dragons' den tender document
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Crowdfunding Portal Tender for The Dragon’s Den
W h e r e M o n e y M e e t s I d e a s .
161 Bay StreetToronto, ON M5J 2S1+1 866-209-6862 ph www.theocmx.com
TORONTO
666 Burrard Street, Suite 500 Vancouver, BC V6C 3P6
VANCOUVER
888 3rd Street, South West, 10th Floor Calgary, AB, T2P 5C5
CALGARY
1000 de La Gauchetiere Street West Montreal, Quebec, H3B 4W5
MONTREAL
#BeTheDragon “I’m in, are you?” 1 . W E ’ R E B Y F A R T H E M O S T E X P E R I E N C E D
We’ve read your Concept, how you want it to work, and we love it! We are absolutely thrilled that the CBC wants to enable every Canadian to participate alongside the Dragons so that everyone can get a piece of the action...
We’re even more thrilled as The OCMX is the perfect fit and can make all of that happen seamlessly and effortlessly…
•Well first off, we clearly have the most experience
•We’ve been around the longest, since 2009, and
we’ve seen it all!
•We have offices across Canada in Toronto, Montreal,
Calgary, and Vancouver
•We’ve handled numerous high-profile crowdfunding
campaigns such as the one for actor Woody Harrelson’s
“Tree Free Paper Company - called Prairie Paper”
O C M X B N N I N T E R V I E W W I T H
C AT H E R I N E M U R R AY
2 . W E H AV E T H E L O N G E S T T R A C K R E C O R D
•We have the longest and most extensive track
record in Canada
•We’ve successfully run more equity crowdfunding
campaigns than any other Canadian portal, period
•We have hands down the largest online community
of investors, companies, and advisors than any other
Canadian portal
•We’ve been regularly featured, interviewed, and
recognized as Canada’s industry leader in crowdfunding on
national TV Shows such as BNN, at National Crowdfunding
Conferences, and at Cornell University
•Last year alone we ran crowdfunding campaigns
totaling more than $200 Million
Watch the Below Video on Why and How The OCMX is the Perfect Partner for CBC and the Dragons’ Den Team
2 3
Why The OCMX is the Perfect Partner
T H E O C M X : H OW I T W O R K S
FOR CBC APPROVAL
C O - B R A N D E D L I S T I N G P AG E F O R
D R AG O N S ’ D E N C O M P A N I E S
#BeTheDragon “I’m in, are you?” 1 . W E ’ R E B Y F A R T H E M O S T E X P E R I E N C E D
We’ve read your Concept, how you want it to work, and we love it! We are absolutely thrilled that the CBC wants to enable every Canadian to participate alongside the Dragons so that everyone can get a piece of the action...
We’re even more thrilled as The OCMX is the perfect fit and can make all of that happen seamlessly and effortlessly…
•Well first off, we clearly have the most experience
•We’ve been around the longest, since 2009, and
we’ve seen it all!
•We have offices across Canada in Toronto, Montreal,
Calgary, and Vancouver
•We’ve handled numerous high-profile crowdfunding
campaigns such as the one for actor Woody Harrelson’s
“Tree Free Paper Company - called Prairie Paper”
O C M X B N N I N T E R V I E W W I T H
C AT H E R I N E M U R R AY
2 . W E H AV E T H E L O N G E S T T R A C K R E C O R D
•We have the longest and most extensive track
record in Canada
•We’ve successfully run more equity crowdfunding
campaigns than any other Canadian portal, period
•We have hands down the largest online community
of investors, companies, and advisors than any other
Canadian portal
•We’ve been regularly featured, interviewed, and
recognized as Canada’s industry leader in crowdfunding on
national TV Shows such as BNN, at National Crowdfunding
Conferences, and at Cornell University
•Last year alone we ran crowdfunding campaigns
totaling more than $200 Million
Watch the Below Video on Why and How The OCMX is the Perfect Partner for CBC and the Dragons’ Den Team
2 3
Why The OCMX is the Perfect Partner
T H E O C M X : H OW I T W O R K S
FOR CBC APPROVAL
C O - B R A N D E D L I S T I N G P AG E F O R
D R AG O N S ’ D E N C O M P A N I E S
5 . O U R T A R G E T M A R K E T I S I D E N T I C A L T OT H AT O F T H E D R A G O N ’ S D E N S H O W
•Best of all, our audience and target market is
identical to The Dragons’ Den
•When we first launched, our portal was even dubbed
the ‘Online Dragons’ Den
•Since then, we’ve been fixated on helping
entrepreneurs, innovators, and inventors
•In fact, we’ve already been running crowdfunding
campaigns for former Dragons’ Den Companies such
as the one we did for Wafu Salad Dressing and its
founder Gil Michel-Garcia
6 . W E A R E T O T A L LY C O M M I T T E D T O T H ED R A G O N S ’ D E N S H O W
•Finally, we’re fully committed to working with the CBC
and the Dragons’ Den Team
•Towards that end, we’re going to waive all our fees
associated with companies listing on our Portal and
we’re also going to provide them with our Turn-key
In-house OM Solution, free of charge
•We can not wait to work under your creative direction
to design landing pages web content, page layouts,
workflows, and more... to ensure Absolute Branding
and Messaging Continuity
P R A I R I E P A P E R ’S
C R OW D F U N D I N G C A M P A I G N
F E AT U R I N G W O O DY H A R R E L S O N3 . W E H AV E T H E L A R G E S T T E A M S I Z EA N D I N F R A S T R U C T U R E
•Now we all know that size matters….and the size of
our company’s team and infrastructure is larger than
any other Canadian portal
•We have a dedicated call centre with more than 7
years of experience handling high call volumes from
over 100 crowdfunding campaigns, which included
many periods of huge volume spikes when running our
A-List Hollywood Celebrity Campaigns
•Our web servers and data centers also have 7 years
of know-how, testing, and capacity to handle the
significant web traffic which will most certainly be
produced from the Dragons’ Den
4 . W E H AV E T H E M O S T C O M P R E H E N S I V EF I R M R E G I S T R AT I O N A N D O P E R AT I N GM O D E L
•When looking at our Registration and Operating
Model, you’ll find it is the most comprehensive and
far-reaching in our sector
•We are an Exempt Market dealer with a Turnkey
In-house OM solution
•This will enable us to help EVERY Canadian watching
the Show to participate alongside the Dragons
•No Canadian will be Excluded
4 5
O C M X L I S T E D C O M P A N Y
T E S T I M O N I A L S
P R A I R I E P A P E R ’S B N N
I N T E R V I E W O N T H E I R
C R OW D F U N D I N G C A M P A I G N
D R AG O N S ’ D E N C O M P A N Y ’S
C R OW D F U N D I N G C A M P A I G N
O C M X C E O S P E A K S AT N AT I O N A L
C R OW D F U N D I N G C O N F E R E N C E
O C M X C E O S P E A K S AT
C O R N E L L U N I V E R S I T Y
5 . O U R T A R G E T M A R K E T I S I D E N T I C A L T OT H AT O F T H E D R A G O N ’ S D E N S H O W
•Best of all, our audience and target market is
identical to The Dragons’ Den
•When we first launched, our portal was even dubbed
the ‘Online Dragons’ Den
•Since then, we’ve been fixated on helping
entrepreneurs, innovators, and inventors
•In fact, we’ve already been running crowdfunding
campaigns for former Dragons’ Den Companies such
as the one we did for Wafu Salad Dressing and its
founder Gil Michel-Garcia
6 . W E A R E T O T A L LY C O M M I T T E D T O T H ED R A G O N S ’ D E N S H O W
•Finally, we’re fully committed to working with the CBC
and the Dragons’ Den Team
