Crowd funding
While global crowdfunding platforms began gaining traction in the late 2000s, Canada’s market developed more gradually due to its unique regulatory landscape; Most equity crowdfunding in Canada operates under National Instrument 45-110 (Start-up crowdfunding registration and prospectus exemptions), which allows businesses to raise money from investors while protecting both parties. The National Crowdfunding Association of Canada (NCFA) acts as a key industry advocacy group.
Early 2010s: The First Wave
- Donation‑ and reward‑based platforms (like Kickstarter and Indiegogo) became available to Canadians.
- Canadian creators quickly embraced these tools for film, tech gadgets, and community projects.
- Kickstarter officially launched in Canada in 2013, opening the door to larger, more ambitious campaigns.
2015: Equity Crowdfunding Arrives
- Canada’s first equity crowdfunding investment was completed in 2015, led by FrontFundr.
- This marked a turning point: everyday Canadians could now invest in early‑stage companies, not just donate to them.
2020–2021: National Harmonization
- Historically, each province had its own rules, creating a fragmented system.
- In 2021, regulators introduced National Instrument 45‑110, a harmonized framework that:
- Standardized rules across provinces
- Allowed companies to raise capital without a full prospectus
- Introduced investor caps and cooling‑off periods for protection
- This shift dramatically expanded access for both issuers and investors.
2024–2025: Mainstream Acceptance
- Equity crowdfunding campaigns in Canada have now raised hundreds of millions of dollars collectively.
- Platforms like FrontFundr report more than 250 successful campaigns and 53,000+ investors, demonstrating widespread adoption.
- Crowdfunding is now recognized as a legitimate early‑stage financing tool alongside angel investment and venture capital.
2. Rewards and Project Crowdfunding
These platforms are used by entrepreneurs, creatives, and inventors to pre-sell products or raise capital without giving up equity.
- Kickstarter: A top choice for creative projects, such as film, games, and tech hardware, operating on an all-or-nothing model.
- Indiegogo: Offers more flexibility than Kickstarter, allowing for both all-or-nothing and flexible funding options. It is popular for business, tech, and product launches.
- FundRazr: Based in Vancouver, it is a strong player for community-focused projects, non-profits, and social causes, offering a "tip" based fee structure.
3. General & Emerging Platforms
- Tiing: Emerging as a major Canadian platform in 2025-2026, offering a competitive, user-friendly, and 100% Canadian approach for various types of projects (personal, business, charity).
- Patreon: A key platform for content creators (podcasters, musicians, creators) looking for subscription-based recurring revenue rather than one-time project funding.
- Goparity Canada: An impact investment platform that focuses on connecting investors with sustainable projects using a crowdlending model.
4. Donation & Non-Profit
- GoFundMe: The dominant global platform for personal causes, charity, and emergency fundraising, heavily used in Canada.
- CanadaHelps: The largest Canadian online donation platform specifically designed for supporting registered charities.
About Vested:
Founded: Vancouver, BC, 2015
· Technology / Equity Crowdfunding: Start-up or early-stage businesses can raise money for their operations by selling securities (such as bonds and common shares) to investors through a start-up crowdfunding campaign.
· If you contribute, you are an investor and hope to earn interest or participate in the future profits of that business.
· Helping Canadian companies raise funds from Canadian investors. Invest online for as little as 100.
106 projects have raised 4,434,665.00 from investors supporting their clients who are looking for funds in exchange for equity.
Tags: #Crowd funding, #Community Funding, #Entrepreneur Support, #Innovative Ideas, #Funding Support for Small Business, #Digital Finance
Vested
The Vested founders have over 50 years of combined experience working in both the public and private sectors and capital markets. From start-ups to public companies, the Vested team has been involved in all aspects of the fundraising process.
Contact them here:
David Patterson, CEO
604-230-1793
David Brook, COO
604-687-1005
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