Tag Archives: CSE

Gwen Preston on Resource Trends for 2024 | The CSE Podcast S4-EP1

 

This week, host Anna Serin is joined by Gwen Preston, Newsletter Writer and Mining News Blogger at Resource Maven to discuss recent developments and current trends in the mineral exploration and investment space.

Gwen shares her views on how rate hikes have impacted the mineral investment space, the new competition for speculative capital, and the impact of electrification on the global demand for mineral supplies.

Consider this your primer during mineral investing season at VRIC, AME RoundUp, and PDAC!

Host: Anna Serin
Guest: Gwen Preston
Producer: James Black

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The “Senior” Exchange and Other Capital Market Myths

These are tough times for many publicly traded companies. Valuations have declined alongside rising interest rates, and capital is incredibly difficult to come by across many sectors.

In a challenging market like this, some boards and management teams are trying almost anything to give their valuation, trading liquidity, and capital-raising opportunities a boost, however small. Not surprisingly, one of these moves is an old standby: switching stock exchanges.

We get it. Company leaders are right to ask for better value from their stock exchange — something we at the CSE, via our innovative thinking and superior customer service, are proud to say we bring to the table. 

What is troubling, however, is when fiction overtakes fact. When market participants base their listing decisions on storytelling that is full of inaccuracies about how markets work in general, and about the CSE in particular, it not only sows confusion among investors and public companies alike, but it robs market participants of the true nature of the choices available to them. And it is obviously antithetical to fair and efficient market function.

Unfortunately, we have seen a few of these inaccuracies in the public sphere recently. So, I would like to take the time to correct a couple of myths about Canadian stock exchanges and lay out some clear truths about the CSE.

There is no such thing as a “senior” or “tier one” exchange

There are stock exchanges of various sizes in Canada. But the idea that certain exchanges are “senior” or “tier one” just isn’t so. The truth is that every stock exchange in Canada is regulated on the same basis. 

All trading activity on each stock exchange is overseen by the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization, which also administers the “timely disclosure” responsibilities of every public issuer. We are all in the same boat and must play by the same rules. 

Referring to a stock exchange as “senior” is a misleading marketing tactic that confuses market participants about the structure and function of stock markets. It is a naked attempt to establish superiority over other exchanges that do not, in fact, exist. 

The CSE is a stock exchange. Period. What differentiates exchanges are the issuers that they list. And contrary to what may be said about the CSE, we can list all issuers.

Anyone can invest in CSE securities

From the largest investment fund to the tiniest retail investor, everyone is eligible to invest in CSE issuers. To suggest otherwise is a myth.

Now here is where securities laws make investment more complex: Every Canadian issuer is classified as either “Venture” or “Non-Venture.” “Venture” issuers are typically smaller and less liquid, and certain institutional investors have mandates that prevent them from buying these securities. That is entirely understandable. 

“Non-Venture” issuers are larger companies and face more demanding corporate governance requirements, including larger boards of directors and tighter reporting deadlines. The advantage of this designation is that they are eligible for inclusion in many more institutional funds.

The CSE offers issuers the opportunity to choose a “Venture” or a “Non-Venture” path. In fact, the CSE is uniquely positioned in the Canadian capital markets as the only exchange with regulatory approval to list both “Venture” and “Non-Venture” issuers.

CSE issuers are also eligible for membership in index funds offered by leading international providers. One notable exception is the S&P/TSX indices, which limit inclusion to companies trading on the TSX. But nothing prevents any index provider from including CSE securities if they meet the eligibility criteria for a particular index. 

Market integrity rests on clarity

The Canadian stock exchange business is ultra-competitive at the best of times and even more so in the current market conditions. This competition provides opportunities for Canadian companies to access the capital that they need. But competition cannot and should not confuse or undermine fair and efficient markets. It is important that market participants have a complete understanding of what each exchange offers to ensure that issuers select the exchange that best meets their needs.