•Towards that end, we’re going to waive all our fees
associated with companies listing on our Portal and
we’re also going to provide them with our Turn-key
In-house OM Solution, free of charge
•We can not wait to work under your creative direction
to design landing pages web content, page layouts,
workflows, and more... to ensure Absolute Branding
and Messaging Continuity
P R A I R I E P A P E R ’S
C R OW D F U N D I N G C A M P A I G N
F E AT U R I N G W O O DY H A R R E L S O N3 . W E H AV E T H E L A R G E S T T E A M S I Z EA N D I N F R A S T R U C T U R E
•Now we all know that size matters….and the size of
our company’s team and infrastructure is larger than
any other Canadian portal
•We have a dedicated call centre with more than 7
years of experience handling high call volumes from
over 100 crowdfunding campaigns, which included
many periods of huge volume spikes when running our
A-List Hollywood Celebrity Campaigns
•Our web servers and data centers also have 7 years
of know-how, testing, and capacity to handle the
significant web traffic which will most certainly be
produced from the Dragons’ Den
4 . W E H AV E T H E M O S T C O M P R E H E N S I V EF I R M R E G I S T R AT I O N A N D O P E R AT I N GM O D E L
•When looking at our Registration and Operating
Model, you’ll find it is the most comprehensive and
far-reaching in our sector
•We are an Exempt Market dealer with a Turnkey
In-house OM solution
•This will enable us to help EVERY Canadian watching
the Show to participate alongside the Dragons
•No Canadian will be Excluded
4 5
O C M X L I S T E D C O M P A N Y
T E S T I M O N I A L S
P R A I R I E P A P E R ’S B N N
I N T E R V I E W O N T H E I R
C R OW D F U N D I N G C A M P A I G N
D R AG O N S ’ D E N C O M P A N Y ’S
C R OW D F U N D I N G C A M P A I G N
O C M X C E O S P E A K S AT N AT I O N A L
C R OW D F U N D I N G C O N F E R E N C E
O C M X C E O S P E A K S AT
C O R N E L L U N I V E R S I T Y
Conclusion
I N S U M M A R Y . . .
1. While Many Portals Have Just ‘Popped Up’ in the last
couple of years, We Have Clearly Been ‘Walking the Walk’,
for over seven years now.
2. We Are By Far Canada’s Largest And Most Successful
Crowdfunding Portal and clearly the recognized industry
leader.
3. In our 7 years of operating, We’ve Successfully Handled
Numerous High-Profile And High-Volume Crowdfunding
Campaigns.
4. We have the Most Comprehensive Registration, The
Largest Team Size, And The Necessary Infrastructure to
ensure that every Canadian can participate alongside the
Dragons.
5. We’ve Already Run Crowdfunding Campaigns For
Dragons’ Den Companies Before: we know what they want,
we know what they need, and we know how to deliver it.
6. Most importantly, We Are Totally Committed To
Working With The CBC And The Dragons’ Den Team to
make Season 11 a massive success and together we will
reach some extraordinary Heights.
In short, The OCMX is tried, tested and true. We are the portal ‘where money meets ideas.’“ ”
It’s Due Diligence Time
We have outlined below the answers to the various due diligence questions provided by your Tender.
For ease of comparison, we have kept the questions in their given sequence and format and have provided the answers below each bolded question.
To be certain that we answered all of the questions as completely as possible, we repeated some of our answers to different, but similar questions, and so please excuse any such redundancy in this regard.
1. We want to know what we don’t know
Q:
A:
The funding portal needs to be the expert in this whole equity
crowdfunding space, as many questions arise out of the concept
We agree wholeheartedly as the CBC must align itself with the right partner, which is experienced, seasoned, and has the financial backing, resources, and know-how. Some highlights of our crowdfunding portal in this regard are as follows:
•Our funding portal is the industry expert and leader in Canada for Equity Crowdfunding
•We were the first registered investment dealer in Canada offering and operating an equitycrowdfunding portal
•We started our funding portal before the term ‘crowdfunding’ was even first coined
•We have been a fully licensed Exempt Market Dealer since 2009
6 7
Conclusion
I N S U M M A R Y . . .
1. While Many Portals Have Just ‘Popped Up’ in the last
couple of years, We Have Clearly Been ‘Walking the Walk’,
for over seven years now.
2. We Are By Far Canada’s Largest And Most Successful
Crowdfunding Portal and clearly the recognized industry
leader.
3. In our 7 years of operating, We’ve Successfully Handled
Numerous High-Profile And High-Volume Crowdfunding
Campaigns.
4. We have the Most Comprehensive Registration, The
Largest Team Size, And The Necessary Infrastructure to
ensure that every Canadian can participate alongside the
Dragons.
5. We’ve Already Run Crowdfunding Campaigns For
Dragons’ Den Companies Before: we know what they want,
we know what they need, and we know how to deliver it.
6. Most importantly, We Are Totally Committed To
Working With The CBC And The Dragons’ Den Team to
make Season 11 a massive success and together we will
reach some extraordinary Heights.
In short, The OCMX is tried, tested and true. We are the portal ‘where money meets ideas.’“ ”
It’s Due Diligence Time
We have outlined below the answers to the various due diligence questions provided by your Tender.
For ease of comparison, we have kept the questions in their given sequence and format and have provided the answers below each bolded question.
To be certain that we answered all of the questions as completely as possible, we repeated some of our answers to different, but similar questions, and so please excuse any such redundancy in this regard.
1. We want to know what we don’t know
Q:
A:
The funding portal needs to be the expert in this whole equity
crowdfunding space, as many questions arise out of the concept
We agree wholeheartedly as the CBC must align itself with the right partner, which is experienced, seasoned, and has the financial backing, resources, and know-how. Some highlights of our crowdfunding portal in this regard are as follows:
•Our funding portal is the industry expert and leader in Canada for Equity Crowdfunding
•We were the first registered investment dealer in Canada offering and operating an equitycrowdfunding portal
•We started our funding portal before the term ‘crowdfunding’ was even first coined
•We have been a fully licensed Exempt Market Dealer since 2009
6 7
Q:
A:
What is the potential DOWNSIDE of this whole initiative?
Three Potential Downsides which we see with this initiative are as follows:
i. The Dragons’ Den Pitches do not get funded and you get a series of ‘no bid’ CrowdfundingCampaigns.
To minimize this risk, you need to align yourself with a portal which has been around the longest, has completed the most number of crowdfunding campaigns, has worked with actual Dragons’ Den Companies Pitches in the past, has worked with the same types of companies as Dragons’ Den Companies, has the largest group of users, investors, individuals, companies, and advisors registered on their portal.
ii. The Crowdfunding Portal which is selected can not handle all of the inbound calls, emails,transactions, website visitors, and required regulatory filings.
