The Commercial Law Association will host a seminar on crowd-sourced equity funding for start-ups and SMEs.

It says Australia is considering new regulation in this area, and it may be relevant to insurers due to the increased role of the internet in marketing and selling cover.

The session will cover the proposed regulation’s long-term impacts on capital-raising and the implications for Australian companies registered in New Zealand.

It may also relate to investment pools supporting longer-term life policies and annuities.

Speakers will include Chapman Tripp law firm partner Bradley Kidd, Australian Small Scale Offerings Board CEO Paul Niederer and Corporations and Markets Advisory Committee (CAMAC) Executive Director John Kluver.

The World Bank says Australia has 12 crowd-sourced funding websites, while the US has about 344. Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull wants to match the US environment.

The seminar will be held on Friday July 25 at the State Library of NSW. Register here.