Jos Schmitt is CEO of the company behind what may be the two most important startups in Canada.  In 2015 Aequitas Innovations will be launching both a new Canadian stock exchange, and a centralized platform for private securities focused on capital raising and liquidity for small and mid-sized companies seeking funding. It is a well-known fact that venture capital in Canada is not working as it should today. Many small and mid-sized Canadian companies are unable to access the capital they need from private sources, leading them to rush into early exit strategies including foreign ownership or listing too early on public markets. The centralized platform for private securities being developed by Aequitas will address this issue and facilitate new and increased sources of funding, allowing small and mid-sized companies in Canada to raise capital among accredited investors while providing those investors with liquidity through a secondary market to trade exempt securities. Join Jos as he helps us understand what this means for startups. Prior to joining Aequitas, Jos set up Brilliant Orange group of companies, served as CEO of the Alpha Group of companies, including the Alpha Exchange; and as EVP Head of the Americas and Global Head of Capital Markets for a global professional services company focused on the financial services industry. During his tenure at this professional services company, he acted as strategic advisor and director of operational and/or technology programs for some of the largest market infrastructure organizations and broker-dealers around the globe. Some of his previous roles include: President and CEO of a European Derivatives Exchange and Clearing House, President and CEO of a pan-European indices Publisher, Chairman of a Derivatives SRO, and Head of Strategy and Business Operations at a European Stock Exchange.