Karsten Wenzlaff, Advisor
August 26th, 2025
Karsten Wenzlaff is a Crowdfunding and Fintech Expert from Germany. He is Secretary-General of Digit[...]
Category Archives: Online Funding / Investing Portals
Indiegogo Announces Equity Investing For All
Indiegogo Blog | Nov 15, 2016
Indiegogo: We’re excited to introduce a new equity crowdfunding service that gives anyone the power to invest in startups. We’ve partnered with MicroVentures, a leader in the equity crowdfunding space, to introduce this platform that gives everyone access to invest in innovative startups and growing companies.
Unlike rewards-based crowdfunding, with equity crowdfunding, individuals receive company shares, not just perks, in exchange for their equity investment. Not only can businesses gain the crucial help they need from a broader pool of funders—but investors can support business they believe in, and can even benefit financially if a company goes on to greater heights.
See:
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Indiegogo Could Soon Dominate Equity Crowdfunding
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Presentation Deck: 2016 Small Business Forum Crowdfunding 101+ Workshop
Equity crowdfunding only exists because the equity crowdfunding rules passed by the Securities and Exchange Commision (SEC) as part of the 2012 JOBS Act allow anyone the opportunity to invest in companies online. Previously, only a select group of accredited investors that met a certain wealth threshold could invest in early-stage private companies.
We founded Indiegogo based on the idea that everyone should be able to get the funding they need to turn their idea into reality. We were proud to be involved in helping craft the 2012 JOBS ACT and firmly believe access to capital shouldn’t be restricted to a small, select group of individuals.
Now you (yes, you!) have a chance to invest in new technologies and ideas, with potential financial returns. We work directly with entrepreneurs across industries, so you can partner with the innovative startups that interest you most.
Investing in startups means you may own a piece of the company and are along for the ride, with all the ups and downs. You may not have a seat at the boardroom table, but you can help a great idea come to life.
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The National Crowdfunding Association of Canada (NCFA Canada) is a cross-Canada non-profit actively engaged with both social and investment crowdfunding stakeholders across the country. NCFA Canada provides education, research, leadership, support and networking opportunities to over 1450+ members and works closely with industry, government, academia, community and eco-system partners and affiliates to create a strong and vibrant crowdfunding industry in Canada. Learn more at ncfacanada.org.
Lending Club secures $1.3 bln to be lent by National Bank of Canada, reports quarterly loss
SMN Weekly | By Henry Hughes | November 7, 2016
Lending Club, the largest alternative financing provider in the US, announced it has secured $1.3 billion to be lent through its platform by the National Bank of Canada in the next 12 months.
The investment will be undertaken by Credigy the US subsidiary of the bank, which specializes in consumer finance investment.
“We’re pleased to add this platform purchase program with Credigy to our investor capital mix. As we take multiple strategic actions to enhance our marketplace, we see the Credigy program as a way we’re further diversifying our investor base and adding the funding visibility and stability that can make us even more resilient in various market conditions,” said Scott Sanborn, President and CEO at Lending Club.
“Lending Club is a clear leader in delivering access to unsecured consumer credit. Based on Lending Club’s track record of loan performance and our extensive review, we are excited to establish this purchase program and invest on the platform,” said Brett Samsky, CEO of Credigy.
See: Acknowledging the Value of Lending Club, Even as It Stumbles
Meanwhile, Lending Club reported a net loss of $113.7 million for the first nine months of 2016 and a net loss of $36.5 million for the third quarter. This includes $1.7 million of goodwill impairment in the quarter ended September 30, 2016 and $37.1 million year to date in 2016.
At the same time in Q3 the loan originations rose 1% over the quarter, to $1.97 billion, but fell 12% on an annual basis.
Since its founding in 2006 Lending Club has facilitated near $23 billion (as of end of September) in P2P loans and manages a servicing portfolio of nearly $10.9 billion. This is 42% higher compared to the $7.7 billion at the end of the same period last year.
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The National Crowdfunding Association of Canada (NCFA Canada) is a cross-Canada non-profit actively engaged with both social and investment crowdfunding stakeholders across the country. NCFA Canada provides education, research, leadership, support and networking opportunities to over 1300+ members and works closely with industry, government, academia, community and eco-system partners and affiliates to create a strong and vibrant crowdfunding industry in Canada. Learn more at ncfacanada.org.
