Launch of “Equity Crowdfunding Alliance of Canada”

ECFA-logo (1)PRESS RELEASE – On March 3, 2014, a group of companies and individuals dedicated to the developing Equity Crowdfunding industry in Canada, announced that they have come together and established the Equity Crowdfunding Alliance of Canada (ECFA Canada), Canada’s first equity-only Crowdfunding alliance.

These companies and individuals, including funding portals through which Equity Crowdfunding is offered, professionals and vendors to the industry, are united in the common purposes of promoting Equity Crowdfunding in Canada, educating the public and their members about Equity Crowdfunding, establishing best practices for the Equity Crowdfunding industry and providing many networking opportunities for like-minded individuals.

Explanation of Equity Crowdfunding

Equity Crowdfunding involves businesses raising investment capital on-line through the internet and giving investors an equity stake in their companies. Equity Crowdfunding has now been established in different countries around the world and currently hundreds of millions of dollars are being raised globally through Equity Crowdfunding.

Oscar Jofre, Co-Chair of ECFA Canada states,

All of us are excited about this new Alliance that brings together individuals and firms, from different parts of Canada and the Canadian capital raising industry, to develop what we believe will completely alter the capital raising landscape in Canada.”

ECFA Canada’s Mandates

Some of the key mandates of ECFA Canada include:

  1. Educating the public, media and Canadian securities regulators about Equity Crowdfunding;
  2. Guiding issuers and investors into Equity Crowdfunding and on to success; and
  3. Working with funding portals, angel investors, venture capital firms, registered dealers and other capital markets participants in developing the Equity Crowdfunding eco-system.

Sandi Gilbert,  Co-Founder of ECFA Canada says,

“Finally, securities and the internet are coming together in a manner that makes capital raising easier, more transparent and beneficial for both investors and companies looking to raise capital.

Executive Council Founders

ECFA Canada is repesented by all stakeholders in the eco-system of Equity Crowdfunding in Canada and today, we would like to introduce our founders:

Brian Koscak, Chair, Private Capital Markets Association of Canada (formerly, the Exempt Market Dealers Association of Canada) Member, Ontario Securities Commission’s Exempt Market Advisory Committee, Partner, Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP ,Co-Chair, ECFA Canada

Oscar A Jofre, President/CEO,  BoardSuite Inc., Member, Crowdfund Intermediary Regulatory Advocates Executive Council Member, MidMarket Alliance, Co-Chair, ECFA Canada

Raphael Bauskila, Co-Founder, Co-Power

Jason Futko, President of Brook Capital

Sandi Gilbert, CEO, SeedsUp Canada COO, The Exempt Capital Network Director, National Angel Capital Organization

Calvin McElroy, President of NexKapital

Matt McGrath, President and CEO, Optimize Capital Markets

Tim McKilliam, President of OpenAvenue

Jeff Musson, Founder, North of 41 President, Dynamitenetwork.com

Marcus New, President and Founder of InvestX Capital Ltd. President, Stockhouse Publishing Ltd.

Andrew Patricio, President/CEO of Bizlaunch

Carlos Pinto Lobo, Chief Compliance Officer, MaRS VX

Sean Stanleigh, Small Business Editor of Globe and Mail

Peter-Paul van Hoeken, President, Silver Maples Ventures Inc.

Upcoming Conferences and Events

In 2014, ECFA Canada will be hosting conferences in Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver and Montreal and other webinars and networking events. They are for investors, issuers (companies looking to raise capital), Equity Crowdfunding portals, dealers and professionals who make up the eco-system of Equity Crowdfunding and investing in Canada.

 About Equity Crowdfunding Alliance of Canada

The Equity Crowdfunding Alliance is represented by companies and individuals with an interest in Equity Crowdfunding in Canada. ECFA Canada’s mandate includes supporting, educating and developing the Equity Crowdfunding industry in Canada.

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If you want to get involved in Equity Crowdfunding in Canada, then join ECFA Canada today at www.ecfacanada.ca; the Alliance that is going to transform equity investing in Canada.

 For more information contact:

Brian Koscak, Co-Chair, ECFA Canada 416-860-2955, bkoscak@casselsbrock.com @briankoscak on twitter www.briankoscak.com

Oscar A. Jofre, Co-Chair, ECFA Canada 416-528-1968, Oscar.Jofre@BoardSuite.co @boardsuite on twitter @ECFACanada on twitter

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Brian Koscak is a Partner at Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP located in Toronto, Ontario and Chair of the Private Capital Markets Association of Canada (formerly, the Exempt Market Dealers Association of Canada). Brian is also a member of the Ontario Securities Commission’s Exempt Market Advisory Committee and Co-Chair of the Equity Crowdfunding Alliance of Canada. Brian can be reached by phone at 416-860-2955, by e-mail at bkoscak@casselsbrock.com or on twitter @briankoscak. Brian also regularly writes about Canadian securities law matters on his personal blog at www.briankoscak.com.

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