NCFA Canada (past events) | Craig Asano | July 7, 2015

WORKSHOP OVERVIEW

Date: July 28, 2015

Venue:  Dentons Canada LLP

77 King Street West, Suite 500, TD Centre, Toronto, M5K 0A1 (map)

Time: 8:30am – 12:30pm

Registration: $20 Early Bird / $25 members / $35 non-members

All tickets include continental breakfast.  Add 13% HST.

SOLD OUT!!

Waitlist available and a small block will be available at the door $40 +HST

D

 - ESSENTIAL EDUCATION SERIES -

"Crowdfunding, especially equity crowdfunding, is a relatively new concept and there is limited technical guidance.  BDO Canada LLP is knowledgeable and up to date on guidance as it occurs.  BDO is there to help you with interpretation of the guidance and assist with accounting and taxation issues as they arise." - Alexandra Hardy, CPA, CA, Partner, BDO Canada

"The regulation of crowdfunding in Canada, the US and globally is dynamic and forever evolving. Dentons is poised to guide the global market in this area." -Jason Saltzman, Partner, Dentons Canada LLP

Equity Crowdfunding Bootcamp Overview

This is a half day workshop + networking that covers essential equity crowdfunding education for issuers, investors and all other parties interested in understanding equity crowdfunding rules, transactions, international best practices and investment perspectives. Learn from and interact with active practitioners in crowdfunding markets including platforms (dealers), investors, attorneys, accountants and marketing experts. This workshop is designed for those interested in or actively engaged in the process of raising equity capital online through the issuance of securities.

Agenda (Half-day + Networking)

8:30AM  Registration, Continental Breakfast and Networking
8:55AM  Welcome and Introductions
9:00AM  Angel and VC Investment Perspectives, Funding Options
9:30AM  Active Issuer, Equity crowdfunding platforms, Online marketing
10:00AM  Regulations, legal and compliance in Canada and US
10:30AM  Networking Break
10:45AM  Risks & challenges (what not to do) | Best Practices (what to do)
11:15AM  Accounting, Tax, Financial planning
11:45AM  Q&A Discussion
12:00PM  Networking until close

Some questions you can expect to be answered:

Equity Crowdfunding Overview

• What is equity crowdfunding and is it currently legal in Ontario?
• What funding options are available for those seeking to raise equity capital? Is equity crowdfunding right for you?
• We’ve already raised capital via product/reward-based crowdfunding; what do we need to do to get ready to raise equity?
• Is equity crowdfunding really a new asset class and how should investors evaluate these new markets and investment opportunities?

Current Status of Equity Crowdfunding in Canada

• What does the adopted start-up exemption mean for Ontarian issuers?
• What is the status of Ontario's proposed crowdfunding exemption?
• Can Canadian issuers participate in a cross-border equity crowdfunding raise from a U.S. or international platform?

Equity Crowdfunding Investment Considerations

• What are the risks involved with an equity crowdfunding raise and how to avoid them?
• What are the best practices for planning and budgeting for an online equity crowdfunding capital raise?
• What is the due diligence and on-boarding process for a typical equity crowdfunding platform?
• What are the key financial, legal, and tax considerations when planning for an equity crowdfunding raise,?
• Is equity crowdfunding only for start-ups or can reporting issuers and post-revenue companies seeking growth capital apply?

Speakers:

Craig Asano, Founder and Executive Director, NCFA Canada

Craig has amassed over 15+ years of experience as a marketing strategist, software technologist and start-up entrepreneur in technology, finance, manufacturing and real estate sectors. He is a leader, advocate and development professional of interactive web, data, CRM, campaign management, BI and marketing automation and new venture development projects.  He is actively involved in developing the Canadian Crowdfunding industry at a grass-roots level connecting with industry stakeholders, crowdfunding leaders and key participants across the country.  He has has spearheaded multiple programs and initiatives such as the inaugural 2015 Canadian Crowdfunding Summit, National Ambassadors outreach program, and NCFA Canada’s advocacy efforts to advance equity-based Crowdfunding regulations in Canada.

