Karsten Wenzlaff, Advisor
August 26th, 2025
Karsten Wenzlaff is a Crowdfunding and Fintech Expert from Germany. He is Secretary-General of Digit[...]
Category Archives: Press Releases
Best Buy Canada Grants Elementary Schools with New Technology
CNW Release | June 23, 2016
Program brings tech to classrooms across Canada
BURNABY, BC, June 23, 2016 /CNW/ - This week, Best Buy Canada announced the return of the School Tech Grants program, which offers financial grants of up to $10,000 to schools for the purchase of new classroom technology. The program is currently accepting online applications from elementary schools (Grades K-8) across Canada at www.bestbuy.ca/schooltechgrants. Application deadline is Thursday, July 7, 2016 and recipients will be announced in September.
The School Tech Grant program is unique as it allows schools to outline exactly how much funding is needed and specifically what technology the schools need to take learning to the next level for their students.
See: Amy Coupal, CEO, My Class Needs Foundation, Joins NCFA’s Ambassador Program
"We continue to see a tremendous amount of interest from teachers and principals excited by the possibilities that can happen when students have access to technology," said Andrea MacBeth, Community Relations Manager, Best Buy Canada. "We know how amazing technology can be and the impact it can have in the hands of students. Best Buy Canada wants to provide schools opportunities to access the latest in modern tech."
The Best Buy School Tech Grants are available in two categories:
- General School Tech Grants offer a way for schools to improve or integrate technology in their classrooms to advance student learning. Previous winners have used these grants to support tech needs in libraries, special needs classrooms, and literacy programs.
- STEM School Tech Grants are available for schools looking to add technology to programs that focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM). Previous recipients include investments in robotics clubs, math or coding programs, makerspaces, and digital media courses.
Since the program started, Best Buy Canada has awarded $2.3 million in grants to more than 100 Canadian schools as part of their ongoing commitment to supporting students and education in Canada.
New this year
Best Buy Canada has partnered with My Class Needs (MCN), a Canadian charity that connects classroom projects with donors through a crowdfunding website. Together, Best Buy and MCN will be providing the opportunity for elementary school teachers to apply for micro-grants of up to $1000 for new tech. This additional funding aims to support individual classroom projects related to Science, Technology, Engineering or Math with the technology needed to either be established or grow.
"We are thrilled to partner with Best Buy Canada on this new initiative," said Amy Coupal, MCN CEO. "The support of Best Buy allows MyClassNeeds.ca to bring innovative resources to more schools across Canada and directly impact the educational experience of students. I'm grateful for Best Buy Canada's leadership and commitment to supporting students by giving them greater access to innovative learning resources."
Teachers can apply for a Best Buy School Tech Micro Grant through MyClassNeeds.ca from July 18 - September 9, 2016.
About Best Buy Canada
As a wholly owned subsidiary of Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE: BBY), Best Buy Canada Ltd. is one of Canada's largest and most successful omni-channel retailers, operating the Best Buy, Best Buy Mobile and Geek Squad (www.geeksquad.ca) brands. With nearly 200 Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile stores across Canada, and an expanded assortment of lifestyle products offered through BestBuy.ca, Best Buy is a leader in Total Retail, catering to customers how, when, and where they want to shop. Best Buy Canada is committed to making a positive impact in the community with programs and partnerships that support youth to connect with technology to advance their education. For more information visit BestBuy.ca.
About MCN
My Class Needs Foundation is a registered charity (86821 1376 RR0001) that enhances the learning environment in Canadian publicly funded schools by linking teachers to donors who want to support them through the crowdfunding platform MyClassNeeds.ca. The process is easy, accessible and fully transparent. MyClassNeeds.ca provides the opportunity for organizations and individual donors to enhance the educational experience of students across the country by leveling the playing field in terms of schools' access to resources. Since MyClassNeeds.ca launched in 2013 they have raised over $1,278,000, funded over 1,275 projects and enhanced the learning experience of over 61,500 students. For more information go to myclassneeds.ca
SOURCE Best Buy Canada 
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.
AIG Launches a New Equity Crowdfunding Insurance Product to Protect Investors
AIG Release via Business Wire | May 24, 2016
NEW YORK – May 24, 2016 – American International Group, Inc. (NYSE: AIG) has launched a new product for the fast-growing global crowdfunding investment industry. This is the first new insurance product developed specifically to protect investors on equity crowdfunding platforms against issuer fraud.
