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
Forbes | Ron Shevlin | July 1, 2019 OBSERVATIONS FROM THE FINTECH SNARK TANK A Seeking Alpha article titled Why Fintech May Not Be Fit For Public Consumption states: The year 2019 seems set to be a record-setting one for venture capitalist exit value capture by means of tech IPOs. But fintech doesn't seem to be a part of this picture. VCs are certainly putting money into fintech startups. There were 170 financings in the US in the first quarter of 2019. But, as Pitchbook says, 'not one of the most valuable fintech companies in the world seems particularly close to an offering.' " The article chalks this up to three primary causes: 1. Poor IPO performance in 2018. According to the article, "One reason nobody is in a hurry to go public is that the results of the last crop of fintech concerns that did go public have been unimpressive. Adyen and IntegraFin are prospering, but neither GreenSky nor EverQuote is "lighting up the heavens" according to Seeking Alpha. See: OurCrowd Double IPO Success Provides Crowdfunding Validation 2. Mega-round financing. Seeking Alpha postulates that investor interest in mega-rounds--e.g., Qatar Investment Authority's investment of $500 million in SoFi and Tiger Capital leading a round that raised $300 ... Read More
CNBC | Kate Rooney | Aug 12, 2019 Money spent in venture capital and other alternative investments is surging as investors look for riskier, but higher-yielding investments. The trend coincides with relatively low returns from more conventional Wall Street investments such as stocks and bonds, and a drop in the number of publicly traded companies. “In a world where big institutional investors find themselves starved for returns, it’s not surprising that they have steadily increased allocations to private markets and you’ve seen capital continuing to flow into the asset class,” says McKinsey Partner Bryce Klempner. Many global investors are turning toward Silicon Valley instead of Wall Street in search of returns. The total invested in private markets hit all-time highs last year and continues to break multi-decade records this year. In the first half of the year, total investments in venture capital hit a 19-year high of $53.3 billion, according to data from Refinitiv published last week. That marked a 21% increase by total dollar amount compared to the first half of 2018. See: $5 million Equity crowdfunding extended to private companies The steady stream of funding comes alongside a drop in the number of publicly listed companies, rock-bottom global ... Read More
TechRepublic | Mary Shacklett | July 23, 2019 Learn how artificial intelligence and analytics can be used to improve customer service in banking. When I was a CIO for a financial institution, I worked with executives on the operations side to see how we could improve relationships with customers at our branches. Our front-line tellers at these branches were more like order takers—they did what customers asked, but no more. These employees were in low-wage positions, and they often had limited skills. One of the skills we wanted was interpersonal engagement with customers that you would typically find in a salesperson. We decided to hire people with retail and/or people-facing experience, figuring that we could train them to be tellers. We implemented systems that would prompt a teller to ask a customer about new products the customer might be interested in, and we offered financial incentives for enrolling customers in new products. The experiment yielded mixed results and likely would have gone better if we'd had some of the analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) automation tools that are available today. See: How Jack Ma’s $290b SME credit engine is changing Chinese banking "Most customers tend to keep their accounts with ... Read More
Guest Post | Aug 14, 2019 You see a need. You know that your new business can fill that need. The problem is that it takes an incredible amount of capital to start a business. Besides purchasing equipment, raw materials, and computer systems, you also have the expenses that no one ever thinks about when opening a shop. Did you figure in the cost of hiring an accountant, a lawyer, and paying for workers compensation insurance? Instead of heading to the bank with your business plan in hand, you may consider whether working with a crowdfunding site might be another feasible way to raise cash for your business expenses. Here’s how crowdfunding sites work. Cash in Exchange for Equity Have you seen Shark Tank? On this TV show, investors decide whether or not they would like to provide capital for startups in exchange for a piece of the company. Sometimes the hosts compete against each other for the opportunity to invest. Sometimes they pool resources and form investment partnerships for a portion of ownership in the company. Occasionally budding entrepreneurs are sent away empty-handed. See: Regulation Crowdfunding Surpasses $250,000,000 in Commitments The Model is Working but its Potential is Much ... Read More
