James Black: The CSE is Canada's Fastest-growing Exchange

TL;DR

James Black, VP of Listings Development at the Canadian Securities Exchange, talks about attracting technology companies to the public markets and the importance of revenue generation and profitability.

Transcript

hi I'm Dorothy Neufeld with the investing news network and here with me today at the extraordinary futures conference is James black vice president of listings development at the Canadian Securities Exchange thank you for being here today thanks thanks for having me so I wanted to first start off by talking about your work with the Canadian Securit... Read More

Key Insights

• 😘 The Canadian Securities Exchange aims to attract entrepreneurial companies to the public markets through a streamlined regulatory framework and low fixed fees.
• 🧑‍💻 Interest in tech sectors such as eSports, blockchain, and data-focused companies has been observed.
• 👂 Technology-focused companies looking to list should prioritize revenue generation and profitability.
• ❓ Potential companies should be aware of the timeline and the involvement of professionals in the listing process.
• 🤪 Going public on the Canadian Securities Exchange is seen as a way to access capital rather than just an exit strategy.
• 🔠 Entrepreneurs should consider the public venture capital market as part of their capital formation strategy.
• 🤪 Better education is needed to inform early-stage tech entrepreneurs about the advantages of going public on the CSE.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the role of the Canadian Securities Exchange in attracting companies to the public markets?

The CSE's main goal is to attract entrepreneurial companies to the public markets by offering a streamlined regulatory framework, high levels of disclosure, and low fixed fees for listing. They also provide a service-oriented approach to doing business.

Q: What tech sectors have stood out in terms of listings?

In the past year, the CSE has seen interest in sectors like eSports, blockchain-enabled solutions, and data-focused companies. Companies using combinations of technologies, such as blockchain in the cannabis space, have also emerged.

Q: What recommendations does James Black have for potential companies looking to list?

Black suggests that technology-focused companies looking to list should focus on revenue generation and profitability. The market for technology companies is different from speculative industries, so demonstrating viability and business growth is important.

Q: What might potential companies not know about the listing process?

One common misconception is the timeline for going public. Companies often underestimate the amount of time it takes to go through audits, regulatory and exchange review, and the involvement of professionals. The process can take around a year or year-and-a-half.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• James Black runs the sales and marketing team at the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE), which aims to attract entrepreneurial companies to the public markets with a streamlined regulatory framework and low fixed fees.

• The CSE has seen interest in various tech sectors, such as eSports and blockchain, as well as data-focused companies. Black believes the market is looking for solutions and companies that can bring them to market.

• Black recommends that technology-focused companies looking to list have a focus on revenue generation and profitability, as the market has less patience for speculative industries, such as mining or cannabis.