Crowdfunding platforms enable innovators to bring their ideas to life and also give retail investors the opportunity to provide capital for start-ups and growth stage companies around the world. Historically, only high net worth individuals and institutional investors such as venture capital funds and private equity firms were offered these opportunities.
“As a sector still in its infancy, equity crowdfunding platforms are only as strong as the confidence they instill in their investors,” said Lex Baugh, President of Liability and Financial Lines. “This new product will help provide that confidence and help to support this asset class as it matures.”
Crowdfunding Fidelity protects individual investors against the theft of issuer assets by issuer directors, officers, or general employees which cause a direct loss to the individual investor.
By subscribing to this innovative new product, crowdfunding platforms will enhance the value they can offer investors by offering protection against issuer fraud. Although there have been limited instances of fraud in this sector so far, this new product helps to build investor trust in this emerging sector by working closely with the platforms to ensure underlying issuer trustworthiness.
The coverage is currently available to platforms in the UK and Canada. As other countries finalize regulations for companies to raise capital, this policy can be customized to local needs of equity-based crowdfunding platforms.
Jun 9 CPD Seminar: Learn how to Protect Your Business, Investors and Intellectual Property (Register NOW)
Eureeca, an equity crowdfunding platform registered in the UK and based in Dubai, is the first platform to purchase the coverage and make this protection against issuer fraud available to investors. AIG engaged with Eureeca to gain a deeper understanding of the industry’s risk exposures, ensuring that the product was designed specifically to address these needs. Eureeca launched in 2013 and focuses on providing deals from the Middle East, Europe, and Southeast Asia.
“Crowdfunding Fidelity is a great example of how AIG learns together with the industries and clients it serves to better meet their strategic needs. We are looking forward to building similar relationships with other platforms across the world and to expanding our offering to this sector,” said Mr. Baugh.
Chris Thomas, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Eureeca said, “The new power of the crowd and the desire to democratize investing throughout the world can unleash great partnerships. The success of the ecosystem depends on collaboration between all stakeholders. AIG has demonstrated its commitment to being a valued insurer to this new industry by engaging the crowdfunding space at such an early stage.”
Continue to the original press release --> here
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.
LendingArch Launches Digital Finance Platform for a New Generation
The Canadian Business Journal | LendingArch Release | April 11, 2016
NO LINES. NO PAPERWORK. NO HEADACHES
THINK OUTSIDE THE BANK™.
HYPER-PERSONALIZED LENDING AND FUTURE PERSONAL FINANCE MANAGEMENT.
CALGARY, Alberta, April 11, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LendingArch, an emerging Canadian FinTech company, today announced the official launch of its online lending platform – Lendingarch.ca. Developed with proprietary underwriting and behavioral technology, LendingArch.ca provides customized, affordable loan options and financial advancement to Canadians.
Female Founder and CEO Arti Modi is the company’s visionary leader. “We created LendingArch to revolutionize the financial service space and bridge the gap. We are a customer-centric platform that not only provides you with better options than the current financial eco-system, but also one that helps improve your financial health long-term. We are helping people re-imagine their financial future. If you are raising a family, consolidating debt, paying off your credit cards or a millennial looking to plan your future post-college, LendingArch is the solution for you.”
As the world continues to embrace new technology and evolve rapidly, LendingArch will appeal to everyone because its approach humanizes the lending process with behavioral questions and data science that sees you as more than just a credit score. LendingArch is re-inventing the lending wheel by putting the consumer first and by providing financial options to those who need help, but may lack extensive credit history or have experienced life hardships.
See: Lending Arch, CEO Arti Modi, Joins National Crowdfunding Association of Canada’s Advisory Board
At the forefront of this disruptive, game-changing platform are millennials, who continue to grow more dissatisfied with the banks failure to look beyond credit scores and payment history. The lending criteria for millennials could consist of educational level completed, areas of study, academic performance and work history to create a model based on “character” and lending options. For small business owners, prior work history and future plans may account more heavily in the approval process than total assets. What you did yesterday is important, but what you do tomorrow matters even more to LendingArch.
Modi continued, “A modern financial lender like LendingArch sees the customer as more than just a series of numbers – we invest in the person not the loan. As a result, we are taking aim at a half-a-trillion-dollar Canadian consumer debt problem, and evolving an antiquated borrowing system by blending new technology in real-time, with non-traditional data, and creating a hyper-personalized customer service platform that values people’s future potential. This all leads to lower rates, personalized finance products and transparency that especially put our customers’ needs first.”