Forbes | Biser Dimitrov | Aug 13, 2019 2019 is the year when the blockchain ecosystem and the crypto industry as a whole had to get sober. After a wild 2017 and a bear 2018, the blockchain space is back on an upwards trajectory with new developments. There are no more Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) to distract the crypto ecosystem and the building mentality is back on. This post-ICO and post-useless-PR-partnerships age urges the blockchain community to be less focused on the current price of bitcoin and more focused on producing meaningful services and advancements. Big projects from established enterprises like Facebook Libra are taking all the media space now and this is net positive for the enterprise blockchain space as well. The first half of this year was full of blockchain developments led by large enterprises in almost all important sectors, including insurance, financial services, supply chain, healthcare and trade finance. There is a huge benefit in joining a specialized industry-focused blockchain consortium because you sit at the same table with your main competitors but at the same time you work toward the same goal. You are not alone in figuring out the benefits, implementations and roll-out of distributed ... Read More
Wired UK Gov | Information Commissioner's Office | Aug 12, 2019 Reuben Binns, our Research Fellow in Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Valeria Gallo, Technology Policy Adviser, discuss some of the key safeguards organisations should implement when using solely automated AI systems to make decisions with significant impacts on data subjects. This post is part of our ongoing Call for Input on developing the ICO framework for auditing AI. We encourage you to share your views by leaving a comment below or by emailing us at AIAuditingFramework@ico.org.uk. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requires organisations to implement suitable safeguards when processing personal data to make solely automated decisions that have a legal or similarly significant impact on individuals. These safeguards include the right for data subjects: to obtain human intervention; to express their point of view; and to contest the decision made about them. See: How Data-driven Strategies Can Improve Impact Investing Outcomes These safeguards cannot be token gestures. Guidance published by the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) states that human intervention involve a review of the decision, which “must be carried out by someone who has the appropriate authority and capability to change the decision”. The review should include a “thorough assessment of all the relevant ... Read More
TechNode | Nicole Jao | Aug 12, 2019 China’s planned digital fiat currency is nearly ready for release after five years of research and development, a senior official at the central bank said (in Chinese) at a forum on Saturday in Beijing without confirming a timeframe. Why it matters: The People‘s Bank of China (PBOC) aims to steal a march on global counterparts by accelerating the development of its national digital currency. The central bank has been researching and developing a digital currency since 2014, though specific details remain scant. The government’s fast-tracking of the national digital currency was reportedly prompted by fears that the emergence of cryptocurrency projects like Facebook’s Libra will bring disruption to its economy. “As one can imagine, to issue digital fiat currency in a country as big as China, the employment of pure blockchain architecture cannot fulfill the throughput required for retail usage. Eventually, we decided that, at the level of the central bank, we should remain technology-neutral and not preset a technology roadmap, meaning not relying on a specific technology.” —Mu Changchun, the deputy chief of central bank’s payment and settlement See: Central banks should consider using digital currencies: China think tank Details: Mu ... Read More
Gowling WLG | Jeffrey Roode, Partner | Aug 12, 2019 In its budget released in March, the Canadian federal government confirmed that it plans to introduce legislation in 2019 to implement a new retail payments oversight framework. It is proposed that the Bank of Canada will would oversee this regulatory framework. This is a significant development as it will mean that a number of payments industry participants that are currently unregulated, including many fintech companies, will now be regulated. Background While the recent federal budget provided few details about the proposed regulatory framework, we expect that it will be based on a 2017 discussion paper released by the Department of Finance. The discussion paper noted a number of problems in the way retail payments are regulated, most notably that regulated financial institutions, such as banks, are subject to detailed regulation with respect to their retail payments businesses, while other payment service providers (referred to as PSPs) are not subject to a comprehensive regulatory oversight framework. See: JP Morgan is rolling out the first US bank-backed cryptocurrency to transform payments business The Department of Finance is concerned that this will create risks and confusion for consumers who might expect similar levels ... Read More
