VSW & Holt cordially invite you to enjoy three insightful speed-panels surrounding upcoming Fintech trends & challenges Canada is facing, including Data Protection, Wealth Management (including Digital Assets), & Lending.
The panel will be followed by a networking session where you will have the opportunity to chat with Holt Advisors, as well as, eight up & coming Fintech startups who will surely make a difference in Canada and beyond!
AGENDA: FRIDAY, SEPT 20
12:45 PM - 1:00 PM - Doors open & registration
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM - Speed-panels
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM - Networking
LOCATION: SPACES LOWER LEVEL
151 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 1H4 View Map
Holt Accelerator - Jan Christopher Arp, co-Founder & Managing Partner
Conatix David Lehrer, Founder & CEO – a cybersecurity firm preventing fraud and data theft from the inside. Conatix helps banks detect suspicious employee activity, improper behavior, policy violations and other threats on IT networks with thousands of employees, in real time.
ConfirmU Yatir Zaluski - helping individuals with little or no credit history gain access to financial products by combining financial data and psycholinguistics into an alternative credit scoring system.
HodlBot Calvin Leyon, co-Founder & CEO, Lucas Simpson, Programmer, Anthony Ng - a Canadian based customizable cryptocurrency trading bot that enables users to index the market, create and automatically rebalance their cryptocurrency portfolios.
LexAlign Trevor Lain, CEO - LexAlign PBC automates the "missing piece" for fraud and AML risk management: the ongoing monitoring, gap analysis and support of customer processes at scale, including for remote deposit capture (RDC), ACH and wires.
Maat.ai Alexei Stanislawski, CEO & Brian Minutti, Chairman - modernizing finance by creating new and compliant digital document management solutions. Their digital ID and wallet make secure interactions easy. This Mexican Fintech is enabling people and organizations to exchange digital documents safely, easily and efficiently, improving the experience for all parties.
Manzil Mohamad Sawwaf, co-Founder & CEO - many of the world's 1 billion Muslims cannot pay or receive interest on financial transactions, hindering their ability to purchase a home. Manzil offers them a murabaha mortgage, balancing modern business practices and religious obligations.
MarketsFlow Tom Nash, CEO - tackling the performance gap in do-it-yourself digital wealth management, MarketsFlow offers a portfolio optimization platform delivering high returns for online investors. This British firm consistently outperforms other robo-advisors available today.
WealthBlock.AI Trilliam Jeong, CEO - US based WealthBlock.AI invites investors to view financial documents via a secure link and tracks the interaction between these investors and the entrepreneurs, to gauge interest and streamline follow ups.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
REGISTER WITH NCFA 25% DISCOUNT CODE -> BLOCKCHAIN-19 (case sensitive)
Interested in disrupting the finance industry, raising capital or participating in Canada’s growing alternative investing and fintech sectors?
Here's a perfect opportunity to connect with emerging fintech, blockchain, crypto, AI, stealth and marketplace startups and experts, strategize with partners, pitch investors and mingle with Toronto’s burgeoning fintech ecosystem.
ANNUAL SUMMER KICKOFF EVENT
Date: THURSDAY, JULY 11, 2019
When: Registration opens 5:30PM to 9PM+
Venue: SPACES, 7th Floor Loft & Rooftop Patio
Where: 180 John Street, Toronto, ON M5T 1X5
TICKETS - GET'M BEFORE THEY'RE GONE!
All tickets include drinks, food, entertainment, prizes and prime networking...
Checkout photos from last year's Summer networking event here and the year prior here
This event is for all innovative companies raising capital AND the Fintech, Blockchain, AI and Alternative Investing Community
Innovators and investors interested in financial innovation, networking and collaborating with startups, investors, angels, early stage-focused VC's and industry experts and developers in alternative finance, crowdfunding, fintech, payments, crypto-currency, blockchain, ICOs / STOs, Artificial Intelligence-driven investing and other financial innovation sectors.
Women founders
Companies actively raising capital
Investors and syndicates interested in investing
Fintech advisors, consultants, and development experts (startups, institutions, researchers, academia, government)
Financial innovators and developers looking to partner or collaborate
High growth fintech start-ups (stealth mode) and scale-ups. Private or public.
Developers looking for opportunities and to connect with businesses
Funding platforms, dealers, providers and their client networks
Anyone interested in emerging fintech trends, regulations and industry developments
Event Host and Partners:
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, blockchain and cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks.
Gowling WLG is an international law firm created by the combination of Gowlings, a leading Canadian law firm, and Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co (WLG), a leading UK-based international law firm. With more than 1,400 legal professionals in 19 cities across Canada, the UK, Continental Europe, the Middle East and Asia, Gowling WLG provides clients with top-tier legal advice at home and abroad in a range of areas. Our clients have access to in-depth expertise and experience in key global sectors, including advanced manufacturing, energy, financial services, infrastructure, life sciences, natural resources, real estate and tech. We see the world through our clients’ eyes, and collaborate across countries, offices, service areas and sectors to help them succeed – no matter how challenging the circumstances. Our culture is, above all, about people and teams, based on our belief in the power of relationships to deliver tangible business results.
LoanConnect’s technology helps consumers search multiple lenders for competitive loan options in real-time. Since 2016, the company has been driving high quality traffic to lenders at an affordable cost, while giving consumers full control over the loan application process. Over the last few years the company’s substantial growth has been driven through organic traffic, through white-labelled solutions (websites such as RateSupermarket.ca, whose unsecured loan system is “powered by LoanConnect”), and through another 60+ referral partnerships, including several national and international brands.
We believe work is about people and ideas. Our Spaces are inhabited by forward thinkers, innovators and game changers who are confident in achieving their goals. Whether you are a small business, entrepreneur or a corporate intrapreneur, at Spaces we help our community to expand their horizon. Our free-spirited vibe attracts an energetic community of positive and open-minded business thinkers who love to meet new people. The full program of professional events and hospitality services, and the inspiring sophisticated European design of our business clubs, involves people in the buzz and energy of Spaces, and make them feel at home. By creating dynamic workspaces with a unique and entrepreneurial spirit we help you think, create and collaborate while our friendly team sees to all of the background logistics and services. At Spaces we make sure that our community can focus on driving their business forward.
Exponential Ventures is a digital asset impact fund that invests in startups that alleviate suffering and expand human potential to enable access to a meaningful life for everyone, everywhere. With our "Seed Round to Digital Security" blueprint we are migrating assets to the digital world, resolving government and financial exclusion, allowing the average person to influence more of what is built in this new world. The three pillars of our organization are access to open-source curriculum and solutions, timely guidance from trusted advisors, and access to the right investors at the right time, all to ensure founders build and scale fast.
Coinchange is an innovative Canadian financial services company, offering a range of services for the new digital asset economy. We offer a fast, transparent and digital OTC (Over-the-Counter) exchange service for buying and selling digital currencies for trades as low as $3K (during our Beta launch period). Fees are so yesterday, keep more of your money by using Coinchange.
