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
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
BC Securities Commission | Release | Jan 27, 2020 Vancouver – The British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC) is seeking input from interested stakeholders through two new advisory groups. Last week, the BCSC held the first meeting of its Corporate Finance Stakeholder Forum, which will help ensure that the Commission’s regulation of issuers is efficient and effective. The BCSC also announced that it is seeking applications from the financial technology community to join the Fintech Advisory Forum. “We work to keep the investment markets fair and honest, in a cost-effective manner,” said Brenda Leong, the Chair and CEO of the BCSC. “Smart regulation depends on good intelligence, and the best way to get that is by engaging with the people and businesses affected by our rules.” The 25 volunteer members of the Corporate Finance Stakeholder Forum is advising Corporate Finance staff on policy initiatives, investment market trends and other emerging issues affecting reporting and non-reporting issuers, including investment funds. At its first meeting January 22, members discussed the proposal by the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) for a “notice equals delivery” system, as well as other proposals for reducing regulatory burden for public companies. See: NCFA Canada’s response to BCSC Notice 2018/1 ... Read More
Finextra | Jan 22, 2020 While technology has yet again been a central topic of discussion at this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, there has also been a determined focus on fintech and how financial inclusion is key to meeting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. In conversation with Finextra, Haus of Fintech founder Misha Rao highlights that the recent formation of the Digital Financing Task Force by the UN Secretary General, as well as the need to ensure the financing of the SDGs - which has a $2.5 trillion annual financing gap - "it is time to actively question how we catalyse the fintech ecosystem globally and build coalitions and strategic partnerships that come up with practical solutions and ensure prosperity is widely shared on a local and an international level." See: Task Force Analyzes Role of Fintech in Accelerating SDGs Rao continues: "We know that digital finance initiatives could add $3.7 trillion to the GDP of emerging economies and organisations including the United Nations, the World Bank, and the World Economic Forum have invested in fintech, believing that it has the potential to create a better world. "We believe that core areas like the need for ... Read More
LA Times | Jan 27, 2020 Kobe Bryant, the NBA MVP who had a 20-year career with the Lakers, was killed Sunday when the helicopter he was traveling in crashed and burst into flames in the hills above Calabasas. His daughter Gianna, 13, was also on board and died along with seven others. For live updates and remembrance --> here Inc. | Sonia Thompson | Dec 13, 2018 This is How You Achieve Greatness. 5 Essential Lessons From Kobe Bryant A few months ago, Kobe Bryant released his book, The Mamba Mentality. I've always admired his work ethic that led to his numerous accomplishments, so I was eager to dive into the text. See: Advancing Competition in a Changing Marketplace During Bryant's famed 20-year basketball career with the Los Angeles Lakers, he racked up five NBA championships, two NBA finals MVP awards, and two Olympic gold medals. He's also the third-highest all-time career regular season scorer for the league. The lessons Bryant laid out in his book are gold for entrepreneurs who want to build a legacy of greatness in their work. Here are five important lessons from Kobe's Mamba Mentality every business leader should adopt. 1. Obsession is not-optional. Jeff Bezos often muses about how customer obsession ... Read More
WSJ | AnnaMaria Andriotis | Jan 19, 2020 Tech giant plans terminals to let consumers link credit card information to their hands Amazon wants to make your hand your credit card. The tech giant is creating checkout terminals that could be placed in bricks-and-mortar stores and allow shoppers to link their card information to their hands, according to people familiar with the matter. They could then pay for purchases with their palms, without having to pull out a card or phone. The company plans to pitch the terminals to coffee shops, fast-food restaurants and other merchants that do lots of repeat business with their customers, according to some of the people. Amazon declined to comment. Amazon, like other tech companies, is trying to further integrate itself into consumers’ financial lives, leaving banks and card networks on edge. Apple Inc. introduced a credit card last year, and Google is rolling out checking accounts. If the Amazon terminals succeed, they could leapfrog mobile wallets such as Apple Pay while expanding Amazon’s already-extensive access to consumer data. See: Grab launches first cloud kitchen in Singapore amid GrabFood expansion Amazon’s projects are closely watched both by tech and financial companies, which are increasingly colliding ... Read More