Guest Post | Aug 12, 2019 Blockchain is the hype today. The talent is in high demand and the technology takes over many of the headlines in publications and news. Investors keep piling their money into it. Blockchain is known to be the best thing that happens to public services. As a result, we are witnessing an increase in blockchain education. In the past few years, universities slowly began introducing blockchain technology courses and designing special programs that teach you the skill. However, as we mentioned, this usually goes really slow. By the time the education designs great programs and lists new courses, the technology will have switched and advanced. This is why your choices in terms of blockchain courses and education are still rather limited. However, the number of universities that offer them is growing by the minute. Blockchain Today In our list, you’ll find about the most prepared universities that offer a blockchain degree. Finding a university that has this course can be truly beneficial for your career and future, which makes this a serious decision to make. If you enroll onto a program that excludes blockchain from its curriculum, you’ll be left out in the modern job ... Read More
NCFA Canada | Aug 9, 2019 JOIN US ON A STORYTELLING JOURNEY EVERY FRIDAY. Aug 9: Autonomous Alternative Lending with Vit Arnautov of Turnkey Lender EP35 HOST: Manseeb Khan, Fintech Friday's show host GUEST: VIT ARNAUTOV, Chief Product Officer of Turnkey Lender, (Linkedin) BIO: Vit is a skilled business executive with more than 10 years of experience in managing and delivering innovative fintech solutions. Since its foundation, Vit has been a part of the TurnKey Lender, a company creating intelligent AI-driven solutions for alternative lenders. Over the years he’s become its Chief Product Officer which gives him an incredibly deep insight into fintech in general and lending industry in particular. His areas of expertise include FinTech, digital lending, AI, and big data. Vit is happy to share his expertise with striving entrepreneurs and anyone else it can be helpful for. About this episode: On this episode of NCFA's Fintech Fridays Podcast, our host Manseeb Khan sits down with Vit Arnautov from Turnkey Lender. They chat about how AI will help the lending space, underbanked countries and why cloud lending is a trillion dollar industry. Enjoy! Subscribe and tune in each Friday to check out the latest movers and shakers in ... 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.
Forbes | Ron Shevlin | July 1, 2019 OBSERVATIONS FROM THE FINTECH SNARK TANK A Seeking Alpha article titled Why Fintech May Not Be Fit For Public Consumption states: The year 2019 seems set to be a record-setting one for venture capitalist exit value capture by means of tech IPOs. But fintech doesn't seem to be a part of this picture. VCs are certainly putting money into fintech startups. There were 170 financings in the US in the first quarter of 2019. But, as Pitchbook says, 'not one of the most valuable fintech companies in the world seems particularly close to an offering.' " The article chalks this up to three primary causes: 1. Poor IPO performance in 2018. According to the article, "One reason nobody is in a hurry to go public is that the results of the last crop of fintech concerns that did go public have been unimpressive. Adyen and IntegraFin are prospering, but neither GreenSky nor EverQuote is "lighting up the heavens" according to Seeking Alpha. See: OurCrowd Double IPO Success Provides Crowdfunding Validation 2. Mega-round financing. Seeking Alpha postulates that investor interest in mega-rounds--e.g., Qatar Investment Authority's investment of $500 million in SoFi and Tiger Capital leading a round that raised $300 ... Read More
CNBC | Kate Rooney | Aug 12, 2019 Money spent in venture capital and other alternative investments is surging as investors look for riskier, but higher-yielding investments. The trend coincides with relatively low returns from more conventional Wall Street investments such as stocks and bonds, and a drop in the number of publicly traded companies. “In a world where big institutional investors find themselves starved for returns, it’s not surprising that they have steadily increased allocations to private markets and you’ve seen capital continuing to flow into the asset class,” says McKinsey Partner Bryce Klempner. Many global investors are turning toward Silicon Valley instead of Wall Street in search of returns. The total invested in private markets hit all-time highs last year and continues to break multi-decade records this year. In the first half of the year, total investments in venture capital hit a 19-year high of $53.3 billion, according to data from Refinitiv published last week. That marked a 21% increase by total dollar amount compared to the first half of 2018. See: $5 million Equity crowdfunding extended to private companies The steady stream of funding comes alongside a drop in the number of publicly listed companies, rock-bottom global ... Read More