3iQ Corp. (“3iQ”) is the first Canadian investment fund manager to agree to terms and conditions with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities which permit 3iQ to manage a multi-cryptoasset investment fund available to Canadian accredited investors. Our management, board of directors, and advisory group are committed to providing innovative investments of institutional quality. We are focused on educating individuals in disruptive technologies and the cryptoasset space.
BDO Canada has spent more than 90 years providing assurance, accounting, tax, and advisory services to a broad range of clients across the country. And as a member firm of the international BDO network, we leverage access to resources and advisors in more than 150 countries around the world. Founded in 1921, we have grown from a single office in Winnipeg to more than 3,000 partners and professionals in over 100 offices across Canada. Yet our strengths remain firmly rooted in the communities we serve. At BDO, we aim to create a collaborative working environment that makes it possible for our professionals and clients to achieve their goals. We always begin at the local, individual level, delivering highly personalized guidance, industry-specific knowledge, and unparalleled service to exceed the expectations of every client – public or private, big or small.
Consilium Crypto is a big data & analytics company developing institutional-grade investment analytics for the digital asset markets. Consilium aggregates and analyzes over 90% of the global public trade volume in digital assets and is continuing to expand their data pipelines to provide investors, traders and exchanges with advanced tools and real-time analytics information. These products leverage machine learning techniques to provide market participants with a complete, transparent view of price and liquidity for almost every digital asset in existence.
VirgoCX is a Canadian-based fiat-to-crypto trading platform powered by a proven and global cryptocurrency trading technology. As a FINTRAC registered MSB and FinCEN ready, retail and institutional clients can legally exchange fiat into cryptocurrency. The VirgoCX platform is now live with 24/7 live chat technical or trading support. Institutional traders, investors, crypto enthusiasts and beginners can safely and securely buy and sell Bitcoin, Ethereum and other popular digital currencies. VirgoCX is also working to become a global stablecoin trading centre.
EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.
For more information, please visit ey.com/ca. Follow us on Twitter @EYCanada.
EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.
United Craft’s mantra is “Together is Better” because we believe that, by bringing great people and brands together, we can collectively achieve a lot more. This is especially the case in the craft community as most companies are relatively small and lack “big company” resources. United Craft aims to connect great craft brewers with retailers and restaurants seeking delicious Ontario Craft beverages. We combine our knowledge of the industry, propriety data analytics, business planning experience, online licensee web order portal, and province wide sales and event activation team to grow many of Ontario’s emerging brewers.
We own and currently distribute 12 different craft beers and cider under the brand names of Hops & Robbers, Old Tomorrow, Eden Grove, Lokal, Double Trouble and (new in May) Highlander Scottish Ale and Blacksmith Smoked Porter. We are the sales and marketing agent for Market Brewing brands Leslie Crusher and Bear Hug IPA. Big, foreign competitors are waiting for all of us little guys to run out of steam – but by joining forces to combine resources we can keep fighting. Together IS better.
One of Canada’s top jazz orchestras is returning to the Toronto stage in what will truly be an all-star event.
Toronto Art Orchestra (TAO), led by bass trombonist and jazz educator Timothy Booth, includes many of Canada’s first-call jazz players, including Colleen Allen, Bruce Cassidy, Andrew McAnsh, and John McLeod.
The ensemble features vocalists Jessica Lalonde and Tanya Wills. TAO will present the works of two of the greatest jazz orchestra composers of all time: Maria Schneider and Bob Brookmeyer.
Attend in-person or online
The Toronto Art Orchestra concert will also be video-streamed with professional production values by JazzOvation.org (formerly TheJazzBox.ca) — a platform for Canadian jazz composers and performers that currently serves more than 60 artists. Be on the lookout for a growing series of upcoming JazzOvation concerts, featuring the best of Toronto’s – and Canada’s – jazz artists, as they perform at our finest jazz venues.
About Tim Booth
Tim Booth has been on the Canadian music scene for over 30 years, performing with a wide array of groups in the Montreal and Toronto areas. He has played with such artists as Aretha Franklin, Pavarotti, Yes, John Pizzarelli, George Burns, Chris De Burgh to name just a few. He has also played such musicals as Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Showboat, Ragtime, Miss Saigon. Lion King and Beauty and the Beast. In 2006 he created the Toronto Art Orchestra, a jazz orchestra devoted to playing the greatest jazz master’s works.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
REGISTER WITH NCFA 25% DISCOUNT CODE -> BLOCKCHAIN-19 (case sensitive)
Osgoode Professional Development York University | Nov 2019 Strictly Legal, an Osgoode Professional Development podcast, is about all things legal. Each episode, we unpack current issues affecting the legal landscape with the help of some of the industry's leading thinkers. Heated fights over intellectual property are nothing new in promising technology markets. Are we poised for a revolution in the protection of all types of IP? The blockchain can be used to control and track the distribution of protected IP. Imagine a world where you could easily register and claim ownership over your original creative works – from music to photos to blogs. With the use of blockchain technology, that world is not so far away. As the world reacts to the current blockchain mania, many businesses in the community are having discussions on what the future of innovation in the blockchain space looks like. This week's guest: Paul Horbal, Bereskin Parr (@horbal) BIO: Paul Horbal is a partner with Bereskin & Parr LLP. He is a member of the firm’s Electrical & Computer Technology group and is Chair of the Financial Technology group. His practice focuses on patent, industrial design and technology law, with an emphasis on securing and leveraging ... Read More
Reuters | Sharon Lam | Nov 8, 2019 Recession gatecrashes Hong Kong’s fintech party HONG KONG (Reuters Breakingviews) - Hong Kong’s economic travails are an unwelcome guest in the city’s fintech party. Enthusiasm for online-only banks was palpable at the Fintech Week conference. Yet months of political unrest have hit small businesses, and the added risks may delay local launches by the likes of Standard Chartered and Tencent. Attendees this week descended on Hong Kong’s Lantau Island for the financial hub’s fourth annual gathering. With appearances from top officials like Financial Secretary Paul Chan to executives at Singapore’s $14 billion Grab and other rising stars, there was plenty of buzz. Hot topics included central bank digital currencies and cross-border payments. See: News on China cryptocurrency and more reforms Virtual banks, as these branchless outfits are known in Hong Kong, took centre stage. Earlier this year, Hong Kong authorities granted eight licenses for such firms to offer payments, deposits and other services, in a long overdue shakeup. HSBC, Bank of China Hong Kong, Hang Seng Bank and Standard Chartered account for some three-quarters of the city’s mortgages and two-thirds of retail loans. Online challengers, including a joint venture between Chinese handset ... Read More
TLT Solicitors | Daniel Lloyd | Sept 2019 Who is liable when AI goes wrong? Let us take the example of Tesla, whose vehicles have been involved in two similar fatal crashes since 2016. In both cases the vehicle failed to see a lorry cross its path and travelled into the lorry shearing off the top of the car, thereby causing both drivers to suffer fatal injuries. Should Tesla be liable for the crash? At what point should a driver no longer have any liability for what the car is doing? At the moment the Department of Transport in the USA adheres to the automation standards set out by the SAE which run from “level 0” (no automation) to “level 6” (full automation). It is accepted that Tesla’s Autopilot driverless software system is no more than a level 2 or 3 on this scale, both of which require the driver to remain in control of the vehicle when driving. So from a public law perspective at least, Tesla is not being held liable for the two crashes that occurred if, as appears to be the case, the drivers were not in control of the vehicles at the time they crashed ... Read More