World Economic Forum | Yuval Harari | Jan 24, 2020 Humanity faces three existential threats this century, warned historian Yuval Harari at Davos 2020. Technology risks dividing the world into wealthy elites and exploited "data colonies," he explained. "If you like the World Cup - you are already a globalist," he said, making the case for better cooperation to tackle the challenges. As we enter the third decade of the twenty-first Century, humanity faces so many issues and questions, that it is really hard to know what to focus on. So I would like to use the next twenty minutes to help us focus of all the different issues we face. Three problems pose existential challenges to our species. These three existential challenges are nuclear war, ecological collapse and technological disruption. We should focus on them. Now nuclear war and ecological collapse are already familiar threats, so let me spend some time explaining the less familiar threat posed by technological disruption. In Davos we hear so much about the enormous promises of technology – and these promises are certainly real. But technology might also disrupt human society and the very meaning of human life in numerous ways, ranging from the ... Read More
Verdict | Ellen Daniel | Jan 13, 2020 Open banking was first launched in January 2018 and received much attention from the financial community as the potential bringer of fintech disruption. The regulations require UK-regulated banks to share their customers’ financial data (with permission) with third party providers through the use of application programming interfaces (APIs) in order to make it easier for customers to access financial services and for TPPs to develop new products. Today marks open banking’s second anniversary and while it has impacted the financial landscape, prompting incumbent banks to adapt to innovation and opening up new opportunities in terms of consumer experience, some have argued that the regulation is yet to live up to expectations. See: Open Banking in the UK: what’s happened so far Banks had until March 2019 to establish a “sandbox” environment that third party providers could access and use to test products and until June to make their APIs available to third parties, but many European banks have not adequately met key deadlines, stalling innovation. Although many traditional banks are now adhering to open banking regulations, more could be done to ensure that they also benefit from the new landscape in terms ... Read More
The New York Times | Ruchir Sharma | Jan 20, 2020 To outsiders, China may seem like a surveillance state. But tech has fueled growth and helped stave off recession. Landing in Shanghai recently, I found myself in the middle of a tech revolution remarkable in its sweep. The passport scanner automatically addresses visitors in their native tongues. Digital payment apps have replaced cash. Outsiders trying to use paper money get blank stares from store clerks. Nearby in the city of Hangzhou a prototype hotel called FlyZoo uses facial recognition to open doors, no keys required. Robots mix cocktails and provide room service. Farther south in Shenzhen, we flew the same drones that are already making e-commerce deliveries in rural China. Downtown traffic flowed smoothly, guided by synced stoplights and restrained by police cameras. Outside China, these technologies are seen as harbingers of an “automated authoritarianism,” using video cameras and facial recognition systems to thwart lawbreakers and a “citizen score” to rank citizens for political reliability. An advanced version has been deployed to counter unrest among Muslim Uighurs in the inland region of Xinjiang. But in China as a whole, surveys show that trust in technology is high, concern about ... Read More
TechCrunch | Danny Crichton | Jan 17, 2020 I talked yesterday about how VCs are just tired these days. Too many deals, too little time per deal, and constant hyper-competition with other VCs for the same equity. One founder friend of mine noted to me last night that he has already received inbound requests from more than 90 investors over the past year about his next round — and he’s not even (presumably) fundraising. “I may have missed a few,” he deadpans — and really, how could one not? All that frenetic activity, though, leads us to the paradox at the heart of 2020 venture capital: It’s the largest funds that are writing the earliest, smallest checks. That’s a paradox because big funds need big rounds to invest in. A billion-dollar fund can’t write 800 $1 million seed checks with dollars left over for management fees (well, they could, but that would be obnoxious and impossible to track). Instead, the usual pattern is that as a firm’s fund size grows, its managing partners increasingly move to later-stage rounds to be able to efficiently deploy that capital. So the $200 million fund that used to write $8 million Series As transforms ... Read More