TechRepublic | Mary Shacklett | July 23, 2019 Learn how artificial intelligence and analytics can be used to improve customer service in banking. When I was a CIO for a financial institution, I worked with executives on the operations side to see how we could improve relationships with customers at our branches. Our front-line tellers at these branches were more like order takers—they did what customers asked, but no more. These employees were in low-wage positions, and they often had limited skills. One of the skills we wanted was interpersonal engagement with customers that you would typically find in a salesperson. We decided to hire people with retail and/or people-facing experience, figuring that we could train them to be tellers. We implemented systems that would prompt a teller to ask a customer about new products the customer might be interested in, and we offered financial incentives for enrolling customers in new products. The experiment yielded mixed results and likely would have gone better if we'd had some of the analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) automation tools that are available today. See: How Jack Ma’s $290b SME credit engine is changing Chinese banking "Most customers tend to keep their accounts with ... Read More
Guest Post | Aug 14, 2019 You see a need. You know that your new business can fill that need. The problem is that it takes an incredible amount of capital to start a business. Besides purchasing equipment, raw materials, and computer systems, you also have the expenses that no one ever thinks about when opening a shop. Did you figure in the cost of hiring an accountant, a lawyer, and paying for workers compensation insurance? Instead of heading to the bank with your business plan in hand, you may consider whether working with a crowdfunding site might be another feasible way to raise cash for your business expenses. Here’s how crowdfunding sites work. Cash in Exchange for Equity Have you seen Shark Tank? On this TV show, investors decide whether or not they would like to provide capital for startups in exchange for a piece of the company. Sometimes the hosts compete against each other for the opportunity to invest. Sometimes they pool resources and form investment partnerships for a portion of ownership in the company. Occasionally budding entrepreneurs are sent away empty-handed. See: Regulation Crowdfunding Surpasses $250,000,000 in Commitments The Model is Working but its Potential is Much ... Read More
Forbes | Biser Dimitrov | Aug 13, 2019 2019 is the year when the blockchain ecosystem and the crypto industry as a whole had to get sober. After a wild 2017 and a bear 2018, the blockchain space is back on an upwards trajectory with new developments. There are no more Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) to distract the crypto ecosystem and the building mentality is back on. This post-ICO and post-useless-PR-partnerships age urges the blockchain community to be less focused on the current price of bitcoin and more focused on producing meaningful services and advancements. Big projects from established enterprises like Facebook Libra are taking all the media space now and this is net positive for the enterprise blockchain space as well. The first half of this year was full of blockchain developments led by large enterprises in almost all important sectors, including insurance, financial services, supply chain, healthcare and trade finance. There is a huge benefit in joining a specialized industry-focused blockchain consortium because you sit at the same table with your main competitors but at the same time you work toward the same goal. You are not alone in figuring out the benefits, implementations and roll-out of distributed ... Read More
Wired UK Gov | Information Commissioner's Office | Aug 12, 2019 Reuben Binns, our Research Fellow in Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Valeria Gallo, Technology Policy Adviser, discuss some of the key safeguards organisations should implement when using solely automated AI systems to make decisions with significant impacts on data subjects. This post is part of our ongoing Call for Input on developing the ICO framework for auditing AI. We encourage you to share your views by leaving a comment below or by emailing us at AIAuditingFramework@ico.org.uk. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requires organisations to implement suitable safeguards when processing personal data to make solely automated decisions that have a legal or similarly significant impact on individuals. These safeguards include the right for data subjects: to obtain human intervention; to express their point of view; and to contest the decision made about them. See: How Data-driven Strategies Can Improve Impact Investing Outcomes These safeguards cannot be token gestures. Guidance published by the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) states that human intervention involve a review of the decision, which “must be carried out by someone who has the appropriate authority and capability to change the decision”. The review should include a “thorough assessment of all the relevant ... Read More
