Strategy

March 27, 2019 @ 9:30 am By Therese Torris  |  

At the InnoFinance Summit 2019 on March 26, 2019, the German Crowdfunding Association  (Bundesverband Crowdfunding) introduced its new “Transparency Seal”. The Transparency Seal is a self-regulatory label awarded by the association to member platforms which respect a set of quality and customer protection standards. With this… Read More

March 22, 2019 @ 3:00 am By Bret Conkin  |  

VoCare is raising capital for the launch of a new Medtech device, the Vitals360; a smartphone-sized diagnostic device for the Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) and Point-of-Care verticals. Current investors include AGS Capital and SAW Capital and tax credits are available to Indiana investors via the… Read More

March 19, 2019 @ 7:12 pm By JD Alois  |  

CipherTrace is a cryptocurrency cyber assurance and compliance firm that has recently formed some interesting partnerships. In February, CipherTrace was backed by $15 million in venture funding to help fulfill its mission on crypto security. In January, CipherTrace published a report on the global cryptocurrency… Read More

March 14, 2019 @ 10:59 am By JD Alois  |  

Insurtech Assurely has partnered with AXA XL, a division of AXA, on a new insurance product for issuers and investors pertaining to online capital formation. The new product seeks to safeguard investments in security token offerings (STOs) and traditional investment crowdfunding offerings. Assurely reports that… Read More

March 14, 2019 @ 7:41 am By Cali Haan  |  

2018 was an eventful year for ransomware attacks on North American soil and elsewhere. In November, the American Justice Department indicted two Iranians for alleged ransomware attacks on 200 government, institutional and private targets in the US, including an attack on the Port of San… Read More

March 13, 2019 @ 9:15 pm By Richard Mandel and Erik Noyes  |  

We interviewed several entrepreneurs who ran successful Reg CF campaigns – as well as two equity crowdfunding platforms – to break down the ins and outs of running a campaign. The bottom line? According to our review, you’re off base if you think equity crowdfunding… Read More

March 12, 2019 @ 6:30 am By Erin Hobey  |  

In February the NEM.io Foundation decided to opt for transparency and to “reboot” its operating structure after checking the books and seeing “little to no accountability for funds.” Under the guidance of newly elected president Alex Tinsman, this week the Foundation has made good on its… Read More

March 10, 2019 @ 11:17 am By Cali Haan  |  

Blockchain forensics firm Chainalysis has blogged to address possible concerns that its services could be being used to violate crypto users’ privacy. The company’s statement comes after controversy erupted last week when it was revealed that Coinbase, a large American crypto trading platform, had acquired… Read More

March 7, 2019 @ 1:00 pm By Linh Bergen-Peters  |  

The number of women-owned businesses has been steadily increasing globally. Despite this, accessing finance to start or grow their business remains a struggle for many women. A study by the Federal Reserve Banks of New York and Kansas City found that women are less likely… Read More

March 3, 2019 @ 9:00 am By Aubrey Hansen  |  

Internet messaging services are big business today, with some of the biggest names in tech involved, but for most people, the dream is a secure, fully encrypted service that will keep users information completely safe. That dream isn’t shared by various governments and those tasked… Read More

February 28, 2019 @ 11:03 am By JD Alois  |  

Investment crowdfunding platform NextSeed has launched a new initiative that is more analog than digital. NextSeed has opened up a “pop-up residency” a first by the platform. The inaugural experience is the Waffle Bus Pop Up. The community-driven investment platform focuses on local offerings. The… Read More

February 25, 2019 @ 7:16 am By JD Alois  |  

UK Finance has launched a national campaign encouraging small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to prepare for the potential changes as Brexit nears. Entitled “Let’s Talk Business,” the campaign is being supported by various organisations including the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), British Chambers of Commerce… Read More

February 11, 2019 @ 9:00 pm By Michael B. Saryan and Charles S. Kaufman  |  

2017 saw a roaring ICO market, with billions of dollars raised by blockchain-based digital asset issuers selling “utility tokens” in initial coin offerings. As the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) began cracking down on token issuers for failing to follow securities laws, in late… Read More

February 11, 2019 @ 8:09 am By JD Alois  |  

Peer to peer lending research firm 4thWay has published a note touting the benefits of investing in P2P loans in contrast to more volatile equity investing. 4thWay says that Brexit induced market volatility should compel investors to consider investing in online loans. 4thWay says it is… Read More

February 6, 2019 @ 12:15 am By David V Duccini  |  

There’s a Fintech revolution happening in Minnesota. Since passing its own version of intrastate crowdfunding legislation in 2015 and quietly opening its doors in 2016 the state has taken the regional lead in raising more money for more businesses under its “MNvest” exemption as well… Read More

February 3, 2019 @ 3:23 pm By Aubrey Hansen   |  

You’ve worked tirelessly on your latest project, and eventually, find yourself sitting with what could be a breakthrough invention. Months, or even years, of hard work have come to fruition, and now you’ve reached the promised land of sorts. Your first instinct may be to… Read More

January 31, 2019 @ 8:52 pm By Scott Andersen  |  

On January 22, 2019, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) released its examination priorities for 2019.  At the top of the list was online funding platform compliance with the securities laws. With an uptick in the offer and sale of securities offerings online with Rule… Read More

January 28, 2019 @ 4:36 pm By JD Alois  |  

FINRA recently posted their annual Risk Monitoring and Examination Priorities Letter. As part of the letter, FINRA stated they would be evaluating how firms conduct suitability analyses as well as communications and AML requirements for both Reg D 506c and Reg A+ offerings. These two exemptions… Read More

January 24, 2019 @ 3:41 pm By JD Alois  |  

There has been a good amount of discussion about the impact of the government shutdown and the effect on government employees who are not being paid.  The shutdown is also undermining sectors of the economy that depend on furloughed public employees. One sector of finance that has… Read More

January 23, 2019 @ 2:54 pm By JD Alois  |  

The European Crowdfunding Network (ECN) has announced the creation of a new group entitled the ECN-Italian Strategic Group (ECN-ISG). The ECN is the leading pan-European voice for investment crowdfunding. The objective of the ECN-ISG Working Group is to foster a more robust culture of crowdfunding in… Read More