NCFA and TFI | January 23, 2020 Strengthening Canada's fintech and financial reach through collaboration, competition and networking at FFCON20 TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 23, 2020 / The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association of Canada (NCFA) and Toronto Finance International (TFI) announced today a collaborative partnership and the joint launch of the 2020 Fintech and Financing Conference and Expo (FFCON20) to be held in downtown Toronto on March 23-24, 2020. The theme for the 6th annual FFCON is RISE, reflecting the joint efforts of the two associations, NCFA and TFI, to build and increase the success and sustainability of Canada's fintech and financial sector. With finance and fintech touching virtually every business and entity of people's lives, FFCON draws national interest and global participation from high-growth startups and leading industry experts across a variety of disciplines and backgrounds. You will find fintech entrepreneurs from across all fintech sectors including digital banking, peer to peer finance, AI, capital markets, wealth management, payments, crypto and blockchain along with innovative financial institutions, investors, regulators, government and major industry stakeholders, all in one place. FFCON facilitates thought-provoking and relevant discussions, lively debates and personal networking for the cross-pollination of ideas and experiences ... Read More
Wealthsimple | Press Release | Jan 21, 2020 Wealthsimple Cash offers 2.4% interest rate and lets Canadians save and spend through a mobile app and metal card TORONTO, Jan. 21, 2020 /CNW/ - Wealthsimple has launched its first hybrid saving and spending product: Wealthsimple Cash. The new account offers users the ability to save and spend with one of Canada's highest non-promotional interest rates of 2.4% - in addition to a host of features that help people earn more on every dollar in their Cash account. Wealthsimple Cash combines a saving and spending account to give Canadians the power to have both an account that allows for everyday purchases while also providing a safe place to grow their money. Cash clients will benefit from no monthly account fees, no low balance fees, no foreign transaction fees worldwide, and ATM fee reimbursements - all through a sleek, metal card designed to make spending responsibly easy. "Canadians are used to the status quo when it comes to everyday banking - multiple accounts, high fees and low interest," said Michael Katchen, CEO and co-founder, Wealthsimple. "With Wealthsimple Cash, users can enjoy the power of a high interest savings account for all of their day-to-day spending needs ... 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.
BC Securities Commission | Release | Jan 27, 2020 Vancouver – The British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC) is seeking input from interested stakeholders through two new advisory groups. Last week, the BCSC held the first meeting of its Corporate Finance Stakeholder Forum, which will help ensure that the Commission’s regulation of issuers is efficient and effective. The BCSC also announced that it is seeking applications from the financial technology community to join the Fintech Advisory Forum. “We work to keep the investment markets fair and honest, in a cost-effective manner,” said Brenda Leong, the Chair and CEO of the BCSC. “Smart regulation depends on good intelligence, and the best way to get that is by engaging with the people and businesses affected by our rules.” The 25 volunteer members of the Corporate Finance Stakeholder Forum is advising Corporate Finance staff on policy initiatives, investment market trends and other emerging issues affecting reporting and non-reporting issuers, including investment funds. At its first meeting January 22, members discussed the proposal by the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) for a “notice equals delivery” system, as well as other proposals for reducing regulatory burden for public companies. See: NCFA Canada’s response to BCSC Notice 2018/1 ... Read More
