The Business Times | Jacquelyn Cheok | Jan 26, 2015

SINGAPORE Exchange (SGX) on Monday said it is partnering venture capital (VC) and incubation firm Clearbridge Accelerator (CBA) to develop an equity crowdfunding (ECF) platform for entrepreneurs and SMEs to raise capital.

"The ECF platform is a new channel for growth-stage firms in Asia to raise Series A and B money - a funding crunch that is real and immediate - and for traditional investors to explore fresh business ideas and investment options," Mohamed Nasser Ismail, head of SME Developments and Listings at SGX, told BT.

Perspective: Profiting from the Crowdfinance Revolution

The joint venture, said CBA managing partner Johnson Chen, signals the next step in CBA's role of supporting startups to help them raise the necessary capital to grow their companies. "CBA is built by entrepreneurs, and has since 2010 guided companies from inception to capital markets. Our medtech background notwithstanding, we support this all-inclusive, non-sector-specific platform."

For now, the platform will be open only to accredited investors: individuals with net personal assets of over S$2 million or annual incomes of above S$300,000, or corporations with net assets exceeding S$10 million.

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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 950+ 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.