Featured Headlines

August 4, 2016 @ 12:28 am By JD Alois  |  

Funding Societies, a Singapore-based “peer to business” lending marketplace, has raised a respectable S$ 10 million in a Series A funding round.  The investment was led by Sequoia India, part of the legendary Sequoia VC group. Funding Societies believes this is the largest investment in… Read More

August 3, 2016 @ 12:45 pm By Dave Van Niekerk  |  

We’ve heard the sensationalism before – That the unbridled array of opportunities in Africa are either being “squandered”, “exploited” or just now seeping to the surface for globalization to capitalize on the ‘Rising Continent’ in a timely fashion. Though rhetoric, it’s no doubt significant, though that… Read More

August 2, 2016 @ 10:26 am By JD Alois  |  

Title III or Reg CF crowdfunding holds great potential to provide access to capital for smaller companies but also includes multiple shortcomings. The woefully small funding cap and the hobbled rules stapled on by regulators have created a securities exemption that is ok but could… Read More

August 2, 2016 @ 9:05 am By JD Alois  |  

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has created an blue ribbon International Technology Advisory Panel (ITAP) to advise MAS on global Fintech developments. The list of participants is highly impressive roster of Fintech leaders.  The Panel includes: Dr. Andreas Braun – Head of Global Data… Read More

August 1, 2016 @ 2:39 pm By JD Alois  |  

Virtuix, the perfect platform to pair your Oculus VR goggles to get the full augmented reality experience, closed its funding round on SeedInvest last night at 11:59PM (Sunday, July 31, 2016). According to the campaign page, Virtuix raised $7,734,764 in preferred equity. A tweet by Virtuix… Read More

August 1, 2016 @ 11:15 am By Amy Wan  |  

Syndication and crowdfunding are terms that have been used interchangeably within the last decade, and their concepts and meaning have become increasingly blurred. However, whereas syndication focuses on funding relationships and structure between the funder and funded, crowdfunding is a method of finding investors (or… Read More

July 30, 2016 @ 3:30 pm By Chen Hungyi  |  

As of July 2016, there are three equity-crowdfunding platforms in Taiwan, including Startup Shares, eFUN, and Crowdfund Masterlink. According to equity crowdfunding regulations in Taiwan, it is necessary to apply for a securities broker license. However, if the securities broker operates only an equity crowdfunding… Read More

July 28, 2016 @ 5:45 pm By Anthony Zeoli  |  

In early June, the U.S. House of Representatives, Financial Services Committee, approved the “Fix Crowdfunding Act” bill (HR 4855). Maybe it’s the title of the bill that is misleading, but since then I have seen multiple articles which incorrectly describe what this legislation, if fully… Read More

July 27, 2016 @ 10:34 pm By JD Alois  |  

  Canada is the second largest country in the world by land mass and the 10th largest economy by nominal GDP. At around 35 million in total population, Canada is a country that has consistently punched above its weight class economically. The extensive border with… Read More

July 27, 2016 @ 1:00 am By Spencer Li  |  

P2P platform focused on property collateral mortgage Hepan Finance received RMB 66M Series A Investment Founded in 2013, Hepan Finance is a P2P platform focused on providing operating capital to small businesses in the Shanghai area. Prior to launching the lending platform, the company’s experience, and… Read More

July 26, 2016 @ 3:53 pm By JD Alois  |  

With AngelList spinoff Republic’s official launch last week, we decided to take a deeper look at Republic to see how they plan to differentiate themselves in this rapidly expanding crowdfunding marketplace. AngelList, arguably the largest and most successful investment crowdfunding platform in the world, provides… Read More

July 26, 2016 @ 2:50 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in many ways is the most innovative regulatory body in the world today. Yes, I know. It can be hard for some people to see the word “Regulation” next to “Innovation” when referencing a government agency. But the proof is… Read More

July 25, 2016 @ 1:46 pm By JD Alois  |  

Gillian Roche-Saunders, is a partner at the law firm of Bates, Wells & Braithwaite in London.  She is a leading regulatory consultant in the Fintech sector having been engaged in alternative finance for the past five years – before the FCA jumped in to officially… Read More

July 23, 2016 @ 6:40 pm By JD Alois  |  

AngelList is not always pounding the table on the many successful companies that have graced the pages of the accredited crowdfunding platform. But this past week there was a pretty big exit and some AngelList investors were fortunate enough to get in early. Dollar Shave… Read More

July 23, 2016 @ 2:49 pm By JD Alois  |  

  John Goodall and Gray Stern launched their company, Landbay, with the help of Seedrs.  Before their website was even live, Goodall and Stern were raising seed capital on the crowdfunding platform for their vision of mortgage finance.  Their first funding round was for only £50,000… Read More

July 21, 2016 @ 4:00 pm By JD Alois  |  

Equitise is a “Trans-Tasman Investment Platform” providing access to capital and unique investment opportunities to investors in New Zealand and Australia. Founded in Australia in 2014 by Chris Gilbert, Jonny Wilkinson and Panche Gjorgjevski, the investment crowdfunding platform soon added Will Mahon-Heap as the executive to… Read More

July 20, 2016 @ 9:30 pm By JD Alois  |  

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) announced earnings yesterday and beyond beating market expectations, the investment bank revealed some of its intentions on the forthcoming launch of its online lending platform later this fall. The news that Goldman Sachs was moving into the online lending sector came over… Read More

July 20, 2016 @ 3:41 pm By JD Alois  |  

Reg CF, created under Title III of the JOBS Act, became actionable on May 16, 2016. Since that time, over 50 companies have signed up to raise capital under the crowdfunding exemption.  Today we have the first issuer to close having achieved its funding goal…. Read More

July 19, 2016 @ 5:42 pm By JD Alois  |  

Daniel Zinn, General Counsel of OTC Markets, visited the SEC Advisory Committee on Small and Emerging Companies (ACSEC) today. He followed a presentation by Paul Elio of Elio Motors to continue a theme on Reg A+, providing liquidity and the future of venture markets. The… Read More

July 19, 2016 @ 3:37 pm By Christian Catalini  |  

Sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo have long allowed individuals to support start-ups in exchange for pre-buying a ticket or early prototype of a product, but not for equity.  Accredited investors—with a net worth of over $1 million or who earn over $200,000 a year—have their… Read More