Finextra | Jan 22, 2020 While technology has yet again been a central topic of discussion at this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, there has also been a determined focus on fintech and how financial inclusion is key to meeting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. In conversation with Finextra, Haus of Fintech founder Misha Rao highlights that the recent formation of the Digital Financing Task Force by the UN Secretary General, as well as the need to ensure the financing of the SDGs - which has a $2.5 trillion annual financing gap - "it is time to actively question how we catalyse the fintech ecosystem globally and build coalitions and strategic partnerships that come up with practical solutions and ensure prosperity is widely shared on a local and an international level." See: Task Force Analyzes Role of Fintech in Accelerating SDGs Rao continues: "We know that digital finance initiatives could add $3.7 trillion to the GDP of emerging economies and organisations including the United Nations, the World Bank, and the World Economic Forum have invested in fintech, believing that it has the potential to create a better world. "We believe that core areas like the need for ... Read More
LA Times | Jan 27, 2020 Kobe Bryant, the NBA MVP who had a 20-year career with the Lakers, was killed Sunday when the helicopter he was traveling in crashed and burst into flames in the hills above Calabasas. His daughter Gianna, 13, was also on board and died along with seven others. For live updates and remembrance --> here Inc. | Sonia Thompson | Dec 13, 2018 This is How You Achieve Greatness. 5 Essential Lessons From Kobe Bryant A few months ago, Kobe Bryant released his book, The Mamba Mentality. I've always admired his work ethic that led to his numerous accomplishments, so I was eager to dive into the text. See: Advancing Competition in a Changing Marketplace During Bryant's famed 20-year basketball career with the Los Angeles Lakers, he racked up five NBA championships, two NBA finals MVP awards, and two Olympic gold medals. He's also the third-highest all-time career regular season scorer for the league. The lessons Bryant laid out in his book are gold for entrepreneurs who want to build a legacy of greatness in their work. Here are five important lessons from Kobe's Mamba Mentality every business leader should adopt. 1. Obsession is not-optional. Jeff Bezos often muses about how customer obsession ... Read More
WSJ | AnnaMaria Andriotis | Jan 19, 2020 Tech giant plans terminals to let consumers link credit card information to their hands Amazon wants to make your hand your credit card. The tech giant is creating checkout terminals that could be placed in bricks-and-mortar stores and allow shoppers to link their card information to their hands, according to people familiar with the matter. They could then pay for purchases with their palms, without having to pull out a card or phone. The company plans to pitch the terminals to coffee shops, fast-food restaurants and other merchants that do lots of repeat business with their customers, according to some of the people. Amazon declined to comment. Amazon, like other tech companies, is trying to further integrate itself into consumers’ financial lives, leaving banks and card networks on edge. Apple Inc. introduced a credit card last year, and Google is rolling out checking accounts. If the Amazon terminals succeed, they could leapfrog mobile wallets such as Apple Pay while expanding Amazon’s already-extensive access to consumer data. See: Grab launches first cloud kitchen in Singapore amid GrabFood expansion Amazon’s projects are closely watched both by tech and financial companies, which are increasingly colliding ... Read More
World Economic Forum | Yuval Harari | Jan 24, 2020 Humanity faces three existential threats this century, warned historian Yuval Harari at Davos 2020. Technology risks dividing the world into wealthy elites and exploited "data colonies," he explained. "If you like the World Cup - you are already a globalist," he said, making the case for better cooperation to tackle the challenges. As we enter the third decade of the twenty-first Century, humanity faces so many issues and questions, that it is really hard to know what to focus on. So I would like to use the next twenty minutes to help us focus of all the different issues we face. Three problems pose existential challenges to our species. These three existential challenges are nuclear war, ecological collapse and technological disruption. We should focus on them. Now nuclear war and ecological collapse are already familiar threats, so let me spend some time explaining the less familiar threat posed by technological disruption. In Davos we hear so much about the enormous promises of technology – and these promises are certainly real. But technology might also disrupt human society and the very meaning of human life in numerous ways, ranging from the ... Read More