In our view, this is a very real and likely risk which could cause the CBC and the Show significant reputational and other damages. To avoid this risk and in our view, the crowdfunding portal selected needs to have at least the following qualifications and milestones:
•More than 5 years of crowdfunding operating experience
•Have a team of at least 20 seasoned and experienced individuals, not just recent hires orrecent grads with laptops
•Has handled more than 150 crowdfunding campaigns in the past
Q&A Continued...
Q:
A:
Should it be all-or-nothing? (Just like the rules /format of Dragons’
Den - the entire goal must be funded, or no money is invested)
In practice, it is much more practical to have crowdfunding campaigns run such that whatever monies are raised, go to the entrepreneur. That’s how our current campaigns are run and we’ve found this to be the best format given the current stage of the crowdfunding industry. However, in keeping with the show’s format, we would suggest keeping it an ‘all-or-nothing’ format for the viewers.
•We have listed and run more equity crowdfunding campaigns than any other portal in Canada
•We have listed more than $500 Million in Crowdfunding Campaigns in Canada
•We have been recognized for years now as the experts for the entire equity crowdfunding spaceand routinely get asked to speak at National Equity Crowdfunding Conferences
•We have appeared on the BNN Business Show to discuss Equity Crowdfunding Trends
•We have successfully managed crowdfunding campaigns for major celebrities: one for WoodyHarrelson and his ‘Tree-free Paper Company’
Q:
A:
What is a realistic but also exciting time frame for each campaign? (can
it be 2 weeks? 3 weeks? Do longer term campaigns risk the danger of
being ‘forgotten’ since we’d launch one every week? We WANT people
to feel like’ you snooze you lose’ - but open to suggestions)
We would highly recommend the campaigns are run for only one week. This would coincide with your weekly airing of the show so that viewers know that they have only one
week to invest (snooze and lose). This way as well, every episode viewers could start to track and follow the results of the previous week’s campaign. Given the size of our current portal and your viewers, this is more than doable.
Here’s an Idea! We would also suggest the ability for Canadians to invest in a portfolio of all the Dragons’ Den Pitches throughout the season so that it is a more diversified way for them to participate. We have the resources and experience to implement this and would be happy to discuss more.
Q&A Continued...8 9
Q:
A:
What is the potential DOWNSIDE of this whole initiative?
Three Potential Downsides which we see with this initiative are as follows:
i. The Dragons’ Den Pitches do not get funded and you get a series of ‘no bid’ CrowdfundingCampaigns.
To minimize this risk, you need to align yourself with a portal which has been around the longest, has completed the most number of crowdfunding campaigns, has worked with actual Dragons’ Den Companies Pitches in the past, has worked with the same types of companies as Dragons’ Den Companies, has the largest group of users, investors, individuals, companies, and advisors registered on their portal.
ii. The Crowdfunding Portal which is selected can not handle all of the inbound calls, emails,transactions, website visitors, and required regulatory filings.
In our view, this is a very real and likely risk which could cause the CBC and the Show significant reputational and other damages. To avoid this risk and in our view, the crowdfunding portal selected needs to have at least the following qualifications and milestones:
•More than 5 years of crowdfunding operating experience
•Have a team of at least 20 seasoned and experienced individuals, not just recent hires orrecent grads with laptops
•Has handled more than 150 crowdfunding campaigns in the past
Q&A Continued...
Q:
A:
Should it be all-or-nothing? (Just like the rules /format of Dragons’
Den - the entire goal must be funded, or no money is invested)
In practice, it is much more practical to have crowdfunding campaigns run such that whatever monies are raised, go to the entrepreneur. That’s how our current campaigns are run and we’ve found this to be the best format given the current stage of the crowdfunding industry. However, in keeping with the show’s format, we would suggest keeping it an ‘all-or-nothing’ format for the viewers.
•We have listed and run more equity crowdfunding campaigns than any other portal in Canada
•We have listed more than $500 Million in Crowdfunding Campaigns in Canada
•We have been recognized for years now as the experts for the entire equity crowdfunding spaceand routinely get asked to speak at National Equity Crowdfunding Conferences
•We have appeared on the BNN Business Show to discuss Equity Crowdfunding Trends
•We have successfully managed crowdfunding campaigns for major celebrities: one for WoodyHarrelson and his ‘Tree-free Paper Company’
Q:
A:
What is a realistic but also exciting time frame for each campaign? (can
it be 2 weeks? 3 weeks? Do longer term campaigns risk the danger of
being ‘forgotten’ since we’d launch one every week? We WANT people
to feel like’ you snooze you lose’ - but open to suggestions)
We would highly recommend the campaigns are run for only one week. This would coincide with your weekly airing of the show so that viewers know that they have only one
week to invest (snooze and lose). This way as well, every episode viewers could start to track and follow the results of the previous week’s campaign. Given the size of our current portal and your viewers, this is more than doable.
Here’s an Idea! We would also suggest the ability for Canadians to invest in a portfolio of all the Dragons’ Den Pitches throughout the season so that it is a more diversified way for them to participate. We have the resources and experience to implement this and would be happy to discuss more.
Q&A Continued...8 9
Q&A Continued...
•Has successfully handled high profile crowdfunding campaigns such as the one we ran for the ActorWoody Harrelson and his Tree-Free Paper Company
•Has substantial Web Traffic and therefore has the data servers and web servers already in placewhich can handle the type of traffic from the Dragons’ Den show
We emphasize the above points/milestones as there have been many portals which have popped up in the last two years but we are the only ones which have had over 7 years of actual experience running crowdfunding campaigns and handling all of the back-end/behind the scenes work needed. We have made and learned from all of the inevitable early stage mistakes a very long time ago.
And so, we are extremely confident that we are the only crowdfunding portal with these milestones and attributes and with this type of experience, we can assure the CBC that we can handle all of the incoming calls and administration work seamlessly and professionally.
iii. People invest in a Dragons’ Den Campaign and lose some or all of their money.
This risk needs to be carefully thought through and analyzed. We can offer significant guidance and assistance in this area to help avoid this from happening, as best as possible. Again, we have had the most experience by far over any other crowdfunding portal with respect to running crowdfunding campaigns and best know how to manage this risk. Some immediate ways to mitigate this risk are as follows:
a. We could offer to join the Companies’ Board of Advisors (free of any Director fees) on behalf ofthe investors of any successful DD Pitches. This way, we could ensure they are following through ontheir intended use of proceeds and making prudent business decisions. We have the financialbackground and experience to provide meaningful guidance and value add in this regard.
b. We could help advise on and structure the equity vehicle (with CBC approval) such that there isconsiderably more downside protection offered to investors/participants than a straight equity orroyalty deal. Again, we have the financial background and the crowdfunding experience to provideguidance around what actually works and doesn’t work in this regard.
c. We would also suggest the ability for Canadians to invest in a portfolio of all the DD Pitches
throughout the season so that it is a more diversified way for them and would reduce the downside risk considerably. We have the resources and experience to implement this and would be happy to discuss more.
