thoughtful approach to underwriting and are very selective on the loans they’ve made.
They offer loans from $1,000 – $35,000 with rates from 5.6% APR to the mid-20s. Loan length is either 3 or 5 years, similar to what we see with Lending Club in the U.S. They also require a minimum credit history of 12 months and you must have reached the age of majority in the province you live in. Depending on the province, this is either 18 or 19 years old, which is common across the Canadian marketplaces. In addition, they have a minimum credit score requirement of 660, but as other online lenders do, look at income, current access to credit and current debt. Borrowell charges an origination fee which is between 1-5% of the loan amount. Net returns to investors has been in the high single digits.
See: Borrowell set to become second member of Canadian marketplace lender’s club
When I asked them about the status of the Canadian market, Andrew likened it to being similar to online dating 10 years ago. There used to be a certain stigma to telling someone you met online. With that being said, they and other lenders are very focused on education. As I spoke to these companies it was interesting to hear about borrower acquisition in a market that is even less aware than what we have in the U.S.
Borrowell has been fortunate to get a lot of press and that has been a great source of leads. This is helping to legitimize the sector. In addition, they launched with Equitable, a large bank to invest in their loans. Equitable has also invested equity into the company. Other top investors include John Bitove, founder of the Toronto Raptors basketball team and Roger Martin, who in 2013 was ranked 3rd in the world’s most influential business thinkers by Forbes. Launching with a bank and these individuals has given them a sort a stamp of approval and legitimized what they’re doing.
When I asked what might surprise readers about the Canadian market, Andrew and Eva told me that many people would be surprised at how large the market is. People talk about marketplace lending in such places like New Zealand, but Canada has 10 times the population of New Zealand. They are looking at an addressable market of around $80 billion (~$61 billion USD) in credit card balances. If you look at consumer loans overall, it is well over $500 billion (~$380 billion USD), not including mortgages. Eva also pointed out that Canadians surpasses the U.S. in online internet usage penetration, making it more of an attractive market for online lending.
GroupLend
GroupLend launched as the first marketplace lender in Canada in October of 2014. GroupLend decided to launch their platform with one straight-forward product offering, but as I heard from Kevin Sandhu, their CEO, this will surely change over time. GroupLend offers fixed rate personal loans from $1,000 to $30,000 that start at 6.3% APR and go up to 17.5%. The low maximum rate is due to the borrowers that GroupLend is looking to attract. Much of the basic requirements are the same as other Canadian p2p lenders, but GroupLend requires a minimum FICO of 690 and an income of at least $30,000 (~$23,000 USD). All loans from GroupLend are amortized over 36 months. The target market is middle class, prime customers.
I asked Kevin if they will ever loosen up their criteria to attract more borrowers and he said they might dig a little bit deeper, but there is a hard line between prime and non-prime. He spoke to the 15 year housing boom in Canada which was not affected much by the recession, so debt levels are higher. Individuals are heavily levered up, and there is no underbanked. In addition, the average credit quality is much higher. These factors make Kevin believe that it’s a bigger gamble to get into the sub-prime market.
When I spoke to Kevin about some of the challenges, he said that many of the borrower acquisition strategies that are in use in the U.S. aren’t effective in Canada. Digital advertising, SEM, SEO simply do not convert as effectively. In addition, there are no Canadian equivalents to CreditKarma or LendingTree, so it has been challenging to get their name out. Kevin said that one key difference is that in Canada, banks are not shying away from lending. The marketplace lenders are not filling a void as much as they are creating a competitive product. To help drive borrowers, they have created exclusive partnerships with financial sales networks, insurance brokers, financial advisors. Through these exclusive channels, they hope to show that they have a genuinely superior product compared to the banks.
One of the most interesting things about GroupLend is the lack of an origination fee. There is also no pre-payment fees. In fact, the only fee I could find on their site for borrowers is a $50 fee if they attempt to process a monthly payment and it comes back NSF. I asked Kevin about this and he said the reason for this is to provide the best possible experience for the borrower.
See:
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Alternative lending bubbles up into Canadian mainstream, gains traction among entrepreneurs
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NCFA Hosts Crowdlending Panel Discussion with InvestNextDoor and GroupLend
He noted that origination fees can cause unnecessary friction as the net proceeds of a loan are lower than the loan amount requested due to origination fees. Say a borrower wants a loan for $10,000, they might only get $9,500 due to the origination fee taken off the top. This also causes confusion to the borrower of an interest rate versus the APR. This is why Grouplend has decided to only charge fees on the investor side. There are upfront fees for investors as well as a secondary ongoing loan servicing fees. These range from 1-5%, but the average is around the midpoint.
As for the future, Kevin mentioned several product expansion ideas. Besides the move to offering loans of 1 through 5 years, they aim to create a highly customizable product with fluid terms and launch it in the next couple of months. This fluid loan might work something like this. If a borrower is looking to buy a car and know they can afford a $400 per month payment, they can find the car and amortize it over a specific term, like 26 months. Products like these aren’t typical and are difficult from a systems, technology and accounting perspective, but the team at GroupLend has built this functionality out and looks forward to bring it to market.
Net returns to investors are in the high single digits around 7-9%, which given the lower interest rates seems quite attractive. Given the short amount of time they’ve been around, GroupLend is growing rapidly. They have received hundreds of millions in applications and total amount funded will soon hit $10 million. They are growing around 35%-40% month over month and are one of the major marketplaces in Canada.
Lending Loop
Lending Loop offers loans to small businesses, which vary in term from 6 months to 5 years. Rates are between 6%-15.5% and loan sizes range from $5,000 to $500,000. They completed a soft launch in June of 2015 so they could test and refine their business strategy. This made their loan offering open to borrowers only.
