Relaxing crowdfunding rules could help Asia startups

Commenting on crowdfunding which allows businesses to raise money from a large pool of small-time investors in return for equity, Director at the SMU Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Arcot Desai Narasimhalu said that "Startups need funds and crowdfunding will certainly help in some situations, but this cannot replace the 'smart' money that enlightened angels and venture capitalists (VCs) offer. The real value startups get from proven early-stage VCs is the knowhow and networks that cannot be obtained through crowdfunding alone.”