2021 Annual Report of Office of Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation

The Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation (“Office”) has delivered a report to Congress following the 40th annual small business forum (“Report”).  The Report includes recommendations of the Office and its annual forum participants.  The forum itself featured panelists and discussions on (i) navigating ways to raise early rounds; (ii) diligence including how savvy early-stage investors build diversified portfolios; (iii) tools for emerging and smaller funds and their managers; and (iv) perspectives on smaller public companies.  The forum itself had a focus on diversity, including panel speakers and discussion topics.  A clear message across the board is that women- and minority-owned businesses face the biggest challenges in the capital markets.

Background

The SEC’s Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation launched in January 2019 after being created by Congress pursuant to the Small Business Advocate Act of 2016 (see HERE).  One of the core tenants of the Office is recognizing that small businesses