Q:
A:
What happens if a business fails/people don’t get their money’s
worth etc?
NOTE: We had provided this as a downside risk above and so the below answer is a repeat of our above comments.
This risk needs to be carefully thought through and analyzed. We can offer significant guidance and assistance in this area to help avoid this from happening, as best as possible. Again, we have had the most experience by far over any other crowdfunding portal with respect to running crowdfunding campaigns and best know how to manage this risk. Some immediate ways to minimize this risk are as follows:
a. We could offer to join the Companies’ Board of Advisors (free of any Director fees) onbehalf of the investors of any successful DD Pitches: This way, we could ensure they arefollowing through on their intended use of proceeds and making prudent businessdecisions. We have the financial background and experience to provide meaningfulguidance and value add in this regard.
b. We could help advise on and structure the equity vehicle (with CBC approval) such thatthere is considerably more downside protection offered to investors/participants than astraight equity or royalty deal. Again, we have the financial background and thecrowdfunding experience to provide guidance around what actually works and doesn’t workin this regard.
c. We would also suggest the ability for Canadians to invest in a portfolio of all the DDPitches throughout the season so that it is a more diversified way for them and wouldreduce the downside risk considerably. We have the resources and experience toimplement this and would be happy to discuss more.
Q&A Continued...1 0 1 1
Q&A Continued...
•Has successfully handled high profile crowdfunding campaigns such as the one we ran for the ActorWoody Harrelson and his Tree-Free Paper Company
•Has substantial Web Traffic and therefore has the data servers and web servers already in placewhich can handle the type of traffic from the Dragons’ Den show
We emphasize the above points/milestones as there have been many portals which have popped up in the last two years but we are the only ones which have had over 7 years of actual experience running crowdfunding campaigns and handling all of the back-end/behind the scenes work needed. We have made and learned from all of the inevitable early stage mistakes a very long time ago.
And so, we are extremely confident that we are the only crowdfunding portal with these milestones and attributes and with this type of experience, we can assure the CBC that we can handle all of the incoming calls and administration work seamlessly and professionally.
iii. People invest in a Dragons’ Den Campaign and lose some or all of their money.
This risk needs to be carefully thought through and analyzed. We can offer significant guidance and assistance in this area to help avoid this from happening, as best as possible. Again, we have had the most experience by far over any other crowdfunding portal with respect to running crowdfunding campaigns and best know how to manage this risk. Some immediate ways to mitigate this risk are as follows:
a. We could offer to join the Companies’ Board of Advisors (free of any Director fees) on behalf ofthe investors of any successful DD Pitches. This way, we could ensure they are following through ontheir intended use of proceeds and making prudent business decisions. We have the financialbackground and experience to provide meaningful guidance and value add in this regard.
b. We could help advise on and structure the equity vehicle (with CBC approval) such that there isconsiderably more downside protection offered to investors/participants than a straight equity orroyalty deal. Again, we have the financial background and the crowdfunding experience to provideguidance around what actually works and doesn’t work in this regard.
c. We would also suggest the ability for Canadians to invest in a portfolio of all the DD Pitches
throughout the season so that it is a more diversified way for them and would reduce the downside risk considerably. We have the resources and experience to implement this and would be happy to discuss more.
Q:
A:
What happens if a business fails/people don’t get their money’s
worth etc?
NOTE: We had provided this as a downside risk above and so the below answer is a repeat of our above comments.
This risk needs to be carefully thought through and analyzed. We can offer significant guidance and assistance in this area to help avoid this from happening, as best as possible. Again, we have had the most experience by far over any other crowdfunding portal with respect to running crowdfunding campaigns and best know how to manage this risk. Some immediate ways to minimize this risk are as follows:
a. We could offer to join the Companies’ Board of Advisors (free of any Director fees) onbehalf of the investors of any successful DD Pitches: This way, we could ensure they arefollowing through on their intended use of proceeds and making prudent businessdecisions. We have the financial background and experience to provide meaningfulguidance and value add in this regard.
b. We could help advise on and structure the equity vehicle (with CBC approval) such thatthere is considerably more downside protection offered to investors/participants than astraight equity or royalty deal. Again, we have the financial background and thecrowdfunding experience to provide guidance around what actually works and doesn’t workin this regard.
c. We would also suggest the ability for Canadians to invest in a portfolio of all the DDPitches throughout the season so that it is a more diversified way for them and wouldreduce the downside risk considerably. We have the resources and experience toimplement this and would be happy to discuss more.
Q&A Continued...1 0 1 1
Q&A Continued...
Q:
A:
Through your site - is anyone NOT eligible to invest/participate?
We have always taken the view that EVERY CANADIAN should be able to invest/participate in our crowdfunding campaigns. We have also always left it up to our companies seeking funding to determine which segments of potential investors/participants across Canada they would like to offer their campaign.
With the current regulations in Canada, the only way to offer crowdfunding campaigns to every Canadian is through the OM exemption and as such, we have developed and can provide an in-house ‘turn-key’ solution for crowdfunding campaigns to use this avenue, so that EVERY CANADIAN can participate in our crowdfunding campaigns.
Q:
A:
Can you provide an information sheet that helps educate potential
deals of how it works? (for when they are filming in Toronto April
20-May 20)
Absolutely. We have prepared a preliminary document for your review (Please see the attached document ‘How it Works: Crowdfunding Process for the Dragon’s Den Pitches’). There is also a Due Diligence Document which we can and will help the featured companies to complete and process.
2. What’s in it for you?
We get it and we love it!
3. What can we count on you for?
Q:
A:
What could you offer as the funding portal and how do you value that?
The below items are just some of the services we would be happy to offer as the selected crowdfunding portal for the Dragons’ Den:
1. Listing Fees on our Portal - $1,470 per DD Pitch (Waived)
2. Comprehensive Onboarding - $3,495 per DD Pitch (Waived)
3. Marketing Campaign - $4,995 per DD Pitch (Waived)
4. PR and Social Media Campaign - $2,495 per DD Pitch (Waived)
5. Funding Fees - 5% of funds raised, approx. $5,000 per DD Pitch (Waived)
6. Access to our online community of Companies, Investors, and Advisors
7. Turn-key Solution for the OM Exemption so that we can help EVERY Canadian participatein the crowdfunding campaigns - $50,000 per DD Pitch (Waived)
All of these Fees across 21 Dragons’ Den Pitches will add up
significantly and we would be ECSTATIC to waive ALL of these fees
for the CBC and the Dragons’ Den Team.
In addition to waiving our fees, we can also offer the following:
•We will modify our website’s wording, internal pages, and Crowdfunding Listing Pagesbased on the Dragons’ Den specifications and desires (All Fees Waived)
•We will offer to sit on the Board of Advisors of the DD Pitches post-funding to provideour financial guidance and advisory services (All Fees Waived)
Q&A Continued...1 2 1 3
Q&A Continued...
Q:
A:
Through your site - is anyone NOT eligible to invest/participate?
We have always taken the view that EVERY CANADIAN should be able to invest/participate in our crowdfunding campaigns. We have also always left it up to our companies seeking funding to determine which segments of potential investors/participants across Canada they would like to offer their campaign.