The CSE is proud to offer issuers a client-focused, low-fee, and innovative model that has driven our success over the nearly two decades of the Exchange’s existence. It has enabled us to grow from a startup with three listings in our first year to more than 800 listings today. 

I will not call the CSE a “tier one” exchange because, again, there is no such thing. However, I firmly believe it is the leading Canadian exchange for entrepreneurs. By providing access to the Canadian public markets with exceptional service, support, and continuous improvement, we are leading the way in creating a vibrant and innovative marketplace.

Year-End 2023 Interview with Canadian Securities Exchange CEO Richard Carleton

It was a tale of two stock markets in 2023, with large-cap indices nearing record highs, while the shares of smaller companies struggled to find steady footing. Ongoing geopolitical uncertainty didn’t help, but if one had to name a single factor explaining the divergent performance, most observers would point to interest rates, which have surged manyfold from their pandemic trough that ended in the latter half of 2021.

History suggests that small-cap companies will again have their day in the sun. Reasons for optimism include expectations for a softening interest rate environment and the undeniable global trend toward greater electrification, which will continue to present opportunities to companies of all sizes. As is always the case with financial markets, timing is the hardest thing to predict.

Through all of this, the Canadian Securities Exchange maintained steady growth in its issuer base in 2023, while also introducing important changes to listings policies, margin eligibility, and its visual brand.

In a late-November discussion, CSE Chief Executive Officer Richard Carleton offered his perspective on markets at home and abroad, as well as his outlook for 2024, as the Exchange gets ready to mark a particularly important milestone.

Every year is different for the capital markets and in 2023 it was the interest rate environment that took centre stage. How would you characterize the capital markets in 2023 based on your interaction with issuers and others in the financial community?

It’s a tricky question and my initial reaction is that it was unprecedented, difficult, and a little strange — these are the words that come to mind. The first big issue is a lack of trading activity in all of Canada’s public markets, but particularly in the junior capital markets. The last time we saw turnover levels this low was 10 years ago. It has been a significant decline given that we were at record levels only two years ago, which was the height of the pandemic. To see declines in overall trading activity on the order of 70% to 80% is something that in my career, which dates back some 35 years in the capital markets, is unprecedented.

I think it’s fair to say that the interest rate environment and the overall economy is likely the culprit. As we know, retail investor participation is very important, particularly for the junior capital side of the markets, and there is a lot of pressure on Canadian families from an inflation perspective, housing costs, mortgage renewals, and so on. So, I think we are seeing that decrease in activity as a result.

That said, there are reasons for tremendous optimism because we have had many new companies access public capital through the Canadian Securities Exchange over the course of the year. We are not at the record levels we saw in 2021 or 2022 in terms of new companies coming to market, but we are still going to see roughly 100 companies list in 2023, which is extraordinary growth.

There has been a significant shift in the nature of those companies. In the last couple of years, we have seen a lot of investment in battery, strategic, and critical minerals, which are principally lithium, graphite, copper, nickel, cobalt, zinc, and rare earth elements.

This obviously takes place in anticipation that as the economy further electrifies and we bring new battery plants into production, there will be considerable demand for all of these minerals. Given the lack of new capacity brought on line for these minerals over the past 20 or 30 years, the belief is that there is a tremendous opportunity for Canadian companies, whether they are mining in Canada or internationally, to fill that demand.

So, as I say, we are in this kind of strange situation where we have a very robust listings pipeline and new listings cohort from 2023, but at the same time, we see participation rates and asset valuation levels that are disappointing and somewhat frustrating for company management teams.

You just described a year that had as many challenges as opportunities, yet the CSE is on pace for an impressive number of new listings across a wide variety of business sectors. What enabled the CSE to perform so well?

We attract the majority of new companies coming into Canada’s public marketplace at this time. There are a number of reasons for this, but I think that the most important factor is the excellent working relationship our listings regulation team has built up over the years with entrepreneurs and their legal, accounting, and investment banking advisors. 

