20 years ago – nearly to the day – Netscape went public. It inspired an IPO frenzy of next-generation business models leveraging Internet technology that would forever transform global communications and commerce.
Now, two decades later, the Internet is finally disrupting financial services in ways we’ve previously only been able to imagine. It is revolutionizing the way we invest and allocate our capital; the way we borrow and lend; the way we market, research, hold and clear securities. The rules, the players and even the currency is changing.
As a result of this technological metamorphosis in financial services, capital is pouring into FinTech at record paces. FinTech investments more than tripled in 2014 alone, reaching $12.2 billion, according to Accenture and CB Insights.
FinTech investing – whether into or via an online finance platform – is showing no signs of decelerating. If anything, it is helping to create a fertile breeding ground for IPOs. Mark my words – the next wave of hot IPOs will emanate from the FinTech sector.
But with illimitable investment opportunities presenting themselves and unprecedented investing freedoms being granted, fortunes are bound to be made as well as lost. But don’t just take it from me.
According to Mr. Spiderman, a fairly well-recognized superhero, “with great investing power comes great responsibility.” Or something along those lines. It’s difficult to obtain an accurate quote from a man while he’s leaping across skyscrapers and chasing sandmen.
In any event, the inference is that the price of free will is in owning one’s decisions. Accordingly, self-reliant investors must be diligent in their research.
Also worth noting was a statement made by Spiderman’s colleague, Mr. Superman. According to the other legendary strong man, “There is a right and a wrong in the universe, and that distinction is not hard to make.”
While I am not one to argue with men of steel, I must respectively disagree. When fraud is involved, it is not always so easy to discern between good and evil. In fact, some frauds are so well orchestrated that it is impossible not to be deceived by them.
Whether you are looking to finance a FinTech business or capitalize any type of investment opportunity listed on a FinTech platform, you need to be cognizant of certain warning signs and made aware of lesser-known due diligence tools – many of which can be accessed online for free. This is why the upcoming free educational webinar, “Mitigating Fraud in CrowdFinance”, is one you cannot afford to miss.
The webinar, hosted by Dara Albright Events and sponsored by Crowdfund Insider, will feature Paul Niederer, the CEO of ASSOB International. Niederer will discuss how the world’s oldest equities crowdfunding platform has been able to remain FRAUD FREE after completing hundreds of raises in over 10 years in operation.
Webinar viewers will also learn how to identify red flags before deploying capital on equity crowdfunding or marketplace lending platforms as well as gain an understanding of “Investor Commanded Transparency” – a new theory premised on the notion that transparency be demanded by investors as opposed to being mandated by regulators. The webinar will also cover the potential pitfalls of Title II (advertising 506c offerings); flawed industry data and Bad Actors (not Keanu Reeves).
The webinar, which is being held on September 24, 2015 at 1pm EST), is ideal for novice investors, experienced venture investors, financial advisors, issuers, underwriters and regulators. Details can be found athttps://www.brighttalk.com/webcast/9407/167837.
When asked to opine on the upcoming webinar, Batman’s sidekick, Robin, replied, “Holy Bank Balance!”
While a number of supervillains privately expressed their disdain for the webinar, Mr. Joker, Mr. Venom and Mr. Lex Luther all refused to publicly comment, citing a resistance to give credence to the “good guys”.
Leave a Reply