With the current regulations in Canada, the only way to offer crowdfunding campaigns to every Canadian is through the OM exemption and as such, we have developed and can provide an in-house ‘turn-key’ solution for crowdfunding campaigns to use this avenue, so that EVERY CANADIAN can participate in our crowdfunding campaigns.
Q:
A:
Can you provide an information sheet that helps educate potential
deals of how it works? (for when they are filming in Toronto April
20-May 20)
Absolutely. We have prepared a preliminary document for your review (Please see the attached document ‘How it Works: Crowdfunding Process for the Dragon’s Den Pitches’). There is also a Due Diligence Document which we can and will help the featured companies to complete and process.
2. What’s in it for you?
We get it and we love it!
3. What can we count on you for?
Q:
A:
What could you offer as the funding portal and how do you value that?
The below items are just some of the services we would be happy to offer as the selected crowdfunding portal for the Dragons’ Den:
1. Listing Fees on our Portal - $1,470 per DD Pitch (Waived)
2. Comprehensive Onboarding - $3,495 per DD Pitch (Waived)
3. Marketing Campaign - $4,995 per DD Pitch (Waived)
4. PR and Social Media Campaign - $2,495 per DD Pitch (Waived)
5. Funding Fees - 5% of funds raised, approx. $5,000 per DD Pitch (Waived)
6. Access to our online community of Companies, Investors, and Advisors
7. Turn-key Solution for the OM Exemption so that we can help EVERY Canadian participatein the crowdfunding campaigns - $50,000 per DD Pitch (Waived)
All of these Fees across 21 Dragons’ Den Pitches will add up
significantly and we would be ECSTATIC to waive ALL of these fees
for the CBC and the Dragons’ Den Team.
In addition to waiving our fees, we can also offer the following:
•We will modify our website’s wording, internal pages, and Crowdfunding Listing Pagesbased on the Dragons’ Den specifications and desires (All Fees Waived)
•We will offer to sit on the Board of Advisors of the DD Pitches post-funding to provideour financial guidance and advisory services (All Fees Waived)
Q&A Continued...1 2 1 3
Q&A Continued...
•We will provide all of our Portal’s Services at a 50% discount to all DD Pitches who were not selectedby the CBC to have their Crowdfunding Campaign run through your Show
Anything else that comes to your mind, just let us know, and we’d be happy to discuss!
Q:
A:
What could you add to the initiative to make it an exciting opportunity
for viewing audiences?
We could add the following features to any of the campaigns for viewing audiences:
1. Real-time Commenting by Viewers on DD Pitches
2. Real-time Questions by Viewers on DD Pitches
3. Real-time Like/Dislikes by Viewers on DD Pitches
4. Be able to Sort and Screen the Campaigns on our Portal by the Dragon who backedthe deal (e.g. Show me Mike’s Deals)
Q:
A:
How long have you been in the crowdfunding business?
We have been in the crowdfunding business longer than any other Portal in Canada. We have been crowdfunding before the term ‘crowdfunding’ was first coined. We launched seven years ago in 2009.
Q: Please provide CVs of your key senior executives
Q&A Continued...1 4 1 5
Matthew J. McGrathFounder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Matthew McGrath has been in the financial industry for well over 20 years, where his focus has been exclusively on corporate finance, private client investment management, and leveraging technology to make the financial sector more transparent and more efficient, all for the benefit of the consumer.
His role as The OCMX’s CEO followed a 12 plus year career at the RBC Financial Group, where as an Executive Council Vice President and CFA Charter holder, Matthew had managed more than $150 million in private assets. Matthew also spent 2 years working directly on Wall Street, focussed on wealth management.
Matthew has successfully founded and grown two Financial Technology (FinTech) companies, The OCMX and Optimize.ca. Optimize.ca is one of North America’s first online Robo Advisory Firms, which empowers individuals to take control of their own investments and make better financial decisions, without the use of a high-cost financial broker.
Matthew’s responsibility as CEO for The OCMX is to create, plan, implement, and integrate the strategic direction of the company. This includes the responsibility for oversight of all components and departments within the firm. During his 20 years in the financial industry, Matthew has been recognized for his drive and vision, has spoken at numerous Investment, FinTech, and Technology conferences, and has run three Boston Marathons.
Irene M. CameronChief Financial Officer (CFO)
Irene Cameron is a Chartered Public Accountant and a Certified General Accountant with over 25 years experience in the financial industry. Prior to her role as CFO at The OCMX, Irene has had a very prosperous career as the Vice President of Finance for Iroquois Water Ltd., where her main responsibility was to direct, coordinate and supervise functions and activities directly related to financial reporting, budgeting, internal audit, and industry compliance standards. In addition, Irene also owned and operated a public accounting practice for well over a decade. As Chief Financial Officer for The OCMX, Irene provides strategic planning and management direction on all aspects of finance within the firm. She is responsible for the oversight, development, and monitoring of our firm’s financial operations, financial plans, internal controls, and ensures compliance with government legislation, industry requirements, and accounting standards. Irene coordinates complete and accurate financial reporting, and ensures quality control with respect to monthly, quarterly, and annual accounting activities, processes and procedures.
Thomas L. DurstonChief Marketing Officer (CMO)
Thomas Durston earned his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Guelph. With an extensive background in media and marketing, he has a comprehensive understanding of the current industry landscape. As Chief Marketing Officer for The OCMX, Tom is responsible for the planning and execution of all online, social media, and traditional marketing programs and campaigns. Tom ensures that The OCMX maintains a competitive advantage by clearly differentiating itself from the competition through product offering and brand positioning. Tom has also built and managed our content
marketing strategy with a strong focus on amplifying and expanding our Online Funding Portal. He is also responsible for our overall lead generation as it pertains to our organizational goals and growth objectives. He provides insight and reports on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) by measuring, evaluating and optimizing the performance of our various marketing campaigns.
Pat K. MacDonaldChief Operating Officer (COO)
Pat MacDonald graduated from Sheridan College in Business, and has nearly ten years experience working in senior management roles. As Chief Operating Officer for The OCMX, Pat is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operational activities of the organization in accordance with the company’s goals and objectives. He provides the leadership and management necessary to ensure that the operations of all areas run smoothly, and contributes to the development and implementation of organizational strategies, policies, and practices. Additionally, Pat also establishes and monitors staff performance and development as it relates to organizational goals, assigns accountabilities, sets objectives, and establishes priorities. Pat is responsible for analyzing current department practices, procedures, and plans to determine if there is a better way to accomplish our goals, taking into consideration such areas as employee well-being, profitability, customer expectation, and industry regulations.
Chris D. JinChief Financial Analyst (CFA)
Chris Jin has an extensive background in financial analytics. He attended the University of Toronto Rotman School of Management, where he earned his Bachelor of Commerce with High Distinction, and specialized in Finance and Economics. As the Chief Financial Analyst for The OCMX, Chris is responsible for analyzing the various financial statements and management reports for companies and entrepreneurs seeking funding. Chris works with the senior management and board members of those companies to gather their required and pertinent information, in order to comply with regulatory requirements as well as set the strategic direction of their funding campaigns.
