Opinion

May 6, 2014 @ 8:30 am By Joe Wallin  |  

The state of Washington recently passed its own intrastate equity crowdfunding law.  Washington is following a growing number of states that have recognized the benefits to streamlining the capital formation process for small businesses and startups – something the JOBS Act was supposed to achieve… Read More

May 5, 2014 @ 7:30 am By Samuel Guzik  |  

For those of you who were too busy to notice, U.S. Congressman Patrick McHenry introduced three draft bills into the House Financial Services Committee last week.  One of them, if it were to become law, would open up the U.S. equity crowdfunding world in ways… Read More

May 1, 2014 @ 9:05 am By Ludwine Dekker  |  

Forbes already knows: smart startups start in Europe. But why? Startups are a thriving resource of jobs and competitive advantage through innovation, and what they need are great startup ecologies. Europe is well on its way to develop several entrepreneurship hubs, and the lists with… Read More

April 30, 2014 @ 3:09 pm By JD Alois  |  

Jeff Lynn, the CEO and co-founder of successful equity crowdfunding platform Seedrs, is set to testify at the House Subcommittee hearing scheduled to review the status of the JOBS Act tomorrow in Washington, DC.  While his prepared remarks have not yet been posted he has… Read More

April 28, 2014 @ 8:00 am By Samuel S. Guzik, The Crowdfunding Counselor  |  

Since the 1930’s Regulation A has been unremarkable as a little known and little used “exemption” from the full SEC registration process – intended to allow smaller companies to access public markets through a streamlined SEC registration process – with “reviewed” financial statements and no… Read More

April 25, 2014 @ 4:32 pm By Barry James  |  

Puzzling, is it not, that two of the world’s leading exponents can have such different perspectives on equity crowdfunding as Crowdcube and Seedrs. Similarly people often inquire about my own views and that of The Social Foundation – which seem to be almost polar opposites… Read More

April 24, 2014 @ 9:05 am By Ludwine Dekker  |  

The recent commotion concerning crowdfunding legislation is easy to understand considering Europe’s seemingly passive attitude concerning crowdfunding (J.D. Alois) and the discussion on open or closed crowdfunding markets. Accreditation can help to speed up the development of industry-fit regulation, but it requires companies to play… Read More

April 20, 2014 @ 6:27 pm By JD Alois  |  

Paul Niederer, CEO and Director of the Australian Small Scale Offerings Board (ASSOB), recently shared his vision on the future of non-accredited crowdfunding for those of us waiting in the limbo of Title III rules.  Niederer has been a leading voice in the global crowdfunding… Read More

April 18, 2014 @ 10:06 am By JD Alois  |  

  It was only this past March that Florida announced investment crowdfunding legislation to help foster economic growth in the state.  The bi-partisan bill, sponsored by State Representative Bryan Nelson (R-31) and State Senator Jeff Clemens (D-27), appeared set to join the growing wave of… Read More

April 14, 2014 @ 8:24 am By Ludwine Dekker  |  

  As the European Union continues to monitor crowdfunding developments, countries in Europe, like France and the U.K., are already developing legislation in an attempt to establish a cohesive government approach. These developments make an interesting case study that can help to decide whether or… Read More

April 13, 2014 @ 9:00 am By Kendall Almerico  |  

I have written about the misconception by some members of the general public that equity crowdfunding and rewards-based crowdfunding are the same thing.  Many people are misinformed and do not understand that Title III of the JOBS Act has nothing to do with rewards-based crowdfunding…. Read More

April 6, 2014 @ 4:09 pm By JD Alois  |  

Recently we reported that Federal Reserve Governor Jeremy C. Stein gave a speech in Washington, DC, on March 24, 2014, that tackled the innovation of crowdfunding.  Apparently the subject matter was a bit of a surprise topic.  Stein was quoted saying; “Why is the Fed… Read More

April 3, 2014 @ 9:30 am By Ludwine Dekker  |  

As the U.S. is making major efforts to implement the JOBS Act, the European Union seems to be only capable of analyzing the developments, as J.D. Alois’ article “EC Releases Communication on Long Term Financing Including Crowdfunding” shows. The most important conclusion was that the… Read More

April 2, 2014 @ 7:59 pm By JD Alois  |  

In a posting on the Wisconsin Angel Network, the statement was made that a $1 million crowdfunding raise could cost $200,000 to complete.  Not very exciting for small companies looking to raise capital, nor the investors who are interested in funding startups.  Of course we… Read More

March 31, 2014 @ 11:24 am By JD Alois  |  

The European Crowdfunding Network (ECN), has shared their thoughts on the recently released communication by the European Commission (EC) on crowdfunding. Last week the EC released several documents and statements pertaining to a “consultation” on the innovative new form of capital formation.  They garnered comments… Read More

March 29, 2014 @ 1:24 pm By Charles Luzar  |  

In the past few months, we’ve seen a steady increase in crowdfunding emails. It seems like the hip thing to do now: 5 out of 10 emails now start with “Can you help us promote our Kickstarter campaign, so we can build this cool product!” There… Read More

March 29, 2014 @ 6:00 am By JD Alois  |  

Reacting to George Osborne’s suggestion that banks may be required to release information on SMEs that they reject for finance to alternative credit suppliers, Andrew Holgate, MD of Assetz Capital, one of the UK’s fastest-growing P2P lenders, commented: “When a bank says “no” to a… Read More

March 28, 2014 @ 1:39 pm By JD Alois  |  

The North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) has called upon the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to make substantial revisions to its Regulation A proposed rule.  The NASAA has requested these changes be made “to remove potential harms to issuers and investors, especially those of… Read More

March 28, 2014 @ 9:58 am By Charles Luzar  |  

It seems everyone has an opinion on Facebook’s acquisition of Oculus VR and what it means for crowdfunding. That was the topic of conversation on Bloomberg Television’s “Market Makers.” Yesterday the program hosted New York University Stern School of Business Professor Anindya Ghose and a… Read More

March 27, 2014 @ 1:20 pm By Charles Luzar  |  

So did you hear that Facebook bought Oculus VR for $2 billion? It’s the story that the entire tech world was talking about, and for good reason. Oculus is a clear leader in the world of virtual reality hardware. It’s one of the poster children… Read More