Are you interested in providing students with work opportunities that can benefit them, and your business, during Canada’s economic recovery?
Karsten Wenzlaff, Advisor
August 26th, 2025
Karsten Wenzlaff is a Crowdfunding and Fintech Expert from Germany. He is Secretary-General of Digit[...]
Category Archives: NCFA Supported Events
FFCON20 RISE: Join us this Thursday, July 30 for Week 4 theme: LEADERSHIP AND CULTURE
NCFA | FFCON20 Team | July 28, 2020
Image Source: Vantage Circle
Join us Thursday, July 30, 2020! Leaders inspire a vision of the future, motivate and coach others, and bring together the resources and skills to achieve a vision. They must overcome challenges and obstacles as they lead people, technology, markets and navigate regulation towards transformative change.
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How humans can adapt during crisis and how to unleash it
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How to understand and lead in culturally diverse and different environments
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What are the 'People lessons' learned for growing organizations?
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How can a dynamic leader capitalize on their vision, market and relationships?
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Interactive Networking Breakouts! Network and learn with experts on the topics of 'Pitching & Funding During Covid-19, Fintech Innovation and Growth Mentoring'
FFCON20 fintech cage match: Financial planning vs literacy
NCFA Canada | By Samuel He | July 11, 2020
Image Credit: Inspiring / Shutterstock
Dealing with finances is time-consuming and difficult, especially when it involves contradictory goals, like paying off debt while investing for the future. Unfortunately, financial literacy is not emphasized in today’s educational curriculum.
Reports show that only 16% of Millennials qualified as “financially literate,” and over 75% of Canadians stated that they were not confident that they will ever achieve their financial goals.
Several companies have taken initiatives to offer assistance in this field. One company is Finally, a free online financial planning stimulator will provide guidance to users about their financial goals. Another is NuMoola, a family-focused consumer banking app that helps children develop good money habits using real money and gamified education.
Finally offers a DIY Financial Planning Simulator that helps users customize a tailor-made plan to best fit their needs. The simulator uses multiple financial algorithms and machine learning to make the process straightforward and efficient, creating a plan for the user in as little as 20 minutes.
A basic financial plan can be created for free, with the user having the option to subscribe for additional value-added services. Some of these services include automated money movement, access to a financial planning advisor, and cashback programs for assistance.
NuMoola approaches the problem from a different direction. The NuMoola app strives to make learning about financial literacy a less daunting endeavour. And their focus is on getting children to develop good lifelong financial habits early. The app features family-focused banking that allows children to learn the value of money and gamified educational tasks focusing on all aspects of banking and money management. Achieving financial awareness at this early stage prepares children to be financially responsible and tackle financial hurdles in the future.
You can see Finally and NuMoola pitch at FFCON20 DIGITAL’s Fintech Draft Competition!
Get a ticket, tune in and vote to show your support for Finally and NuMoola (and others, see below)
Check out their profiles and their competition at the FFCON20 RISE page.
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
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Opportunity to connect and discuss how student talent can help your business
TFI | Sara Anderson | July 10, 2020
Are you interested in providing students with work opportunities that can benefit them, and your business, during Canada’s economic recovery?
If you’re in HR, talent management, or responsible for recruitment within your organization, this is a great initiative and opportunity to help you achieve your goals.
Toronto Finance International has partnered with The Conference Board of Canada (CBoC) and Business + the Higher Education Roundtable (BHER) to improve and expand student work-integrated learning (WIL) in Canada. Our aim is to assess and support student recruitment, training, and future talent needs during our country’s economic recovery from COVID-19. Our partners are developing a user-friendly resource hub to support employers in adding or expanding student talent within their organizations, and we need your input.
We’re facilitating a series of virtual consultations and invite you to join us for a candid discussion about work-integrated learning.
- You’ll connect with a pan-Canadian network of senior leaders focused on developing WIL opportunities and tools that will benefit businesses across the country.
