February 23, 2017 @ 2:49 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has published information and guidance for investors and the financial services industry regarding the use of Robo-advisers, which are registered investment advisers that use computer algorithms to provide investment advisory services online. The Commission’s Division of Investment Management issued… Read More

February 23, 2017 @ 11:47 am By JD Alois  |  

Former SEC Commissioner and Trump administration advisor Paul Atkins chatted with CNBC today about the forthcoming Dodd-Frank replacement. Dodd-Frank was the pinnacle legislation crafted during the ashes of the Great Recession designed to address shortcomings within the financial services industry. While its intent may have… Read More

February 23, 2017 @ 10:07 am By JD Alois  |  

During Fitbit’s Q4 earnings call yesterday, management revealed it had paid $23 million to acquire Pebble Watch last year. At one point in time, Pebble was valued at $740 million. In a brief statement, Fitbit (NYSE:FIT), highlighted the purchase: Acquired assets from Pebble for $23 million… Read More

February 23, 2017 @ 2:01 am By JD Alois  |  

Vienna-based Fintech firm cashpresso has raised €2 million in funding led by Reimann Investors and Deiter von Holtzbrinck. Existing investors Speedinvest, Hansi Hansmann and the Runtastic founders also participated in this funding round. Cashpresso is part of Credi2 GmbH. Along with Deutsche Handelsbank, cashpresso offers immediate credit of… Read More

February 22, 2017 @ 3:41 pm By JD Alois  |  

SME lender Funding Circle has reportedly topped £2 billion in lending. The SME marketplace lender is closing in on UK’s largest online lender Zopa that announced in January it had surpassed the £2 billion mark. Of course Funding Circle is an international operation with lending… Read More

February 22, 2017 @ 2:56 pm By JD Alois  |  

Here is an interesting Reg A+ crowdfunding offer. Red Mountain Resort, a ski area in British Columbia, Canada, is in the midst of a “Testing the Waters” (TTW) campaign as a precursor to selling shares in the company.  As of earlier this month, Red Mountain… Read More

February 22, 2017 @ 10:34 am By JD Alois  |  

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the securities regulator in the UK, has signed a cooperation agreement with the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC).  The agreement is designed to provide support to innovative Fintech firms seeking entry into either market. The Agreement allows the FCA and the… Read More

February 22, 2017 @ 9:00 am By JD Alois  |  

Netcapital has announced the launch of its securities crowdfunding platform.  Netcapital has received the approval of FINRA and will empower companies to raise capital under Reg CF in a structured and standardized process.  Netcapital said it would also facilitate side-by-side offers under Reg D (506c)… Read More

February 22, 2017 @ 8:28 am By JD Alois  |  

The Bank of Canada is out with a paper that reviews the advent of digital currencies, IE Bitcoin, and how it may impact the more traditional type of fiat currency. Drawing a comparison to back in the day when private bank notes circulated alongside government issued… Read More

February 22, 2017 @ 4:00 am By JD Alois  |  

Bitbond has raised $1.2 million in equity capital to help boost global expansion. The Berlin-based online lending platform has now raised total funding of $2.3 million. The funding round was led by mobilike founder Şekip Can Gökalp, plus several angels investors including, Fyber founders Janis Zech… Read More

February 21, 2017 @ 8:58 pm By JD Alois  |  

  Sara Hanks is well known in the alternative finance/crowdfunding space. Hanks is CEO and founder of CrowdCheck –  a due diligence, disclosure and compliance services for online capital formation. She is a Board member of CFIRA and is the current Chair of the SEC’s… Read More

February 21, 2017 @ 6:58 pm By JD Alois  |  

Prosper Marketplace President and prominent Fintech investor Ron Suber has taken an equity position in Unison Home Ownership Investors. Unison is a unique platform that partners with homebuyers to pay a portion of the down-payment to help buyers purchase a home. Suber will be joining… Read More

February 21, 2017 @ 6:12 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has partnered with NYU’s Salomon Center for the Study of Financial Institutions to host a symposium on the effects of investment crowdfunding on February 28th. The Commission’s Division of Economics and Risk Analysis (DERA) is leading the dialogue and… Read More

February 21, 2017 @ 12:45 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), launched an inquiry into consumers seeking access to their financial records.  At the time of the announcement, CFPB Director Richard Cordray stated; “Consumers should be able to use their financial records and account information and securely share access in… Read More

February 21, 2017 @ 12:05 pm By JD Alois  |  

Online lender RateSetter has said it has now collected £1 billion in capital repayments from borrowers since its first loan back in 2010. Overall, RateSetter has originated approximately £1.75 billion in loans while paying out £63 million in interest.  The average interest rate ranged between… Read More

February 21, 2017 @ 8:36 am By JD Alois  |  

Mundi Ventures has invested CHF 1.5 million in Qumram, a Fintech firm that focuses on regulatory compliance and risk management.  Qumram said Mundi’s investment finalized their 2016 angel funding to expand services both in the UK and North America. Headquartered in Madrid, Mundi is a… Read More

February 20, 2017 @ 4:41 pm By JD Alois  |  

Paul Niederer, former CEO of the Australian Small Scale Offerings Board (ASSOB) – the very first platform established to raise capital online, posted a comment letter in response to the proposed Australian Crowd-Sourced Funding Bill (crowdfunding for the rest of the world). Never one to… Read More

February 20, 2017 @ 3:47 pm By JD Alois  |  

There was a brief period in crowdfunding history where 3D Printers were quite the rage. Thousands of backers pumped millions of dollars into all sorts of iterations of the now ubiquitous 3D printers. Of course today the sector is intensely competitive. Just hop on over… Read More

February 20, 2017 @ 9:05 am By JD Alois  |  

OFF3R, an online marketplace for alternative investments, published a report on P2P lending and crowdfunding last week.  OFF3R said that while equity crowdfunding sagged in January – dropping 65% from December – P2P lending remained strong. The Index includes six different equity crowdfunding platforms. OFF3R… Read More

February 20, 2017 @ 8:02 am By JD Alois  |  

Last week, NatWest – part of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) – announced a new online platform designed to simplify the loan making process for UK SMEs.  Borne out of an ‘Innovation Cell’, working with Fintech firm Ezbob Limited,  “Esme” has been developed in… Read More