January 12, 2017 @ 3:11 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Marketplace Lending Association has called on Congress, and the incoming Trump Administration, to become a catalyst for Fintech innovation and not an obstacle. In a letter addressed to House and Senate leaders, Nathaniel Hoopes, Executive Director of the MLA, asked Congress to move  away… Read More

January 12, 2017 @ 1:11 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Marketplace Lending Association (MLA) has announced the addition of 11 new members. Joining founding members Lending Club, Prosper and Funding Circle are the following lending platforms: Affirm Upstart CommonBond Avant PeerStreet Marlette Funding Sharestates Able StreetShares New Associate Members include dv01 and LendIt The MLA… Read More

January 12, 2017 @ 11:08 am By JD Alois  |  

The Economist has embarked on a series of events tackling the disruption occurring in finance today. Their forthcoming event in London on January 25th is ominously entitled Finance Disrupted: Collaborate or Die (Crowdfund Insider is a media partner for this event).  Corporate death for well… Read More

January 12, 2017 @ 8:52 am By JD Alois  |  

  Investment crowdfunding platform OurCrowd was the lead investor a $5.1 million funding round for DarioHealth Corp. (NASDAQ:DRIO).  OurCrowd’s funding came via their dedicated digital health fund Qure which invested $2.5 million of the $5.1 million total with $2 million of gross proceeds being subject… Read More

January 12, 2017 @ 8:33 am By JD Alois  |  

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has launched an essay contest on “The Impact of Disruptive Technologies.” Coming from a securities regulator that theme most certainly includes the impact of Fintech innovation. The essay competition is open to all pre-university students studying in Singapore regardless… Read More

January 11, 2017 @ 9:22 pm By JD Alois  |  

  4thWay, a P2P ranking site, has published a report on the UK peer to peer lending market.  According to their numbers, delivered another “record year”, with a total of £3.02 billion facilitated via 35 various platforms in the UK. The totals are as follows: Consumer loans… Read More

January 11, 2017 @ 7:45 pm By JD Alois  |  

Funding Circle Also Reports it is Now Profitable in the UK. Funding Circle, one of the largest online SME lender’s in the world, has closed on a $100 million funding round. The equity investment was led by Accel with participation from existing investors; Union Square… Read More

January 11, 2017 @ 4:54 pm By JD Alois  |  

  SeedInvest is one of the most prominent investment crowdfunding platforms in the US. A full stack funding platform, SeedInvest lists opportunities from issuers under Reg D (both 506c & 506b), Reg A+, and Reg CF.  The platform boasts a solid community of over 140,000… Read More

January 11, 2017 @ 12:13 pm By JD Alois  |  

Yesterday we published an article about BrewDog raising £10 million on Crowdcube.  The funding round via Mini-bonds was described as the largest ever on a UK crowdfunding platform.  Later in the day, Crowdfund Insider was contacted by Crowdstacker saying not so fast – they believe… Read More

January 11, 2017 @ 11:09 am By JD Alois  |  

Investment crowdfunding platform SyndicateRoom has published a study that indicates the young investors are more committed than ever to support British SMEs. Evan as many voted to “Bremain”, young UK investors want to help boost the economic future of the country as it plans its… Read More

January 11, 2017 @ 9:08 am By JD Alois  |  

Insurtech company Lemonade has decided to do a “full frontal” and open the Kimono on their operations. The growing Insurtech startup said they were going to overcompensate on their mission to transform insurance from a necessary evil into a social good.  If there is one… Read More

January 10, 2017 @ 6:24 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Helping Angels Lead Our Startups Act or HALOS Act passed the House today with solid bipartisan support. The final vote stood at 344-73.  The HALOS Act, sponsored by House Small Business Committee Chairman Steve Chabot, addressed a nagging issue regarding when a business may make… Read More

January 10, 2017 @ 1:02 pm By JD Alois  |  

Senators Sherrod Brown and Jeffrey Merkley have published a letter, sent to Thomas Curry, Comptroller of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), bashing his push to create a Fintech charter for innovative financial firms. Brown and Merkley state; “While we share your… Read More

January 10, 2017 @ 8:57 am By JD Alois  |  

Invesdor is reporting on progress in Norway.  The equity crowdfunding platform set up shop in Norway in February of 2016 becoming the first licensed platform to launch in the country.  All 3 Norwegian companies received investments from several countries notably from Finland, Sweden, and Germany…. Read More

January 10, 2017 @ 7:36 am By JD Alois  |  

  Boxing Day delivered a special gift to BrewDog and Crowdcube. The Scottish craft brewer closed the largest ever UK crowdfunding round at £10 million.  The funding was listed on Crowdcube and stands as the largest to date. Crowdcube also points out that their record… Read More

January 9, 2017 @ 11:09 pm By JD Alois  |  

CrowdfundBeat Media has named Jason Best and Sherwood Neiss as Crowdfunding Persons of the Year for 2017. Best and Neiss are co-founders of Crowdfund Capital Advisors a consulting group focused on the global alternative finance industry.  CrowdfundBeat Media stated; “Each year, Crowdfund Beat Media Group… Read More

January 9, 2017 @ 11:02 pm By JD Alois  |  

CoAssets Limited, a Singapore-founded Fintech firm that is listed on the ASX (ASX:CA8), has launched a newly incorporated subsidiary, CoAssets Real Estate (Care) Pte Ltd. CoAssets described the new subsidiary as part of the company’s long-term growth strategy. The new CoAssets subsidiary will provide “a… Read More

January 9, 2017 @ 11:24 am By JD Alois  |  

Marcus, Goldman Sach’s (NYSE:GS) foray into the universe of online lending, launched late last year. The catch was you had to be “invited” to take out a loan. Management was clearly testing things before the training wheels came off. Today, Marcus is emailing folks to let… Read More

January 9, 2017 @ 7:25 am By JD Alois  |  

Peer to peer lending platform Octopus Choice has received full authorisation from the Financial Conduct Authority. Octopus Choice is part of Octopus Investments. The company said the FCA approval was a first for an advisor focused P2P platform. Richard Wazacz, Head of Octopus Choice, commented on the… Read More

January 8, 2017 @ 4:56 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Ministry of Finance of Finland has decided it would be beneficial to better understand emerging financial technologies: IE Fintech. In reaction to these emerging innovations, the Ministry has set up a group of experts to monitor and enhance the conditions in which financial services… Read More