In September, they will open up the marketplace and all investors will be able to participate. Lending Loop will be the first marketplace lending company in Canada to open to retail investors. From the start, Cato Pastoll (Co-Founder and CEO) and the rest of the team wanted put an emphasis on helping communities and having retail investors on board is key to achieving this goal. Cato mentioned that they have been working with their lawyers for over 6 months to ensure retail investors can participate. With their platform, retail investors will be able to invest as little as $50 into a single loan, making diversification across many small businesses relatively easy with little capital. It is still early days for Lending Loop, but Cato hopes that average returns will fall in the 8%-9% range depending on which loan rates are targeted. He mentioned that even returns of 6% are attractive to investors in Canada.
Check out: Lending Loop Launches Online Business Lending Marketplace on Back of Seed Funding
With respect to borrower acquisition, Cato said that borrowers are coming in organically as well as through loan brokers that they have relationships with. They are receiving leads from bank advisors that are turning small businesses away. Currently, these banks do not see them as a threat and the advisors want their customers to be served. In these cases, the bank will provide other services to the small businesses and simply pass the deal to Lending Loop. Lending Loop focuses on businesses that are well established with a solid track record that may be on the cusp of getting bank financing. In order to apply for a loan through Lending Loop, businesses must have the following criteria:
- Operating for 2 years or Longer
- Greater than $200,000 in Annual Revenue
- Have Assets to be Used as Collateral OR Will Sign a General Securities Agreement
- Less than 5 existing creditors
- Headquartered outside of Quebec
Although they have just launched, Lending Loop has put together a unique offering and it’s great to see that retail investors will be able to participate.
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.
Will Crowdfunding Threaten Institutionalised Lending?
The Market Mogul | | Aug 14, 2015
Recently equity, reward and debt crowdfunding through to peer-to-peer loans have received much attention as private investors provide funds for individuals, startups and more established SMEs seeking capital for expansion. Nesta reported that the UK alternative finance market generated £939m in 2013 and predictions for 2017 are reaching £15bn annually. With high recent and predicted growth in this sector, will these platforms begin to threaten institutionalised lending? As investors, should we be directly crowdfunding fledgling companies and gaining income from P2P lending or investing in the emergent alternative finance funds?
Risk for direct investors?
The main criticisms of crowdfunding are well worn. Some concerns over the lack of regulation of the sector were alleviated by new FCA rules in spring 2014 for loan-based and investment-based crowdfunding platforms. These regulations are due to be reviewed in 2016, but their presence is already providing investors with a higher level of security. The incipient sector regulation also hints at another issue with alternative finance – its age. As such a new market, it is as yet difficult to assess the success of crowdfunded ventures. We shouldn’t expect conclusive evidence for another few years. However, initial research does suggest alternatively financed startup failures are surprisingly low.
Dr Richard Swart at UC Berkeley reported that whilst 70% startups generally go bust, only 30% of crowdfunded fail.
Defaulting rates are also unexpectedly low – one recent study reported that 75% of crowdfunded businesses fulfilled their promises to stakeholders, albeit not necessarily in the period initially anticipated. Whilst these default rates may increase, many platforms, such as RateSetter, which recently revealed a £6.1m protection fund, have contingency funds to safeguard investors should debt rise.
See: Canadian Lending Loop Launches Online Business Lending Marketplace on Back of Seed Funding
Alternative finance has real potential to draw entrepreneurs away from banks. The investments on crowdfunding platforms are more diverse – it has been reported that in 2014 female-directed companies received just 4% of conventional venture capital versus 43% via crowdfunded platforms. A greater variety of people are investing too, with many sites allowing investments from as little as £10.
Many have been skeptical of ‘the crowd’, however analysis of crowdfunder portfolios demonstrates an understanding of risk and investment. Portfolios tend to be broad rather than narrow focused – on Funding Circle the average lender pledges just £157 to each of 67 companies. Crowdcube recently launched a venture fund, allowing those with over £2,500 to rely on a fund manager for investment research and appraisal and portfolio monitoring. A managed portfolio of up to 10 companies provides another level of reassurance.
Alternative finance funds
In the last year, alternative finance funds have begun to emerge. LSE listed income-focused closed-end fund P2P Global Investments caught the attention of a variety of respected fund managers. Neil Woodford and George Luckraft have both invested in the fund run by a team at hedge-fund manager Marshall Wace. The first 14 months of the fund have been slightly underwhelming – the shares peaked at 1185p in early February but sank to 1040p in July and are currently sitting at 1074p. The company valued the shares at just under 1000p. The lack of data for comparison and the young age of the fund make predictions difficult.
See: Get the Leading Global Industry 2015 Crowdfunding Report (member discount)
Both Woodford and Luckraft subsequently endorsed VPC Specialty Lending, launched in March. Woodford Equity Income also directly holds a stake in RateSetter, one of the biggest UK P2P platforms. According to Bloomberg, other funds involved in P2P trusts include Aviva Investors, City Financial, Invesco Perpetual and Jupiter Asset Management. However – these holdings form only small proportions of the total portfolio. For example, P2P Global and VPC Specialty Lending comprised 1.46% of Woodford Equity Income at the end of March.
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.
Vancouver Event (Sep 29): VanFUNDING 2015 Crowdfunding Conference
VanFUNDING 2016 NOW LAUNCHED!
Fintech Crowdfunding Conference
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Website: Vanfundingconf.ca
VanFUNDING 2015: Crowdfunding Conference
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Get VanFUNDED! (Equity, Debt, Rewards & Fintech) | View Photos | View Highlights
Innovation | Entrepreneurship | Private Capital Networks | Investors
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HALF-DAY CONFERENCE + NETWORKING
Date: Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Venue: Library Square (Alice MacKay Room, Lower Level)
350 West Georgia St. Vancouver, BC V6B 6B1 (map)
Time: 12:50pm – 7:00pm (Registration opens from 12:30pm)
Registration: $40 Members* / $50 Non-members* / $60 At the door
*All conference tickets include access to the Networking Reception. Add 5% GST.