To find out how LendingArch’s seamless application process can help you with financial advancement, browse our platform www.lendingarch.ca.
About LendingArch
We want people to live in a world where they can thrive. We want people to know banks are not the only ones lending. We are a digital finance platform and we are giving ordinary people like us, the extraordinary opportunity for financial advancement. LendingArch.ca is a marketplace lending platform that rewards financially responsible Canadians with hyper-personalized, affordable loan options. Devised for a genesis of new thinking consumers, LendingArch is humanizing the financial eco-system and creating innovative financial health programmes driven by non-traditional data. LendingArch was founded by an ensemble of global entrepreneurs, investment architects and is spearheaded by a team of expert millennials in the financial technology space. For more intel, please visit www.lendingarch.ca. You can also follow us @lendingarch.
LendingArch products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of LendingArch under the LendingArch trademark.
© 2016 LendingArch Financial Inc. All rights reserved. LendingArch, its logo and other marks are trademarks and service marks of LendingArch Financial Inc. and/or affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Sophie Nicolaou
Sophie.Nicolaou@omniarch.com
310 367 3901
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 About Us or visit ncfacanada.org.
David Sawyer, President of ConsiderFunding, Joins NCFA’s Ambassador Program
About NCFA Canada | Craig Asano | Apr 8, 2016
TORONTO, ON April 8, 2016 – The National Crowdfunding Association of Canada (NCFA Canada) today announced that David Sawyer, President of equity crowdfunding platform, ConsiderFunding, has joined the Association’s Crowdfunding Ambassadors Program.
“David brings decades of experience in the exempt market and understands the commitment it takes to support the growth of equity crowdfunding and we welcome his voice and financing platform to the ever expanding Canadian crowdfunding market", said Craig Asano, Executive Director, NCFA Canada.
NCFA Canada Crowdfunding Ambassadors
Crowdfunding Ambassadors (CFAs) are leaders, educators, supporters and advocates of an inclusive and broad-based crowdfunding industry in communities across Canada. They are circles of influence and ‘go to resources’ for small businesses, organizations and investors to connect with, share and learn about crowdfunding via locally hosted events and initiatives. CFAs are specialists and plugged into an international network of shared resources, thought leadership, and industry professionals striving to cultivate and shape the future of crowdfunding in Canada and beyond.
David Sawyer, President, ConsiderFunding
David brings a background of experience and over 30 years in the financial services industry to the Global Equity Crowdfunding phenomenon. As an entrepreneur and business owner, training and managing dozens of financial service professionals, David has a proven track record of exceptional investor relations and senior management. David is a recognized leader with multi-industry designations and accolades. David's experience in the Exempt Market during his career provides high-level insight and a wealth of knowledge to Equity Crowdfunding that is taking the world by storm.
“On the whole, crowdfunding is an engine of creation. Possibly one of the most significant social developments to happen in decades, it represents a colossal transformation with the potential to change economies. Equity Crowdfunding, in particular, is far more than just raising money from investors. To believe that is to misunderstand its fundamental nature. It is a rewarding process that gives individuals the opportunity to communicate, participate, and feel part of a business or venture that resonates with them.” – David Sawyer
# # #
About National Crowdfunding Association of Canada
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 About Us or visit ncfacanada.org.
About ConsiderFunding
As one of Canada’s most advanced equity crowdfunding platforms, ConsiderFunding provides the resources and access for businesses and investors to learn, navigate, and participate in equity crowdfunding within the Canadian capital-raising ecosystem. ConsiderFunding deals with a broad range of industries, and as such actively engages with communities and individuals to establish and create new and exciting investment and business opportunities. To learn more, visit www.considerfunding.com.
Source: NCFA Canada, ConsiderFunding
For more information please contact:
Media Contacts:
Craig Asano
NCFA Canada
Executive Director
p. (416) 618-0254
e. casano@ncfacanada.org
BNP Paribas and SmartAngels blockchain pilot targets Europe’s growing crowdfunding sector
Brave New Coin | Luke Parker | April 7, 2016
BNP Paribas Securities Services is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the BNP Paribas Group. With approximately US$9 trillion in assets under custody, Accuity's Bankers Almanac ranks BNP Paribas as the largest bank in France, and fourth largest in the world.
The global custodian and securities services provider covers more than 100 markets, with a local presence in 34 countries across 5 continents. The company provides multi-asset post trade and asset servicing solutions for institutional participants in the investment cycle, from the buy-side and the sell-side to corporates and issuers.