Verdict | Ellen Daniel | Jan 13, 2020 Open banking was first launched in January 2018 and received much attention from the financial community as the potential bringer of fintech disruption. The regulations require UK-regulated banks to share their customers’ financial data (with permission) with third party providers through the use of application programming interfaces (APIs) in order to make it easier for customers to access financial services and for TPPs to develop new products. Today marks open banking’s second anniversary and while it has impacted the financial landscape, prompting incumbent banks to adapt to innovation and opening up new opportunities in terms of consumer experience, some have argued that the regulation is yet to live up to expectations. See: Open Banking in the UK: what’s happened so far Banks had until March 2019 to establish a “sandbox” environment that third party providers could access and use to test products and until June to make their APIs available to third parties, but many European banks have not adequately met key deadlines, stalling innovation. Although many traditional banks are now adhering to open banking regulations, more could be done to ensure that they also benefit from the new landscape in terms ... Read More
The New York Times | Ruchir Sharma | Jan 20, 2020 To outsiders, China may seem like a surveillance state. But tech has fueled growth and helped stave off recession. Landing in Shanghai recently, I found myself in the middle of a tech revolution remarkable in its sweep. The passport scanner automatically addresses visitors in their native tongues. Digital payment apps have replaced cash. Outsiders trying to use paper money get blank stares from store clerks. Nearby in the city of Hangzhou a prototype hotel called FlyZoo uses facial recognition to open doors, no keys required. Robots mix cocktails and provide room service. Farther south in Shenzhen, we flew the same drones that are already making e-commerce deliveries in rural China. Downtown traffic flowed smoothly, guided by synced stoplights and restrained by police cameras. Outside China, these technologies are seen as harbingers of an “automated authoritarianism,” using video cameras and facial recognition systems to thwart lawbreakers and a “citizen score” to rank citizens for political reliability. An advanced version has been deployed to counter unrest among Muslim Uighurs in the inland region of Xinjiang. But in China as a whole, surveys show that trust in technology is high, concern about ... Read More
TechCrunch | Danny Crichton | Jan 17, 2020 I talked yesterday about how VCs are just tired these days. Too many deals, too little time per deal, and constant hyper-competition with other VCs for the same equity. One founder friend of mine noted to me last night that he has already received inbound requests from more than 90 investors over the past year about his next round — and he’s not even (presumably) fundraising. “I may have missed a few,” he deadpans — and really, how could one not? All that frenetic activity, though, leads us to the paradox at the heart of 2020 venture capital: It’s the largest funds that are writing the earliest, smallest checks. That’s a paradox because big funds need big rounds to invest in. A billion-dollar fund can’t write 800 $1 million seed checks with dollars left over for management fees (well, they could, but that would be obnoxious and impossible to track). Instead, the usual pattern is that as a firm’s fund size grows, its managing partners increasingly move to later-stage rounds to be able to efficiently deploy that capital. So the $200 million fund that used to write $8 million Series As transforms ... Read More
NCFA and TFI | January 23, 2020 Strengthening Canada's fintech and financial reach through collaboration, competition and networking at FFCON20 TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 23, 2020 / The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association of Canada (NCFA) and Toronto Finance International (TFI) announced today a collaborative partnership and the joint launch of the 2020 Fintech and Financing Conference and Expo (FFCON20) to be held in downtown Toronto on March 23-24, 2020. The theme for the 6th annual FFCON is RISE, reflecting the joint efforts of the two associations, NCFA and TFI, to build and increase the success and sustainability of Canada's fintech and financial sector. With finance and fintech touching virtually every business and entity of people's lives, FFCON draws national interest and global participation from high-growth startups and leading industry experts across a variety of disciplines and backgrounds. You will find fintech entrepreneurs from across all fintech sectors including digital banking, peer to peer finance, AI, capital markets, wealth management, payments, crypto and blockchain along with innovative financial institutions, investors, regulators, government and major industry stakeholders, all in one place. FFCON facilitates thought-provoking and relevant discussions, lively debates and personal networking for the cross-pollination of ideas and experiences ... Read More