TechNode | Nicole Jao | Aug 12, 2019 China’s planned digital fiat currency is nearly ready for release after five years of research and development, a senior official at the central bank said (in Chinese) at a forum on Saturday in Beijing without confirming a timeframe. Why it matters: The People‘s Bank of China (PBOC) aims to steal a march on global counterparts by accelerating the development of its national digital currency. The central bank has been researching and developing a digital currency since 2014, though specific details remain scant. The government’s fast-tracking of the national digital currency was reportedly prompted by fears that the emergence of cryptocurrency projects like Facebook’s Libra will bring disruption to its economy. “As one can imagine, to issue digital fiat currency in a country as big as China, the employment of pure blockchain architecture cannot fulfill the throughput required for retail usage. Eventually, we decided that, at the level of the central bank, we should remain technology-neutral and not preset a technology roadmap, meaning not relying on a specific technology.” —Mu Changchun, the deputy chief of central bank’s payment and settlement See: Central banks should consider using digital currencies: China think tank Details: Mu ... Read More
Gowling WLG | Jeffrey Roode, Partner | Aug 12, 2019 In its budget released in March, the Canadian federal government confirmed that it plans to introduce legislation in 2019 to implement a new retail payments oversight framework. It is proposed that the Bank of Canada will would oversee this regulatory framework. This is a significant development as it will mean that a number of payments industry participants that are currently unregulated, including many fintech companies, will now be regulated. Background While the recent federal budget provided few details about the proposed regulatory framework, we expect that it will be based on a 2017 discussion paper released by the Department of Finance. The discussion paper noted a number of problems in the way retail payments are regulated, most notably that regulated financial institutions, such as banks, are subject to detailed regulation with respect to their retail payments businesses, while other payment service providers (referred to as PSPs) are not subject to a comprehensive regulatory oversight framework. See: JP Morgan is rolling out the first US bank-backed cryptocurrency to transform payments business The Department of Finance is concerned that this will create risks and confusion for consumers who might expect similar levels ... Read More
Guest Post | Aug 12, 2019 Blockchain is the hype today. The talent is in high demand and the technology takes over many of the headlines in publications and news. Investors keep piling their money into it. Blockchain is known to be the best thing that happens to public services. As a result, we are witnessing an increase in blockchain education. In the past few years, universities slowly began introducing blockchain technology courses and designing special programs that teach you the skill. However, as we mentioned, this usually goes really slow. By the time the education designs great programs and lists new courses, the technology will have switched and advanced. This is why your choices in terms of blockchain courses and education are still rather limited. However, the number of universities that offer them is growing by the minute. Blockchain Today In our list, you’ll find about the most prepared universities that offer a blockchain degree. Finding a university that has this course can be truly beneficial for your career and future, which makes this a serious decision to make. If you enroll onto a program that excludes blockchain from its curriculum, you’ll be left out in the modern job ... Read More
NCFA Canada | Aug 9, 2019 JOIN US ON A STORYTELLING JOURNEY EVERY FRIDAY. Aug 9: Autonomous Alternative Lending with Vit Arnautov of Turnkey Lender EP35 HOST: Manseeb Khan, Fintech Friday's show host GUEST: VIT ARNAUTOV, Chief Product Officer of Turnkey Lender, (Linkedin) BIO: Vit is a skilled business executive with more than 10 years of experience in managing and delivering innovative fintech solutions. Since its foundation, Vit has been a part of the TurnKey Lender, a company creating intelligent AI-driven solutions for alternative lenders. Over the years he’s become its Chief Product Officer which gives him an incredibly deep insight into fintech in general and lending industry in particular. His areas of expertise include FinTech, digital lending, AI, and big data. Vit is happy to share his expertise with striving entrepreneurs and anyone else it can be helpful for. About this episode: On this episode of NCFA's Fintech Fridays Podcast, our host Manseeb Khan sits down with Vit Arnautov from Turnkey Lender. They chat about how AI will help the lending space, underbanked countries and why cloud lending is a trillion dollar industry. Enjoy! Subscribe and tune in each Friday to check out the latest movers and shakers in ... 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