American Banker | Nov 6, 2019 JPMorgan Chase has long feared that technology giants will act more and more like banks. The firm’s surprising solution: help them do it. The bank has spent the last year developing an e-wallet tailored for companies such as Airbnb, Lyft and Amazon that it says could help online marketplaces and companies in the gig economy defend against getting cut out of the businesses they helped create. In the process, they’ll look a little more like banks. The JPMorgan product would give tech companies the ability to provide millions of customers virtual bank accounts and to offer perks such as car loans or discounts on home rentals to those who keep money stashed there. The more customers use their virtual accounts to pay for services, the less the companies would have to spend on payment-processing fees to third parties such as JPMorgan. See: JP Morgan is rolling out the first US bank-backed cryptocurrency to transform payments business “A company’s biggest fear is that once they establish a commerce-type relationship, they can’t maintain the end user, and they leave the ecosystem because they now have a direct relationship with the seller,” Matt Loos, a managing director ... Read More
Markets Insider | Ben Winck | Nov 8, 2019 Robinhood's "infinite leverage" glitch has placed the company back under regulator scrutiny, which could result in a fine, Bloomberg reported Thursday. One person on the WallStreetBets sub-Reddit — the forum where much of the discussion around the glitch has taken place — described the bug as an "infinite money cheat code." The Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority are the two agencies most likely to investigate the matter. Both have the authority to levy fines for financially-irresponsible behavior. The glitch that allowed traders to borrow limitless amounts of capital was exploited by about 20 users and led to losses of less than $100,000 for Robinhood, a source familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. Members of the WallStreetBets subreddit discovered the bug in late October, with one user deeming it an "infinite money cheat code." The bug allowed traders to borrow seemingly-limitless amounts of capital without posting enough cash as collateral. The glitch was exploited by about 20 Robinhood Gold users and led to losses of less than $100,000 for the company, a source familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. The Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial ... Read More
Betakit | Isabelle Kirkwood Nov 8, 2019 Vancouver-based FinTech startup Grow Technologies, which develops software solutions in the loan management space, has been acquired by Alberta’s ATB Financial. The purchase price was not disclosed. “With the Grow assets and team, we are strengthening that position by accelerating our digital experience for our customers.” Through the acquisition, the majority of Grow’s team members, including founder and CEO Kevin Sandhu (who authors BetaKit’s yearly Canadian Tech Companies to Watch list), will transition to the ATB team. ATB said its customers will begin to use Grow’s digital services within the next few months. Customers will have access to Grow’s digital platform, which was designed to help financial institutions acquire new users and grow wallet share with existing users. “The entire Grow team is excited about a new chapter ahead of us as we look to bring our FinTech solutions and expertise to ATB,” Sandhu told BetaKit. Grow offers a range of cloud-based digital banking solutions spanning retail and business banking. Founded in 2014, the company has developed a variety of software solutions, including account opening and lending for SMEs and retail, a personalized financial health tool, and Finsnap, a bank account data aggregator ... Read More
Mavennet and US Department Homeland Security | Patrick Mandic | Nov 6, 2019 WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has awarded $182,700 to Toronto-based Mavennet Systems, Inc. to adapt its oil and gas industry blockchain security technology for Custom Border Protection (CBP) to track cross-border oil imports. “Accurately tracking the evidence of oil flow through pipelines and refinement between the U.S. and Canada and attributing oil imports with the accurate composition and country of origin are of great interest to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP),” said Anil John, S&T’s SVIP Technical Director. “Mavennet’s platform could provide this digital auditability while ensuring broad interoperability by supporting emerging World Wide Web Consortium standards such as decentralized identifiers and verifiable credentials.” Mavennet Systems, Inc. Phase 1 award project “Blockchain-as-a-Service for Cross-Border Oil Exchange” will apply the company’s expertise, gleaned from building a platform enabling real-time auditability of the natural gas trading markets in Canada, to address CBP needs for cross-border oil import tracking. Mavennet’s solution will build a generic end-to-end platform that can be used for any type of commodity that includes automation and integrating application program interface, physical measurement and legacy system capabilities. See: President ... Read More
FastCompany | Howard Yu and Jialu Shan | Nov 6, 2019 Despite Facebook’s reach, IMD professor Howard Yu and research fellow Jialu Shan break down how its Libra digital currency is no match for legacy financial institutions. To understand the impact of Visa’s and Mastercard’s withdrawal to Libra is to understand their enormous influence in fintech innovation in the Western world. At the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), we track how likely a firm is to successfully leap toward a new knowledge frontier in its effort to prepare for the future. We specifically measure how ready the industry incumbents in the financial sectors are for new areas such as robo-advisers, cryptocurrency and blockchain, artificial intelligence, mobile services and mobile payments, and application programming interfaces (APIs). To achieve a balanced and robust measurement, we take note of the “health” of a company’s ongoing business through its cash flow, operating margins, and rising revenues. But for that healthy cash flow to be effectively deployed into new areas, executives need to see beyond their day-to-day operations and be capable of challenging the long-held assumptions of the industry. This process demands diversity in a company’s workforce, which is represented by gender and nationality ... Read More
TechCrunch | Arman Tabatabai | Nov 6, 2019 Over the past several years, ‘fintech’ has quietly become the unsung darling of venture. A rapidly swelling pool of new startups is taking aim at the large incumbent institutions, complex processes and outdated unfriendly interfaces that mar billion dollar financial services verticals, such as insurtech, consumer lending, personal finance, or otherwise. In just the past summer, the startup community saw a multitude of hundred-million dollar fintech fundraises. In 2018, fintech companies were the source of close to 1,300 venture deals worth over $15 billion in North America and Europe alone according to data from Pitchbook. Over the same period, KPMG estimates that over $52 billion in investment pour into fintech initiatives globally. See: How to Value a Fintech Startup With the non-stop stream of venture capital flowing into the never-ending list of spaces that fall under the ‘fintech’ umbrella, we asked 12 leading fintech VCs who work at firms that span early to growth stages to share where they see the most opportunity and how they see the market evolving over the long-term. The participants touched on a number of key trends in the space, including rapid innovation in fintech infrastructure, fintech ... Read More
Crowdfund Insider | JD Alois | Nov 5, 2019 Last month, Crowdfund Insider reported on comments by EC Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis, a Commissioner whose portfolio includes Financial Stability, Financial Services, and the Capital Markets Union, indicating harmonized crowdfunding rules may be forthcoming before the end of the year. In a tweet, Dombrovskis stated there is a “willingness to move forward and find compromises, hopefully still this year” (on investment crowdfunding). Harmonization across all EU member states could dramatically help European SMEs and entrepreneurs access much-needed growth capital. Platforms could operate across national borders with the assurance of a single set of regulations. Currently, investment crowdfunding platforms must adhere to national, member state rules which vary dramatically across Europe. This fragmented ecosystem stands in stark contrast to what the European Union ostensibly seeks to achieve. Capital Markets Union has been a longstanding and obvious policy goal of Europe, but while simple in concept, the reality has been far more difficult to accomplish. The most robust market for investment crowdfunding remains the UK – a country that will sometime soon exit Europe. While the UK platforms will continue to provide online capital formation across the continent, a single set of rules ... Read More
5th annual Fintech and Financing Conference in Toronto addressed challenges and successes of entrepreneurs and innovators transforming the financial industry
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / April 16, 2019 / The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA), the non-profit cross-body organization that promotes and supports fintech and funding throughout Canada, closed its 5th annual flagship Fintech and Financing Conference - FFCON - which featured numerous fintech market leaders, as well as industry experts, government officials, and prominent tech investors.