Wealthsimple | Press Release | Jan 21, 2020 Wealthsimple Cash offers 2.4% interest rate and lets Canadians save and spend through a mobile app and metal card TORONTO, Jan. 21, 2020 /CNW/ - Wealthsimple has launched its first hybrid saving and spending product: Wealthsimple Cash. The new account offers users the ability to save and spend with one of Canada's highest non-promotional interest rates of 2.4% - in addition to a host of features that help people earn more on every dollar in their Cash account. Wealthsimple Cash combines a saving and spending account to give Canadians the power to have both an account that allows for everyday purchases while also providing a safe place to grow their money. Cash clients will benefit from no monthly account fees, no low balance fees, no foreign transaction fees worldwide, and ATM fee reimbursements - all through a sleek, metal card designed to make spending responsibly easy. "Canadians are used to the status quo when it comes to everyday banking - multiple accounts, high fees and low interest," said Michael Katchen, CEO and co-founder, Wealthsimple. "With Wealthsimple Cash, users can enjoy the power of a high interest savings account for all of their day-to-day spending needs ... 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
BC Securities Commission | Release | Jan 27, 2020 Vancouver – The British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC) is seeking input from interested stakeholders through two new advisory groups. Last week, the BCSC held the first meeting of its Corporate Finance Stakeholder Forum, which will help ensure that the Commission’s regulation of issuers is efficient and effective. The BCSC also announced that it is seeking applications from the financial technology community to join the Fintech Advisory Forum. “We work to keep the investment markets fair and honest, in a cost-effective manner,” said Brenda Leong, the Chair and CEO of the BCSC. “Smart regulation depends on good intelligence, and the best way to get that is by engaging with the people and businesses affected by our rules.” The 25 volunteer members of the Corporate Finance Stakeholder Forum is advising Corporate Finance staff on policy initiatives, investment market trends and other emerging issues affecting reporting and non-reporting issuers, including investment funds. At its first meeting January 22, members discussed the proposal by the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) for a “notice equals delivery” system, as well as other proposals for reducing regulatory burden for public companies. See: NCFA Canada’s response to BCSC Notice 2018/1 ... Read More
Finextra | Jan 22, 2020 While technology has yet again been a central topic of discussion at this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, there has also been a determined focus on fintech and how financial inclusion is key to meeting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. In conversation with Finextra, Haus of Fintech founder Misha Rao highlights that the recent formation of the Digital Financing Task Force by the UN Secretary General, as well as the need to ensure the financing of the SDGs - which has a $2.5 trillion annual financing gap - "it is time to actively question how we catalyse the fintech ecosystem globally and build coalitions and strategic partnerships that come up with practical solutions and ensure prosperity is widely shared on a local and an international level." See: Task Force Analyzes Role of Fintech in Accelerating SDGs Rao continues: "We know that digital finance initiatives could add $3.7 trillion to the GDP of emerging economies and organisations including the United Nations, the World Bank, and the World Economic Forum have invested in fintech, believing that it has the potential to create a better world. "We believe that core areas like the need for ... Read More
LA Times | Jan 27, 2020 Kobe Bryant, the NBA MVP who had a 20-year career with the Lakers, was killed Sunday when the helicopter he was traveling in crashed and burst into flames in the hills above Calabasas. His daughter Gianna, 13, was also on board and died along with seven others. For live updates and remembrance --> here Inc. | Sonia Thompson | Dec 13, 2018 This is How You Achieve Greatness. 5 Essential Lessons From Kobe Bryant A few months ago, Kobe Bryant released his book, The Mamba Mentality. I've always admired his work ethic that led to his numerous accomplishments, so I was eager to dive into the text. See: Advancing Competition in a Changing Marketplace During Bryant's famed 20-year basketball career with the Los Angeles Lakers, he racked up five NBA championships, two NBA finals MVP awards, and two Olympic gold medals. He's also the third-highest all-time career regular season scorer for the league. The lessons Bryant laid out in his book are gold for entrepreneurs who want to build a legacy of greatness in their work. Here are five important lessons from Kobe's Mamba Mentality every business leader should adopt. 1. Obsession is not-optional. Jeff Bezos often muses about how customer obsession ... Read More