- You’ll help shape a toolbox for Canadian businesses and gain advanced access to BHER’s online toolkit of tips, tricks and resources on using WIL to address your talent needs.
There are two ways to participate:
- Take part in the 90-minute Ontario Regional Stakeholder Meeting happening July 15, 2020 at 1:30 PM EST, bringing together industry, postsecondary, and government stakeholders with an interest in WIL.
See: NCFA Open Letter: Government should collaborate with Fintechs
TFI is partnering on the Ontario event, and we encourage you to join the consultation for our region. However, we welcome your participation at any of these additional meetings pending your availability:
Prairies | July 14, 2020 at 12:30 CST
Quebec | July 29, 2020 at 11:00 EST
British Columbia | July 22, 2020 at 11:00 PDT
Territories | July 28, 2020 at 1:00 PDT
Canada-Wide | July 30, 2020 at 1:30 EST
SIGN UP HERE
- Register for an opportunity to participate in a Focus Group occurring mid- to late-July. Based on the information you provide in the online registration form at the link below, you may be invited to events or to participate in a consultation. Depending on availability, you may receive a phone call or email to determine your eligibility for a consultation. Focus group participants will receive a minimum compensation of $175.
REGISTER HERE
For more information about these initiatives visit this webpage, or contact WIL@conferenceboard.ca – our partners would be happy to share more details and discuss different options for a consultation.
We hope you can join us in building the future of work-integrated learning in Canada.
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
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FFCON20 DIGITAL Attendees to Receive Exclusive Digital Icon and Early Access to Liquid Avatar
NCFA and FFCON20 | Release | July 8, 2020
TORONTO — July 8, 2020 — The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA), Toronto Finance International (TFI), and partners are pleased to announce that together with their sponsor, KABN Systems North America Inc. (“KABN”), attendees of FFCON20 DIGITAL, taking place from July 9 through August 27 inclusive, will receive an exclusive Liquid Avatar FFCON 20 iconic digital pin to celebrate their attendance at the event.
The FFCON20 digital pin is the first event pin offered by Liquid Avatar (www.liquidavatar.com) in support of its new app to power users to verify, manage and monetize their digital identity.
Liquid Avatar, a KABN product offering, provides users with the ability to verify, manage and control their digital identity through an easy to use app or web page. Using high quality icons, users can create their digital identity and verify themselves using KABN’s bank grade validation process and biometrics, supported by Blockchain technologies.
“We’re honored to be able to present our first Liquid Avatar event pin at FFCON 20 DIGITAL,” said Mr. Ben Kessler, CEO – KABN. “Liquid Avatar gives users control over the use of their digital identity and data providing them with the ability to share what they want, when they want and with whom they want, easily and efficiently, while protecting the use of their digital assets.”
Liquid Avatar creates a re-usable, always on, verified digital identity that can be used, together with the app’s “wallet” and “keyrings” for current and future digital credentials and to manage private and public data. Liquid Avatar is built to support a wide range of digital credentials, wallets and authentication processes, creating a potentially agnostic authenticated storage environment for the user.
“We’re very excited to work with the KABN team to provide attendees with the inaugural Liquid Avatar event pin with potential future value offerings from NCFA and its partners, and to commemorate FFCON20 DIGITAL, and what a transformative year 2020 has been for the digital economy and those on the RISE,” said Craig Asano, Founder and CEO – NCFA Canada. “Users will be able to claim their digital pin and gain early access to the Liquid Avatar app.”
KABN will be presenting Digital Identity and Convergence Marketplaces, as part of the FFCON20 DIGITAL programme on Thursday, August 6, 2020 at 2 pm Eastern. Attendees of that event will get additional Liquid Avatar rewards.