People feel very comfortable working with the team, and I believe there is also an appreciation for the opportunities we provide through our listings development group to help showcase the unique stories of our issuers to a marketplace that, as I say, is challenging at the moment. So, it’s really both as the company lists on the CSE, and then as they look to grow in part through a relationship with the CSE, that we have an opportunity to help our issuers achieve their goals.

The CSE underwent a significant visual rebrand in 2023 that brought with it a new slogan: Always Invested. Why was now the right time and what does the refreshed brand represent?

I’d say there are two things. The first is that we have been involved with our partners at the securities commissions on a rebuild of our listings policies, really for the first time in the 20-year existence of the organization. There are significant changes to both tighten up the requirements for all companies listed on the exchange, as well as the creation of a senior tier which will enable us to regulate larger, more mature companies on a similar basis as they would be on larger exchanges in North America.

With that was really the recognition that we have moved past the start-up phase and are now a material part of Canada’s public markets. The visual identity of the brand is meant to convey our evolution. The logo is bold with forward momentum, it represents stability and, to a smaller degree, modernization and disruption. 

The slogan “Always Invested” is a promise to our customers and partners. A promise that we will always be invested in quality service and the future of efficient public capital markets. 

Was the decision to look at the listings policies mostly an internal one or did the broader financial community influence it as well?

The drive to update the listings policies came from a number of sources. We had feedback from the entrepreneurial, legal, and audit communities in terms of where our policies should be headed. And we work very closely with the regulators in terms of supporting investor protection and promoting capital formation and liquid markets through availability of information on companies.

We concluded that we could do a number of things to update the approach we have taken from when the listings manual was first drafted in 2003. So, with the benefit of 20 years of experience and feedback from various stakeholders, it was time to make significant changes.

The CSE will reach its 20th year as a recognized exchange in May 2024. You must already be planning a celebration of this milestone. What is in store and what can issuers and investors expect from the CSE in the next 20 years?

The first question is the easiest in that we are certainly looking to mark the event, but in ways that are sensitive to the difficult financing conditions many of our issuers are finding. Of course, times are challenging also for the investment dealers who we work with on the corporate finance and trading sides. So, I wouldn’t expect anything too over the top, but it is important that we celebrate the milestone because it is significant. 

I like to tell entrepreneurs when they are considering working with the CSE that we are an exchange that has experienced many of the same challenges and triumphs as a company that they are going through: we were a start-up that initially struggled to find an audience for its services, went through multiple pivots as we looked to find our way in an intensely competitive market, had to raise capital during very difficult market conditions but ultimately succeeded by never losing sight of our goal, which is to build a great exchange. We will be celebrating these achievements next year as we reach our 20th year as an exchange. 

As for the next 20 years, that’s a really good question. There has been a lot of criticism of traditional finance models from our peers in the crypto world: they are looking to decentralize trading facilities and disintermediation of service providers like traditional brokers, custodians, clearing agencies, and the like. From my perspective, the system we collectively operate for access to trading and capital through the traditional stock market environment has evolved to respond to a series of challenges over many years. It is actually very robust.

All of the systems and processes that had to be re-invented for crypto trading are already deeply baked into the investor protection and business processes that we have in what they call the legacy or “centralized finance” world, as the crypto community sometimes refers to it. 

My point is that the exchange trading environment is likely to look an awful lot like it does now, with more technology applications eliminating the remaining manual processes from the trading world, and facilitating the availability of better and more timely information for investors.

A visit to Australia earlier in the year brought the opportunity for new perspective on a capital market that is often compared to Canada’s. What can you tell us about the market there and the ambitions of the local financial community?

What’s interesting is that before we left for Australia, and since we returned, I saw articles in the Canadian business press suggesting that Australia is eating Canada’s lunch when it comes to embracing and supporting the new generation of companies in the strategic minerals space. When we were in Australia, we saw opinions expressed in the local financial press that Canada was eating Australia’s lunch when it came to supporting the investment and development of companies in the strategic minerals space. I’m not sure who is right or wrong, but clearly there is a difference of opinion on the point!