"FEARLESS" was the theme for this year's conference, celebrating the boldness and innovative nature of the FinTech industry, where entrepreneurs constantly challenge pre-existing financial systems with innovative new products and services. The conference brought together more than 500 attendees who experienced keynote speeches, immersive learning, workshops, startup pitch presentations and awards, an exhibitor floor, and networking receptions.
Key themes explored at FFCON19: FEARLESS:
RISK is a conscious choice and necessary to innovate;
Digital trust and security are essential for mass adoption;
The digital bank and future of fintech is already here;
Collaboration and new social (decentralized) models can revitalize markets controlled by incumbents with too much power and no incentive to change;
Private-public market funding trends shifting - seek low-cost liquidity, online funding does work, needs aligned critical mass, can unlock value;
Digital asset markets evolving (EIO, STO, stablcoins). Revisit playbooks, diversify, invest/build/prep for growth in securities, currency, record keeping, smart contracts;
Canadian fintech lacks a national strategy; regulation is complex, costly and needs to be streamlined and government at all levels are encouraged to collaborate with industry.
Conference Highlights include:
Over 50+ leading fintech, blockchain, AI and alternative finance experts, 9 pitching finalists and 40+ innovation ecosystem partners gathered to discuss the latest industry developments, trends, insider views and best practices.
The 2019 FFCON Pitch Competition Winner was Vacation Fund - an employer-matched travel savings program for employees. The winning pitch was by Erica Pearson, co-founder & CEO, who accepted the award on behalf of Vacation Fund from Richard Carlton, CEO of the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE).
Jon Medved, CEO of OurCrowd, who has raised over $1 billion for their companies gave a special keynote speech on the first day. OurCrowd was recently named the most active investor in Israel by PitchBook, with investments in 170 startups, and 18 funds, along with 29 exits so far.
FFCON19 FEARLESS was proud to have screened the Toronto premiere of TRUST MACHINE: The Story about Blockchain. The documentary and Q&A with John Lyotier, RightMesh CEO, was well received by the sold-out room at Gowlings and shone a light on the history and advancements of blockchain technology.
FFCON19 held an extremely popular consultation with The Honorable Bill Walker, Minister of Consumer and Government Services in Ontario, and steward of the province's new data policy.
NCFA expanded this year's program with the formal launch of its inaugural online Global Fintech Education program for entrepreneurs in conjunction with Next Decentrum Technologies. Attendees had an exclusive first look at the program with VIP attendees having received complimentary enrolment with conference registration. Early access to the program is now open and program directors are encouraging partners and fintech experts globally to connect to explore opportunities here.
Announcements at FFCON19
NCFA announced a partnership with Export Canada that will provide opportunities for qualifying Canadian fintech ventures to connect with global markets and investors with its first mission to enter Asia in early 2020.
Coinsquare, the Toronto based cryptocurrency exchange, announced the launch of eCAD™, the first stablecoin pegged to the Canadian Dollar. eCAD™ marks the beginning of a new era for cryptocurrency mass adoption as it will create the first transparent, affordable, and secure way of transferring value in Canada and beyond, without the risk of instability of the traditional cryptocurrency market. Coinsquare continues to cement their place as one of Canada's most reliable cryptocurrency exchanges.
3iQ Corp, the investment fund manager with a focus on cryptocurrency holdings, announced that it signed a letter of intent (LOI) to acquire First Block Capital's FBC Bitcoin Trust and Distributed Ledger Technology Adopters ETF.
The organizers offer special thanks to the conference partners, all the speakers, companies, and volunteers that helped make FFCON19 an informative and memorable event.
About the NCFA
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, blockchain and cryptocurrency, Regtech, and Insuretech sectors. To learn more about NCFA visit www.ncfacanada.org.
About FFCON
FFCON (Fintech and Financing Conference) is an annual conference hosted by Canada's National Crowdfunding and Fintech Association (NCFA). Now in its fifth year, FFCON19 brought together professionals and innovators in fintech, blockchain, cryptocurrency, and alternative finance. The theme of FFCON19 was FEARLESS which exudes the boldness of the fintech space where small players are challenging orthodoxy, going against convention and transforming the financial industry with innovative models and thinking. Further information about the conference series can be found at www.fintechandfunding.com.
