The market for SME (Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise) funding is changing radically, and provides both opportunity and risk for those seeking to be active in the market. The Alternative Funding Network (AFN) provides its members with intelligence and industry insight on the developing issues that really matter. This is achieved through a mix of exclusive industry seminars, regular commentary, research and secure peer-to-peer networking.

 

Andy Davis is the Programme Director for the AFN. He has a longstanding interest in business finance, previously as Editor of FT Weekend and more recently as a researcher, commentator and advisor on the game-changing developments unfolding in the SME funding market. He is supported by the Knowledge Peers team – experts at both online and offline knowledge sharing.

 

Research Seminar Series: Advances in Regulation in the Alternative Finance Space
 
On Monday 7^th December 2015, the Alternative Funding Network will host our final seminar for 2015.  Focusing on the regulatory framework as it applies to the Alternative Finance sector, the seminar will be an opportunity to learn and share key challenges and insights as the sector transitions to the new regulatory landscape. The seminar will focus on challenges in implementation.

 

Come and join us for evening drinks and canapes.

 

As the deadline for FCA authorisation gets closer and the Regulator clarifies its position on various rules, it is imperative to prepare for all the FCA regulatory compliance obligations that will follow.
 
Topics under discussion during our seminar will include:
 
The Authorisation Process for Consumer Credit Businesses
Post-Authorisation FCA compliance and reporting
 

 

 

Who can attend these seminars?

 

Paid Alternative Funding Network Members   

 

Annual Corporate or Individual Members may attend these seminars free of charge.

 

For more information on our Annual Corporate or Annual Individual Membership please contact [email protected] for more information.   

 

Non-AFN Member: Single Seminar Ticket - £20 (+VAT) 

 

Non-AFN members may purchase a single ticket for £20 (+VAT).

 

To discuss regulatory transitions and implementation, we will be joined by an excellent panel:

 

Martin Smulian – Head of Legal & Compliance at FundingKnight and Director of UK Crowdfunding Association.  In a career spanning retail financial services, IT Security and running the office of a private investment group, Martin has seen many times the difference that the intelligent use of processes and systems can make to the success of an idea, project or business. Now working within the crowdfunding sector he has first-hand experience of the challenges posed by legal, tax and regulatory regimes that had never envisaged crowdfunding or P2P and as a director of the UK Crowd Funding Association has the ideal vehicle to engage with other firms, the government and regulators to meet those challenges.

 

Funding Knight is an established P2P lending platform established in 2012. The UKCFA was formed in 2012 by 14 crowdfunding businesses and lobbies for regulation that balances consumer protection with the need to enable a dynamic and flexible market in alternative finance to develop.

 

James Codling – Co-Founder of VentureFounders James has 14 years of private equity, investment banking and start-up experience. He started his career at J.P. Morgan and was then approached to join Montagu Private Equity. He held directorships in a number of Montagu's portfolio investments and was responsible for all their financing activities. He has also launched a number of successful start-ups.

 

VentureFounders is a UK-based equity investment platform designed to make Angel and Venture Capital style investing more accessible, affordable and transparent.

 

Priya Mehta – Director, Buzzacott LLP Priya heads up the Regulatory Reporting and Advisory team at Buzzacott. Her portfolio of clients comprises of FCA regulated entities including asset managers, broker-dealers and investment advisory firms. Priya has more than 10 years of experience within the financial services industry with a focus on medium and smaller industry participants. She specialises in advising on the reporting obligations and on-going monitoring for the asset management sector and also focus on the assessment of the impact of new regulations for the consumer credit sector.

 

Jonathan Segal – Partner, Fox Williams LLP Jonathan is a partner in their Corporate and Technology teams which specialises in FinTech and Alternative Finance.  Jonathan advises clients across the FinTech spectrum, from start-ups disrupting existing markets with innovative technology to financial institutions looking to invest in new technology.  He has particular expertise in peer-to-peer and crowdfunding platforms, drawing on his extensive experience in the banking and finance sector gained both in-house at major financial institutions and in private practice.

 

Dan Harasemchuk – Managing Partner, Objectivus Financial Consulting Ltd Dan is a co-founder of Objectivus Financial Consulting, a consultancy focused on delivering risk, governance and compliance solutions to financial services sector. Objectivus works with and advises crowdfunding platforms, both equity and loan based. Dan qualified as a lawyer in Canada and the UK and is a graduate of Business School.  His experience in financial services has ranged from wholesale debt listings to retail derivatives having worked with, among others, Allen & Overy, Lehman Brothers and the Stock Exchange. Dan is a mentor with StartupBootcamp’s FinTech accelerator.