It’s clear that Canadian mining companies have been looking for capital from the Australian market. It appears that there are a number of Australian funds that are prepared to invest in relatively early-stage exploration companies, and also that companies from the CSE, and Canada in general, have had some success in raising capital from Australian investors.

The window seems very tight for raising additional money here in Canada so when a couple of Canadian companies had success in Australia, others followed that lead and attempted to replicate their experience.

From our perspective, we are looking to remove as many barriers and costs as we can for companies on the CSE to raising capital in Australia, and will support CSE-listed issuers seeking admission to the ASX in any way that we can.

Staying with the mining theme, can you share your thoughts with us on the sector’s outlook for 2024?

It is clear that good projects across a wide range of potential minerals are getting funding and entering the public markets. They are able to raise that first round of investment to support the first phase of exploration.

The new issuers from 2021 and 2022 that now have a season of drilling under their belts have been generating some positive reports. Normally, you would expect to see positive price performance, but for some reason, we are not seeing it. As a result, when companies raise their second round, the funding is dilutive for their original investors because the transaction is conducted at the previous issue price, or even lower for some of them.

This is a challenge and a source of some frustration for the industry. That said, we continue to see good projects come to the CSE and there is an extensive pipeline of companies preparing to come to market in 2024.

I hope and expect that with a return to more normal levels of retail participation as interest rates begin to come down in 2024, which I think is a near certainty, you will see the cycle happen where the management teams that successfully advance projects are rewarded with better market valuations and are able to raise significant additional funds at higher prices.

The cannabis sector has gone through some adjustment of late. What has been the CSE’s experience and have you had any feedback from cannabis issuers that stands out in your mind?

Cannabis issuers in many respects are very similar to those in the mining sector right now in that there is a degree of frustration from company management over lack of support in the secondary market as far as asset valuation goes.

We have a number of companies listed on the CSE which continue to build market share in the United States, and there continue to be new states that legalize for adult recreational purposes, which opens up new markets for these companies.

But it appears that the investment community is focused on legislative progress toward either rescheduling of cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III substance, which could result in significant tax relief for companies in the United States, or toward some form of outright legalization for adult recreational purposes on the Federal level.

As a result of these challenges with their equity market valuation, many of the larger companies are raising debt capital by either mortgaging tangible assets or securing lines of credit through the significant cash flow a few of these larger companies are generating. It is a very challenging time for these companies and my hope is that we begin to see more institutional participation and more long-term investors with a sophisticated understanding of the prospects and outlook for these companies. That should create the conditions for better price performance that recognizes the progress that many of them have made over the last five years.

In June, CSE issuers became eligible for margin following a decision by the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization. How have issuers benefited since that decision was made?

It’s a benefit that flows to the investment dealers when they hold CSE securities in their own names on an overnight basis. The changes mean that, for eligible securities, they don’t have to take 100 cents on the dollar as a capital hit and will see significant reductions on that charge against their firm’s regulatory capital.

I know that sounds like deep inside baseball, but the practical benefit for an issuer is that it can significantly decrease the dealer’s cost of conducting an offering on behalf of the issuer. For many of these companies, the dealer will hold the stock in its inventory for a significant period of time. It is very expensive if they are tying up regulatory capital to hold that position.

This change should, and will, facilitate a lower cost of capital for CSE issuers.

It is always up to the investment dealer to determine if they will permit a client to hold a security in a margin account; the regulatory change does not mean that CSE securities will become eligible for margin accounts. Investors will have to ask their dealer about the issue. 

We took a 20-year look forward earlier in the discussion. Let’s shorten the timeline and conclude with your thoughts on what the CSE plans to achieve in 2024.

We’re deep in the planning stages of our forecast, our budget, and the strategic plan for 2024, and there are a few things I would highlight.

We saw tremendous growth in our staff complement in 2023 as we powered up to service our ever-growing issuer population and to administer many of the new listings policies implemented over the course of the year. We should be quiet on the “new hires” front in 2024.