Osgoode Professional Development York University | Nov 2019 Strictly Legal, an Osgoode Professional Development podcast, is about all things legal. Each episode, we unpack current issues affecting the legal landscape with the help of some of the industry's leading thinkers. Heated fights over intellectual property are nothing new in promising technology markets. Are we poised for a revolution in the protection of all types of IP? The blockchain can be used to control and track the distribution of protected IP. Imagine a world where you could easily register and claim ownership over your original creative works – from music to photos to blogs. With the use of blockchain technology, that world is not so far away. As the world reacts to the current blockchain mania, many businesses in the community are having discussions on what the future of innovation in the blockchain space looks like. This week's guest: Paul Horbal, Bereskin Parr (@horbal) BIO: Paul Horbal is a partner with Bereskin & Parr LLP. He is a member of the firm’s Electrical & Computer Technology group and is Chair of the Financial Technology group. His practice focuses on patent, industrial design and technology law, with an emphasis on securing and leveraging ... Read More
Reuters | Sharon Lam | Nov 8, 2019 Recession gatecrashes Hong Kong’s fintech party HONG KONG (Reuters Breakingviews) - Hong Kong’s economic travails are an unwelcome guest in the city’s fintech party. Enthusiasm for online-only banks was palpable at the Fintech Week conference. Yet months of political unrest have hit small businesses, and the added risks may delay local launches by the likes of Standard Chartered and Tencent. Attendees this week descended on Hong Kong’s Lantau Island for the financial hub’s fourth annual gathering. With appearances from top officials like Financial Secretary Paul Chan to executives at Singapore’s $14 billion Grab and other rising stars, there was plenty of buzz. Hot topics included central bank digital currencies and cross-border payments. See: News on China cryptocurrency and more reforms Virtual banks, as these branchless outfits are known in Hong Kong, took centre stage. Earlier this year, Hong Kong authorities granted eight licenses for such firms to offer payments, deposits and other services, in a long overdue shakeup. HSBC, Bank of China Hong Kong, Hang Seng Bank and Standard Chartered account for some three-quarters of the city’s mortgages and two-thirds of retail loans. Online challengers, including a joint venture between Chinese handset ... Read More
TLT Solicitors | Daniel Lloyd | Sept 2019 Who is liable when AI goes wrong? Let us take the example of Tesla, whose vehicles have been involved in two similar fatal crashes since 2016. In both cases the vehicle failed to see a lorry cross its path and travelled into the lorry shearing off the top of the car, thereby causing both drivers to suffer fatal injuries. Should Tesla be liable for the crash? At what point should a driver no longer have any liability for what the car is doing? At the moment the Department of Transport in the USA adheres to the automation standards set out by the SAE which run from “level 0” (no automation) to “level 6” (full automation). It is accepted that Tesla’s Autopilot driverless software system is no more than a level 2 or 3 on this scale, both of which require the driver to remain in control of the vehicle when driving. So from a public law perspective at least, Tesla is not being held liable for the two crashes that occurred if, as appears to be the case, the drivers were not in control of the vehicles at the time they crashed ... Read More
American Banker | Nov 6, 2019 JPMorgan Chase has long feared that technology giants will act more and more like banks. The firm’s surprising solution: help them do it. The bank has spent the last year developing an e-wallet tailored for companies such as Airbnb, Lyft and Amazon that it says could help online marketplaces and companies in the gig economy defend against getting cut out of the businesses they helped create. In the process, they’ll look a little more like banks. The JPMorgan product would give tech companies the ability to provide millions of customers virtual bank accounts and to offer perks such as car loans or discounts on home rentals to those who keep money stashed there. The more customers use their virtual accounts to pay for services, the less the companies would have to spend on payment-processing fees to third parties such as JPMorgan. See: JP Morgan is rolling out the first US bank-backed cryptocurrency to transform payments business “A company’s biggest fear is that once they establish a commerce-type relationship, they can’t maintain the end user, and they leave the ecosystem because they now have a direct relationship with the seller,” Matt Loos, a managing director ... Read More
Markets Insider | Ben Winck | Nov 8, 2019 Robinhood's "infinite leverage" glitch has placed the company back under regulator scrutiny, which could result in a fine, Bloomberg reported Thursday. One person on the WallStreetBets sub-Reddit — the forum where much of the discussion around the glitch has taken place — described the bug as an "infinite money cheat code." The Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority are the two agencies most likely to investigate the matter. Both have the authority to levy fines for financially-irresponsible behavior. The glitch that allowed traders to borrow limitless amounts of capital was exploited by about 20 users and led to losses of less than $100,000 for Robinhood, a source familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. Members of the WallStreetBets subreddit discovered the bug in late October, with one user deeming it an "infinite money cheat code." The bug allowed traders to borrow seemingly-limitless amounts of capital without posting enough cash as collateral. The glitch was exploited by about 20 Robinhood Gold users and led to losses of less than $100,000 for the company, a source familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. The Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial ... Read More
Betakit | Isabelle Kirkwood Nov 8, 2019 Vancouver-based FinTech startup Grow Technologies, which develops software solutions in the loan management space, has been acquired by Alberta’s ATB Financial. The purchase price was not disclosed. “With the Grow assets and team, we are strengthening that position by accelerating our digital experience for our customers.” Through the acquisition, the majority of Grow’s team members, including founder and CEO Kevin Sandhu (who authors BetaKit’s yearly Canadian Tech Companies to Watch list), will transition to the ATB team. ATB said its customers will begin to use Grow’s digital services within the next few months. Customers will have access to Grow’s digital platform, which was designed to help financial institutions acquire new users and grow wallet share with existing users. “The entire Grow team is excited about a new chapter ahead of us as we look to bring our FinTech solutions and expertise to ATB,” Sandhu told BetaKit. Grow offers a range of cloud-based digital banking solutions spanning retail and business banking. Founded in 2014, the company has developed a variety of software solutions, including account opening and lending for SMEs and retail, a personalized financial health tool, and Finsnap, a bank account data aggregator ... Read More
Mavennet and US Department Homeland Security | Patrick Mandic | Nov 6, 2019 WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has awarded $182,700 to Toronto-based Mavennet Systems, Inc. to adapt its oil and gas industry blockchain security technology for Custom Border Protection (CBP) to track cross-border oil imports. “Accurately tracking the evidence of oil flow through pipelines and refinement between the U.S. and Canada and attributing oil imports with the accurate composition and country of origin are of great interest to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP),” said Anil John, S&T’s SVIP Technical Director. “Mavennet’s platform could provide this digital auditability while ensuring broad interoperability by supporting emerging World Wide Web Consortium standards such as decentralized identifiers and verifiable credentials.” Mavennet Systems, Inc. Phase 1 award project “Blockchain-as-a-Service for Cross-Border Oil Exchange” will apply the company’s expertise, gleaned from building a platform enabling real-time auditability of the natural gas trading markets in Canada, to address CBP needs for cross-border oil import tracking. Mavennet’s solution will build a generic end-to-end platform that can be used for any type of commodity that includes automation and integrating application program interface, physical measurement and legacy system capabilities. See: President ... Read More
FastCompany | Howard Yu and Jialu Shan | Nov 6, 2019 Despite Facebook’s reach, IMD professor Howard Yu and research fellow Jialu Shan break down how its Libra digital currency is no match for legacy financial institutions. To understand the impact of Visa’s and Mastercard’s withdrawal to Libra is to understand their enormous influence in fintech innovation in the Western world. At the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), we track how likely a firm is to successfully leap toward a new knowledge frontier in its effort to prepare for the future. We specifically measure how ready the industry incumbents in the financial sectors are for new areas such as robo-advisers, cryptocurrency and blockchain, artificial intelligence, mobile services and mobile payments, and application programming interfaces (APIs). To achieve a balanced and robust measurement, we take note of the “health” of a company’s ongoing business through its cash flow, operating margins, and rising revenues. But for that healthy cash flow to be effectively deployed into new areas, executives need to see beyond their day-to-day operations and be capable of challenging the long-held assumptions of the industry. This process demands diversity in a company’s workforce, which is represented by gender and nationality ... Read More
TechCrunch | Arman Tabatabai | Nov 6, 2019 Over the past several years, ‘fintech’ has quietly become the unsung darling of venture. A rapidly swelling pool of new startups is taking aim at the large incumbent institutions, complex processes and outdated unfriendly interfaces that mar billion dollar financial services verticals, such as insurtech, consumer lending, personal finance, or otherwise. In just the past summer, the startup community saw a multitude of hundred-million dollar fintech fundraises. In 2018, fintech companies were the source of close to 1,300 venture deals worth over $15 billion in North America and Europe alone according to data from Pitchbook. Over the same period, KPMG estimates that over $52 billion in investment pour into fintech initiatives globally. See: How to Value a Fintech Startup With the non-stop stream of venture capital flowing into the never-ending list of spaces that fall under the ‘fintech’ umbrella, we asked 12 leading fintech VCs who work at firms that span early to growth stages to share where they see the most opportunity and how they see the market evolving over the long-term. The participants touched on a number of key trends in the space, including rapid innovation in fintech infrastructure, fintech ... Read More
Crowdfund Insider | JD Alois | Nov 5, 2019 Last month, Crowdfund Insider reported on comments by EC Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis, a Commissioner whose portfolio includes Financial Stability, Financial Services, and the Capital Markets Union, indicating harmonized crowdfunding rules may be forthcoming before the end of the year. In a tweet, Dombrovskis stated there is a “willingness to move forward and find compromises, hopefully still this year” (on investment crowdfunding). Harmonization across all EU member states could dramatically help European SMEs and entrepreneurs access much-needed growth capital. Platforms could operate across national borders with the assurance of a single set of regulations. Currently, investment crowdfunding platforms must adhere to national, member state rules which vary dramatically across Europe. This fragmented ecosystem stands in stark contrast to what the European Union ostensibly seeks to achieve. Capital Markets Union has been a longstanding and obvious policy goal of Europe, but while simple in concept, the reality has been far more difficult to accomplish. The most robust market for investment crowdfunding remains the UK – a country that will sometime soon exit Europe. While the UK platforms will continue to provide online capital formation across the continent, a single set of rules ... Read More
NCFA and FFCON19 to host Toronto’s first screening of the Alex Winter documentary, TRUST MACHINE: The Story of Blockchain and exclusive fireside chat with John Lyotier, RightMesh CEO
TORONTO – March 26, 2019 – The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA) will kick off FFCON19 – its annual FinTech, blockchain, and AI conference taking place in Toronto April 3-4, with the Toronto screening premiere of Alex Winter’s deep-dive blockchain documentary, “TRUST MACHINE: The Story of Blockchain”.