See: Get tickets to FFCON20: DIGITAL RISE July 9 - August 27
Now in its 6th year, FFCON20 will be an online experience bringing together prominent industry experts, entrepreneurs, professionals, regulatory bodies and ecosystem stakeholders in fintech, digital identity, blockchain, crypto, AI, capital markets innovation and alternative finance to discuss innovation and Canada’s ability to compete and scale globally, the latest industry developments and emerging trends, regulation and thought leadership.
The theme of this year’s conference 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.
The Programme
Tickets include access to all eight weeks of FFCON20 DIGITAL
- July 09: FFCON20 Kickoff | Scaling FinTech Funding, Innovation & Competition
- July 16: Digital Banking, Open X, Future of PayTech
- July 23: Sustainable Finance
- July 30: Leadership & Adaptability
- August 06: Digital Identity and Convergence Marketplaces
- August 13: Currency Wars & The Rise of DeFi
- August 20: Ai in FinTech: biased and in need of regulation?
- August 27: The Biggest Debates in Fintech and Fintech Draft Finals | Official Close of FFCON20
The agenda can be accessed on the programme page.
Our Partners and Speakers
Some notable companies involved include: Exponential, KABN NA, Mavennet, The Finanser, eThereLive, The Top Floor, EQbank, CACHEFLO, Consilium Crypto, DUCA Impact Lab, Deloitte, FundRazr, Holt Accelerator, Lending Loop, Metaverse Foundation, Ledn, Portag3 Ventures, Senate of Canada, LQwD Financial Corp., Accenture, Clearbanc, Bitvo, Singularity Media, Northmark Ventures, Luge Capital, Crowdfund Capital Advisors, Engaiz, Finnovate.io, Senso, FundRazr, Brainfluence, Foxquiilt and Zensurance. The growing list of speakers can be found at the conference speaker page.
Registration Now Open
Registration for FFCON20 DIGITAL is open and tickets are available to one or all 8 weeks in the FFCON20 DIGITAL weekly event series and can be purchased at https://fintechandfunding.com/tickets/.
Useful Links
FFCON20 banners | logos | images
Website | Experience | Partners
Registration | Media Pass
Connect with us
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 Toronto Finance International
Toronto Finance International (TFI) is a public-private partnership between Canada’s three levels of government, the financial services sector and academia. TFI’s mission is to lead collective action that drives the competitiveness and growth of Toronto’s financial sector and establishes its prominence as a leading international financial centre. For more information, please visit: www.tfi.ca
About KABN Systems North America Inc.
KABN Systems North America Inc. focuses on the verification, management and monetization of digital identity, empowering users to control and benefit from its use of their online identity. KABN propriety technology suite includes 4 key products:
KABN ID is an Always On, biometric and blockchain based digital identity validation and verification platform allowing users to continuously and confidently prove themselves throughout the online community.
Liquid Avatar allows users to create high quality digital icons representing their online personas. These icons, in conjunction with KABN ID, allows users to use Liquid Avatars to share public and permission based private data when they want and with whom they want. www.liquidavatar.com
KABN Card is a Visa approved prepaid card program allowing users to manage both digital and fiat currencies and earn cashback and other loyalty incentives.
KABN KASH is a cashback, loyalty and engagement program that powers the KABN revenue ecosystem.
KABN provides its products and services at no cost to consumers and generates revenues through permission-based partner programs.
KABN Systems North America Inc. is the operating division of KABN Systems NA Holdings Corp., a publicly traded on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol: KABN
For more information, please visit www.kabnnaholdco.com or www.kabnsystemsna.com
About FFCON
FFCON20 (2020 Fintech and Financing Conference) is an annual conference hosted by Canada’s National Crowdfunding and Fintech Association (NCFA). Now in its sixth year, FFCON20, held in association with Toronto Finance International, will bring together professionals and innovators in fintech, open banking, digital identity, blockchain, cryptocurrency, AI, capital markets innovation, sustainable and alternative finance. Further information about the conference can be found at www.fintechandfunding.com
FFCON20 Contacts
Craig Asano
Founder and CEO, NCFA
casano@ncfacanada.org
(416) 618-0254
Partnership Inquiries
Lauren Linton
Advisor, NCFA
lauren@ncfacanada.org
(416) 569-4349
Media Contact
Michele McDermott-Fox
The Top Floor Public Relations
pr@thetopflooragency.com
(905) 379-1893
View the original release here
FFCON20 DIGITAL: RISE Speakers Board –> Join Us for a Fintech Summer!
