Tagged: perspective

March 25, 2015 @ 1:20 pm By Kiran Lingam  |  

In a stunning development earlier today, the SEC released final Regulation A+ rules under Title IV of the JOBS Act that pre-empts state law for larger Regulation A offerings up to $50M and provides for state coordinated review for offerings up to $20M.  Growth companies… Read More

March 20, 2015 @ 2:39 pm By Anthony Zeoli  |  

Facebook has just announced the release of a new “P2P” payment feature incorporated in its messenger service. The application will allow users to send & receive money to each other using their platform. Facebook launched the service saying “it is easy, and it is free”.  The… Read More

March 13, 2015 @ 12:53 pm By Charles Kaufman and Jor Law  |  

This the second part, of a two part series, reviewing Bad Actors in private placements.  The first article may be viewed here. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued new Rule 506(d) in 2013, a rule that bars felons and other specified “bad actors” from… Read More

March 10, 2015 @ 12:09 pm By Dara Albright  |  

I spend many waking hours advocating for crowdfinance and preaching about the economic repercussions of an unjust financial system that inhibits entrepreneurs from procuring growth capital and restrains unaccredited investors from acquiring higher yielding private securities. I’ve dedicated more than four years to this endeavor… Read More

March 8, 2015 @ 10:42 pm By JD Alois  |  

Capitol Hill is an ever-revolving series of meetings, hearings and committees that too frequently get mired in petty political squabbles and posturing. Most of what occurs on the Hill these days is lost to much of the rest of the country who are simply too… Read More

March 7, 2015 @ 12:01 pm By JD Alois  |  

In a speech presented at the Stanford Law School, SEC Commissioner Kara Stein delivered a lecture clearly designed to cater to the audience. Entitled “Supporting Innovation Through the Commission’s Mission to Facilitate Capital Formation” the presentation noted that the SEC’s mission is not defined as supporting innovation… Read More

March 6, 2015 @ 9:02 am By JD Alois  |  

Steve Case, a staunch proponent of investment crowdfunding and advocate of access to capital for SMEs, called out billionaire pundit Mark Cuban on CNBC this morning. Ostensibly the discussion was on the Tech Bubble “Yes or No” polemic but discourse ended up being a bit… Read More

March 3, 2015 @ 1:10 pm By JD Alois  |  

SeedInvest, a widely respected investment crowdfunding platform that operates under Title II accredited crowdfunding (for now), has just submitted a comment letter to the Securities Exchange Commission pleading with the agency to “keep Title III crowdfunding simple”. The JOBS Act was signed into law almost… Read More

March 2, 2015 @ 10:52 am By JD Alois  |  

At the end of 2014, Robert Steinhoff, a JD candidate at the University of Colorado Law School, published a comment on the investment crowdfunding environment in the UK drawing a parallel to what could occur in the United States. The interesting thesis recognized the UK… Read More

March 1, 2015 @ 9:58 pm By JD Alois  |  

Crowdfund Insider reported last week on the push within the EU to further capital markets integration in light of the daunting challenges of a fragmented regulatory regime and cross border idiosyncrasies.  The European Commission was envisioned as a seamless market facilitating continent wide economic amalgamation…. Read More

February 26, 2015 @ 9:27 pm By JD Alois  |  

Kickstarter CEO and co-founder Yancey Strickler chimed in on the FCC ruling today that now classifies the internet as a public utility.  Advocates of net neutrality celebrated the victory as many viewed it as guaranteeing open and equal access to the world wide web. Strickler… Read More

February 26, 2015 @ 12:47 pm By JD Alois  |  

The European Union published a “green paper” on Building a Capital Markets Union for the broader European community.  The ambitious goals are laudable but the challenge is high. While in the United States, and other countries around the globe, SME’s are the engine of growth…. Read More

February 26, 2015 @ 9:15 am By JD Alois  |  

The Bank of England has released its most recent data on the Funding for Lending program, an initiative that is supposed to compel banks to lend to business.  According to the BOE figures, lending is in decline; “Net lending by FLS Extension participants to all… Read More

February 24, 2015 @ 11:27 am By Samuel Guzik  |  

Is the JOBS Act Title II ecosystem being built around the art of the “con” by some Internet funding platforms and companies raising money on these platforms?  The answer seems to be yes, judging by investment advice provided by Morningstar, FINRA, psychologists, and business world… Read More

February 20, 2015 @ 3:12 pm By JD Alois  |  

While SEC Chair presented a state of SEC type presentation, Commissioner Aguilar has jumped in and put some more meat on the bones.  Speaking at the annual Practicing Law Institute gathering, Aguilar set forth his perceived goals for the SEC for 2015. While touching base… Read More

February 19, 2015 @ 10:00 am By Samuel Guzik  |  

  In July 2013 the SEC implemented Title II of the JOBS Act of 2012 through Rule 506(c) of Regulation D, which for the first time in over 80 years allowed companies to engage in general solicitation of investors in an unregistered private placement so… Read More

February 13, 2015 @ 10:03 am By Anna Duning  |  

Crowdfunding platforms just became the latest target for patent trolls – entities that purchase patents, not to produce any goods or services, but to threaten and file infringement suits and attempt to collect licensing fees. Take the case of AlphaCap Ventures, LLC, a company that… Read More

February 11, 2015 @ 8:29 pm By Dara Albright  |  

It’s that time of the week where Crowd Investors Corner serves up another due diligence tip in hopes of helping a new breed of retail investors, known as investumers, make more informed investment decisions. Today’s suggestion is sprinkled with fun as it entails channeling one’s inner… Read More

February 6, 2015 @ 8:15 am By Sacha Bright  |  

Reading the FT’s recent (29th January) piece by Tracy Alloway and Emma Dunkley entitled ‘Rebranded P2P revolutionaries form ties with traditional lenders’, my initial reaction was to be rather saddened that some of the biggest names in the alternative lending market of which we’re a… Read More

February 4, 2015 @ 9:52 am By Barry James  |  

I’m no lawyer but if it were about a firm or an individual I think it would probably be a libel to re-characterise the content of yesterday’s FCA report and their comments on Equity Crowdfunding as either a ‘rebuke’ or a ‘crackdown’. This is deeply… Read More