Jason Saltzman, Partner, Dentons Canada LLP

Jason Saltzman practices corporate finance and securities law, with an emphasis on securities offerings, mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital transactions, as well as all other aspects of corporate and securities law.Jason works with both established and emerging companies world-wide, primarily in the mining, technology, life science, cleantech (including renewable energy, water tech and ag tech), industrial, mid-tech and digital media and entertainment sectors. He assists issuers, investment dealers, and institutional and private investors on complex equity and debt financing transactions, ranging from start-up investments, venture capital and private equity investments, to larger public offerings and project finance. 

Marc Mandel is a transactional lawyer and a member of Dentons' Corporate practice and its Intellectual Property and Technology practice. He represents domestic and international enterprises at all stages of growth in financing transactions, joint ventures, acquisitions and divestitures, and in protecting and leveraging intellectual property. In all areas of practice, he focuses on providing practical advice and distilling complex areas of law into actionable strategies.

Matthew McGrath, CEO, Optimize Capital Markets

Following on a 12 year career at the RBC Financial Group, Matthew McGrath successfully launched the Optimize Financial Group™ 4 years ago with offices now in both Toronto and New York City.  Optimize Capital Markets™ (The OCMX) is building the Largest Institutional Crowdfunding Marketplace in North America where Institutional and Accredited Investors can discover and trade in Private Investment Opportunities.  Typical deals include Infrastructure Projects, Large Real Estate Developments, and Proven Technology Companies.  Since launching out of Toronto in September of 2009, Optimize Capital Markets™ has since expanded its operations to include Quebec, Alberta, and British Columbia.

Sunil Sharma, Managing Partner, Extreme Venture Partners

Marc Kaipio, Capital Markets, The Funding Portal

Mr. Kaipio began his capital markets career in 2001 in Corporate & Investment Banking at Scotia Capital. Since then he has held corporate finance, institutional sales, institutional trading, research, and investment management positions at investment and merchant banking, and hedge fund companies.  Mr. Kaipio graduated with First Class Standing from the Honours Bachelor of Commerce program at Lakehead University and from the Master in Business Administration program at the Richard Ivey School of Business at The University of Western Ontario.

Sean Stanleigh, Managing Editor, The Globe and Mail

Sean Stanleigh is Managing Editor of the Globe Content Studio at  The Globe and Mail, overseeing all of the company's commercial content. He has an extensive background in journalism as an editor in a variety of disciplines, including national, foreign and local news, as well as small business. Sean is co-founder of The Entrepreneurship Society, a networking group for high-growth business owners, and he volunteers his time as a mentor and adviser for several non-profit organizations.

Carlos Pinto Lobo, Chief Compliance Officer, The SVX

Carlos is an accomplished, compliance, governance and risk management professional with over 25 years of extensive experience in the financial services industry, including futures, options, retail compliance, LCM, SOX, credit, operational risk management, anti-money laundering, privacy regulations and successful business solutions.  Carlos has had previous roles as a Director and VP at CIBC, Deutsche Bank AG, Alpha ATS, and BMO InvestorLine Inc., as well as been a guest speaker at a variety of industry related events. He has also been instrumental in the development of regulatory regimes and groundbreaking industry initiatives.

Frank Sinopoli, CEO, Coupgon

Frank Sinopoli has served as a Director and CEO of   Coupgon since July 2012. Mr. Sinopoli is responsible for the operations of the company with a focus on providing retail stores, brands and shoppers with an agile mobile application for digital coupons. Prior to that, Mr. Sinopoli founded minggy.com, a B-to-C platform that allowed customers to tender tasks to the market without the need to search for service providers while providing real leads in real time to local businesses. Mr. Sinopoli also started a transportation company in 2007, Ranger Moving Systems, which he sold in 2012. Mr. Sinopoli has won numerous sales and business development awards.