Josh H. WangChief Technology Officer (CTO)
Josh graduated from Memorial University, where he earned his Master’s of Applied Science in Computer Engineering. Prior to his role at The OCMX, Josh held various senior roles with Zhengzhou Software and Development. As the Chief Technology Officer for The OCMX, Josh is responsible for the oversight of all projects related to major information systems, as well as the security of all information systems and the data which they contain. In addition, he collaborates with management and staff to satisfy user requirements, and provides expert guidance to senior management on information technology and its impact on the company’s day-to-day operations. Josh has provided the vision and leadership necessary to develop and oversee an IT Governance structure which includes policies, procedures, and standards while ensuring strict adherence to this structure in order to ensure effective management of all IT initiatives. He has also established a framework to evaluate the success and efficiency of our information systems, and oversees and delivers annual and quarterly reports and assessments.
A:
Q&A Continued...
•We will provide all of our Portal’s Services at a 50% discount to all DD Pitches who were not selectedby the CBC to have their Crowdfunding Campaign run through your Show
Anything else that comes to your mind, just let us know, and we’d be happy to discuss!
Q:
A:
What could you add to the initiative to make it an exciting opportunity
for viewing audiences?
We could add the following features to any of the campaigns for viewing audiences:
1. Real-time Commenting by Viewers on DD Pitches
2. Real-time Questions by Viewers on DD Pitches
3. Real-time Like/Dislikes by Viewers on DD Pitches
4. Be able to Sort and Screen the Campaigns on our Portal by the Dragon who backedthe deal (e.g. Show me Mike’s Deals)
Q:
A:
How long have you been in the crowdfunding business?
We have been in the crowdfunding business longer than any other Portal in Canada. We have been crowdfunding before the term ‘crowdfunding’ was first coined. We launched seven years ago in 2009.
Q: Please provide CVs of your key senior executives
Q&A Continued...1 4 1 5
Matthew J. McGrathFounder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Matthew McGrath has been in the financial industry for well over 20 years, where his focus has been exclusively on corporate finance, private client investment management, and leveraging technology to make the financial sector more transparent and more efficient, all for the benefit of the consumer.
His role as The OCMX’s CEO followed a 12 plus year career at the RBC Financial Group, where as an Executive Council Vice President and CFA Charter holder, Matthew had managed more than $150 million in private assets. Matthew also spent 2 years working directly on Wall Street, focussed on wealth management.
Matthew has successfully founded and grown two Financial Technology (FinTech) companies, The OCMX and Optimize.ca. Optimize.ca is one of North America’s first online Robo Advisory Firms, which empowers individuals to take control of their own investments and make better financial decisions, without the use of a high-cost financial broker.
Matthew’s responsibility as CEO for The OCMX is to create, plan, implement, and integrate the strategic direction of the company. This includes the responsibility for oversight of all components and departments within the firm. During his 20 years in the financial industry, Matthew has been recognized for his drive and vision, has spoken at numerous Investment, FinTech, and Technology conferences, and has run three Boston Marathons.
Irene M. CameronChief Financial Officer (CFO)
Irene Cameron is a Chartered Public Accountant and a Certified General Accountant with over 25 years experience in the financial industry. Prior to her role as CFO at The OCMX, Irene has had a very prosperous career as the Vice President of Finance for Iroquois Water Ltd., where her main responsibility was to direct, coordinate and supervise functions and activities directly related to financial reporting, budgeting, internal audit, and industry compliance standards. In addition, Irene also owned and operated a public accounting practice for well over a decade. As Chief Financial Officer for The OCMX, Irene provides strategic planning and management direction on all aspects of finance within the firm. She is responsible for the oversight, development, and monitoring of our firm’s financial operations, financial plans, internal controls, and ensures compliance with government legislation, industry requirements, and accounting standards. Irene coordinates complete and accurate financial reporting, and ensures quality control with respect to monthly, quarterly, and annual accounting activities, processes and procedures.
Thomas L. DurstonChief Marketing Officer (CMO)
Thomas Durston earned his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Guelph. With an extensive background in media and marketing, he has a comprehensive understanding of the current industry landscape. As Chief Marketing Officer for The OCMX, Tom is responsible for the planning and execution of all online, social media, and traditional marketing programs and campaigns. Tom ensures that The OCMX maintains a competitive advantage by clearly differentiating itself from the competition through product offering and brand positioning. Tom has also built and managed our content
marketing strategy with a strong focus on amplifying and expanding our Online Funding Portal. He is also responsible for our overall lead generation as it pertains to our organizational goals and growth objectives. He provides insight and reports on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) by measuring, evaluating and optimizing the performance of our various marketing campaigns.
Pat K. MacDonaldChief Operating Officer (COO)
Pat MacDonald graduated from Sheridan College in Business, and has nearly ten years experience working in senior management roles. As Chief Operating Officer for The OCMX, Pat is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operational activities of the organization in accordance with the company’s goals and objectives. He provides the leadership and management necessary to ensure that the operations of all areas run smoothly, and contributes to the development and implementation of organizational strategies, policies, and practices. Additionally, Pat also establishes and monitors staff performance and development as it relates to organizational goals, assigns accountabilities, sets objectives, and establishes priorities. Pat is responsible for analyzing current department practices, procedures, and plans to determine if there is a better way to accomplish our goals, taking into consideration such areas as employee well-being, profitability, customer expectation, and industry regulations.
Chris D. JinChief Financial Analyst (CFA)
Chris Jin has an extensive background in financial analytics. He attended the University of Toronto Rotman School of Management, where he earned his Bachelor of Commerce with High Distinction, and specialized in Finance and Economics. As the Chief Financial Analyst for The OCMX, Chris is responsible for analyzing the various financial statements and management reports for companies and entrepreneurs seeking funding. Chris works with the senior management and board members of those companies to gather their required and pertinent information, in order to comply with regulatory requirements as well as set the strategic direction of their funding campaigns.
Josh H. WangChief Technology Officer (CTO)
Josh graduated from Memorial University, where he earned his Master’s of Applied Science in Computer Engineering. Prior to his role at The OCMX, Josh held various senior roles with Zhengzhou Software and Development. As the Chief Technology Officer for The OCMX, Josh is responsible for the oversight of all projects related to major information systems, as well as the security of all information systems and the data which they contain. In addition, he collaborates with management and staff to satisfy user requirements, and provides expert guidance to senior management on information technology and its impact on the company’s day-to-day operations. Josh has provided the vision and leadership necessary to develop and oversee an IT Governance structure which includes policies, procedures, and standards while ensuring strict adherence to this structure in order to ensure effective management of all IT initiatives. He has also established a framework to evaluate the success and efficiency of our information systems, and oversees and delivers annual and quarterly reports and assessments.
A:
Q&A Continued...
Q:
A:
Are you an Exempt Market Dealer?
Yes
Q:
A:
Are you a registered dealer who can offer securities under the
Offering Memorandum and Accredited Investor Exemption?
Yes and yes
Q:
A:
Have you offered equity crowdfunding campaigns under these
exemptions? If yes, how many?