TRUST MACHINE, written and directed by award-winning filmmaker Alex Winter (DeepWeb, Downloaded) and narrated by Rosario Dawson, explores the evolution of blockchain, cryptocurrency and decentralization and examines the implications from ethical, political and social perspectives. Winter follows tech innovators striking a raw nerve, as banks and network pundits rush to condemn volatile cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. He reveals how proponents of blockchain are already using the technology to build networks that address real world problems such as fighting income inequality, the refugee crisis, and world hunger.
Now in its 5th year, FFCON19 will bring together prominent industry experts, entrepreneurs, professionals, regulatory bodies and ecosystem stakeholders in fintech, blockchain, digital assets, AI, capital markets innovation, and alternative finance to discuss Canadian fintech and its ability to innovate and globally compete, the latest industry developments, emerging regulation, trends and thought leadership in a fearless framework and forum.
The two-day event, taking place April 3-4 in Toronto, will feature inspiring keynote addresses and panel discussions with industry leaders, pitching competitions, awards, and prime networking opportunities.
FFCON19 will screen TRUST MACHINE on Wednesday, April 3rd at 1:10 p.m. followed by an exclusive fireside chat with John Lyotier, CEO of RightMesh, who features in the documentary. John Lyotier is also participating on a panel the following day April 4th, discussing how disruptive technologies are transforming finance, culture and society.
“Alex Winter’s documentary is dramatic, poignant and thought-provoking for all audiences from those new to blockchain to those who work deep in the industry”, says Lyotier. “FFCON is an ideal event for the Toronto premiere screening as there is no doubt that blockchain is fundamentally changing the future of finance.”
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, blockchain and cryptocurrency, Regtech, and Insurtech sectors. To learn more about NCFA visit www.ncfacanada.org
About FFCON19: FEARLESS
FFCON19 (2019 Fintech and Funding Conference) is an annual conference hosted by Canada’s National Crowdfunding and Fintech Association (NCFA). Now in its fifth year, FFCON19 will bring together professionals and innovators in fintech, blockchain, cryptocurrency, and alternative finance. The theme of FFCON19 is FEARLESS which exudes the boldness of the fintech space where small players are challenging orthodoxy, going against convention and transforming the financial industry with innovative models and thinking. The event is being held April 3-4 in downtown Toronto. #FFCON19
Media Contact Michele McDermott-Fox
The Top Floor Public Relations pr@thetopflooragency.com
(905) 379-1893
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
REGISTER WITH NCFA 25% DISCOUNT CODE -> BLOCKCHAIN-19 (case sensitive)
Osgoode Professional Development York University | Nov 2019 Strictly Legal, an Osgoode Professional Development podcast, is about all things legal. Each episode, we unpack current issues affecting the legal landscape with the help of some of the industry's leading thinkers. Heated fights over intellectual property are nothing new in promising technology markets. Are we poised for a revolution in the protection of all types of IP? The blockchain can be used to control and track the distribution of protected IP. Imagine a world where you could easily register and claim ownership over your original creative works – from music to photos to blogs. With the use of blockchain technology, that world is not so far away. As the world reacts to the current blockchain mania, many businesses in the community are having discussions on what the future of innovation in the blockchain space looks like. This week's guest: Paul Horbal, Bereskin Parr (@horbal) BIO: Paul Horbal is a partner with Bereskin & Parr LLP. He is a member of the firm’s Electrical & Computer Technology group and is Chair of the Financial Technology group. His practice focuses on patent, industrial design and technology law, with an emphasis on securing and leveraging ... Read More
Reuters | Sharon Lam | Nov 8, 2019 Recession gatecrashes Hong Kong’s fintech party HONG KONG (Reuters Breakingviews) - Hong Kong’s economic travails are an unwelcome guest in the city’s fintech party. Enthusiasm for online-only banks was palpable at the Fintech Week conference. Yet months of political unrest have hit small businesses, and the added risks may delay local launches by the likes of Standard Chartered and Tencent. Attendees this week descended on Hong Kong’s Lantau Island for the financial hub’s fourth annual gathering. With appearances from top officials like Financial Secretary Paul Chan to executives at Singapore’s $14 billion Grab and other rising stars, there was plenty of buzz. Hot topics included central bank digital currencies and cross-border payments. See: News on China cryptocurrency and more reforms Virtual banks, as these branchless outfits are known in Hong Kong, took centre stage. Earlier this year, Hong Kong authorities granted eight licenses for such firms to offer payments, deposits and other services, in a long overdue shakeup. HSBC, Bank of China Hong Kong, Hang Seng Bank and Standard Chartered account for some three-quarters of the city’s mortgages and two-thirds of retail loans. Online challengers, including a joint venture between Chinese handset ... Read More
TLT Solicitors | Daniel Lloyd | Sept 2019 Who is liable when AI goes wrong? Let us take the example of Tesla, whose vehicles have been involved in two similar fatal crashes since 2016. In both cases the vehicle failed to see a lorry cross its path and travelled into the lorry shearing off the top of the car, thereby causing both drivers to suffer fatal injuries. Should Tesla be liable for the crash? At what point should a driver no longer have any liability for what the car is doing? At the moment the Department of Transport in the USA adheres to the automation standards set out by the SAE which run from “level 0” (no automation) to “level 6” (full automation). It is accepted that Tesla’s Autopilot driverless software system is no more than a level 2 or 3 on this scale, both of which require the driver to remain in control of the vehicle when driving. So from a public law perspective at least, Tesla is not being held liable for the two crashes that occurred if, as appears to be the case, the drivers were not in control of the vehicles at the time they crashed ... Read More
American Banker | Nov 6, 2019 JPMorgan Chase has long feared that technology giants will act more and more like banks. The firm’s surprising solution: help them do it. The bank has spent the last year developing an e-wallet tailored for companies such as Airbnb, Lyft and Amazon that it says could help online marketplaces and companies in the gig economy defend against getting cut out of the businesses they helped create. In the process, they’ll look a little more like banks. The JPMorgan product would give tech companies the ability to provide millions of customers virtual bank accounts and to offer perks such as car loans or discounts on home rentals to those who keep money stashed there. The more customers use their virtual accounts to pay for services, the less the companies would have to spend on payment-processing fees to third parties such as JPMorgan. See: JP Morgan is rolling out the first US bank-backed cryptocurrency to transform payments business “A company’s biggest fear is that once they establish a commerce-type relationship, they can’t maintain the end user, and they leave the ecosystem because they now have a direct relationship with the seller,” Matt Loos, a managing director ... Read More