Forbes | Ron Shevlin | July 1, 2019 OBSERVATIONS FROM THE FINTECH SNARK TANK A Seeking Alpha article titled Why Fintech May Not Be Fit For Public Consumption states: The year 2019 seems set to be a record-setting one for venture capitalist exit value capture by means of tech IPOs. But fintech doesn't seem to be a part of this picture. VCs are certainly putting money into fintech startups. There were 170 financings in the US in the first quarter of 2019. But, as Pitchbook says, 'not one of the most valuable fintech companies in the world seems particularly close to an offering.' " The article chalks this up to three primary causes: 1. Poor IPO performance in 2018. According to the article, "One reason nobody is in a hurry to go public is that the results of the last crop of fintech concerns that did go public have been unimpressive. Adyen and IntegraFin are prospering, but neither GreenSky nor EverQuote is "lighting up the heavens" according to Seeking Alpha. See: OurCrowd Double IPO Success Provides Crowdfunding Validation 2. Mega-round financing. Seeking Alpha postulates that investor interest in mega-rounds--e.g., Qatar Investment Authority's investment of $500 million in SoFi and Tiger Capital leading a round that raised $300 ... Read More
CNBC | Kate Rooney | Aug 12, 2019 Money spent in venture capital and other alternative investments is surging as investors look for riskier, but higher-yielding investments. The trend coincides with relatively low returns from more conventional Wall Street investments such as stocks and bonds, and a drop in the number of publicly traded companies. “In a world where big institutional investors find themselves starved for returns, it’s not surprising that they have steadily increased allocations to private markets and you’ve seen capital continuing to flow into the asset class,” says McKinsey Partner Bryce Klempner. Many global investors are turning toward Silicon Valley instead of Wall Street in search of returns. The total invested in private markets hit all-time highs last year and continues to break multi-decade records this year. In the first half of the year, total investments in venture capital hit a 19-year high of $53.3 billion, according to data from Refinitiv published last week. That marked a 21% increase by total dollar amount compared to the first half of 2018. See: $5 million Equity crowdfunding extended to private companies The steady stream of funding comes alongside a drop in the number of publicly listed companies, rock-bottom global ... Read More
TechRepublic | Mary Shacklett | July 23, 2019 Learn how artificial intelligence and analytics can be used to improve customer service in banking. When I was a CIO for a financial institution, I worked with executives on the operations side to see how we could improve relationships with customers at our branches. Our front-line tellers at these branches were more like order takers—they did what customers asked, but no more. These employees were in low-wage positions, and they often had limited skills. One of the skills we wanted was interpersonal engagement with customers that you would typically find in a salesperson. We decided to hire people with retail and/or people-facing experience, figuring that we could train them to be tellers. We implemented systems that would prompt a teller to ask a customer about new products the customer might be interested in, and we offered financial incentives for enrolling customers in new products. The experiment yielded mixed results and likely would have gone better if we'd had some of the analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) automation tools that are available today. See: How Jack Ma’s $290b SME credit engine is changing Chinese banking "Most customers tend to keep their accounts with ... Read More
Guest Post | Aug 14, 2019 You see a need. You know that your new business can fill that need. The problem is that it takes an incredible amount of capital to start a business. Besides purchasing equipment, raw materials, and computer systems, you also have the expenses that no one ever thinks about when opening a shop. Did you figure in the cost of hiring an accountant, a lawyer, and paying for workers compensation insurance? Instead of heading to the bank with your business plan in hand, you may consider whether working with a crowdfunding site might be another feasible way to raise cash for your business expenses. Here’s how crowdfunding sites work. Cash in Exchange for Equity Have you seen Shark Tank? On this TV show, investors decide whether or not they would like to provide capital for startups in exchange for a piece of the company. Sometimes the hosts compete against each other for the opportunity to invest. Sometimes they pool resources and form investment partnerships for a portion of ownership in the company. Occasionally budding entrepreneurs are sent away empty-handed. See: Regulation Crowdfunding Surpasses $250,000,000 in Commitments The Model is Working but its Potential is Much ... Read More
