Making the Connection: The Ontario Securities Commission Gives the Green Light to the SVX

The SkyLaw team would like congratulate the MaRS Center for Impact Investing for receiving approval from the Ontario Securities Commission for their Social Venture Connection (SVX) to register as a restricted dealer.  A special shout-out goes to Adam Spence for all his hard work as lead developer of the SVX initiative.

The SVX will operate like a stock exchange where companies with a social or environmental mission can raise capital from accredited investors and funds looking for a social return on top of their financial return. It has been described in the Financial Post as being the “e-harmony for impact investing”; connecting social funds with social projects.

This is an exciting development and a welcome innovation in the marketplace. In fact, SVX can boast that it is the first Internet based platform to be approved by the OSC. Many of our clients here at SkyLaw are sure to benefit from this new method of finding willing investors.

Over the next few months, the SVX will undergo beta-testing before its full-scale launch in September.  We wish Adam and his team at MaRS the best of luck in gearing up for the September launch!

Click to view the “Social Venture Exchange – SVX” Video.