Published: Aug. 25, 2023 By
Investment Crowdfunding symposium

On September 8, the student-run Colorado Technology Law Journal—along with fellow co-sponsors Silicon Flatirons and University of Colorado Law School— will bring together FinTech thought leaders from across the country to join Professor of Law and Fulbright Scholar, Andrew Schwartz, for a groundbreaking symposium. On the agenda—investment crowdfunding, a new form of online venture capital market, open to the public, that was legally authorized less than a decade ago; it’s like Kickstarter, except investors get a share of stock. 

This is just one example of how law school journals play a critical role in influencing the formation of law and policy as cutting-edge resources. Founded in 2001, Colorado Technology Law Journal (CTLJ) has since established a position among the elite national technology and telecommunications law journals. The journal covers a wide range of technology-related topics including telecommunications, entrepreneurship, intellectual property, data privacy, and more.  

Not only do journals help attorneys learn areas of the law that they may not have studied in school, but journals can also provide an opportunity for law students to interact with the newest, innovative legal scholarship while refining legal research, Bluebook citation, writing, and editing skills. 

For CTLJ’s editor-in-chief Marlaina Pinto, joining CTLJ was a perfect fit for both her interests and professional background. 

“I worked in AdTech before starting at CU Law, specifically in the use of consumer data for online marketing purposes,” Pinto shared. “With my background in the tech industry and interest in the expanding privacy law landscape, joining CTLJ seemed like a no-brainer. It was also a plus that CTLJ has published groundbreaking legal work like Tim Wu’s seminal article about Network Neutrality.” 

Colorado itself is an ideal environment for this kind of journal to thrive. The flood of technology companies entering the Colorado market have positioned Denver and Boulder as hubs for both startups and some of the largest tech companies in the U.S.  More specifically, Colorado Law is home to a myriad of entrepreneurialism and tech scholarship.  

“Professor Schwartz generously invited CTLJ to participate in the symposium,” Pinto shared. “His book focuses on investment crowdfunding—a topic that falls within FinTech and subsequently CTLJ’s purview. We are lucky enough to have a leading scholar in the field of investment crowdfunding among our CU Law community. CTLJ takes pride in our outstanding faculty and wants to show support for their accomplishments.” 

CTLJ will be publishing reviews of Investment Crowdfunding in its forthcoming publication, Colorado Technology Law Journal, Volume 22, Issue 2. The issue will be published in May 2024 and will be available on the CTLJ website.  

“This symposium offers a way to learn about an emerging field from thought leaders in start-up finance.” Pinto detailed. “It’s an opportunity for law students and legal practitioners to connect with some of the foremost experts in the field and share ideas about the future of investment crowdfunding.”  

RSVP for the event here: https://tinyurl.com/45m784kw. Confirmed registrants will receive a 30% off discount code toward the purchase of Investment Crowdfunding. Learn more about Schwartz’s book in this Q&A:  https://tinyurl.com/2r33ja4p.