Forbes | Biser Dimitrov | Aug 13, 2019 2019 is the year when the blockchain ecosystem and the crypto industry as a whole had to get sober. After a wild 2017 and a bear 2018, the blockchain space is back on an upwards trajectory with new developments. There are no more Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) to distract the crypto ecosystem and the building mentality is back on. This post-ICO and post-useless-PR-partnerships age urges the blockchain community to be less focused on the current price of bitcoin and more focused on producing meaningful services and advancements. Big projects from established enterprises like Facebook Libra are taking all the media space now and this is net positive for the enterprise blockchain space as well. The first half of this year was full of blockchain developments led by large enterprises in almost all important sectors, including insurance, financial services, supply chain, healthcare and trade finance. There is a huge benefit in joining a specialized industry-focused blockchain consortium because you sit at the same table with your main competitors but at the same time you work toward the same goal. You are not alone in figuring out the benefits, implementations and roll-out of distributed ... Read More
Wired UK Gov | Information Commissioner's Office | Aug 12, 2019 Reuben Binns, our Research Fellow in Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Valeria Gallo, Technology Policy Adviser, discuss some of the key safeguards organisations should implement when using solely automated AI systems to make decisions with significant impacts on data subjects. This post is part of our ongoing Call for Input on developing the ICO framework for auditing AI. We encourage you to share your views by leaving a comment below or by emailing us at AIAuditingFramework@ico.org.uk. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requires organisations to implement suitable safeguards when processing personal data to make solely automated decisions that have a legal or similarly significant impact on individuals. These safeguards include the right for data subjects: to obtain human intervention; to express their point of view; and to contest the decision made about them. See: How Data-driven Strategies Can Improve Impact Investing Outcomes These safeguards cannot be token gestures. Guidance published by the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) states that human intervention involve a review of the decision, which “must be carried out by someone who has the appropriate authority and capability to change the decision”. The review should include a “thorough assessment of all the relevant ... Read More
TechNode | Nicole Jao | Aug 12, 2019 China’s planned digital fiat currency is nearly ready for release after five years of research and development, a senior official at the central bank said (in Chinese) at a forum on Saturday in Beijing without confirming a timeframe. Why it matters: The People‘s Bank of China (PBOC) aims to steal a march on global counterparts by accelerating the development of its national digital currency. The central bank has been researching and developing a digital currency since 2014, though specific details remain scant. The government’s fast-tracking of the national digital currency was reportedly prompted by fears that the emergence of cryptocurrency projects like Facebook’s Libra will bring disruption to its economy. “As one can imagine, to issue digital fiat currency in a country as big as China, the employment of pure blockchain architecture cannot fulfill the throughput required for retail usage. Eventually, we decided that, at the level of the central bank, we should remain technology-neutral and not preset a technology roadmap, meaning not relying on a specific technology.” —Mu Changchun, the deputy chief of central bank’s payment and settlement See: Central banks should consider using digital currencies: China think tank Details: Mu ... Read More
Gowling WLG | Jeffrey Roode, Partner | Aug 12, 2019 In its budget released in March, the Canadian federal government confirmed that it plans to introduce legislation in 2019 to implement a new retail payments oversight framework. It is proposed that the Bank of Canada will would oversee this regulatory framework. This is a significant development as it will mean that a number of payments industry participants that are currently unregulated, including many fintech companies, will now be regulated. Background While the recent federal budget provided few details about the proposed regulatory framework, we expect that it will be based on a 2017 discussion paper released by the Department of Finance. The discussion paper noted a number of problems in the way retail payments are regulated, most notably that regulated financial institutions, such as banks, are subject to detailed regulation with respect to their retail payments businesses, while other payment service providers (referred to as PSPs) are not subject to a comprehensive regulatory oversight framework. See: JP Morgan is rolling out the first US bank-backed cryptocurrency to transform payments business The Department of Finance is concerned that this will create risks and confusion for consumers who might expect similar levels ... Read More
