Opinion

September 15, 2014 @ 11:11 am By Erin Hobey  |  

As reported by Tim Wallace at City A.M., celebrity business leaders may be using crowdfunding websites to exploit retail investors, the outspoken private equity guru Jon Moulton claims today. Moulton singles out easyJet founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou as one example of a name using his position to foist… Read More

September 12, 2014 @ 3:57 pm By JD Alois  |  

Recently there have been rumblings from the German crowdfunding industry regarding proposed rules pertaining to investor protection that may impact the growing investment crowdfunding industry.  The German government has a stated objective of fostering digital and tech growth.  Of course streamlining access to capital, via… Read More

September 10, 2014 @ 5:58 pm By JD Alois  |  

Mayday PAC, the crowdfunded Super PAC created by Lawrence Lessig, lost a battle for the New Hampshire primary yesterday following significant spending that Mayday staff described as tight race just a few days prior.  The former Senator from Massachusetts Scott Brown, who became a New… Read More

September 9, 2014 @ 3:44 pm By JD Alois  |  

Estimates Indicate this Number Could Rise to $250 Million By End of Year. A recent report indicates that interest and associated investments in the nascent crowdfunding industry is taking off.  Apparently over $140 million has been funneled into crowdfunding infrastructure just this year alone.  This… Read More

September 8, 2014 @ 4:50 pm By JD Alois  |  

Last week Re/Code posted that Android gaming platform Ouya was on the sales block. It sounded like it was almost a matter of time before an acquiring company swept in and scooped up a twitching carcass of a gaming platform.  To quote Re/Code; “Ouya, the… Read More

September 8, 2014 @ 1:17 pm By JD Alois  |  

Seedrs Chief Investment Officer, Thomas Davies, took to the studios of Bloomberg to talk about the Chapel Down share offer that is the first publicly listed company to go the equity crowdfunding route. Davies explains the strategy behind Chapel Down doing the very public listing… Read More

September 7, 2014 @ 6:45 pm By Amy Wan  |  

Recently crowdfunding thought leader Anthony Zeoli published a thought-provoking piece entitled “Why You May Want to Reconsider How “Secure” You Feel About Your Real Estate Crowdfunding Investment.” Patch of Land sincerely appreciates the learned issues that Zeoli points out in his article; this piece intends… Read More

September 6, 2014 @ 5:34 pm By JD Alois  |  

Global tax and advisory firm KPMG recently commented on the crowdfunding industry and how traditional banks are sizing up the new, innovative form of finance. As we all know the finance industry is absolutely enormous.  Crowdfunding, along with peer to peer lending, is still quite… Read More

September 4, 2014 @ 11:39 am By Anthony Zeoli  |  

Do you remember that scene from the movie Tommy Boy where the store manager rants about the importance of having a guarantee on the product box “calling out, I’ll never let you down, but if I do I’m gonna make things ALL better.” I can’t… Read More

September 3, 2014 @ 7:30 am By Kim Wales  |  

Some Issues in Title III Crowdfunding Regulations Require Modification. Recently, there has been a renewed call for action on Title III (Regulation Crowdfunding) to go-live. And there are some proponents in the industry that just want the rules to go live ‘as-is’. However, the Crowdfunding… Read More

August 29, 2014 @ 12:15 pm By JD Alois  |  

RateSetter CEO and founder Rhydian Lewis recently posted his views on the status of London in the emerging world of financial innovation.  RateSetter is one of the fastest growing P2P platforms in the UK and is expanding into Australia. First it must be acknowledged that… Read More

August 28, 2014 @ 2:42 pm By Marco Bicocchi Pichi  |  

Following the white paper “Restart Italia”, at the end of 2012 prepared by a task force of experts for the Minister of Economic Development, the Italian Parliament issued a law on startups including equity crowdfunding that was finally made possible by CONSOB (the Italian Authority… Read More

August 27, 2014 @ 12:05 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Crowdfund Intermediary Regulatory Advocates (CFIRA) has taken a firm and concise stand on the debate enveloping the definition of an “Accredited Investor”.  CFIRA has been at the forefront in advocating for financial innovation and investment crowdfunding.  The group promotes the interests of issuers AND… Read More

August 24, 2014 @ 3:01 pm By JD Alois  |  

This past week German cabinet ministers voiced their support on a digital future by approving a “Digital Agenda 2014-2017” plan that intends on boosting digital technology and utilization in the economic engine of Europe. Interestingly Germany places 13th in internet connectivity behind both Belgium and… Read More

August 21, 2014 @ 11:11 am By JD Alois  |  

Here is another crowdfunding campaign that is being labeled a “scampaign”.  Android Police published an article  last night on the odyssey of the Kreyos Smartwatch.  This was preceded by a post on Medium by Jonathan Barronville – another backer. Kreyos ran an enormously successful crowdfunding campaign… Read More

August 21, 2014 @ 9:10 am By Barbara Roper  |  

When Congress passed the JOBS Act lifting the ban on general solicitation in offerings under Rule 506 of Regulation D, it turned these so-called “private” offerings into potentially very public ones.  Since Reg D offerings involving general solicitation can only be sold to “accredited” investors,… Read More

August 21, 2014 @ 7:46 am By JD Alois  |  

According to research firm Beauhurst, United Kingdom equity investment has been growing at around 25% per year for over three years now – an impressive pace.  At least part of this growth is due to the liberal approach taken by UK regulators regarding new methods… Read More

August 20, 2014 @ 10:23 am By JD Alois  |  

Crowdfund Capital Advisors principles Jason Best and Sherwood Neiss have joined the growing group of crowdfunding industry participants demanding the Securities and Exchange Commission release final rules on Title III crowdfunding immediately.  In a comment letter addressed to SEC Chair Mary Jo White, Best and… Read More

August 18, 2014 @ 2:55 pm By JD Alois  |  

Professor John Mullins, from the London Business School, authored a book entitled “The Customer Funded Business”. He recently visited the studios of CNBC to share his perspective on how some VCs can be injurious to a business. Mullins states that running a business is a… Read More

August 17, 2014 @ 3:26 pm By JD Alois  |  

Following the example of the 28 members of Congress who forwarded a letter to the SEC urging them to publish the proposed rules on Title  III of the JOBS Act, some in the crowdfunding industry are taking action and looking to the crowd to join… Read More