Yes, we have offered all of our 200 plus crowdfunding campaigns under either of these exemptions.
Q:
A:
Are you registered in every jurisdiction? Please specify
In order to offer EVERY Canadian the ability to participate alongside the Dragons, the only current avenue is to operate under the OM Exemption. The Startup exemption is a good first start for securities regulations but it is not an all-inclusive exemption which would truly enable every Canadian to participate in Dragons’ Den Pitches.
In order to secure the most comprehensive operating model, we have developed a turn-key in-house OM Solution. In this way, we can operate under our current Exempt Market Dealer License, using the OM Exemption to enable every Canadian to participate alongside the Dragons.
And so, we have gone above and beyond any other crowdfunding portal from a licensing perspective as follows:
And so, we have gone above and beyond any other crowdfunding portal from a licensing perspective as follows:
•We are licensed as an Exempt Market Dealer in Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, Alberta, and BCwhich is far more comprehensive than a funding portal registration. Furthermore, we can electto extend our license into every province and territory across Canada within 30 days of receivingapproval of our Response to this Tender and would waive all required fees in the process
•We also have a totally separate Investment Fund Manager Company/License which could enablethe pooling of individuals into one investment pool, simplifying things significantly for Dragons’ DenCompanies, post-funding. In this way, they can elect to have only one shareholder (ie. oneinvestment pool of many investors as opposed to hundreds/thousands of investors, which would becrippling from an administrative perspective)
Q:
A:
Do you operate on the startup crowdfunding exemption, integrated
crowdfunding exemption, and/or offering memorandum exemption?
In order to offer EVERY Canadian the ability to participate alongside the Dragons, the only current avenue is to operate under the OM Exemption. The Startup exemption is a good first start for securities regulations but it is not an all-inclusive exemption which would truly enable every Canadian to participate in Dragons’ Den Pitches.
In order to secure the most comprehensive operating model, we have developed a turn-key in-house OM Solution. In this way, we can operate under our current Exempt Market Dealer License, using the OM Exemption to enable every Canadian to participate alongside the Dragons.
Q:
A:
How many full time employees do you have?
We have a team of over 20 individuals.
Q:
A:
Do you have staff dedicated to answering questions and calls from
potential issuers?
Yes we do and our team is more experienced and seasoned than any other crowdfunding portal in Canada. They are completely and fluently versed in financial terms, crowdfunding campaigns, customer relationship best practices, and have seen and heard it all.
Q&A Continued...1 6 1 7
Q&A Continued...
Q:
A:
Are you an Exempt Market Dealer?
Yes
Q:
A:
Are you a registered dealer who can offer securities under the
Offering Memorandum and Accredited Investor Exemption?
Yes and yes
Q:
A:
Have you offered equity crowdfunding campaigns under these
exemptions? If yes, how many?
Yes, we have offered all of our 200 plus crowdfunding campaigns under either of these exemptions.
Q:
A:
Are you registered in every jurisdiction? Please specify
In order to offer EVERY Canadian the ability to participate alongside the Dragons, the only current avenue is to operate under the OM Exemption. The Startup exemption is a good first start for securities regulations but it is not an all-inclusive exemption which would truly enable every Canadian to participate in Dragons’ Den Pitches.
In order to secure the most comprehensive operating model, we have developed a turn-key in-house OM Solution. In this way, we can operate under our current Exempt Market Dealer License, using the OM Exemption to enable every Canadian to participate alongside the Dragons.
And so, we have gone above and beyond any other crowdfunding portal from a licensing perspective as follows:
And so, we have gone above and beyond any other crowdfunding portal from a licensing perspective as follows:
•We are licensed as an Exempt Market Dealer in Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, Alberta, and BCwhich is far more comprehensive than a funding portal registration. Furthermore, we can electto extend our license into every province and territory across Canada within 30 days of receivingapproval of our Response to this Tender and would waive all required fees in the process
•We also have a totally separate Investment Fund Manager Company/License which could enablethe pooling of individuals into one investment pool, simplifying things significantly for Dragons’ DenCompanies, post-funding. In this way, they can elect to have only one shareholder (ie. oneinvestment pool of many investors as opposed to hundreds/thousands of investors, which would becrippling from an administrative perspective)
Q:
A:
Do you operate on the startup crowdfunding exemption, integrated
crowdfunding exemption, and/or offering memorandum exemption?
In order to offer EVERY Canadian the ability to participate alongside the Dragons, the only current avenue is to operate under the OM Exemption. The Startup exemption is a good first start for securities regulations but it is not an all-inclusive exemption which would truly enable every Canadian to participate in Dragons’ Den Pitches.
In order to secure the most comprehensive operating model, we have developed a turn-key in-house OM Solution. In this way, we can operate under our current Exempt Market Dealer License, using the OM Exemption to enable every Canadian to participate alongside the Dragons.
Q:
A:
How many full time employees do you have?
We have a team of over 20 individuals.
Q:
A:
Do you have staff dedicated to answering questions and calls from
potential issuers?
Yes we do and our team is more experienced and seasoned than any other crowdfunding portal in Canada. They are completely and fluently versed in financial terms, crowdfunding campaigns, customer relationship best practices, and have seen and heard it all.
Q&A Continued...1 6 1 7
Q&A Continued...
The necessity for the chosen crowdfunding portal to have 5 plus years of PRE-existing experience and a large dedicated call centre which has handled high volume campaigns can not be overlooked.
We have perfected our call centre’s calling scripts over 6 years of successfully running our campaigns. We have also built our own in-house contact management to ensure the work flows are smooth and efficient. This ensures that every point of contact of our call centre with individuals, companies, issuers, and others is handled in the most professional and courteous manner possible. Dropped calls, misinformed call agents, flustered or confused conversations are a major risk which comes with an inexperienced crowdfunding portal.
Most importantly, we have already handled very high call volumes when we ran the crowdfunding campaigns for major celebrities such as Woody Harrelson’s Tree-Free Paper Company.
Furthermore, should we need to surpass our Team of 20 and hire more, we have the financial resources and backing in place to hire another 10+.
Q:
A:
How many deals do you currently have available on your website?
We currently have over 30 Crowdfunding Campaigns being run on our website.
Q:
A:
How many deals have you successfully completed in the last 12
months? Please provide details including company names, industries,
initial amount requested, actual money raised, etc. How many deals
have you successfully completed in total?
We are by far the most active crowdfunding portal in Canada. We have literally participated in and organized over $500 Million in total crowdfunding campaigns in the past 6 years. The financial crisis has created tremendous opportunities for innovative financing companies such as our crowdfunding portal, and the following numbers reflect that.
We have provided below just some of the past crowdfunding campaigns which we managed and organized in the past 12 months.
Q&A Continued...1 8 1 9
Last 12 Months Since 2009
Total Financing Amount Requested across Crowdfunding Campaigns
$299,451,000 $573,051,000
% of Campaigns in Dragons’ Den Company Sectors (ie. Technology, Clean-Tech, Life Sciences, and Consumer Products Sectors)
64.34% 62.10%
Q&A Continued...
The necessity for the chosen crowdfunding portal to have 5 plus years of PRE-existing experience and a large dedicated call centre which has handled high volume campaigns can not be overlooked.