The company announced a strategic partnership with a leading crowdfunding platform in France, SmartAngels, on Tuesday. The new initiative will allow private companies to issue securities using Blockchain technology, with a pilot scheme due to be launched in the second half of 2016.
“At the moment, only a few thousand companies are listed on the financial markets in Europe. The integration of Blockchain on crowdfunding platforms will give hundreds of thousands of start-ups and growth SMEs fast access to low-cost financing from individual and professional investors.” - Benoit Bazzocchi, SmartAngels founder
Founded in 2012, SmartAngels is a crowdfunding platform specializing in direct investment capital for startup and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). With over 20,000 registered members having invested €20 million in 35 companies, the SmartAngels platform allows non-listed companies to seek funding from individual and institutional investors.
According to the European Commission, SMEs account for 99.8% of businesses in France. "They provide about two thirds of total employment and account for nearly 58 % of total value added," the Commission stated.
See: Regulator Moves to Create New Fintech Framework
Until 2016, the number of SMEs in France has been relatively unchanged, estimated at 2,886,399 and growing at a modest 0.4 percent, however, the Commission expects a 5 percent growth from 2014 to 2016, "almost double in comparison with the projection for the large enterprises."
The standardization and enhanced security will allow investors to trade securities directly on the SmartAngels platform. “This will make crowdfunding investments much more liquid - an issue not given much attention in this sector until now,” BNP Paribas Securities Services stated.
“For the first time in France, BNP Paribas Securities Services and SmartAngels allow unlisted companies to issue securities in the primary market and investors have access to the secondary market based on the Blockchain technology.” - BNP Paribas Securities Services
BNP Paribas Securities Services will develop a shared register, using the Blockchain protocol, to enable financial securities issued by companies listed on SmartAngels to be recognized automatically. Investors' payments will be processed immediately, and their e-certificates issued instantly. “Financial transactions on the platform will be well performed in a simplified, fast, secure and low cost,” states BNP Paribas Securities Services.
The Blockchain platform will standardize securities transactions, and simplify the management of shareholders for issuers. Investors will benefit from the standardization of the securities registration process as well as additional IT and trade processing.
“This is a major innovation for the custody and account-keeping of unlisted securities. It also provides BNP Paribas Securities Services with the opportunity to test a solution that could be applied to listed securities markets.The use of Blockchain is part of BNP Paribas’ digital strategy.” - Philippe Ruault, head of product for clearing, custody, and settlement at BNP Paribas Securities Services
While Ruault believes that blockchain technology “does not meet the needs of listed markets,” citing those platforms as robust, efficient, and highly regulated, the pilot project will allow his company and partner to further understand the technology. It “allows us to be ready,” he added.
See: Bitcoin 2.0 Crowdfunding Is Real Crowdfunding
BNP Paribas has been studying blockchain technology within their corporate and institutional banks since 2011. In November 2015, the Group joined R3 CEV consortium of banks. “Blockchain has the potential to transform certain processes in the banking sector and improve the way we interact with clients,” Philippe Denis said at the time. Denis is responsible for Blockchain at BNP Paribas' Corporate & Institutional Banking (CIB) business.
In December 2015, the Group became part of an industry consortium organized by the French public financial agency, the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC), under the control of the Parliament. CDC created a blockchain innovation laboratory with 11 partners, including BNP Paribas, AXA, Blockchain Solutions, BPCE Group, Cellabz, CNAM, CNP Assurances, Crédit Agricole, Croissance Plus, Paymium, and Finance Innovation Competitiveness Cluster.
The French multinational bank has now turned its attention to the crowdfunding industry, which typically operates three models; loans, equity, and rewards.
France adopted new crowdfunding regulation in 2014, establishing two new and optional regulatory statuses for crowdfunding platforms. Within these statuses, all equity-crowdfunding platforms and debt securities crowdfunding platforms must register as Crowdfunding Investor Advisers (CIP) with the ORIAS (Registre unique des Intermédiaires en Assurance, Banque et Finance). CIPs are regulated by independent financial regulator, the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF). Lending crowdfunding platforms must register as crowdfunding Intermediaries (IFP).
Continue to the full article --> here
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 About Us or visit ncfacanada.org.