Tickets are limited (SOLD OUT). Avoid disappointment and register today.
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Attendee Perks (for half-day conference tickets)!
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Entered to WIN 2/3 Days Weekend Getaway at Quidni Estate Winery, the #2 Tripadvisor B&B in the Okanagan Valley (Penticton, BC) (~$600)
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Free comprehensive equity crowdfunding 'investor perspective' e-book download (Venture Law Corp / NCFA)
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Chance for one winning start-up/business to receive their TOP 50 investor matches via Meet Walter (Klinch)
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NETWORKING RECEPTION (Includes Mentoring)
Date: Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Venue: Library Square Public House
300 West Georgia St. (map)
Time: 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Registration: $25 per ticket / $35 At the door
Includes 1 drink and appetizers. Add 5% GST.
Seeking volunteers for VanFUNDING 2015 - sign up here!
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Event Overview:
VanFUNDING 2015 is the leading Crowdfunding conference in Western Canada for innovative ventures and businesses seeking to raise seed and growth capital from online crowdfunding markets. Get VanFUNDED! Learn and connect with Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Private Capital Networks and Investors. Join the National Crowdfunding Association of Canada, sponsors and presenting partners on Tuesday, September 29 in downtown Vancouver for an immersive and interactive half-day event including TEDx style storytelling, start-up pitches, expert presentations and panelists, followed by a networking reception with mentoring opportunities. This is an exclusive opportunity to learn, network and be mentored by crowdfunding-fintech experts and investors in Canada interested to help businesses achieve funding success and scale.
The British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC) and Group of 6 provinces recently adopted the Start-up Exemption on May 14, 2015, enabling startups and early-stage companies in these jurisdictions to now raise up to $500,000 per calendar year through online funding portals. Crowdfunding markets and fintech companies are exploding with entrepreneurs, investors, third party providers and experts who are keen to take advantage of a promising and brand new fundraising channel for small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs).
Following the success of the sold out inaugural 2015 Canadian Crowdfunding Summit on March 3 in Toronto, VanFUNDING 2015 is about igniting venture funding opportunities in Western Canada together with industry and ecosystem partners to share the newest developments, thought leadership, and assist and connect entrepreneurs that are actively raising capital.
See: VanFUNDING 2015 brings Canada's Crowdfunding Leaders to Vancouver
Agenda:
| TIME | EVENT PROGRAMMING |
|---|---|
| 12:30 — 12:50 PM |
Registration, Networking and Exhibitor tables |
| 12:50 — 1:00 PM |
Welcome and Opening Remarks | MC
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| 1:00 — 2:10 PM |
Stories from the Edge: (TEDx style presentations)
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| 2:10 — 2:20 PM |
Stretch Break (10 mins)
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| 2:20 - 2:50 PM |
Panel: Role of Crowdfunding, Innovative Ventures and Funding Options
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| 2:50 - 3:20 PM |
Presentations: Crowdfunding regulations in BC, Canada and the US
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| 3:20 - 3:35 PM |
Networking Break (15mins)
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| 3:35 - 4:00 PM |
Panel: Equity Platforms (Raising capital online)
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| 4:00 - 4:25 PM |
Fireside: Lending Platforms (Consumer & Business Loans)
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| 4:25 - 4:50 PM |
Presentation: Equity Crowdfunding & Tax - Making the most of every dollar raised
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| 4:50 - 5:00 PM |
Closing Remarks
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| 5:00 — 7:00 PM * |
Networking Reception at Library Square Public House*300 West Georgia St. (next to Library Square)
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Seeking volunteers for VanFUNDING 2015 - sign up here!
#VanFUNDING2015 Live Twitter Wall (click to view)
Why attend this conference?
1. Learn insights, market trends and essential education to help your business get funded: Global crowdfunding, fintech and alternative finance markets continue to grow rapidly playing a significant role in mobilizing capital and resources to help launch and scale new ventures, social enterprises, small businesses and high growth SMEs. Has crowdfunding reached an industry tipping point (read UK Crowdcube founder's perspective here)?
- 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.
- Get the leading research...2015 Global Crowdfunding Industry Report here.
- Learn why financial firms are joining the crowd and how to leverage technology to improve financial transactions. More deals, wider networks and distribution, automated IR, integrated capital stack, marketing automation/CRM and analytics.
- Find out why private angel investors, VC groups, fund managers and corporate investors are seeking to work with emerging crowdfunding companies, affiliates and partners.
2. Learn about regulatory changes and options in BC, Canada and the US: The Canadian crowdfunding industry is poised for growth with 6 provinces recently adopting the new Start-up Exemption (see ‘Canadian Securities Breakthrough’), a financing instrument aimed at enabling start-ups and available to both new crowdfunding portals and existing Exempt Market Dealers (EMDs):
- On May 14, 2015, the securities regulatory authorities of British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Québec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia (the 6 participating jurisdictions) announced that they were adopting substantially harmonized registration and prospectus exemptions (the start-up crowdfunding exemptions) to allow start-up and early-stage companies in these jurisdictions to raise up to $500,000 per calendar year through online funding portals.
- On Mar 20, 2014, the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) proposed four new capital raising exemptions including a new Crowdfunding exemption that would allow issuers to raise up to $1,500,000 per calendar year (read) and expect to publish an update on next steps this fall 2015.
3. Network with and get mentored by leading industry experts: Discuss your questions with various experts (e.g., crowdfunding platforms, transactional providers, start-up mentors and consultants) and peers in a speed mentoring format. Connect with peers that can assist your company to tap into emerging capital raising, marketing, financial/business planning and infrastructure services and opportunities.
Who should attend this event?