We have perfected our call centre’s calling scripts over 6 years of successfully running our campaigns. We have also built our own in-house contact management to ensure the work flows are smooth and efficient. This ensures that every point of contact of our call centre with individuals, companies, issuers, and others is handled in the most professional and courteous manner possible. Dropped calls, misinformed call agents, flustered or confused conversations are a major risk which comes with an inexperienced crowdfunding portal.
Most importantly, we have already handled very high call volumes when we ran the crowdfunding campaigns for major celebrities such as Woody Harrelson’s Tree-Free Paper Company.
Furthermore, should we need to surpass our Team of 20 and hire more, we have the financial resources and backing in place to hire another 10+.
Q:
A:
How many deals do you currently have available on your website?
We currently have over 30 Crowdfunding Campaigns being run on our website.
Q:
A:
How many deals have you successfully completed in the last 12
months? Please provide details including company names, industries,
initial amount requested, actual money raised, etc. How many deals
have you successfully completed in total?
We are by far the most active crowdfunding portal in Canada. We have literally participated in and organized over $500 Million in total crowdfunding campaigns in the past 6 years. The financial crisis has created tremendous opportunities for innovative financing companies such as our crowdfunding portal, and the following numbers reflect that.
We have provided below just some of the past crowdfunding campaigns which we managed and organized in the past 12 months.
Q&A Continued...1 8 1 9
Last 12 Months Since 2009
Total Financing Amount Requested across Crowdfunding Campaigns
$299,451,000 $573,051,000
% of Campaigns in Dragons’ Den Company Sectors (ie. Technology, Clean-Tech, Life Sciences, and Consumer Products Sectors)
64.34% 62.10%
The below items are all of the fees for businesses/investors to use our crowdfunding portal and yes, we would be happy to waive all of the fees as the crowdfunding portal for the Dragons’ Den:
1. Listing Fees on our Portal - $1,470 per DD Pitch (Waived)
2. Comprehensive Onboarding - $3,495 per DD Pitch (Waived)
3. Marketing Campaign - $4,995 per DD Pitch (Waived)
Q&A Continued...
Q:
A:
What are the fees for businesses/investors on your site? Would you waive
said fees as CBC cannot be seen as making any profit off the initiative?
All of these Fees across 21 Dragon’s Den Pitches will add up significantly
and we would be ECSTATIC to waive ALL of these fees for the CBC and
the Dragons’ Den Team.
In addition to waiving our fees, we can also offer the following:
•We will modify our website’s wording, internal pages, and Crowdfunding Listing Pagesbased on the Dragons’ Den specifications and desires (All Fees Waived)
•We will offer to sit on the Board of Advisors of the DD Pitches post-funding to provide ourfinancial guidance and advisory services (All Fees Waived)
•We will provide all of our Portal’s Services at a 50% discount to all DD Pitches who werenot selected by the CBC to have their Crowdfunding Campaign run through your Show
Q:
A:
Aside from waiving your fees, what else can you offer?
Anything else that comes to your mind, just let us know, and we’d be
happy to discuss!
EVERY province and every territory could participate through our site
Q:
A:
Are there any provinces/territories that could NOT participate through
your site?
2 0 2 1
4. PR and Social Media Campaign - $2,495 per DD Pitch (Waived)
5. Funding Fees - 5% of funds raised, approx. $5,000 per DD Pitch (Waived)
6. Access to our online community of Companies, Investors, and Advisors
7. Turn-key Solution for the OM Exemption so that we can help EVERY Canadianparticipate in the crowdfunding campaigns - $50,000 per DD Pitch (Waived)
Q: What is your area of expertise? (ie. industries you support)
A: Like many of the DD Pitches, we work with entrepreneurs and companies which are very early stage and focused on their innovation/concept/invention. We are a broad based equity crowdfunding portal which is very experienced and can support the following industries (in the order of our experience):
1. Technology
2. Clean Tech
3. Life Sciences
4. Retail and consumer products
It is important to note that while we are a broad-based portal, we have always focused on early stage companies which are very often ‘pre-revenue’. We were even dubbed the ‘Online Dragons’ Den’ portal since 2009 as a result of our focus.
The below items are all of the fees for businesses/investors to use our crowdfunding portal and yes, we would be happy to waive all of the fees as the crowdfunding portal for the Dragons’ Den:
1. Listing Fees on our Portal - $1,470 per DD Pitch (Waived)
2. Comprehensive Onboarding - $3,495 per DD Pitch (Waived)
3. Marketing Campaign - $4,995 per DD Pitch (Waived)
Q&A Continued...
Q:
A:
What are the fees for businesses/investors on your site? Would you waive
said fees as CBC cannot be seen as making any profit off the initiative?
All of these Fees across 21 Dragon’s Den Pitches will add up significantly
and we would be ECSTATIC to waive ALL of these fees for the CBC and
the Dragons’ Den Team.
In addition to waiving our fees, we can also offer the following:
•We will modify our website’s wording, internal pages, and Crowdfunding Listing Pagesbased on the Dragons’ Den specifications and desires (All Fees Waived)
•We will offer to sit on the Board of Advisors of the DD Pitches post-funding to provide ourfinancial guidance and advisory services (All Fees Waived)
•We will provide all of our Portal’s Services at a 50% discount to all DD Pitches who werenot selected by the CBC to have their Crowdfunding Campaign run through your Show
Q:
A:
Aside from waiving your fees, what else can you offer?
Anything else that comes to your mind, just let us know, and we’d be
happy to discuss!
EVERY province and every territory could participate through our site
Q:
A:
Are there any provinces/territories that could NOT participate through
your site?
2 0 2 1
4. PR and Social Media Campaign - $2,495 per DD Pitch (Waived)
5. Funding Fees - 5% of funds raised, approx. $5,000 per DD Pitch (Waived)
6. Access to our online community of Companies, Investors, and Advisors
7. Turn-key Solution for the OM Exemption so that we can help EVERY Canadianparticipate in the crowdfunding campaigns - $50,000 per DD Pitch (Waived)
Q: What is your area of expertise? (ie. industries you support)
A: Like many of the DD Pitches, we work with entrepreneurs and companies which are very early stage and focused on their innovation/concept/invention. We are a broad based equity crowdfunding portal which is very experienced and can support the following industries (in the order of our experience):
1. Technology
2. Clean Tech
3. Life Sciences
4. Retail and consumer products
It is important to note that while we are a broad-based portal, we have always focused on early stage companies which are very often ‘pre-revenue’. We were even dubbed the ‘Online Dragons’ Den’ portal since 2009 as a result of our focus.
Crowdfunding Portal Tender for The Dragon’s Den
W h e r e M o n e y M e e t s I d e a s .
161 Bay StreetToronto, ON M5J 2S1+1 866-209-6862 ph www.theocmx.com
TORONTO
666 Burrard Street, Suite 500 Vancouver, BC V6C 3P6
VANCOUVER
888 3rd Street, South West, 10th Floor Calgary, AB, T2P 5C5
CALGARY
1000 de La Gauchetiere Street West Montreal, Quebec, H3B 4W5
MONTREAL