David Shore, Director of Investor Relations, OurCrowd

David Shore's experience prior to OurCrowd includes roles in venture capital and equity research. As the Managing Director of Terracap Ventures, Mr. Shore developed the firm's overall corporate strategy. He also served as Head of the Technology Group for Mackie Research Capital in the Equity Research department covering Software & Media sectors. Mr. Shore was consistently ranked as a leading technology analyst (software) in Canada, and prior to joining Mackie Research Capital worked at leading financial institutions, including Desjardins, CIBC World Markets, and First Marathon. His operational experience includes roles as CFO at several startups including Cavet and Beam Networks. He also sits on the Advisory Board of the Canadian Innovation Exchange. Additionally, Mr. Shore was a board Director at Sarda Technologies and Helix Medical Systems and recently joined The Next 36 as an advisor.

Why attend this workshop?

1. Learn Market Insights and Opportunities from Industry Experts:  Global crowdfunding, fintech and alternative finance markets continue to grow rapidly playing a significant role in mobilizing capital and resources to help launch and scale new ventures, social enterprises, small businesses and high growth SMEs.  Has crowdfunding reached an industry tipping point (read UK Crowdcube founder's perspective here)?

• Global crowdfunding markets grew 167% from $6.1 billion in 2013 to $16.2 billion in 2014 due to heightened market activity, increased infrastructure and better integration and support from traditional capital market ecosystems.
• Get the leading research...2015 Global Crowdfunding Industry Report here.
• Learn why financial firms are joining the crowd and how to leverage technology to improve financial transactions.  More deals, wider networks and distribution, automated IR, integrated capital stack, marketing automation/CRM and analytics.
• Find out why private angel investors, VC groups, fund managers and corporate investors are seeking to work with emerging crowdfunding companies, affiliates and partners.

2. Discuss Regulatory Changes:  The Canadian crowdfunding industry is poised for growth with 6 provinces recently adopting the new Start-up Exemption (see ‘Canadian Securities Breakthrough’), a financing instrument aimed at enabling start-ups and available to both new crowdfunding portals and existing Exempt Market Dealers (EMDs):

• On May 14, 2015, the securities regulatory authorities of British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Québec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia (the 6 participating jurisdictions) announced that they were adopting substantially harmonized registration and prospectus exemptions (the start-up crowdfunding exemptions) to allow start-up and early-stage companies in these jurisdictions to raise up to $500,000 per calendar year through online funding portals.
• On Mar 20, 2014, the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) proposed four new capital raising exemptions including a new Crowdfunding exemption that would allow issuers to raise up to $1,500,000 per calendar year (read) and expect to publish an update on next steps this fall 2015.

3.  Essential Education and Networking:  Learn best practices including 'what not to do' from current case studies and expert practitioners.  Discuss your questions with experts and peers.  Connect with peers that can assist your company to tap into emerging capital raising, marketing, financial/business planning and infrastructure services and opportunities.

Who should attend the workshop?

• Start-ups and SMEs seeking to raise seed/growth capital and expand their networks
• Private angel investors, VC groups, fund managers, corporate and retail investors
• Entrepreneurial and innovation networks seeking to raise capital and commercialize ventures including incubator/accelerators, entrepreneurs, start-ups, high impact SMEs
• All other parties interested in new venture development opportunities, small business growth, financial technology and equity financing including government, media journalists, industry and funding specialists
• Those interested in networking with emerging market channels and high growth sectors

Haven't been to an NCFA Canada event before?

Click to view our previous events:  here

Click to view the Inaugural 2015 Canadian Crowdfunding Summit:  Infographic | Post event report

The National Crowdfunding Association of Canada (NCFA Canada) is a cross-Canada non-profit actively engaged with both social and investment crowdfunding stakeholders across the country.  NCFA Canada provides education, research, leadership, support and networking opportunities to over 1100+ members and works closely with industry, government, academia, community and eco-system partners and affiliates to create a strong and vibrant crowdfunding industry in Canada.  Learn more About Us or visit ncfacanada.org.