- Start-ups and SMEs seeking to raise seed/growth capital and expand their networks
- Private angel investors, VC groups, fund managers, corporate and retail investors
- Entrepreneurial and innovation networks seeking to raise capital and commercialize ventures including incubator/accelerators, entrepreneurs, start-ups, high impact SMEs
- All other parties interested in new venture development opportunities, small business growth, financial technology and equity financing including government, media journalists, industry and funding specialists
- Those interested in networking with emerging market channels and high growth sectors
Haven't been to an NCFA Canada event before?
Click to view our previous events: here
Click to view Mar 3, Inaugural 2015 Canadian Crowdfunding Summit: Infographic | Post event report
Click to view May 28, Toronto Networking Event on the EVP rooftop patio: Photo Album
Register Your Tickets Now
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.
[/restab]
[restab title="Agenda + Speakers"]
Agenda:
| TIME | EVENT PROGRAMMING |
|---|---|
| 12:30 — 12:50 PM |
Registration, Networking and Exhibitor tables |
| 12:50 — 1:00 PM |
Welcome and Opening Remarks
|
| 1:00 — 2:10 PM |
Stories from the Edge: (TEDx style presentations)
|
| 2:10 — 2:20 PM |
Stretch Break (10 mins)
|
| 2:20 - 2:50 PM |
Panel: Role of Crowdfunding, Innovative Ventures and Funding Options
|
| 2:50 - 3:20 PM |
Presentations: Crowdfunding regulations in BC, Canada and the US
|
| 3:20 - 3:35 PM |
Networking Break (15mins)
|
| 3:35 - 4:00 PM |
Panel: Equity Platforms (Raising capital online)
|
| 4:00 - 4:25 PM |
Fireside: Lending Platforms (Consumer & Business Loans)
|
| 4:25 - 4:50 PM |
Presentation: Equity Crowdfunding & Tax - Making the most of every dollar raised
|
| 4:50 - 5:00 PM |
Closing Remarks
|
| 5:00 — 7:00 PM * |
Networking Reception at Library Square Public House*300 West Georgia St. (next to Library Square)
|
*Only interested in the Networking Reception? Tickets may be purchased separately for $25 each.
Seeking volunteers for VanFUNDING 2015 - sign up here!
Speakers:
Alex Alexandrov, CEO, CoinPayments.net
Alex Alexandrov is a pioneer in the crypto-currency community and is well versed in financial markets where his history includes five years as a technical Forex and Options trader and EA developer before taking the helm of CoinPayments. Alex was also an early participant in the mining ecosystem with Coincable.com, an online BitCoin mining hardware supply store based out of Vancouver – which took BitCoin payments — and thus, the early path for creating a Crypto-Payment Processing business was set. Alex brings over 15 years of combined experience in IT and business management to his latest venture as CEO of Coinpayments.net, the largest payment processor of Alt. Coins (Bitcoin, Litcoin, and other alternative crypto-currency) and the 3rd largest Crypto Payment processor globally. Coinpayments’ services are used by over 16,000 vendors across 152 countries and offer price calculations in 23 fiat (national) currencies via it’s simple “Pay” buttons, open source shopping cart plugins or API.
Alixe Cormick, President/Founder, Venture Law Corporation
Alixe Cormick is the founder of Venture Law Corporation in Vancouver, BC. Alixe concentrates her legal practice in the areas of initial public offerings, follow-on offerings, reverse takeovers, capital pool corporations, qualifying transactions, mergers & acquisitions, secondary listings and exempt market financings.Alixe has assisted over 150 companies listing on stock exchanges and trading boards in North America. Alixe has registered four broker dealers in Canada and has acted as outside legal counsel to three Canadian mutual funds. Alixe is also an active angel investor. Alixe has been a speaker at several conferences in Canada discussing the legal aspects of crowdfunding.
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Bernd Petak, Co-founder and COO, Finstripe
Bernd Petak is an entrepreneur, advisor, mentor, corporate director and investment professional to early and mid-stage internet-driven technology companies and their investors. Bernd is a former Deloitte partner, due diligence officer, investor and two-time startup founder. He is co-founder and COO of Finstripe, a network for global enterprise-level financing professionals and sits on the board of directors for Screenscape, a leading provider of internet-delivered digital signage technology.
Bret Conkin, CEO/Founder, Crowdfund Suite
A visionary in alternative funding, Bret started Canada’s first crowdfunding platform in 2008 and then helped FundRazr become a top 10 global platform. He has been frequently quoted in the press on crowdfunding and marketing and he blogs for IT Business.ca. Bret has founded and collaborated on several technology start-ups and his clients have included: Small Business BC, New Ventures BC, BC Innovation Council, Community Futures, Vancouver Enterprise Forum, NSERC, Strategic Exits and Angel Forum. As Ambassador to the National Crowdfunding Association of Canada, Bret has produced numerous events, assisted in advocacy efforts and futhered the interests of the burgeoning alternative funding sector. Recent speaking engagements have included: VIATEC, Innovation Guelph, Net Tuesday and Funding Road Show events across Canada. Bret has 25 years of software, start-up and consumer brand expertise including roles with Procter & Gamble and BC Lottery Corp.
Bryan Buggey, Director Strategic Initiatives & Sector Development, Vancouver Economic Commission
Bryan is responsible for economic and business development at the City of Vancouver’s Economic Commission. In his role as Director, he is guiding several initiatives with respect to the City’s Greenest City Action Plan, Digital Strategy and its Economic Action Strategy. These initiatives include the creation of an innovation hub for technology start-up and social innovators; a clean-tech demonstration program leveraging municipal assets and infrastructure; and supporting the creation of a Green Enterprise Zone and a Digital District. Bryan also heads up the business development team that is responsible for strengthening the key sectors that support the so-called Green Economy, Digital Economy and the Innovation Economy. This includes business retention and expansion, as well as trade, foreign direct investment and business attraction. Bryan is passionate about the transformation of the local economy leveraging innovative technologies, clean energy and sustainable urban design as important tools to achieve that goal.