WSJ | AnnaMaria Andriotis | Jan 19, 2020 Tech giant plans terminals to let consumers link credit card information to their hands Amazon wants to make your hand your credit card. The tech giant is creating checkout terminals that could be placed in bricks-and-mortar stores and allow shoppers to link their card information to their hands, according to people familiar with the matter. They could then pay for purchases with their palms, without having to pull out a card or phone. The company plans to pitch the terminals to coffee shops, fast-food restaurants and other merchants that do lots of repeat business with their customers, according to some of the people. Amazon declined to comment. Amazon, like other tech companies, is trying to further integrate itself into consumers’ financial lives, leaving banks and card networks on edge. Apple Inc. introduced a credit card last year, and Google is rolling out checking accounts. If the Amazon terminals succeed, they could leapfrog mobile wallets such as Apple Pay while expanding Amazon’s already-extensive access to consumer data. See: Grab launches first cloud kitchen in Singapore amid GrabFood expansion Amazon’s projects are closely watched both by tech and financial companies, which are increasingly colliding ... Read More
World Economic Forum | Yuval Harari | Jan 24, 2020 Humanity faces three existential threats this century, warned historian Yuval Harari at Davos 2020. Technology risks dividing the world into wealthy elites and exploited "data colonies," he explained. "If you like the World Cup - you are already a globalist," he said, making the case for better cooperation to tackle the challenges. As we enter the third decade of the twenty-first Century, humanity faces so many issues and questions, that it is really hard to know what to focus on. So I would like to use the next twenty minutes to help us focus of all the different issues we face. Three problems pose existential challenges to our species. These three existential challenges are nuclear war, ecological collapse and technological disruption. We should focus on them. Now nuclear war and ecological collapse are already familiar threats, so let me spend some time explaining the less familiar threat posed by technological disruption. In Davos we hear so much about the enormous promises of technology – and these promises are certainly real. But technology might also disrupt human society and the very meaning of human life in numerous ways, ranging from the ... Read More
Verdict | Ellen Daniel | Jan 13, 2020 Open banking was first launched in January 2018 and received much attention from the financial community as the potential bringer of fintech disruption. The regulations require UK-regulated banks to share their customers’ financial data (with permission) with third party providers through the use of application programming interfaces (APIs) in order to make it easier for customers to access financial services and for TPPs to develop new products. Today marks open banking’s second anniversary and while it has impacted the financial landscape, prompting incumbent banks to adapt to innovation and opening up new opportunities in terms of consumer experience, some have argued that the regulation is yet to live up to expectations. See: Open Banking in the UK: what’s happened so far Banks had until March 2019 to establish a “sandbox” environment that third party providers could access and use to test products and until June to make their APIs available to third parties, but many European banks have not adequately met key deadlines, stalling innovation. Although many traditional banks are now adhering to open banking regulations, more could be done to ensure that they also benefit from the new landscape in terms ... Read More
The New York Times | Ruchir Sharma | Jan 20, 2020 To outsiders, China may seem like a surveillance state. But tech has fueled growth and helped stave off recession. Landing in Shanghai recently, I found myself in the middle of a tech revolution remarkable in its sweep. The passport scanner automatically addresses visitors in their native tongues. Digital payment apps have replaced cash. Outsiders trying to use paper money get blank stares from store clerks. Nearby in the city of Hangzhou a prototype hotel called FlyZoo uses facial recognition to open doors, no keys required. Robots mix cocktails and provide room service. Farther south in Shenzhen, we flew the same drones that are already making e-commerce deliveries in rural China. Downtown traffic flowed smoothly, guided by synced stoplights and restrained by police cameras. Outside China, these technologies are seen as harbingers of an “automated authoritarianism,” using video cameras and facial recognition systems to thwart lawbreakers and a “citizen score” to rank citizens for political reliability. An advanced version has been deployed to counter unrest among Muslim Uighurs in the inland region of Xinjiang. But in China as a whole, surveys show that trust in technology is high, concern about ... Read More