Online Lending Technology Company Lendified Expands Global Footprint and Capabilities with Acquisition of Cash Flow Automation Tool, Mentio Technologies
Lendified Release | March 31, 2016
TORONTO, March 30, 2016 /CNW/ - Canada's growing fintech space saw leading online lending platform, Lendified Inc., join forces with Mentio Technologies this week. Mentio is a Vancouver-based company specializing in automated cash flow forecasting.
For Lendified, which offers fast online loans to Canadian small business owners, the acquisition marks an expansion into global markets as Mentio's multi-currency technology serves customers in the USA, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia.
"It has always been our intention to become a scalable, global lending platform," said Troy Wright, Founder and CEO of Lendified. Wright, who brings decades of executive-level international banking experience to Lendified, stated, "I've overseen lending operations domestically and abroad, and experienced firsthand the challenges of profitability in this segment. The use of Mentio's technology for the adjudication of credit means we can better serve the small business marketplace."
See: The real fintech threat for the Big Six
Lendified's decision engine is more advanced than any other Canadian online lender, leveraging multiple data sources in its algorithm. The addition of Mentio's forward-looking cash flow forecasting enables a more thorough review of credit while maintaining instantaneous decision-making capability.
Mentio Technologies recently graduated from Techstars Seattle, one of the top tech accelerators in the USA.
"This marriage is in total alignment with our strategy to pivot into the lending space," said Mentio CEO, Monique Morden, who also praised Lendified for its sophisticated credit modeling process. "We're extremely excited about how our lead generation tools and cash flow forecasting can further propel Lendified's unique offer to the market."
About Lendified
Lendified offers a fully automated, online lending platform designed to provide fast, efficient credit decisions and ongoing loan monitoring. Lendified powers credit risk analysis for organizations globally and serves small businesses in Canada directly through Lendified.com.
About Mentio
Mentio Technologies is a Techstars backed company offering automated cash flow forecasting and tools to manage accounts receivables, accounts payables and lead generation. Mentio works with small business owners and advisors – accountants, bookkeepers – in Canada and around the world.
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 About Us or visit ncfacanada.org.
VersaPay Signs Partnership Agreement With Katipult To Bring Secure Investment Crowdfunding Software To The Canadian Market
Versapay and Katipult Press Release | March 30, 2016
TORONTO, March 30, 2016 /CNW/ - VersaPay Corporation (TSXV: VPY) ("VersaPay" or the "Company"), a leading provider of cloud-based payment and accounts receivable management solutions, today announced that it has signed a partnership agreement with Katipult Software to bring a disruptive Crowdfunding solution for investment firms to the Canadian market. VersaPay's gateway technology enables Katipult to provide clients using its crowdfunding software product with an integrated secure payment capability.
"Katipult is thrilled to offer VersaPay as a payment solution and further bolster its leading software product. This is a game changing relationship for the Canadian investment community," says Brock Murray, CEO of Katipult. "We're bringing a product to the Canadian market that benefits everyone from investors to issuers as well as regulators, by creating a high standard for processing investment transactions. We're acting as technology partners and building an ecosystem to help firms grow their investor networks, efficiently manage investors, and streamline deal administration."
See: 2016 Canadian Crowdfunding Directory (portals and providers)
"We are continuously looking for partners to extend our offering throughout the financial services ecosystem and partnering with Katipult provides an excellent opportunity to do that," noted Craig O'Neill, VersaPay's CEO. "As private market participants move toward investment crowdfunding portals and real estate crowdfunding portals, they want to know that there is a flexible transaction environment to hold funds securely and ensure they are processed according to funding commitments. As a PCI Level 1 compliant solution, VersaPay enables Katipult to provide an integrated payment capability that delivers on these requirements."
About Katipult
Katipult is a crowdfunding software solution for private placements, investment crowdfunding, investor management, and listings. Katipult allows companies to design, setup, and manage an investment crowdfunding platform across multiple distribution channels including web, mobile, and social media. Katipult is being used in over 20 unique regulatory environments to grow investor networks, efficiently manage investors, and streamline deal flow administration.
For further information, please visit www.katipult.com
About VersaPay
VersaPay is a leading cloud-based payment and A/R solution provider for businesses of all sizes. VersaPay PayPort gives companies an integrated solution for transacting securely in the cloud. VersaPay ARC allows businesses to deliver customized electronic invoices to their customers, to accept credit card and electronic check payments and automatically reconcile to their ERP and accounting software. VersaPay is headquartered in Toronto, Canada and also has operations in Montreal.
More information about VersaPay can be found on the Company's website at www.versapay.com or under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
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 About Us or visit ncfacanada.org.