KickStarter Live will let creators livestream their campaigns to the world
The Next Web | Matthew Hughes | Nov 1, 2016
Today, Kickstarter announced the launch of Kickstarter Live – its brand new live video service, which allows backers and creators to interact in real time.
The service was built with the assistance of Vancouver startup Huzza, and has been quietly tested with a handful of selected creator partners.
Kickstarter says that these partners used the feature for a variety of purposes, ranging from broadcasting live product demonstrations, to videogame playthroughs and cooking classes.
Between FaceBook Live, Twitch.tv, and Periscope, livestreaming is all the rage now. But what can it do for a crowdfunding website?
See: Kickstarter joining forces with Amazon could mean big bucks for small companies
Perhaps the most obvious, and some might say crucial, thing is that it it may inspire greater trust. There have been a number of scandals with creators failing to deliver rewards to backers, and launching campaigns for products that are simply physically impossible to create.
If potential backers can see a product being used in real-time, they may be more confident that they’ll actually get something for their money.
There’s a less tangible reason behind Kickstarter Live. It believes that this feature will deepen the bond beyond creators and backers, and will offer a more intimate personal connection.
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The National Crowdfunding Association of Canada (NCFA Canada) is a cross-Canada non-profit actively engaged with both social and investment crowdfunding stakeholders across the country. NCFA Canada provides education, research, leadership, support and networking opportunities to over 1300+ members and works closely with industry, government, academia, community and eco-system partners and affiliates to create a strong and vibrant crowdfunding industry in Canada. Learn more at ncfacanada.org.
AngelList Syndicates finally launches in Canada via new OSC program (with some caveats)
Betakit | | Oct 24, 2016
It has been 20 full months since Hootsuite’s Ryan Holmes told BetaKit that he wanted to run the first AngelList Syndicate in Canada to invest in Canadian entrepreneurs. Thanks to a new program partnership between AngelList and the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC), that opportunity is now available to investors in Ontario.
As of tomorrow, eligible investors will be able to invest in Creative Destruction Lab and NEXT Canada startups raising capital through an AngelList Syndicate (the startups must be headquartered in, or have significant operations in, Canada). Interested investors must meet Ontario’s accredited investor criteria as well as screening criteria from AngelList itself.
As of tomorrow, eligible investors will be able to invest in Creative Destruction Lab and NEXT Canada startups raising capital through an AngelList Syndicate.
See: [Breaking Oct 24, 2016]: Regulator Unveils OSC LaunchPad, a first for Canada
Investing in non-Canadian startups, or startups outside of CDL and NEXT Canada’s programming requires a different set of compliance standards, as part of a decision which the OSC confirmed will be published shortly (BetaKit will have full coverage of those additional requirements as soon as they’re live on OSC’s website). The OSC also confirmed that program partnership grants AngelList limited relief from certain registrant obligations and prospectus requirements for two years, with the time-limit designed to let the program run in a test environment the OSC can evaluate.
The announcement comes the same day that Toronto FinTech startup Lending Loop received OSC certification, as well as the launch of OSC’s LaunchPad initiative, designed to help early-stage FinTech startups navigate regulation.
Pat Chaukos, Chief of OSC LaunchPad, said that the flurry of initiatives by the OSC spoke to a “recognition that we need to evolve as well, and that we need to keep pace with the changes brought on by these [startups], and not get in the way.”
“Right now is the right time, right place, and I think it will be just a matter of time until [AngelList Syndicates is] across Canada.”
While CDL and NEXT Canada are the only two “approved incubators” currently in the program, more will be added. Chaukos spoke to the need for approved partners as part of the program to instill confidence amongst Canadian investors and add a layer of protection atop AngelList’s processes. “They [AngelList] do some due diligence, but at the same time there’s a bit of a ‘buyer beware’ model” to the platform, Chaukos said.
The National Crowdfunding Association of Canada (NCFA Canada) is a cross-Canada non-profit actively engaged with both social and investment crowdfunding stakeholders across the country. NCFA Canada provides education, research, leadership, support and networking opportunities to over 1300+ members and works closely with industry, government, academia, community and eco-system partners and affiliates to create a strong and vibrant crowdfunding industry in Canada. Learn more at ncfacanada.org.
