CrowdFunding Made Simple Hosts First Conference in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY, May 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- CrowdFunding Made Simple, a crowdfunding educational and events platform, today announced plans for the first national conference endorsed by the Crowdfunding Professional Association (CfPA). Held at the University of Utah Guest House and Conference Center on May 31st and June 1st from 9 am to 5 pm MDST, and in partnership with the The Soho Loft (TSL), the CrowdFunding Made Simple conference will allow entrepreneurs, business owners, professional service providers and investors to obtain a deeper understanding of crowdfunding directly from some of the industry leaders behind this groundbreaking business platform. With the historic Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act signed into law on April 5th, a legal framework for equity-based "crowdfund investing" has been established and the potential for a much larger and expanded global crowdfunding community has been unleashed.

"We are pleased to bring to Utah a group of innovators that have ignited crowdfunding both as an Internet-based platform and now potentially as an equity-based investment model," said Richard Swart, co-founder of CrowdFunding Made Simple, director of strategic programs at Grow America Insights and executive committee member of the Crowdfunding Professional Association. "While much has been achieved in crowdfunding to date, most entrepreneurs and investors across the country are not yet familiar with it. We look forward to providing a summit for education and interaction on this vital new capital creation concept right here in one of the entrepreneurship capitals of America."

Speakers include Brian Meece, founder and CEO of RocketHub.com, one of the world's top three crowdfunding platforms; Jason Best, co-author of the CrowdFund Investing Framework in the JOBS Act and founder of Startup Exemption; Carl Esposti, founder of Crowdsourcing.org and leader of the CAPS Accreditation Program for crowdfunding platforms; Douglas S. Ellenhoff, one of America's top securities law experts from Ellenhoff, Grossman & Schole, amongst others; Alan E. Hall, a founding sponsor of the Crowdfunding Professional Association and founder of Grow America SpringBoard and Mercato Partners.

"Understanding the implications and applications of crowdfunding is critical for entrepreneurs and investors because of the ability to vet ideas, create new markets and gain access to new investors," said Bryan Ritchie, Director of the Technology Commercialization Office at the University of Utah. "We look forward to hosting and sponsoring the first crowdfunding conference in Utah and believe it will provide significant insights for our vibrant entrepreneurial community. Participants will interact with the early adopters and innovators leading this groundbreaking legislation and fund raising platform."

"Starting a business is never easy, which is why I feel strongly about participating in and sponsoring this cutting-edge conference on crowdfund investing," said Alan Hall, a founding sponsor of the Crowdfunding Professional Association and founder of Grow America SpringBoard and Mercato Partners. "Entrepreneurs, investors, private equity, lawyers, accountants, marketing professionals – all of them will benefit and be interested in accessing the latest developments on this historic and timely new business model. I also firmly believe crowdfunding has the potential to bring hundreds of thousands of additional entrepreneurs and investors into the vital process of creating the companies and jobs that our economy so desperately needs."

Registration for the conference begins today at www.CrowdFundingMadeSimple.com. Participants will also receive discounted access to a complete copy of the most comprehensive Crowdfunding Industry Report based on data from more than 170 crowdfunding platforms (CFPs) and other sources.

About CrowdFunding Made Simple

CrowdFunding Made Simple is a crowdfunding educational and events platform designed to educate entrepreneurs, small business owners and the American public about this new, groundbreaking industry platform that fuels the creation of new ideas, new businesses and jobs. For more information, visit www.CrowdFundingMadeSimple.com.

About The Soho Loft Capital Creation Events

Rapidly becoming known as the definitive event platform for the rising private company marketplace (PCM), The Soho Loft (TSL) Capital Creation Event Series is the only global event platform where accredited investors; accomplished angels; microfinancing groups; CIOs of investors; select merchant and investment bankers; VCs; family offices; incubators; private equity firms; pre-IPO mutual funds; secondary stock specialists; equity analysts; seasoned entrepreneurs; tax and legal experts and legislators from across the world assemble in order to exchange ideas, discourse and opportunities that will help reshape the capital markets and stimulate economic growth. Our mission is to help develop the infrastructure of the rising private markets so that it can mature into a viable and functional marketplace that facilitates capital formation, innovation, expansion and job creation. For additional information please visit us at http://thesoholoft.com  and http://www.facebook.com/TheSohoLoftevents.

Media Contact:
Barbara Thatcher, Thatcher+Co.
[email protected]
408-701-7528

SOURCE CrowdFunding Made Simple