Cato Pastoll, CEO/Co-founder, Lending Loop
Cato Pastoll is the CEO and Co-Founder of Lending Loop, Canada's first peer-to-peer lending marketplace for business lending. Prior to starting Lending Loop, Cato served as the Executive Vice President of a medium sized software consulting business. In addition to holding a senior management position, he attained experience building and managing robust commercial applications. Cato also brings relevant industry experience from his time developing a loan evaluation and management solution for a private mortgage lender.
Craig Asano, CEO/Founder, NCFA Canada
Craig has amassed over 15+ years of experience as a marketing strategist, software technologist and start-up entrepreneur in technology, finance, manufacturing and real estate sectors. He is a leader, advocate and development professional of interactive web, data, CRM, campaign management, BI and marketing automation and new venture development projects. He is actively involved in developing the Canadian Crowdfunding industry at a grass-roots level connecting with industry stakeholders, crowdfunding leaders and key participants across the country. He has has spearheaded multiple programs and initiatives such as the inaugural 2015 Canadian Crowdfunding Summit, National Ambassadors outreach program, and NCFA Canada’s advocacy efforts to advance equity-based Crowdfunding regulations in Canada.
Daryl Hatton, CEO/Founder, FundRazr
Daryl Hatton, founder and CEO of FundRazr, loves the challenge of building companies from scratch. In 30 years software industry experience, Daryl has founded multiple start-ups and helped bring one, Optio, to a successful NASDAQ IPO in 1999. He actively serves as board member or advisor to multiple other start-ups in BC and Silicon Valley. Last year FundRazr was awarded a Technology Innovation Award as Most Promising Startup by the BC Technology Industry Association and was included in the Profit Magazine Hot 50 as one of the fastest growing startups across all industries in Canada.
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Heather Gordon, Program Manager Social Finance Solutions, Vancity
Heather’s current focus at Vancity is exploring the potential for community investment co-operatives that empower communities to take ownership over their own economic development. She is an MBA in Community Economic Development candidate and has worked in finance for more than 10 years, including roles in microcredit, financial literacy program development, and commercial finance.
Ian Heine, Lead Tax Partner, PwC
Ian is a Tax Partner and since 1995 has provided tax consulting and compliance services to organizations that are entrepreneurial and growing. He has extensive experience with emerging companies that are expanding globally, and has a keen eye for tax opportunities, and a mind for developing creative tax solutions. Ian frequently connects clients to global firm experts, and has close ties to PwC’s Technology teams in Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, Shanghai and London. Ian serves as a Treasurer and Director for LifeSciencesBC and the Vancouver Enterprise Forum, as a member of the Selection Committee for the Canadian Financing Forum and previously led PwC’s SR&ED practice.
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Kevin Clark, President, Lendified
Spanning over 30 years in domestic and international banking, Kevin brings extensive business development and leadership skills from his experiences across all customer segments to his position as President of Lendified. His passionate views for economic growth and business development in Canada positions him well in delivering Lendified’s products and services to the small business marketplace. Previous to co-founding Lendified, Kevin held a number of executive roles at Scotiabank, most recently as Senior Vice President and Global Head of Sales of the Bank's Global Transaction Banking business, responsible for the delivery of trade finance and cash management products to the Small Business, Commercial and Corporate segments both domestically in Canada and internationally.
Kevin Sandhu, CEO/Founder, Grouplend
A former investment banker and private equity investor. He left Bay Street to found Grouplend out of a deeply rooted belief that Canadians deserve better financial services. The existing landscape of banks and financial institutions fail to provide the quality of service that people expect. Watching from afar as consumer debt levels in Canada continued to rise, he devised a way to employ modern technology to deliver financial products that solved the problem, not exacerbated it. He graduated from Simon Fraser University on the Dean’s List with a degree in Finance and is a CFA charterholder.
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Les Schaevitz, CEO/Founder, CanaDragon Enterprise
Les Schaevitz is an entrepreneur from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who became enchanted with the Saskatchewan equity crowdfunding model due to its incredible simplicity and consummate free-market orientation. While working to equity crowdfund iPosition LLC, his own states-side high technology startup, he became totally frustrated with the delays and complications bedeviling the US equity crowdfunding model. Les started to look around the world for alternatives…the best of which he found in Saskatchewan which, it turned out, did not have an operating portal. Even though he would not be permitted to finance iPosition via his own SK portal, he decided that the opportunity to do the first SK equity crowdfunding portal was irresistible. Les is a staunch advocate for a “holistic,” entrepreneur centric approach to equity crowdfunding which essentially treats this sort of financing as a real IPO, just on a micro-scale. Les is a graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (W74).
Lukas Svec, CEO, Sansaire
Lukas is co-founder and CEO of Sansaire. Prior to starting the company, Lukas was a doctoral candidate in theoretical physics working on quantum computers at the University of Washington, with collaborations at Microsoft Research and MIT. In 2013, the Sansaire home sous vide machine launched on Kickstarter, setting a new funding record. He now leads a small team working on bringing new cooking tools and techniques to kitchens worldwide.
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Marcus New, CEO/Founder, InvestX
As founder and CEO of InvestX, Marcus New is actively engaged in all aspects of the crowdfunding marketplace, from hand-picking the management team to sourcing deals with private equity partners. His experience launching Stockhouse, a leading financial community for affluent investors that attracts up to one million unique monthly visitors, provided him with the momentum, connections and support to create InvestX. Mr. New has personally attracted a variety of private equity firms to the InvestX crowdfunding marketplace, and he plans to continue to grow the platform. Mr. New has also launched (and previously served as the Chairman and CEO) Stockgroup Media, an online financial information platform that counted the majority of Canada’s top brokerage firms, global institutional sales desks and hedge funds as clients.