Canada’s First Peer-to-Peer Lender Open for Business
Lending Loop Press Release | Oct 24, 2016
Lending Loop launches after completing regulatory registration process
TORONTO, Oct. 24, 2016 /CNW/ - Canada's first peer-to-peer lender, Lending Loop, has opened its doors after completing its registration with the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) and other securities regulators. The company today launched its platform to investors and small businesses across the country. The launch follows extensive efforts by the company's founders to chart the course for peer-to-peer lending in Canada.
Lending Loop is a peer-to-peer platform that connects small businesses seeking financing with Canadian investors. The platform offers businesses a better way to borrow, with a quick and easy application process and affordable interest rates. With the support of Canadian investors, Lending Loop is providing small businesses the ability to access the capital they need to grow. At the same time, Lending Loop allows investors to make an attractive fixed-income return while building a diverse portfolio of small business loans across a number of industries and geographies.
"While peer-to-peer lending has been highly successful across the globe, we had to navigate some unique regulatory challenges in order to bring this business model to Canada," said Cato Pastoll, CEO and co-founder of Lending Loop. "It can be challenging for new entrants and regulators to adapt novel business models to existing regulations, and we're extremely proud to be pushing this industry forward. We're bringing a new form of finance to Canada that makes capital more accessible for small businesses while offering a brand new asset class to all Canadians."
Seeing the success of the model in other jurisdictions, including the UK and the United States, Pastoll and co-founder Brandon Vlaar first launched Lending Loop in late 2015 to bring peer-to-peer lending to Canadian small businesses and investors. In March 2016, the team began a registration process to become an exempt market dealer. Lending Loop's newly obtained license allows the company to offer this innovative business model in a fully regulated manner, while ensuring its sustainability in the Canadian marketplace.
See: Lifting the veil on P2P Lending in Canada
Having successfully completed its registration, Lending Loop is now live and accepting both new investors and new businesses to the platform. Lending Loop is not currently available to investors in Quebec but the company hopes to expand to the province in the near future.
For more information, visit www.lendingloop.ca
About Lending Loop
Lending Loop is Canada's first peer-to-peer lending platform, allowing Canadians to invest their money in small business loans. Lending Loop allows businesses to access term debt financing at fair interest rates through a simple online process. They do this by cutting out costly intermediaries, allowing Canadian businesses and investors to prosper together. Lending Loop's mission is to provide Canadians with access to simple and attractive returns by supporting the growth of local Canadian businesses.
The National Crowdfunding Association of Canada (NCFA Canada) is a cross-Canada non-profit actively engaged with both social and investment crowdfunding stakeholders across the country. NCFA Canada provides education, research, leadership, support and networking opportunities to over 1300+ members and works closely with industry, government, academia, community and eco-system partners and affiliates to create a strong and vibrant crowdfunding industry in Canada. Learn more at ncfacanada.org.
Courtesy of GoFundMe, crowdfunding now comes with a guarantee, of sorts
TechCrunch | Haje Jan Kamps | Oct 4, 2016
Unscrupulous scammers have been pilfering money out of charity donation boxes for as long as they have existed. The rapid rise of crowdfunding platforms has moved this practice into cyberspace. GoFundMe today announced that it is fighting back with a limited guarantee, ensuring that the money you drop in a collection bucket goes where you think it does.
Fraud does happen on platforms such as Indiegogo and Kickstarter, but given that backers on product-driven crowdfunding platforms usually expect to get a product in return (even though it may not always be the product they expect), it eventually becomes obvious when fraud has occurred. This isn’t the case for platforms aiming at cause- and charity-based giving, such as GoFundMe, where a donor’s involvement with a campaign often ends as soon as the donation is made.
Between the ease of setting up a campaign, the difficulty of detecting fraud and the ability to set up campaigns on someone else’s behalf, rooting out fraud on online donation sites can be tremendously complicated. It is against this backdrop that GoFundMe is adding a second layer of defense, in the form of a guarantee to its donors and recipients.
See:
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Indiegogo Is Testing Optional Insurance Fees For Crowdfunded Products
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AIG Launches a New Equity Crowdfunding Insurance Product to Protect Investors
The guarantee is limited in a few important ways, which I believe weakens the company’s commitment to tidying up its image.