Guest Post | Aug 12, 2019 Blockchain is the hype today. The talent is in high demand and the technology takes over many of the headlines in publications and news. Investors keep piling their money into it. Blockchain is known to be the best thing that happens to public services. As a result, we are witnessing an increase in blockchain education. In the past few years, universities slowly began introducing blockchain technology courses and designing special programs that teach you the skill. However, as we mentioned, this usually goes really slow. By the time the education designs great programs and lists new courses, the technology will have switched and advanced. This is why your choices in terms of blockchain courses and education are still rather limited. However, the number of universities that offer them is growing by the minute. Blockchain Today In our list, you’ll find about the most prepared universities that offer a blockchain degree. Finding a university that has this course can be truly beneficial for your career and future, which makes this a serious decision to make. If you enroll onto a program that excludes blockchain from its curriculum, you’ll be left out in the modern job ... Read More
NCFA Canada | Aug 9, 2019 JOIN US ON A STORYTELLING JOURNEY EVERY FRIDAY. Aug 9: Autonomous Alternative Lending with Vit Arnautov of Turnkey Lender EP35 HOST: Manseeb Khan, Fintech Friday's show host GUEST: VIT ARNAUTOV, Chief Product Officer of Turnkey Lender, (Linkedin) BIO: Vit is a skilled business executive with more than 10 years of experience in managing and delivering innovative fintech solutions. Since its foundation, Vit has been a part of the TurnKey Lender, a company creating intelligent AI-driven solutions for alternative lenders. Over the years he’s become its Chief Product Officer which gives him an incredibly deep insight into fintech in general and lending industry in particular. His areas of expertise include FinTech, digital lending, AI, and big data. Vit is happy to share his expertise with striving entrepreneurs and anyone else it can be helpful for. About this episode: On this episode of NCFA's Fintech Fridays Podcast, our host Manseeb Khan sits down with Vit Arnautov from Turnkey Lender. They chat about how AI will help the lending space, underbanked countries and why cloud lending is a trillion dollar industry. Enjoy! Subscribe and tune in each Friday to check out the latest movers and shakers in ... 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
Day(s)
:
Hour(s)
:
Minute(s)
:
Second(s)
APR 3-4 TORONTO
FINTECH 360. BLOCKCHAIN. AI CONFIDENTIAL. FUNDING INNOVATION. ALTERNATIVE FINANCE. GLOBAL EDUCATION. INDUSTRY WORKSHOPS. PITCHING. PRIME NETWORKING. AWARDS
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association of Canada (NCFA) and partners are delighted to present the 2019 Fintech & Financing Conference and Expo (#FFCON19) taking place April 3-4, 2019 in downtown Toronto.
In its 5th year, FFCON19 remains inclusive and one of the most engaging platforms in Canada for high growth and emerging startups-scaleups, professionals, regulatory bodies and ecosystem stakeholders to launch, build, connect, invest and scale the next generation of rising stars at the intersection of finance, technology, entrepreneurship and global digital markets.
The theme of FFCON19 is FEARLESS. The theme exudes the boldness of the fintech space where small players are challenging orthodoxy, going against convention and transforming the financial industry with fresh insights and thinking. Our mission is to drive all the advantages of technology to help transform the financial industry at home and abroad with innovative initiatives. This means an emphasis on network effects, collaboration, thinking strategically and bold visions with a global appeal. If you are a fintech, blockchain, peer finance, AI innovator, investor or a company actively raising capital or key decision maker/stakeholder in technology and capital markets innovation initiatives and programs, FFCON19 is a must attend event.
5th ANNUAL 2019 FINTECH & FINANCING CONFERENCE HOSTED BY NCFA AND PARTNERS
FEARLESS
Day(s)
:
Hour(s)
:
Minute(s)
:
Second(s)
APR 3-4 TORONTO
FINTECH 360. BLOCKCHAIN. AI CONFIDENTIAL. FUNDING INNOVATION. ALTERNATIVE FINANCE. GLOBAL EDUCATION. INDUSTRY WORKSHOPS. PITCHING. PRIME NETWORKING. AWARDS
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. 