Markets Insider | Ben Winck | Nov 8, 2019 Robinhood's "infinite leverage" glitch has placed the company back under regulator scrutiny, which could result in a fine, Bloomberg reported Thursday. One person on the WallStreetBets sub-Reddit — the forum where much of the discussion around the glitch has taken place — described the bug as an "infinite money cheat code." The Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority are the two agencies most likely to investigate the matter. Both have the authority to levy fines for financially-irresponsible behavior. The glitch that allowed traders to borrow limitless amounts of capital was exploited by about 20 users and led to losses of less than $100,000 for Robinhood, a source familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. Members of the WallStreetBets subreddit discovered the bug in late October, with one user deeming it an "infinite money cheat code." The bug allowed traders to borrow seemingly-limitless amounts of capital without posting enough cash as collateral. The glitch was exploited by about 20 Robinhood Gold users and led to losses of less than $100,000 for the company, a source familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. The Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial ... Read More
Betakit | Isabelle Kirkwood Nov 8, 2019 Vancouver-based FinTech startup Grow Technologies, which develops software solutions in the loan management space, has been acquired by Alberta’s ATB Financial. The purchase price was not disclosed. “With the Grow assets and team, we are strengthening that position by accelerating our digital experience for our customers.” Through the acquisition, the majority of Grow’s team members, including founder and CEO Kevin Sandhu (who authors BetaKit’s yearly Canadian Tech Companies to Watch list), will transition to the ATB team. ATB said its customers will begin to use Grow’s digital services within the next few months. Customers will have access to Grow’s digital platform, which was designed to help financial institutions acquire new users and grow wallet share with existing users. “The entire Grow team is excited about a new chapter ahead of us as we look to bring our FinTech solutions and expertise to ATB,” Sandhu told BetaKit. Grow offers a range of cloud-based digital banking solutions spanning retail and business banking. Founded in 2014, the company has developed a variety of software solutions, including account opening and lending for SMEs and retail, a personalized financial health tool, and Finsnap, a bank account data aggregator ... Read More
Mavennet and US Department Homeland Security | Patrick Mandic | Nov 6, 2019 WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has awarded $182,700 to Toronto-based Mavennet Systems, Inc. to adapt its oil and gas industry blockchain security technology for Custom Border Protection (CBP) to track cross-border oil imports. “Accurately tracking the evidence of oil flow through pipelines and refinement between the U.S. and Canada and attributing oil imports with the accurate composition and country of origin are of great interest to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP),” said Anil John, S&T’s SVIP Technical Director. “Mavennet’s platform could provide this digital auditability while ensuring broad interoperability by supporting emerging World Wide Web Consortium standards such as decentralized identifiers and verifiable credentials.” Mavennet Systems, Inc. Phase 1 award project “Blockchain-as-a-Service for Cross-Border Oil Exchange” will apply the company’s expertise, gleaned from building a platform enabling real-time auditability of the natural gas trading markets in Canada, to address CBP needs for cross-border oil import tracking. Mavennet’s solution will build a generic end-to-end platform that can be used for any type of commodity that includes automation and integrating application program interface, physical measurement and legacy system capabilities. See: President ... Read More
FastCompany | Howard Yu and Jialu Shan | Nov 6, 2019 Despite Facebook’s reach, IMD professor Howard Yu and research fellow Jialu Shan break down how its Libra digital currency is no match for legacy financial institutions. To understand the impact of Visa’s and Mastercard’s withdrawal to Libra is to understand their enormous influence in fintech innovation in the Western world. At the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), we track how likely a firm is to successfully leap toward a new knowledge frontier in its effort to prepare for the future. We specifically measure how ready the industry incumbents in the financial sectors are for new areas such as robo-advisers, cryptocurrency and blockchain, artificial intelligence, mobile services and mobile payments, and application programming interfaces (APIs). To achieve a balanced and robust measurement, we take note of the “health” of a company’s ongoing business through its cash flow, operating margins, and rising revenues. But for that healthy cash flow to be effectively deployed into new areas, executives need to see beyond their day-to-day operations and be capable of challenging the long-held assumptions of the industry. This process demands diversity in a company’s workforce, which is represented by gender and nationality ... Read More
TechCrunch | Arman Tabatabai | Nov 6, 2019 Over the past several years, ‘fintech’ has quietly become the unsung darling of venture. A rapidly swelling pool of new startups is taking aim at the large incumbent institutions, complex processes and outdated unfriendly interfaces that mar billion dollar financial services verticals, such as insurtech, consumer lending, personal finance, or otherwise. In just the past summer, the startup community saw a multitude of hundred-million dollar fintech fundraises. In 2018, fintech companies were the source of close to 1,300 venture deals worth over $15 billion in North America and Europe alone according to data from Pitchbook. Over the same period, KPMG estimates that over $52 billion in investment pour into fintech initiatives globally. See: How to Value a Fintech Startup With the non-stop stream of venture capital flowing into the never-ending list of spaces that fall under the ‘fintech’ umbrella, we asked 12 leading fintech VCs who work at firms that span early to growth stages to share where they see the most opportunity and how they see the market evolving over the long-term. The participants touched on a number of key trends in the space, including rapid innovation in fintech infrastructure, fintech ... Read More
Crowdfund Insider | JD Alois | Nov 5, 2019 Last month, Crowdfund Insider reported on comments by EC Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis, a Commissioner whose portfolio includes Financial Stability, Financial Services, and the Capital Markets Union, indicating harmonized crowdfunding rules may be forthcoming before the end of the year. In a tweet, Dombrovskis stated there is a “willingness to move forward and find compromises, hopefully still this year” (on investment crowdfunding). Harmonization across all EU member states could dramatically help European SMEs and entrepreneurs access much-needed growth capital. Platforms could operate across national borders with the assurance of a single set of regulations. Currently, investment crowdfunding platforms must adhere to national, member state rules which vary dramatically across Europe. This fragmented ecosystem stands in stark contrast to what the European Union ostensibly seeks to achieve. Capital Markets Union has been a longstanding and obvious policy goal of Europe, but while simple in concept, the reality has been far more difficult to accomplish. The most robust market for investment crowdfunding remains the UK – a country that will sometime soon exit Europe. While the UK platforms will continue to provide online capital formation across the continent, a single set of rules ... Read More
FFCON19 FEARLESS to address the challenges and successes of entrepreneurs and innovators in the vanguard of transforming the financial industry
TORONTO, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 19, 2019 / The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA), the non-profit cross-body organisation that promotes and supports fintech and funding throughout Canada, is proud to announce additions to the speaker line-up and programme for its flagship Fintech and Financing Conference - FFCON19: FEARLESS - taking place in Toronto April 3-4.