In the aftermath of a natural disaster, a number of funding campaigns tend to pop up. After the recent flooding in Louisiana, for example, the Louisiana Record reported that more than 6,400 campaigns were launched, causing the state’s Attorney General to pay extra close attention.
Let’s be clear: Most of the campaigns on the platform are created with good intentions and the money will find its way to the intended targets. Some of them, however, have all the legitimacy of the wife of a recently deceased prince whose father has left him a $1.5 billion goldmine and who needs your help to unlock an inheritance in six easy steps.
A battle of trust
On crowdfunding platforms — and especially ones that involve charitable giving — trust is the No. 1 currency. This puts GoFundMe and its peers in a difficult position. The media spotlight certainly helps raise awareness of the platforms, and successfully raising $10 million for the Louisiana flood victims is a fantastic story. On the flip side, GoFundMe is also regularly in the media’s spotlight with a slowly rising tide of headlines of fraud on the platform, giving some potential donors pause for thought before they hit the “Donate Now” button.
“GoFundMe wouldn’t exist without the empathy of our donors, and the GoFundMe Guarantee is about protecting their generosity with the industry’s first and only guarantee,” Rob Solomon, GoFundMe CEO said. “We want every donor to know that we have their back. It’s a big deal to give, and we want there to be complete peace of mind when you donate on our platform.”
GoFundMe’s PR team is eager to point out that fraud is exceedingly rare, claiming that less than 0.1 percent of all campaigns awaken cause for concern. In its battle to win over the hearts and minds of the backers and the media, offering a guarantee will go a long way, but the guarantee is limited in a few important ways, which I believe weakens the company’s commitment to tidying up its image.
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The National Crowdfunding Association of Canada (NCFA Canada) is a cross-Canada non-profit actively engaged with both social and investment crowdfunding stakeholders across the country. NCFA Canada provides education, research, leadership, support and networking opportunities to over 1300+ members and works closely with industry, government, academia, community and eco-system partners and affiliates to create a strong and vibrant crowdfunding industry in Canada. Learn more at ncfacanada.org.
Lendified subsidiary Vault Circle receives exempt market dealer license from OSC
Betakit | | Sep 28, 2016
Small business loan provider Lendified announced today that its subsidiary Vault Circle has received regulatory approval for marketplace lending from the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC).
The approval, which consists of a market dealer license from OSC, will allow the company to connect investors to small businesses owners and provide them with capital. Lendified says that the approval is a milestone for the company as it makes it the first online lending business in Canada to receive regulatory approval.
“The OSC approval represents a historic leap forward for Canada’s FinTech sector.”
“The OSC approval represents a historic leap forward for Canada’s FinTech sector,” said Marcel Schroder, the managing director and chief compliance officer of Vault Circle. “Once launched, our platform will provide accredited investors with access to an exciting alternative investment option not available in Canada today.”
[Breaking News] Sep 27, 2016: OSC to launch fintech hub to help companies navigate and possibly ‘tailor’ regulatory framework
In order to get approval, Lendified and Vault Circle say they worked closely with the OSC’s staff to ensure that both regulatory requirements were met and that those requirements were tailored to Vault Circle’s online lending business. Lendified’s announcement also comes shortly after the OSC’s announcement of a LaunchPad Hub to help FinTech startups navigate the provinces’ regulatory framework. The cooperative approach taken by the OSC might be considered a good signal for fellow Canadian FinTech startup Lending Loop, which voluntarily halted new loan requests on its platform after questions of compliance with the Ontario Securities Act.
“As well as offering a new opportunity to investors, this approval strategically provides Lendified with another source of funding to meet the growing demand for online small business loans in Canada and marks another chapter in our continued growth story,” said Troy Wright, the founder and CEO of Lendified.
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The National Crowdfunding Association of Canada (NCFA Canada) is a cross-Canada non-profit actively engaged with both social and investment crowdfunding stakeholders across the country. NCFA Canada provides education, research, leadership, support and networking opportunities to over 1300+ members and works closely with industry, government, academia, community and eco-system partners and affiliates to create a strong and vibrant crowdfunding industry in Canada. Learn more at ncfacanada.org.
