Next Generation Finance: What will the future look like when Alternative and Conventional Finance hit it off?

Seminar report featuring views and observations from 6 industry practitioners on the current and future arena of finance for SME's

Taken from the AFN seminar as part of the wider Informed Funding Finance Fair.

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On February 16th, 2015 the AFN kicked-off our 2015 Research Seminar Series with a timely discussion on theregulatory landscape for Crowdfunding activities.This seminar focused on regulatory issues relating the Crowdfunding environment, with focus on Loan-based (P2P) and Investment-Based (Equity) Crowdfunding models. Since introduction of new rules last March and in light of implementation in April, this panel was tasked with discussing how regulation has advanced within the last year and ...

On December 10th  2015, the Alternative Funding Network hosted the last Research Seminar of the 2014 series on the topic of Deal Flow and Origination. This topic discussion serves to highlight how the sector has advanced and effected change with respect to flow and origination in order to encourage growth and SME engagement. This Research Synopsis includes the main lessons learned from this seminar. 

This viewpoint report provides a synopsis of the FCA's recently released review on 'the state of Crowdfunding' since the sector fell under FCA regulation last April. The review examined the efficacy of the current regulatory approach towards Crowdfunding, raised a few concerns around promotions and pre-empted the FCAs plan to publish final guidance around social media and consumer communications. ...

This viewpoint piece reviews the FCA's recent release on rules regarding social media and customer communications. The FCA’s new supervisory approach defines how crowdfunding platforms can reasonably expect to embody ‘clear, fair and not-misleading’ communication activities while still taking advantage of social media platforms such as twitter, facebook and other communication platforms. 

This Insight Report discusses the changing investor landscape present in the current UK P2P and Crowdfunding arena. This report will reflect on how a shifting investor make-up might affect scale and change for funding platforms and the businesses they service, and more broadly how increased institutional activity will affect the alternative finance industry at large.&nbs...

This viewpoint piece reviews some of the key learning points from the 2014 Autumn Statement. 

This viewpoint piece reviews the current Chinese P2P Lending state of play.  

This viewpoint piece reviews P2P lending bandwidth as models begin to attract increasing numbers of borrowers. 

This viewpoint report reviews a new financial product being utilised by equity crowdfunding models: the convertible bond. 

This viewpoint piece discusses the role of government mandated referral systems and the role of partnerships between traditional and alternative finance providers. 

This viewpoint piece reviews the global reach and activity of UK-based alternative finance models. 

This summary features the key findings from our 'Property Instruments in the Alternative Finance Space' seminar. Property is a vast and well-liked asset class and it is little surprise that P2P operators are opening up new ways for investors to gain exposure to it. This expert panel provide a unique insight into the trajectory of property-based instruments within the P2P space and how innovative models are creating opportunitites for scaling. 

This report reviews the six month period from October 2013-March 2014, in which the AFN conducted our Core Crowdfunding Industry Research.   Data has been sourced directly from platforms in the P2P lending, Invoice and Equity Crowdfunding space. With the exception of limited historic data sourced for the years 20...

During the month of July the Alternative Funding Network reported on a number of significant activities within the alternative finance sector. This report highlights some of the most meaningful observations and presents a snap shot of industry activity relevant for July 2014 

During the months of August and September the Alternative Funding Network reported on a number of significant activities within the alternative finance sector. This report highlights some of the most meaningful observations and present a snap shot of industry activity relevant for the months of August and September 2014.

This report includes personal insight pieces by Andy Davis, Christopher Sier, John Steers, Louise Beaumont who made up our expert panel at our Will Crowdfunding Delivery Seminar in May 2014. 

This document is a complilation of three mini- reports focused on the three stakeholders in the Investment Crowdfunding proposition: the Investor, the SME and the Platform. The three mini-reports include commentary on the challenges and opportunitites for each of these players and serves as the final CORE report in the AFN four-part Crowdfunding Industry Research Series.  The reports included in this document include:  The Pros and Cons for ...

Serving as the Alternative Funding Network's first installment of industry focused CORE research, this report aimed at shedding light on SME-focused Investment Crowdfunding. This research identified key trends within the nascent industry and provided a snap-shot of the sector, including sizing and industry trajectory. This report included the input of pioneering platforms in the Equity Crowdfunding and P2P Lending space.