The Blockchain Event, being hosted by TMC, Wachsman PR, and Gulf Pearl Ltd., has announced that financial technology industry experts and enthusiasts will discuss the new disruptive force in capital raising: the Initial Coin Offering (ICO).

To be held on Thursday, February 9, 2017, the one-day conference will take place at the Greater Fort Lauderdale / Boward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

“In 2016 alone, it is estimated that approximately $200 million USD was raised by Initial Coin Offerings, and even more is on the roster for 2017,” said David Wachsman, Founder of Wachsman PR. “For perhaps the first time, industry leaders will gather to dissect each and every aspect of ICOs, with traditional venture firms and attorneys from the United States and Europe weighing in. Throughout The Blockchain Event, past, present, and future ICOs will share their visions, their technologies, their strategies, and their experiences”.

The event will feature a variety of upcoming ICOs that will showcase their ambitious projects with use-cases including loyalty programs, financial services, natural capital, and beyond. Panel discussions will provide ample opportunity for the audience to engage with the experts.

One industry leader presenting is ICONOMI, one of the first companies to raise over $10 million USD through an ICO. In the opening keynote, an ICONOMI executive will explore best practices of ICO and will predict what 2017 has in store.

“2017 is the year of ICOs. Coming off of successful raises in 2016, more and more companies are utilizing the ICO vehicle to raise funds. The conference is the perfect opportunity for interested parties to see what has transpired and what is planned for the months ahead,” said Tim Zagar, CEO and Co-founder of ICONOMI.

“The Blockchain Event will tackle some of the biggest questions surrounding the future of crowdfunding and the emerging phenomena of protocol-based business models," said Jeff Pulver, technology pioneer and founder of MoNage and PulverHWC.

“The Blockchain Event has transformed into the premier roadshow for cryptocurrency crowdsales. The event is a great opportunity for investors to learn about the latest coin offerings and to have personal conversations with the founding teams”, Shidan Gouran, CEO of Gulf Pearl Ltd., said. “We encourage all investors interested in ICO opportunities and entrepreneurs looking to learn new and disruptive business models for internet services to attend the Blockchain Event.”