Karsten Wenzlaff, Advisor
August 26th, 2025
Crowdfunding | Aug 27, 2024

Image: Pixabay/geralt
While many know Revolut to be a robust global financial powerhouse, they may not be aware of the strategic and innovative crowdfunding success which opened the door to 433 retail investor to take part in their extraordinary growth journey. In 2016, Revolut raised a £1 million crowdfunding round at a valuation of just £42 million on equity crowdfunding platform Crowdcube. At that time, investors funded on average just £2,152 per investor. The demand was overwhelmingly successful that investors had to be randomly chosen from over 10,000 interested investors, and the campaign achieved its funding goal in a matter of days.
Fast forward to today, Revolut's valuation in 2024 has skyrocketed in true hockey stick fashion to $45 billion making those early crowdfunding investments ultra profitable with shares now valued at over £860,000 profit for up to 40,000% gains.
Looking back to that successful campaign over 8 years prior, Revolut together with Crowdcube demonstrated the power of crowdfunding where everyday retail investors could invest as remote 'armchair dragons' (a nod to entrepreneur's pitch show Dragon's Den) and achieve outsized returns in a world typically reserved for venture capitalists and early institutional investors.
Revolut's equity crowdfunding campaign provided retail investors the opportunity to join one of the biggest startup success stories in Europe highlighting the roadmap for innovation, strategic funding, smart investment, and the potential of equity crowdfunding as the firm contemplates an IPO.
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, artificial intelligence, 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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Investment Crowdfunding | Aug 15, 2024

Image: Freepik/onlyyouqj
Customers and investors can now purchase stock in Rally, a crowdpowered travel startup, as the SEC-regulated investment crowdfunding campaign officially launched yesterday. Professional and every day investors including the general public will have the opportunity to contribute to Rally's innovative Mass Mobility as a Service (MaaS) platform, which allows users to plan or join bus excursions via its rideshare app to important events such as festivals, sporting events, and concerts.
Rally's use a tech platform to link hundreds of small private bus operators offers efficient and flexible transportation solutions by crowdsourcing travel demand, which is a great solution for events with high demand. Its other brand, OurBus, offers more than 150 stops and schedules regular intercity routes throughout the United States and Canada. The current campaign marks a new milestone in Rally's growth, as the company plans to expand and even explore the possibility of going public. Through this equity crowdfunding campaign, regulated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), everyday investors now have the opportunity to own a stake in Rally.
Rally's 2024 campaign demonstrates how crowdsourcing has changed over the years. Looking back to 2014, LineSixTransit, a Toronto-based crowdsourcing initiative, tried using a similar technique to crowdfund public transportation solutions to help resolve Toronto's transportation challenges. The project's goal was to establish a private bus service that would transport passengers between Liberty Village and Union Station and guarantee seats in return for nominal crowdsourced fees.
After a week-long pilot experiment and a lot of initial enthusiasm, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) abruptly ended the project due to regulatory issues. While the outcome was unsuccessful due to regulatory issues, such project paved the way for tapping into the power of crowdfunding.
By allowing crowdsourcing demand and linking small bus operators via technology, Rally is developing a flexible, scalable approach to event-based and intercity transport. If the project is successful and eventually publicly lists, early investors will reap the benefits of a unique opportunity to participate in the mobility business.
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, artificial intelligence, 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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Aug 12, 2024

Image: Pixabay/DrMedYourRasenn
Online casino and sports betting websites, commonly referred to as iGaming sites, which are fully licensed and regulated by the AGCO (Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario), are helping to revolutionize the online gambling industry in Canada and make it safer for everyone involved.
Today’s most trusted AGCO-licensed iGaming operators are fully committed to promoting responsible gambling by offering a range of ‘safer gambling tools’ to protect against problem gambling.
Here is a closer look at how today’s safest and most secure online sports betting casino websites in Ontario are taking fun and safe gambling to the next level.
All iGaming operators in Ontario that are legally permitted to offer real money gambling services to anyone aged 19 or above in the province must be fully licensed and regulated by the AGCO. This official governing body oversees all online gambling activities here.
The AGCO is classed as a top-tier licensing authority/gaming commission, much like the UKGC (United Kingdom Gambling Commission), because of its exceptionally high standards.
The AGCO carries out stringent background checks before issuing a license to any applicants. It puts each operator through a rigorous vetting process to ensure that the operator is legitimate and can be trusted.
Also, players who sign up to these sites have the necessary legal backing they are entitled to should any issues arise.
World-class sites like TitanPlay that are fully licensed and regulated by this top-tier gaming commission/licensing authority use 128-bit or higher Secure Socket Layer encryption to ensure each registered member’s accounts and sensitive data stored on that site are safe and protected from cybercriminals.
This same highly sophisticated cryptographic technology also ensures that your transactions and money are always in safe hands.
AGCO-licensed operators also protect players in several other ways by actively promoting responsible gambling practices, meaning players can manually set up self-imposed safer gambling tools to help them stay in much better control of their spending.
In other words, when signing up to trusted sites like this to place sports bets or play thousands of computer-generated and live dealer games from award-winning providers, players can set win/loss limits, and daily, weekly or monthly deposit limits.
Session time reminders are also available to ensure players never exceed their initial budgets. Some of TitanPlays’ most effective recommendations for responsible betting include the following:
In other words, reputable operators have your best interests in mind and provide plenty of tools to help keep things safe and enjoyable.
Ontario became the first Canadian province to launch a private market for web-based gambling activities in April 2022 and now has one of the safest iGaming landscapes in the world for anyone aged 19 or above who lives here.
Operators must fully comply with the rules of responsible gambling measures laid out by the AGCO to legally operate in Ontario, which has made online sports betting and playing casino games from a Wi-Fi/internet-connected PC or mobile device more secure and enjoyable.
When playing on sites like this, it’s down to the player to gamble responsibly. However, thanks to deposit limits, win/loss limits, session time reminders, and other effective, safer gambling tools, doing so is now easier than ever.
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, artificial intelligence, 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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Jul 30, 2024