Now in its 5th year, FFCON19 will bring together prominent industry experts, entrepreneurs, professionals, regulatory bodies and ecosystem stakeholders in fintech, blockchain, crypto, AI, capital markets innovation and alternative finance to discuss Canadian fintech and its ability to innovate and globally compete, the latest industry developments, emerging regulation, trends and thought leadership in a fearless framework and forum.
The two-day event will feature inspiring keynote addresses and panel discussions with industry leaders, pitching competitions, awards, and prime networking opportunities.
Prominent speakers include The Honorable Bill Walker, Minister of Consumer and Government Services, Ontario, and steward of the Province's new Data policy; and Teri Kirk, Founder & CEO of Fundingportal who will discuss Open Data vs. Proprietary Data, examining public and private sector values, views, and issues.
Notable investors speaking at FFCON19 include Robert Antoniades General Partner and Co-Founder Information Venture Partners, Karim Gillani General Partner Luge Capital, Christian Lassonde Founder & Managing Partner Impression Ventures, Russell Samuels Partner Whitecap Venture Partners, and Sunil Sharma Managing Director Techstars Toronto.
''FFCON19 is very honoured to have such influential speakers at this year's conference,'' said Craig Asano, Founder and CEO of NCFA. ''FFCON is proving to be an increasingly important event for promoting innovation in the fintech and funding industry in Canada. The support and contributions of these authoritative leaders will serve to further advance innovation in the sector.''
Among the featured entrepreneurs and innovators sharing their FEARLESS strategies for innovation and growth are Anthony Di Iorio Co-Founder, Founder & CEO of Ethereum, and Jaxx & Decentral; Dr. Dan Rosen Chief Executive Officer d1g1t Inc., the enterprise financial technology company serving the wealth management industry; Eli Fathi President and CEO Mindbridge AI, recognised as a CIX Top 20 in 2017; and Toufi Saliba Founder and CEO TODA Network.
Day 1 will feature an afternoon program of interactive sessions to discuss topics key to industry growth, regulatory challenges in fintech sectors, and advanced workshops such as applying design thinking to develop consumer-centric, data-driven products followed by a VIP networking reception at Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP.
Day 2 will feature the full day FFCON19 conference that showcases new technologies and fresh thinking around challenging topics from open banking, digital securities, crypto commodities and investment crowdfunding to the latest developments in AI finance models and enterprise blockchain adoption, use cases and projects. Twelve people's choice emerging fintech start-ups will pitch and the main stage will host a consultation with the Ontario Government, CSA Regulators and fearless dialogues on Canada's ability to innovate, compete, grow and sustain industry.
Building on the success of last year's sold-out conference, NCFA has expanded this year's program with the formal launch its inaugural Global Fintech Education program for entrepreneurs in conjunction with Next Decentrum Technologies. Attendees will get an exclusive first look at the program and VIP attendees will receive complimentary enrolment with conference registration.
Supporting Start-Ups
To promote innovation and funding for early stage companies FFCON19 is offering start-ups discounted tickets which can be applied for via this link:
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, blockchain and cryptocurrency, Regtech, and Insuretech sectors. To learn more about NCFA visit www.ncfacanada.org
About FFCON19: FEARLESS
FFCON19 (2019 Fintech and Financing Conference) is an annual conference hosted by Canada's National Crowdfunding and Fintech Association (NCFA). Now in its fifth year, FFCON19 will bring together professionals and innovators in fintech, blockchain, cryptocurrency, and alternative finance. The theme of FFCON19 is FEARLESS which exudes the boldness of the fintech space where small players are challenging orthodoxy, going against convention and transforming the financial industry with innovative models and thinking. The event is being held April 3-4 in downtown Toronto. #FFCON19
Ryan Aceman, special to BNN Bloomberg | March 15, 2019
#FFCON19 is set to showcase the importance of being fearless to succeed in Fintech
12 cutting-edge companies will compete in a ground-breaking pitch competition
Key emerging trends from tech and investment realms will be highlighted
Where finance and technology meet, lies one of the most fascinating sectors of the modern world. From its inception, the financial technology (Fintech) space has been built on inventive thinking and unconventional concepts. This crucial intersection has the power to transform global banking, investing, and many other sectors that people and businesses interact with on a daily basis.
"The Canadian Fintech industry is leading the way in revolutionizing financial services and events such as FFCON19 to help create a strong ecosystem that cultivates innovation and growth. Excited to be a part of it!"
From April 3rd–4th in Toronto, Ontario, FFCON2019: Fearless will aim to embody this innovative essence, hosting a variety of influential thought leaders, industry experts, and 750 attendees. The event will function as a comprehensive and daring expo showcasing innovators and disrupters that are having significant impacts within Fintech. Attendees will learn vital content delivered from fearless experts and will explore more about the economic progress, regulations, and insights from the industry.
“This year’s annual conference will feature risk takers that are challenging orthodoxy, and overcoming obstacles to commercialize fintech innovations that unlock value and impact people’s lives”
Further, the NCFA will launch its inaugural Global Fintech Education program at the conference, created for entrepreneurs to explore the foundational aspects of Fintech and learn about the current state of the industry. The program will also cover the key drivers of Fintech success, as well as explore the building blocks and framework of this sector.
“Transforming the financial industry requires going against convention with fresh insights, innovative thinking, and robust frameworks.”
With more than $39 billion invested in the global Fintech realm in 2018 alone, this event is not to be missed. The expenditure in this industry signals the significant potential for Fintech to become a
multi-trillion-dollar market in the near future.
Get your tickets for FFCON 2019 Fearless before they’re gone here: fintechandfunding.com
5th ANNUAL 2019 FINTECH & FINANCING CONFERENCE HOSTED BY NCFA AND PARTNERS
FEARLESS
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APR 3-4 TORONTO
FINTECH 360. BLOCKCHAIN. AI CONFIDENTIAL. FUNDING INNOVATION. ALTERNATIVE FINANCE. GLOBAL EDUCATION. INDUSTRY WORKSHOPS. PITCHING. PRIME NETWORKING. AWARDS
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The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. ![Latest news - [Deal Day Vancouver, Sep 20-2019]: Holt x VSW: Cohort Speed-Panel](https://1hvltd3evinm3tpd022grx7s-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Latest-news.jpg "Latest news - [Deal Day Vancouver, Sep 20-2019]: Holt x VSW: Cohort Speed-Panel")
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