Matthew McGrath, CEO/Founder, The OCMX / Optimize Capital Markets
Following on a 12 year career at the RBC Financial Group, Matthew McGrath successfully launched the Optimize Financial Group™ 4 years ago with offices now in both Toronto and New York City.
Optimize Capital Markets™ is building the Largest Institutional Crowdfunding Marketplace in North America where Institutional and Accredited Investors can discover and trade in Private Investment Opportunities.
Typical deals include Infrastructure Projects, Large Real Estate Developments, and Proven Technology Companies. Since launching out of Toronto in September of 2009, Optimize Capital Markets™ has since expanded its operations to include Quebec, Alberta, and British Columbia.
Michael Stephens, Partner, Dentons
Mike Stephens practices corporate finance and securities law, with an emphasis on securities offerings including stock exchange listings, mergers & acquisitions and private equity transactions, as well as other aspects of corporate law. His experience extends to the mining, oil and gas and IT sectors, acting for a wide range of Canadian and international clients. He assists issuers, investment dealers, and institutional and private investors on complex equity and debt financing transactions ranging from start-up investments, venture capital and private equity investments, to larger public offerings.
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Mike Volker, Director at SFU & WUTIF Capital & GREENANGEL; VANTEC
Michael Volker is an Entrepreneur active in the development of new high technology ventures. He is president of Simon Fraser University’s SFU Univentures Corp, chairman of Greenangel Energy Corp, [GAE.V] and CEO of WUTIF Capital - an "angel" fund. Mike runs the Vancouver Angel Network, VANTEC and is President of the Vancouver chapter of the Keiretsu Forum. In 2009, He was named 'Angel of the Year' Nationally and Provincially (BC).
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Penny Green, CEO, Bacchus Law Corporation
Penny Green is the CEO of Bacchus Law Corporation, and is known to be a deal catalyst, making important introductions for many of her clients. Over the past few decades, Penny has developed an extensive network of dealmakers, brokers, investors, bankers and service professionals throughout the world. Bacchus’ team has been involved in hundreds of public company transactions. In addition to being a lawyer, Penny is also an entrepreneur and has co-founded several successful businesses in various industries, including biofuels and pharmaceuticals. Currently she is the Chairman of the Board of Highbury Energy Inc. and a director of Glance Mobile Inc.
Peter-Paul Van Hoeken, CEO/Co-founder, FrontFundr
Peter-Paul is Founder and CEO of Silver Maple Ventures Inc., a financial & social media company based in Vancouver BC focused on supporting start-ups and young ventures in Canada with access to capital through innovative online investment-based crowdfunding solutions. Peter-Paul has over 15 years of experience in finance, investment management and business consultancy. He worked in Vancouver as director business development with a finance & investment company in the renewable energy space and as finance director of a real estate investment fund. Prior to that Peter-Paul held a number of positions with several global banks in the areas of corporate strategy, corporate & investment banking and he worked as a senior management consultant in The Netherlands. Peter-Paul is a director of the National Board of the Private Capital Markets Association, PCMA (Canada).
Rubsun Ho, CEO/Founder, Crowdmatrix
Rubsun Ho is Chief Crowdpleaser at Crowdmatrix Inc., an equity crowdfunding platform that will bring efficiency and transparency to the capital raising process for Canadian growth companies. A portfolio company of Extreme Venture Partners, Crowdmatrix plans to launch in late spring, 2015. Rubsun is also a co-founder and partner of Cognition LLP, a virtual law firm that was created to address the rising costs and inefficiencies of corporate legal services from traditional law firms. Cognition now has over 50 lawyers operating in Toronto, Ottawa and Calgary, and its clients range from growing startups through to some of Canada’s largest companies. Rubsun began his career as a securities lawyer in the Toronto and New York offices of Stikeman Elliott, one of Canada’s leading business law firms. He left Bay Street to join Wysdom Inc. as VP of Business Development in 1999, where he helped raise US$57 million in financing for the wireless Internet startup. Rubsun has a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Toronto.
Sandi Gilbert, CEO/Co-founder, SeedUps Canada
Sandi is the Founder of SeedUps Canada, a CrowdFinance platform that supports direct equity investments from ordinary investors into privately held small to emerging companies seeking between $250,000 and $2 million in capital. In April of 2014, the platform facilitated North America’s “First Ordinary Investor” to make an online investment in a private company. She is also the COO of ECN Capital, a Global private equity investment platform that brings together qualified investors, investment firms and corporate issuers to facilitate private offerings ranging from $2 - $150 million. See continues to work diligently to develop technology infrastructures that enhance the private equity investment marketplace by making it easier for investors to find good investments and good companies to find the investment they need.
Skai Dalziel, Co-Founder, Guusto
Skai graduated with distinction from the Ivey School of Business and also holds a degree in engineering. He has over 10 years experience in the marketing, hospitality and tourism industries having co-founded Whistler Tasting Tours, a thriving food tour business in Whistler. His latest venture, Guusto, is a gifting platform that lets you send food and drinks to clients, colleagues and friends. Gifts are super flexible, being redeemable at ANY of the 1000+ restaurant locations across Canada. And for every gift sent, they donate one day of clean drinking water through the One Drop Foundation. He led and closed the first startup exemption equity crowdfunding round in Canada, and were 200% subscribed.