Image: Unsplash/Campaign Creators
In a welcome shot of optimism amidst a challenging fundraising environment, London-based venture capital firm 13books Capital (formerly Element Ventures) has secured a substantial £121 million fund. This significant investment is dedicated to empowering the next generation of fintech innovators, solidifying 13books' commitment to shaping the future of financial services.
From indications, the fund will also allocate resources to support startups and established companies exploring innovative applications of blockchain technology, particularly within the entertainment and online gaming industry. Features like global accessibility, convenience, and anonymity, which have been the hallmarks and calling card of any crypto casino and DeFi/NFT gaming project worth its mettle, may find problems to some of its problems like scalability, among others thanks to this funding.
Beyond shaping and creating an avenue for startups in various industries to strive, from sandbox NFT projects to online casinos, let’s see what else is there to 13books Capital’s newfound investment.
The newly established fund builds upon 13books Capital's established track record of backing promising fintech startups With successful investments in companies like Roadzen (NASDAQ: RDZNW), Hepster, Coincover, Runa, Billhop, Thirdfort, Duco, nCino (NASDAQ: NCNO), Fenergo, and ErisX, the firm has a proven ability to identify disruptive fintech players. The £121 million capital injection allows 13books Capital to significantly expand its support for early-stage fintech companies, fueling their growth and propelling them towards market leadership.
The fund will primarily target investments in Seed to Series A financing rounds, typically ranging from £1 million to £7 million per startup. This strategic focus on early-stage companies underscores 13books Capital's belief in nurturing innovation from the ground up. By providing crucial financial backing and strategic guidance at these critical development stages, the VC firm is essentially ushering in a new era of finance to empower young, ambitious fintech companies to solidify their foundations, refine their offerings, and scale their operations.
The robust fundraising reflects a growing optimism for the European fintech scene. Financial institutions are recognizing the potential of disruptive fintech firms, positioning the European market for significant growth in the coming years. 13books Capital's sizeable investment underscores its belief that European fintech is on the cusp of a "golden period." This confidence is further bolstered by the recent successes of European fintech companies like Klarna and Adyen, who have achieved global recognition and disrupted traditional financial services models.
13books Capital's successful fundraising serves as a beacon of hope within the current fundraising climate. The firm's commitment to supporting early-stage European fintech companies is a catalyst for innovation and progress in the financial services sector. With a robust fund, a seasoned team, and a strategic network of partners, 13books Capital is well-positioned to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of European fintech. As the firm continues to identify and empower visionary founders, the European fintech space can look forward to a period of sustained growth, disruption, and positive impact on millions of users across the continent.
While securing significant funding is a critical milestone for any startup, the focus of 13books Capital's £121 million fund extends beyond simply providing financial resources. By targeting Seed and Series A financing rounds, the firm positions itself as a true partner to help budding companies navigate growth, challenges, and opportunities they might encounter on their journey.
Focusing on early-stage investment offers several distinct advantages. Seed and Series A companies are often highly innovative and have the potential for exponential growth. By investing at this stage, 13books Capital can identify promising companies with disruptive ideas before they become mainstream. Moreover, these early-stage investments enable the firm to participate in evolving interconnected sub-niches within the finance sector.
These sub-niches leverage blockchain for transparent user experience, DeFi marketplaces that offer decentralized financial services, decentralized social networks that provide users with greater control over their data, and DAOs that operate without centralized leadership. Each of these areas embodies the principles of decentralization, promoting innovation, efficiency, and user empowerment.
By supporting companies in these dynamic and rapidly growing sectors, 13books Capital is positioning itself at the cutting edge of the fintech industry. This strategic approach not only maximizes potential returns but also contributes to the broader evolution of financial technology, fostering a more decentralized and inclusive financial ecosystem.
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, artificial intelligence, 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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Funding | Jul 10, 2024

Image: Xero Beautiful Business Fund (website)
The Xero Beautiful Business Fund initiative is designed to help small businesses flourish, offering over CA$630,000 in funding across various regions, including Canada (excluding Quebec), Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, the UK, and the US.
For your entry, choose one or more of the following categories. To increase your chances of winning, you can enter all categories:
Entries must be submitted by August 27, 2024. Winners will be announced at the end of October 2024.
Entries will be evaluated according to how innovative, significant, and workable your ideas are. Make sure your proposal explains how the financing will help you accomplish your business goals in a straightforward and appealing way. Go here for additional information on the judging details.
This is a fantastic way for Xero to encourage small business innovation with direct funding support while also growing it's customer and fan base.
Check out these FAQs for more information, or contact xerobbfund@xero.com.
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, artificial intelligence, 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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