Politics, Legal & Regulation

October 3, 2014 @ 12:09 pm By JD Alois  |  

Ron Miller, CEO and founder of StartEngine, launched a personal campaign to push the SEC forward with final rules on Title III of the JOBS Act, retail crowdfunding.  His own comment letter published on the SEC site was posted on July 25th, 2014.  Since that… Read More

October 2, 2014 @ 12:44 pm By JD Alois  |  

  As of October 1st, new regulations and guidelines managing “financement participatif” or crowdfunding are now in force.  The ordinance was initially filed this past May and a consolidated version was published yesterday. France jumped forward earlier in 2014 led by a government Minister Fleur… Read More

September 30, 2014 @ 6:43 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has scheduled the date for their annual Government- Business Forum on Small Business Capital Formation. The event will take place on Thursday, November 20, 2014 at the SEC headquarters.  Proceedings will commence at 9AM  and continue through the day…. Read More

September 30, 2014 @ 8:01 am By Anthony Zeoli  |  

While the industry waits for Title III crowdfunding rules to be released, the intrastate crowdfunding movement continues to move forward (as a whole). Here is a brief update as to the status of the enactment/use of intrastate crowdfunding exemptions in certain states. TEXAS – Unlucky… Read More

September 29, 2014 @ 7:15 am By JD Alois  |  

In a letter from the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Securities Division, Director Alan Wilson has summarized the objectives of proposed regulations to remove restrictions an allow equity crowdfunding in the state. Wilson’s missive notes the problem of raising adequate capital for startup businesses…. Read More

September 27, 2014 @ 9:28 am By JD Alois  |  

In a comment letter addressed to SEC Chair Mary Jo White, 24 members of Congress have demanded the SEC keep state “Blue Sky Review” preemption as part of Title IV of the JOBS Act, commonly referred to Regulation A+.  The Congressmen also requested removal of… Read More

September 25, 2014 @ 9:29 am By Mouna Aouri Langendorf  |  

The Synergy and Crowdfunding Forum organized by the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) exemplified the keen interest in equity crowdfunding as over 550 individuals showed up to participate in the two day event held in Kuala Lumpur.  The group included over 250 entrepreneurs, over 50 investors plus a… Read More

September 25, 2014 @ 8:28 am By JD Alois  |  

Coming off a highly successful crowdfunding and angel investing conference, Securities Commission Malaysia has released the public comments on the proposed regulatory framework for equity crowdfunding.  The consultation outlining the regulations was released this past August and since being published SC has received comments from… Read More

September 23, 2014 @ 11:47 am By JD Alois  |  

Paul Niederer, a crowdfunding trailblazer, has been a consistent champion of the power and potential of investment crowdfunding.  The Australian Small Scale Offerings Board or ASSOB – has been regularly referenced for its knowhow and success in raising capital for small companies.  ASSOB has raised… Read More

September 22, 2014 @ 2:24 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) is expected to release comments on their proposed equity crowdfunding regulations sometime this week.  The public release of feedback comes on the heels of the SC’s successful crowdfunding and angel investing conference held last week at the SC offices in… Read More

September 21, 2014 @ 3:25 pm By JD Alois  |  

This campaign has striking similarities to the story of Brian Aitken.  He spent time in jail due to falling afoul of New Jersey’s extremely unrealistic gun laws.  Aitken went on to do a successful crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo to help publish a book about his challenging… Read More

September 19, 2014 @ 12:41 pm By JD Alois  |  

As part of their regularly scheduled quarterly meetings, the Investor Advisory Committee (IAC) is planning to meet at the offices of the SEC on October 9th. The IAC, a mandated group under Dodd-Frank legislation, advises the SEC on various aspects of securities regulations.  One of the… Read More

September 19, 2014 @ 7:23 am By JD Alois  |  

Datuk Ranjit Ajit Singh, Chairman, Securities Commission Malaysia:  “It isn’t all over; everything has not been invented; the adventure is just beginning.” Organized by Securities Commission Malaysia, the first equity crowdfunding forum held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, opened today with an address by Datuk Ranjit… Read More

September 18, 2014 @ 11:49 am By JD Alois  |  

The Coalition for a Digital Economy (Coadec)  published earlier this month “The Startup Manifesto” outlining their vision of a UK economy powered by innovation and technology.  Founded by tech entrepreneurial types, Coadec wants the UK to be the best place in the world to launch and… Read More

September 17, 2014 @ 5:36 pm By JD Alois  |  

Earlier today (September 17th), during a presentation delivered at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, DC, SEC Commissioner Daniel Gallagher gave a thoughtful, concise and concerned speech regarding the incredibly important needs of small business in the United States.  Recognizing that “small business is the lifeblood… Read More

September 17, 2014 @ 9:43 am By JD Alois  |  

The Lone Star state is nearing the date when equity crowdfunding will be legalized.  The proposed rules, which hit the state register site this past May, were announced earlier this Spring. Initially the expectations were for the intrastate exemption to go live in August but now… Read More

September 17, 2014 @ 8:19 am By JD Alois  |  

Malaysia is preparing to launch investment crowdfunding and the Securities regulators are leading the way.  Securities Commission Malaysia (Suruhanjaya Sekuriti) has scheduled a two day conference held at the commission to raise awareness of the future potential of equity crowdfunding as an alternative method to… 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 7, 2014 @ 10:56 pm By JD Alois  |  

Washington State passed legislation legalizing equity crowdfunding way back in March of this year and given the title of “the Washington Jobs Act of 2014 (not very original).  Washington is one of a number of states that have moved forward with their own state crowdfunding… Read More