Thomas Kineshanko, CEO, Klinch
Thomas Kineshanko is the CEO of Fintech Enterprises. Previously he co-founder of Habitat Enterprises (which invested in GHG emission reduction projects and the creation of financial instruments that were tradeable on the carbon market), Gridbid (an online auction that has auctioned over $40 million in roof space for solar), was a co-founding equity partner of publicly traded early stage tech fund TSX.V GAE (when it acquired a stake in Habitat’s founders shares), and was a co-founder of Walkmore (alternative credit scoring using big data, acquired by GTE Financial). Thomas is an alum of Singularity University at NASA AMES Research Centre, The National University of Singapore, and Simon Fraser University, where he was a two-time Academic and Athletic All-American in Track & Field.
Viet Le, Senior Manager Tax Services, PwC
Viet Le is a Senior Manager in the Tax Services practice of PwC based in the Vancouver office. He leads the technology team in all IT, software, hardware and digital media SR&ED claims and has 12 years of industry experience and more than 8 years of dedicated SR&ED experience. He has extensive experience in helping companies strategise, plan, and maximise their SR&ED claims, across such areas of technology as cloud computing, big data, inventory management, supply chain distribution and gaming. Viet has worked on clients with expenditures ranging from $50K to $30M. Viet also knows first hand what it is to be a start-up entrepreneur!
And more speakers coming soon…
Networking Reception (5 - 7pm) at Library Square Public House
Register Your Tickets Now
Seeking volunteers for VanFUNDING 2015 - sign up 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 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.
[/restab]
[restab title="Sponsors"]
Hosted By:
Title Sponsor:
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Register Your Tickets Now
Interested in sponsoring VanFUNDING 2015 or becoming a community partner?
Contact us today for a sponsorship package!
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.
[/restab]
[restab title="Volunteers"]
Get Involved! Would you like to Volunteer at VanFUNDING 2015?
VanFUNDING 2015: Crowdfunding Conference takes place on Tuesday, September 29, 2015 at Library Square (Alice MacKay Room, Lower Level) on 350 West Georgia St. Vancouver, BC V6B 6B1 from 1pm - 5pm, followed by the Networking Reception from 5pm - 7pm at Library Square Public House on 300 West Georgia St.
For this event we are looking for a few volunteers to lend a hand, anywhere from managing the conference registration, greeting and directing attendees, arranging speaker tent cards and logistics between sessions, assisting with mentor session setup, assisting event staff with logistics, inquiries, and miscellaneous activities throughout the day, and more.
Outgoing and energetic people who like working as a team are encouraged to submit their names! Selected volunteers will be contacted directly to schedule an orientation call, and will receive free access to the full conference, including the evening Networking Reception.
This event would not be possible without the dedicated help of volunteers, so thank you in advance!
Interested in volunteering for the event?
Please complete the sign-up form: sign up here!
[/restab]
[restab title="Register Now"]
SOLD OUT! Limited tickets available at the door:
$60 standard ticket; $35 networking reception only
How to Register
Tickets to VanFUNDING2015 may be purchased by registering your tickets directly below.
- All half-day conference tickets include main day programming (12:30-5PM) + Access to the Networking Reception from 5 - 7 PM
- Networking Reception Only tickets can be purchased separately for $25
- 5% GST will be added at checkout and you will receive an email confirmation with your ticket(s)
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Questions about tickets? Please contact info@ncfacanada.org. Not yet a NCFA member? Sign up today.
#VanFUNDING2015 Live Twitter Wall (click to view)
HALF-DAY CONFERENCE + NETWORKING
Date: Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Venue: Library Square (Alice MacKay Room, Lower Level)
350 West Georgia St. Vancouver, BC V6B 6B1 (map)
Time: 12:50pm – 7:00pm (Registration opens from 12:30pm)
Registration: $40 Members* / $50 Non-members* / $60 At the door
*All conference tickets include access to the Networking Reception. Add 5% GST.
Tickets are limited (SOLD OUT!!). Avoid disappointment and register today.
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Attendee Perks (for half-day conference tickets)!
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Entered to WIN 2/3 Days Weekend Getaway at Quidni Estate Winery, the #2 Tripadvisor B&B in the Okanagan Valley (Penticton, BC) (~$600)
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Free comprehensive equity crowdfunding 'investor perspective' e-book download (Venture Law Corp / NCFA)
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Chance for one winning start-up/business to receive their TOP 50 investor matches via Meet Walter (Klinch)
NETWORKING RECEPTION (Includes Mentoring)
Date: Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Venue: Library Square Public House
300 West Georgia St. (map)
Time: 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Registration: $25 per ticket
Includes 1 drink and appetizers. Add 5% GST.
Seeking volunteers for VanFUNDING 2015 - sign up here!
Some attending companies:
Black Press
Optimize Capital Markets
Dreamy Land Home
Vancity
WUTIF Capital
Take It Public Services Inc.
Crowdfund Suite
GeoInvest Enterprises Inc.
University of Chicago Alternative Finance Initiative
Pop! Social Media Solutions
DesignCultureMind
Zi Yang
Dentons
ASC Creative Ltd.
CrowdShot
progressa
InvestX Capital Ltd
elevate vacations
International Royalties Corporation
BCfinestexports
Veritas Nutraceuticals,Inc.
Caesar Elliott Capital Partners
Market One Media Group
GoPage
CrowdGift
Finstripe
Futurpreneur
Premier's Technology Council
E-Fund
DuMoulin Black LLP
RwE Growth Partners, Inc.
Investec Solutions Inc.
The Profile Inc.
GoCrowd.com
Business Model Edge
BC Centre for Social Enterprise
Work In Startups
Pharmacy first
cognitiveVR
CanaDragon
Kickstart Business Catalyst
Butti Cigarette Saver
Robin Ford Consulting
FrontFundr
NRC-IRAP Concierge Service
SeedUps Canada
Concepta Developments Ltd.
FundRazr
Investment Capital Branch, Ministry of International Trade
New Venture Consultants Inc.
Harveen Thauli, Barrister & Solicitor
Frank Tipper
NRC-IRAP
Dockit Marine Software Inc.
