Since 2000, the amount of start-up financing provided by traditional sources in Canada, including private equity and labour-sponsored funds, has significantly dropped. Predictably, the total pales in comparison to the United States, a much more welcoming environment for small business. Canada's Venture Capital and Private-Equity Association reported the industry raised less than $1 billion in venture funds in 2009 compared to $3.9 billion in 2001. And the credit crunch has left Canadian banks even more risk-averse when it comes to small-business loans.

That has left private investors, or so-called "angels," to pick up the slack. Even then, jaded entrepreneurs quip, the best chance of striking a deal is an appearance on "," CBC's hit television show that brings them face-to-face with potential investors.

But Matthew McGrath, president of Toronto-based P2P Financial Inc., has a plan to help venture capital in Canada get back on its feet. Last September, the former Royal Bank vice-president launched P2Pfinancial.ca,a virtual marketplace that brings together accredited well-heeled individuals with would-be entrepreneurs seeking capital usually in the range of $25,000 to $1 million.

. . .

, a professor of finance and entrepreneurship [and Ontario Research Chair in Economics and Cross Cultural Studies] at 91��ɫ University's Schulich School of Business, says businesses such as P2P will play an increasingly important role in venture-capital markets, particularly as they develop and become better established. As they do, capital flows should free up and new mentoring relationships will be fostered between experienced business leaders and budding entrepreneurs.

"The importance of the angel investment market is huge and cannot be overstated," Cumming says. "Without it, the number of new successful innovations and patents generated in the country will remain well below potential."

Posted by Elizabeth Monier-Williams, research communications officer, with files courtesy of YFile– 91��ɫ’s daily e-bulletin

The post Professor Douglas Cumming: Angel investors' impact on the market is huge appeared first on UAP 2026-30.

Osgoode Hall Law School Professor Poonam Puri has received a Walter L. Gordon Research Fellowship for 2010-2011.

The prestigious award, periodically presented by 91��ɫ to recognized scholars at the University to complete ongoing outstanding and innovative research, will allow her to devote the coming year to completing Financial Markets in Crisis: ABCP, the Made in Canada Solution and the Future of Canadian Capital Markets.

Right: Poonam Puri

"Professor Puri is greatly admired for her teaching and scholarship as well as the interesting reform and advisory work she has done for securities commissions, self-regulatory organizations, governments and bilateral agencies," said Osgoode Interim Dean Jinyan Li. "This fellowship recognizes her knowledge and expertise and will provide her with the time to complete her latest book."

Puri is among Canada’s most respected researchers on corporate law, securities law, corporate governance, and corporate and white-collar crime. Appointed to 91��ɫ’s Osgoode Hall Law School in 1997, she has co-authored or edited three books and written numerous articles and reports. Her rigorous research is firmly grounded in the real-time of policy-making, rendering her expertise widely requested by Canadian and international governments and regulators, including Industry Canada, the Ontario Securities Commission, the Senate of Canada, the Wise Persons’ Committee on Securities Regulation and the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank Group.

“Professor Puri’s timely proposal addresses the recent global financial upheaval and the asset-backed commercial paper crisis. It promises to provide insight about both global and Canadian banking practices,” said David Dewitt, 91��ɫ's associate vice-president research (social sciences & humanities), and chair of the Walter L. Gordon Research Fellowship selection committee. “Her book will make a valuable contribution to existing literature on Canadian financial markets. The selection committee was impressed by her proposal’s interdisciplinarity, innovative thinking, clarity and logic.”

The fellowship, named in honour of the late Walter L. Gordon, former chancellor of 91��ɫ, provides researchers with the opportunity to complete works or projects that require a significant amount of time by relieving them of teaching and other University responsibilities.

"The selection committee was also impressed by the quality of each of the applicants and the significant research ideas brought forward," said Dewitt. “Every one of them deserved funding. The applicant pool’s strength speaks to 91��ɫ’s expanding research culture and the important recognition the fellowship provides to support that leading-edge research."

By Elizabeth Monier-Williams, research communications officer.

Republished courtesy of YFile– 91��ɫ’s daily e-bulletin.

The post Osgoode professor awarded prestigious fellowship appeared first on UAP 2026-30.