There will be demand for new capital from the mining companies, in particular, who joined the Exchange over the last three years. The CSE will do what we can to assist these companies in reaching sources of capital in Canada, the U.S., and overseas. We’ve talked in past years about the preferred access Canadian public companies have to the U.S. capital markets; I believe that the U.S. could be an important source of capital for the CSE’s mining issuers in the coming years. We also want to work with the industry to assist them in any way we can to engage with a younger generation of investors looking to support the energy transition through their investment portfolios. 

Overall, we are being quite conservative in our expectations for trading and new listings in the coming year. I personally believe that interest rates will come down sooner and faster than the broader consensus, but that probably isn’t a sound basis for us to be doing our financial planning for the year! What I am certain of is that when rates do begin to come down, there will be more robust trading volumes across the markets. It is my hope that investors take the time to get to know the issuer classes of 2022 and 2023 a little better as they come back to the market.

Hamish Khamisa on Retail Investors & Making the World “Better” | The CSE Podcast Ep15-S3


Welcome back to The Exchange for Entrepreneurs Podcast. This week, host James Black is joined by Hamish Khamisa, Founder and President of Sparx Publishing Group, where they discuss his findings from over a decade of analyzing investment trends, particularly those in the self-directed investment space.

James and Hamish then go deeper into the trends that are arising as a result of changing investor demographics, as well as the real impacts of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) company practices and how these efforts might impact investment in the coming years. Finally, they touch on the topic of what it really means for a company to make the world a “better” place and why the measure of true profit really is up for discussion! 

#alwaysinvested

Show link: Make the World Better Magazine | Issue 4 (sparxpg.com)

Hosts: James Black 
Producer: James Black
Guests: Hamish Khamisa 

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Robert Twibaze and Mark Mutaahi on Entrepreneurship in Africa | The CSE Podcast Ep14-S3


Welcome back to the Exchange for Entrepreneurs Podcast. On this week’s episode, host James Black welcomes back Rob Cook, Sr. VP at the Canadian Securities Exchange to share interviews and stories from his recent journey to Rwanda and Uganda. During his travels Rob sat down for conversations with intrepid entrepreneurs including  Robert Twibaze, a hotelier in Kigali, Rwanda who shares the origin story of his new hotel the “Governor’s Residence” that finds its origins back to when he was a local tourist guide in the area. We then catch-up with Mark Mutaahi, a Canadian educated Ugandan who returned to his homeland to fund the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators in Uganda.

Hosts: James Black and Rob Cook
Producer: James Black
Guests: Robert Twibaze and Mark Mutaahi 

#alwaysinvested

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Neil Seeman “Unpacks” the Entrepreneurial Brain | The CSE Podcast Ep13-S3


Welcome back to the Exchange for Entrepreneurs Podcast. On this week’s episode, host James Black welcomes back Neil Seeman, a Canadian educator, internet entrepreneur, mental health advocate, and author. Neil’s new book “Accelerated Minds: Unlocking the Fascinating, Inspiring, and Often Destructive Impulses that Drive the Entrepreneurial Brain” dives into the brain science of why entrepreneurs do what they do and take the risks that they take.

In this conversation Neil emphasizes the role of dopamine and how it dictates entrepreneurial behavior and describes what unhealthy and healthy entrepreneurial behavior really looks like. Ultimately, the conversation lands on the paramount question around the role society plays in supporting entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial mental health. Neil’s new book launches May 9th, 2023.