Richards Buell Sutton LLP
AFEX - Associated Foreign Exchange
Frank Yeh Photography
McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Change Catalyst | SFU
CANADA ASIA BUSINESS NETWORK
Project Manager
Quidni Estate Winery
Startup
Lendified
Hedzup
TSX Venture Exchange
Cambridge House Intl. Inc.
VariableGrid
NCFA Canada
L'Opera Law Corporation
Grouplend
Crowdmatrix
Mantech Activities
Community Futures BC
Capital Investment Network
Kingswood Real Estate Management Inc
Highline
Guusto
Interactio
Thrinacia Inc.
Miller Thomson LLP
Sansaire
Klinch
T-Net
Bacchus Law Corporation
Lazo Management corp.
CFIC
NKF Devencore
Venture Law Corporation
sutton realty
Designathon
Vancouver Opera
Lending Loop
Balley Ventures Inc.
PwC
Project4 Living Systems
Julie Rezler
Pacific King Investments
Capture the Moment Media
jbyj
BCIC
CoinPayments
G-Kup Coffee
Berkley street cap
BC Securities Commission
Fit Assist Medical Inc
Vancouver Economic Commission
.commUNITY
Digital Finance Institute
VERONICA ARMSTRONG LAW CORPORATION
Lotz & Company
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.
[/restab]
[restab title="Win a free ticket!"]
Win a free ticket to VanFUNDING 2015!
Here's your chance to attend Western Canada's leading crowdfunding conference on Sep 29 for free! #VanFUNDING 2015 is for ventures and businesses seeking to raise seed and growth capital from online crowdfunding markets, and a chance to connect with investors, funding portals and other third party providers. We're giving away FREE PASSES to VanFUNDING 2015, sponsored by The OCMX and Crowdmatrix.
How to enter:
- Tweet OR post on Instagram, tagging #VanFUNDING2015 (or simply click the Tweet button below, and customize your tweet)
- Tell us why you want to attend the conference, your funding story, or funding needs (i.e. We're looking to get VanFUNDED to launch and grow our business! See you at @NCFACanada's #VanFUNDING2015!)
- Tag @NCFACanada in your post
Giveaway details:
- All entries posted before 11:59pm on Friday, September 27 will be considered
- Winners will be selected by the VanFUNDING 2015 organizing team based on merit and at our discretion
- Winners will be announced and contacted directly
- Winners will receive a free pass to the conference and networking reception
Please send any questions to info@ncfacanada.org.
[/restab]
[/restabs]
Alternative lending bubbles up into Canadian mainstream, gains traction among entrepreneurs
Financial Post | Sonya Bell | Jul 7, 2015
There isn’t much an entrepreneur in Edmonton, a branding specialist in Toronto, and the owner of a comics and games store in Halifax have in common. But when they recently sought capital for their growing businesses, all three arrived at the same answer — alternative financing.
“Alternative finance has really bubbled up into the mainstream in the U.S., in the U.K., in Australia – and in Canada it is now starting, finally, to bubble up,” said Steven Uster, who co-founded Toronto-based lending firm FundThrough.
More accessible than a bank loan and less complicated than crowdfunding, these online marketplace lenders use proprietary software to quickly assess a client’s loan eligibility, day or night. Like almost everything else today, it’s as easy as pointing and clicking.
“It’s pretty seamless,” Uster said. “Once you’ve filled in the application, you can get funded sometime between 24 and 72 hours later.”
Clearly there’s a lot of pent-up demand, a lot of Canadians looking for better solutions
Uster knows firsthand that time is money for entrepreneurs. Back when he launched his first online company, Zillidy, the only funding option was “bootstrapping.” But those days are finally coming to a close.
Canada’s first online marketplace lender, Vancouver-based Grouplend, launched last October, well after peer-to-peer lending had taken off in other countries. “Canada being Canada, we’re slow to innovate,” said Kevin Sandu, Grouplend’s CEO.
“We’ve got five big banks that hold the majority of the market and so we tend to get things late. It took a lot longer for us to get Netflix than our American counterparts and I think financial services is no different.”
Now that it’s available, consumers and businesses are rushing to take advantage. Grouplend, which specializes in consumer loans, is experiencing double the demand it expected at this point. Nearly 15 per cent of its customers use the loan for an entrepreneurial venture.
“Clearly there’s a lot of pent-up demand, a lot of Canadians looking for better solutions,” Sandhu said.
“It’s just not been a good fit with the traditional ways of lending.”
The success of alternative lending comes as no surprise to Sunil Sharma, a managing partner at Extreme Venture Partners, who closely watches Canada’s technology ecosystem. “I think it’s clear that traditional banks, particularly in Canada, have not been very supportive of this new generation of entrepreneurial startups,” Sharma said.
Related:
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Fintech Trends for 2015: Investing Services, Anti-Social Trading, and Digital Crowdfunding
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How Canadian startups are changing the way we bank
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Borrowell set to become second member of Canadian marketplace lender’s club
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NCFA Hosts Crowdlending Panel Discussion with InvestNextDoor and GroupLend
Banks prefer larger loans, which are more profitable, effectively shutting smaller players out of the process. Even though borrowing from an alternative lender might cost more, many businesses don’t have a choice.
Banks prefer larger loans, which are more profitable, effectively shutting smaller players out of the process. Even though borrowing from an alternative lender might cost more, many businesses don’t have a choice.
“The reality is for a lot of small businesses, it’s either high interest or zero cash,” said Kyle Dutka, co-founder of PB&J in Toronto, which specializes in design work for fellow small businesses.
Earlier this year, he and his co-founder Tom Collver applied for a $23,000 bank loan so they could expand PB&J’s marketing and hire additional staff. First came radio silence. Then, the answer: no. This was despite the pair having three years running an incorporated business under their belts.
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.