TechCrunch | Danny Crichton | Jan 17, 2020 I talked yesterday about how VCs are just tired these days. Too many deals, too little time per deal, and constant hyper-competition with other VCs for the same equity. One founder friend of mine noted to me last night that he has already received inbound requests from more than 90 investors over the past year about his next round — and he’s not even (presumably) fundraising. “I may have missed a few,” he deadpans — and really, how could one not? All that frenetic activity, though, leads us to the paradox at the heart of 2020 venture capital: It’s the largest funds that are writing the earliest, smallest checks. That’s a paradox because big funds need big rounds to invest in. A billion-dollar fund can’t write 800 $1 million seed checks with dollars left over for management fees (well, they could, but that would be obnoxious and impossible to track). Instead, the usual pattern is that as a firm’s fund size grows, its managing partners increasingly move to later-stage rounds to be able to efficiently deploy that capital. So the $200 million fund that used to write $8 million Series As transforms ... Read More
NCFA and TFI | January 23, 2020 Strengthening Canada's fintech and financial reach through collaboration, competition and networking at FFCON20 TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 23, 2020 / The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association of Canada (NCFA) and Toronto Finance International (TFI) announced today a collaborative partnership and the joint launch of the 2020 Fintech and Financing Conference and Expo (FFCON20) to be held in downtown Toronto on March 23-24, 2020. The theme for the 6th annual FFCON is RISE, reflecting the joint efforts of the two associations, NCFA and TFI, to build and increase the success and sustainability of Canada's fintech and financial sector. With finance and fintech touching virtually every business and entity of people's lives, FFCON draws national interest and global participation from high-growth startups and leading industry experts across a variety of disciplines and backgrounds. You will find fintech entrepreneurs from across all fintech sectors including digital banking, peer to peer finance, AI, capital markets, wealth management, payments, crypto and blockchain along with innovative financial institutions, investors, regulators, government and major industry stakeholders, all in one place. FFCON facilitates thought-provoking and relevant discussions, lively debates and personal networking for the cross-pollination of ideas and experiences ... Read More
Wealthsimple | Press Release | Jan 21, 2020 Wealthsimple Cash offers 2.4% interest rate and lets Canadians save and spend through a mobile app and metal card TORONTO, Jan. 21, 2020 /CNW/ - Wealthsimple has launched its first hybrid saving and spending product: Wealthsimple Cash. The new account offers users the ability to save and spend with one of Canada's highest non-promotional interest rates of 2.4% - in addition to a host of features that help people earn more on every dollar in their Cash account. Wealthsimple Cash combines a saving and spending account to give Canadians the power to have both an account that allows for everyday purchases while also providing a safe place to grow their money. Cash clients will benefit from no monthly account fees, no low balance fees, no foreign transaction fees worldwide, and ATM fee reimbursements - all through a sleek, metal card designed to make spending responsibly easy. "Canadians are used to the status quo when it comes to everyday banking - multiple accounts, high fees and low interest," said Michael Katchen, CEO and co-founder, Wealthsimple. "With Wealthsimple Cash, users can enjoy the power of a high interest savings account for all of their day-to-day spending needs ... 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
![Holt Deal Day Sep 20 Vancouver Startup week - [Deal Day Vancouver, Sep 20-2019]: Holt x VSW: Cohort Speed-Panel](https://ncfacanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Holt-Deal-Day-Sep-20-Vancouver-Startup-week.jpg "Holt Deal Day Sep 20 Vancouver Startup week - [Deal Day Vancouver, Sep 20-2019]: Holt x VSW: Cohort Speed-Panel")
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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://ncfacanada.org/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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