Neil’s new book! Accelerated Minds: Unlocking the Fascinating, Inspiring, and Often Destructive Impulses that Drive the Entrepreneurial Brain: Seeman, Neil: 9781990823046: Books – Amazon.ca

Last time Neil was on the show: Neil Seeman on Actionable Insights with Incalculable Amounts of Data | RIWI Corp. (CSE:RIW) – YouTube

Host: James Black
Producer: James Black
Guest: Neil Seeman

#alwaysinvested

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Quawntay “Bosco” Adams on the Path to Freedom | The CSE Podcast Ep12-S3

Welcome back to the Exchange for Entrepreneurs Podcast. On this week’s episode host James Black taps into the extraordinary journey of Quawntay “Bosco” Adams, whose odyssey from the streets of Compton to federal prison and now to Hollywood is truly the story of one man whose dream was simply too big for anything to stop. Bosco’s story is the entrepreneurial journey personified – a journey where nothing is guaranteed, the odds are lopsided, and resources are slim at best. In this discussion, Quawntay talk’s about the power of self-belief and the near infinite capabilities of the human spirit and intuition. We only scratch the surface of Bosco’s incredible journey and encourage listeners to dig deeper via the show links below:

Show Links:

Bosco’s memoir: Chasin’ Freedum — Quawntay Bosco Adams
Website and National Geographic Special Quawntay “Bosco” Adams | Author and former prisoner. (quawntayboscoadams.com)

Host: James Black
Producer: James Black
Guest: Quawntay “Bosco” Adams

#alwaysinvested

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Mining Events Recap – Post-Q1 2023

It’s been a whirlwind start to 2023. Over the past three months, the CSE team has enjoyed connecting with friends both old and new in mining and from across the capital markets at the many mining events and activities taking place across the country.

From VRIC to PreDACs to PDAC, there was no shortage of opportunities to engage in lively discussion on the latest trends driving activity and interest in the mining and exploration sectors.

Regardless of the event, consistently strong event attendance was an indicator of renewed enthusiasm for the mining sector with a clear interest in battery and precious metals. In particular, our time at PDAC in Toronto as both a media sponsor and exhibitor enabled us to provide a pulse of mining-related developments taking place at the CSE.

Check out our highlights from this year’s signature mining events below, and be sure to visit our events calendar to see where we’re headed next.

Vancouver Resource Investment Conference (VRIC) & Cross-Border Networking Reception

The CSE team was thrilled to be back in Vancouver for VRIC, produced by Cambridge House, and to celebrate the opportunities and benefits that Canadian and US investors and companies experience in accessing capital on both sides of our shared border. 

At VRIC, the CSE exhibited alongside CSE-listed issuers, Western Uranium (CSE:WUC), Snowline Gold (CSE:SGD), Sitka Gold (CSE:SIG), Sassy Gold (CSE:SASY), Quebec Nickel (CSE:QNI), Inflection Resources (CSE:AUCU), Headwater Gold (CSE:HWG), Green River Gold (CSE:CCR), Getchell Gold (CSE:GTCH), and Bunker Hill Mining (CSE:BNKR). Plus, we previewed our new branding at the CSE’s Vancouver office in conjunction with this event.

Our Cross-Border Networking Reception was a fun and well-attended event that closed out VRIC. A big thank you to our event partners, OTC Markets, Odyssey Trust, MNP, Investing News Network, DealMaker, Grove Corporate Services, and Bennett Jones!

Click here for photo highlights.

PreDAC Vancouver & PreDAC Toronto

Leading up to PDAC, the CSE continued our tradition of gathering and discussing the most important trends ahead of this world-renowned mining convention. This year, we partnered with Investor.Events to co-host our mining industry networking events PreDAC Vancouver and PreDAC Toronto, both of which were sold out.

These events featured great lineups of companies delivering quick pitches, and there were vibrant conversations around mining for battery metals, the small cap space, as well as interesting outlooks on the industry for 2023 and beyond. 

Thank you to everyone who joined us, and a big thank you to our event sponsors, Newsfile, W.D. Latimer, Purves Redmond, Vested, SmallCap Communications, BTV, Stanford & Turner Marketing Group, MNP, Grove Corporate Services, and OCI Group!

Click here to see the PreDAC Vancouver album, and click here to see the PreDAC Toronto album.

PDAC Investor Luncheon

It was great to be back at the PDAC convention and to host our annual networking luncheon. 

