Opinion

March 19, 2016 @ 9:00 am By JD Alois  |  

In a post on Medium earlier this week, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy revealed details of a plan to boost and encourage innovation in the largest economy in the world. Partnering on the project with Chief Deputy Whip Patrick McHenry, a Representative who was vital… Read More

March 18, 2016 @ 8:18 pm By Louise Beaumont  |  

  The global alternative finance industry has undergone staggering growth in recent years. In 2015 combined market activity in the UK grew 84% from £1.74bn the year before to £3.2bn. Around 20,000 SMEs raised approximately £2.2bn in funding through online channels, representing a year-on-year growth… Read More

March 17, 2016 @ 4:52 pm By Amy Wan  |  

The RECF (real estate crowdfunding) community has been keenly interested in finding creative ways to use the new Regulation A+ that came into effect earlier last year. However, not all filings have been successful or made much business sense. Last year, I wrote about Groundfloor’s… Read More

March 16, 2016 @ 8:39 am By JD Alois  |  

The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee (FOMC) convenes today to discuss and determine if interest rates need to rise. Recent geopolitical realities, such as the ECB going all in as growth sputters, have pushed most Fed watchers into the camp that rising rates are on… Read More

March 15, 2016 @ 9:11 am By Therese Torris  |  

Will fintech startups cause the demise of banks or come to their rescue? This was one of the topics debated at The “Future of Banking” event held by The Economist in Paris on March 10th 2016. The Future of Banking was aptly subtitled “Survival of… Read More

March 14, 2016 @ 6:28 pm By JD Alois  |  

As the day nears when George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, reveals the government’s forthcoming budget plan, the drums are pounding on what will be announced. Osborne has already messaged that weaker growth will force the Treasury to find further economies. This translates into cutting expenditures… Read More

March 10, 2016 @ 11:54 am By JD Alois  |  

The Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) has published their report on the state of the Startup scene in the UK.  And, according to the authors, the UK is preparing for a “new reality” as a “healthy recalibration” is occurring. The UK has been a hotbed for… Read More

March 9, 2016 @ 3:07 pm By JD Alois  |  

The odyssey of Elio Motors (OTCQX:ELIO) and the process of raising capital online is notable not because of the fact it raised $17 million on StartEngine  and then quickly followed with a listing on the OTCQX but because it is a “first”. As all forms… Read More

March 9, 2016 @ 10:52 am By JD Alois  |  

IW Capital, a financial firm that has facilitated over £60 million worth of investment into the UK’s SME sector, has published a report on the UK tax landscape.  The report, embedded below, states that with the forthcoming Budget report (March 16), scrutiny of the tax environment… Read More

March 8, 2016 @ 1:28 pm By Therese Torris  |  

When thinking about Frankfurt, Finance immediately comes into mind. But FinTech? Not necessarily. Well, if it goes according to Execfintech, this is about to change. In its 3rd edition, Execfintech is a Fintech networking event, part pitching and part conference style panels and presentations –… Read More

March 8, 2016 @ 9:38 am By JD Alois  |  

Small business is extremely important for the economy. This is not just a US or UK issue, it is a global phenomenon. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the drivers of economic growth, job creation and thus wealth. Fostering an ecosystem that facilitates access to… Read More

March 7, 2016 @ 4:00 am By Scott Andersen  |  

The recent economic downturn is not the only challenge for entrepreneurs in the EB-5 and JOBS Act industries.  Rather, the challenges include close regulatory scrutiny by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Division of Enforcement.  While both EB-5 and the JOBS Act were… Read More

March 6, 2016 @ 5:31 pm By JD Alois  |  

DealFlow was founded by Steven Dresner, a veteran of Wall Street finance and founder of DealFlow Media – company that was eventually scooped up by TheStreet (NASDAQ: TST). Dealflow was launched to make raising capital in the private markets more efficient leveraging improvements in securities laws… Read More

March 5, 2016 @ 12:37 pm By JD Alois  |  

As the very first equity crowdfunding offer to go through the process of issuing shares and then listing on a public exchange under Reg A+, Elio Motors was bound to encounter a few bumps along the way.  One of the challenges was the transfer process… Read More

March 3, 2016 @ 10:00 pm By JD Alois  |  

OTC Markets Questions Monopoly Model for Venture Exchange. The House Financial Services Committee has been busy once again with a slew of proposed laws designed to improve the environment for smaller companies.  One of the bills on the list for the Committee yesterday (March 2,… Read More

March 3, 2016 @ 7:41 am By JD Alois  |  

After a challenging problem of too much demand and not enough supply,  Mondo is back on Crowdcube today to allow smaller investors the opportunity to invest in the possible future of banking. RELATED: Mondo Bank Raises £1 Million in 96 Seconds. Sets Equity Crowdfunding Record At… Read More

March 2, 2016 @ 9:42 pm By Ron Miller  |  

  The democratization of startup funding promised by the JOBS Act has already begun, with a handful of Regulation A+ equity crowdfunding offerings already qualified by the SEC to raise capital and many others in the process of gaining qualification. Considering the early interest in… Read More

March 2, 2016 @ 1:02 pm By JD Alois  |  

The HALOS Act (HR 4498) or “Helping Angels Lead Our Startups Act” is a bill in the House of Representatives that seeks to fix a nagging issue for startups: You are not legally allowed to pitch your business to investors in public – unless you… Read More

March 1, 2016 @ 9:46 pm By Anthony Zeoli  |  

  To date, most crowdfunded investment opportunities have been limited to wealthy investors who meet the current definition of “accredited investor.” This has left an absolutely HUGE market of potential investor capital, represented by those individuals who currently do not qualify as accredited investors, virtually untapped…. Read More

February 29, 2016 @ 10:43 pm By Spencer Li  |  

Following the much-talked-about Ezubao $7.6 billion Ponzi scheme collapse at the end of last year, the perception and outlook of the Chinese online lending industry has grown increasingly negative both within and outside of China. Murmurs of regulation began floating around in early 2014 but… Read More