First Equity Crowdfunding Forum in Malaysia to Build Awareness on Alternative Fund Raising Channel

19 September 2014 | Kuala Lumpur

Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) has organised the first equity crowdfunding forum in Malaysia, bringing together over 600 entrepreneurs and investors to create public awareness on the potential of equity crowdfunding as an alternative channel to raise capital.

The Synergy and Crowdfunding Forum, co-organised by the SC with the Malaysian Business Angel Network (MBAN) from 19 to 20 September, features notable thought leaders in crowdfunding, including Jason Best, who was instrumental in co-authoring the crowdfund investing framework to legalise equity crowdfunding in the United States, as well as regional business leaders in the start-up arena, alongside their local counterparts.

SC has recently issued a public consultation paper for equity crowdfunding and is expected to announce the regulatory framework in due course. The SC considers alternative funding channels, such as equity crowdfunding, a crucial and innovative market-based structure to facilitate growth of new small-scale enterprises, which contribute significantly to the national economy.

The first day of the forum has attracted a diverse representation of investors, angels, entrepreneurs, startups, academics and students, who gained insights from the prominent speakers on the future capital raising landscape and the mechanics of growing a business in the digital age or Web 2.0 with greater online interactivity.

The second day of the forum tomorrow will feature workshops for investors and entrepreneurs. Selected coaches from MBAN will be hosting an Angel Investing workshop on how to become an angel investor. Concurrently, a crowdfunding workshop will be conducted for entrepreneurs on how to execute a good crowdfunding campaign in order to maximize their chances of obtaining the necessary investment for their businesses.

Other strategic partners for the forum include The Edge Malaysia, Cradle Fund, Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC), pitchIN, Crowdonomic and StartupMalaysia.org

SECURITIES COMMISSION MALAYSIA