The event featured a keynote address from Peter Kent, CEO of First Phosphate (CSE:PHOS),  a former Minister of State for the Americas with the department of Foreign Affairs and former Environment Minister of Canada, who provided fascinating insights on the global mining landscape. Following this presentation, CSE-listed mining companies delivered rapid-fire company pitches and were among the strongest slate of companies that have ever presented at this luncheon event! 

Thank you to everyone who joined us, and a special thank you to our sponsors, MNP, DSA Corporate Services, Marrelli Support Services, Investor.Events, BTV, INN, Market One, Newsfile, Purves Redmond, W.D. Latimer, Vested, and SmallCap Communications! 

Click here to see the photos.

Mangia Bevi Festa

Our Mangia Bevi Festa networking event, presented in partnership with MNP and Aird & Berlis, was once again a huge success! To celebrate a busy PDAC, the CSE team was thrilled to meet with colleagues and unwind over great food, great drinks, and great company. 

Thank you once again to everyone who joined us at the many events that took place, and a big thank you to everyone who continues to support the CSE as we move into this exciting new phase in our company. 

We look forward to seeing everyone again at upcoming mining events and of course at PDAC 2024!

Alex Tapscott on Charting New Frontiers in a “Web3” World | The CSE Podcast S3-E11

Welcome back to the Exchange for Entrepreneurs Podcast. On this week’s episode, host James Black welcomes back Alex Tapscott, Co-Founder of the Blockchain Research Institute to talk about all things blockchain, decentralized finance, and Web3. This conversation is a natural extension from James and Alex’s conversation back in 2019 where Alex discussed the origins and practical implications of the ‘Blockchain Revolution’. Alex is now on the path to launching his new book “Web3: Charting the Internet’s Next Economic and Cultural Frontier” and he shares his viewpoints on the fall of FTX, Silicon Valley Bank and Credit Suisse and how these failures relate to the world of decentralized finance and crypto.

Alex’s new book! Web3: Charting the Internet’s Next Economic and Cultural Frontier eBook : Tapscott, Alex: Amazon.ca: Kindle Store

Last time Alex was on the show: Alex Tapscott on his Unshakeable Belief in the Blockchain Revolution

About Blockchain Research Institute: The Blockchain Research Institute (BRI) is an independent, global think tank, dedicated to exploring and sharing knowledge about the strategic implications of blockchain on business, government, and society. Co-founded by Don and Alex Tapscott, BRI is funded by a consortium of international corporations and government agencies. The BRI’s latest program – Toward Web3: Digital Assets, Digital Transformation – is designed to assist our Members in understanding the potential uses and benefits of Web3 technologies, and to provide guidance on how to successfully integrate blockchain into their operations.

#alwaysinvested

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Bill Besenhofer on Creating “Honest Food” for All | The CSE Podcast S3-E10

On this episode of the Exchange for Entrepreneurs Podcast we welcome back Bill Besenhofer, CEO of The Fresh Factory (CSE:FRSH). In this week’s conversation, we chat about the platform they have  built to accelerate the growth of disruptive food and beverage brands that are vertically integrated from the farm to shelf. 

The Fresh Factory strives to provide tangible answers to some profound questions facing modern consumers – how do we eat healthier? How do we do this at scale? How do we get better products on the shelves for ourselves and for our children? Delivering answers to these questions comes down to a shared vision across the value-chain of those participating in the food business AND a dedication to execution from the manufacturing-end to ensure safe, consistent and healthy products end-up on consumers tables. It’s not easy and Bill goes into detail as to how they are pulling it ALL together.

About The Fresh Factory: The Fresh Factory is a vertically integrated company focused on accelerating the growth of the fresh, clean-label, plant-based food and beverage brands of tomorrow. The Fresh Factory owns or partners with emerging brands in the plant-based space to develop, manufacture, and sell products made from fresh produce and recognizable ingredients. It operates from its centrally located manufacturing facility near Chicago, serving customers across the US. As a public benefits corporation, The Fresh Factory is ESG-focused, driven to make a lighter, greener impact on the environment and a stronger, positive impact on local communities and the food system as a whole. 

#alwaysinvested

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