Attend One or All 8 Weekly FFCON20 Sessions!
Links: Program | Speakers | Experience | Vote in Fintech Draft
Attend Week 1: Thursday, July 9 from 1:45PM - 4:45PM EDT
Scaling Fintech Funding, Innovation and Competition
(Expires July 7 midnight)
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
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Check out the latest books by a few of our featured FFCON speakers!
NCFA | Team FFCON20 | July 6, 2020
We have great thought leaders and authors that will be speaking at FFCON20 (also some prizes!) Check these out and stay at the forefront of digital change in financial services:
Banking in today’s day and age has evolved rapidly, especially in the recent decade. With the rise in digital and open banking, new opportunities are sprouting up and disrupting the traditional ways of banking. Prominent banks such as JPMorgan Chase (USA) and ING (Europe) are fully aware of this and have adopted radical new approaches to best adapt and survive the changing environment. Voted one of the most influential people in banking by The Financial Brand, Chris Skinner provides detailed interviews with 5 banks in Doing Digital and shares his commentary on the secrets to thrive in the new era of finance and technology. Get DOING DIGITAL book now
See Chris Skinner speak at FFCON20 Week 3: July 23 Sustainable Finance: Purpose Driven Finance
The financial services industry has been evolving at unprecedented speeds with increasing competition from both within and outside the industry, notably from entrepreneurial FinTech start-ups and non-financial technology-based companies. Some of these entrants are looking to replace the incumbents with the technological disruption while others look to partner with them. In The Technological Revolution in Financial Services, Michael King and Richard Nesbitt ultimately believe that the increased competition from the technological revolution will benefit customers and lead to a more open and inclusive financial system. Get Technological Revolution in Financial Services book now
See Michael King speak at FFCON20 Week 1: July 9 Scaling Fintech Funding, Innovation and Competition: Intangibles Economy and Scaling Fintech in Canada
According to data, the US economy loses $3 trillion dollars in productivity due to excess bureaucracy, and $4.6 trillion of merchandise is left in abandoned e-commerce shopping carts. Why is the cause of these appalling statistics? Roger Dooley believes it is attributed to the growing presence of ‘friction’, which he defines as the unnecessary expenditure of time, effort, or money in performing a task. In FRICTION - The Untapped Force That Can Be Your Most Powerful Advantage, Dooley combines scientific research with real life examples to illustrate how to spot out areas of friction in an organization and explains the strategies to help eliminate them, creating a more swift and efficient experience for both the business and the customer. Get FRICTION book now
See Roger Dooley speak at FFCON20 Week 2: July 16 Open Banking and Future of Paytech: Reducing Friction in Banking and Financial Transactions
Blockchain is a growing field that is transforming the financial and technological industries in profound ways. In Financial Services Revolution: How Blockchain is Transforming Money, Markets, and Banking, Co-founder of The Blockchain Research Institute Alex Tapscott shares insights from some of the world’s top thinkers in blockchain in how to survey the coming digital storm. Discussions in the book revolve around global payment networks, tokenization, and innovative financing methods. Get FINANCIAL SERVICES REVOLUTION book now
See Alex Tapscott speak at FFCON20 Week 2: July 16 Open Banking and Future of Paytech: Financial Services Revolution
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
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FFCON20 Week 1: Scaling Fintech Funding, Innovation and Competition – July 9th Agenda Now Posted
NCFA | Team FFCON20 | Jul 6, 2020
Buy 2 or more Tickets Save 40%
(Available until July 7 @11:59pm EST)
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