The Securities and Exchange Commission's Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee is set to analyze the current playing field of crowdfunding and angel investing in its upcoming meeting on May 6. Wall Street's watchdog is playing host to industry veterans who will weigh in on the challenges and opportunities facing small business finance, as confirmed by the SEC's announcement. Investors and business-owners alike can tune in to the discussions, set for live webcast on the SEC's official website.
Morning sessions are all about the money, specifically early-stage capital, and the ways in which businesses can grab a slice of the crowdfunding pie. Particularly on the agenda is Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF). Despite its successes, the SEC acknowledges that not all is smooth sailing, and the meeting aims to dissect both the accomplishments and roadblocks of the exemption to date. The Committee is slated to hear from an academic expert about her recent report and will specifically zero in on the experiences of women, and underrepresented entrepreneurs in the crowdfunding arena.
Afternoon talks turn from crowdfunding to angels – angel investors, to be precise. With investments appearing to have taken a hit over the past year, the committee will dissect what's got the attention of these pivotal players in startup financing. Insights shared will reflect on how these trends are impacting not only investors themselves but also the early-stage companies that rely on their financial wingmanship.
The Committee will get the lowdown on how angel investors assess risk, and the decision-making that governs their investments. There's a hope that fresh strategies to encourage deep-pocketed angels to spread their investments can emerge from the debate. The big question is whether the winds can change for the better in the current financial climate and give a much-needed boost to angel investing. All eyes will be on the Director of the SEC's Office of Strategic Hub for Innovation and Financial Technology to provide some direction on these matters.
Anyone with internet access can play fly on the wall during these crucial financial discussions. The SEC has made sure of that by offering details on how to catch the live sessions, along with the full agenda and meeting materials on their Committee webpage. Here's to hoping that at the end of the day, small businesses can indeed see their capital-raising dreams take flight with a little help from their friends on high - whether through the crowd or from angel investors with an eye for opportunity.
