January 3, 2017 @ 8:16 pm By JD Alois  |  

As the crowdfunding industry has evolved, both investment and rewards, the pitch video has emerged as an important variable in crafting a powerful message to back a campaign. Many of the biggest campaigns of all time benefited from a viral video that captured the attention of… Read More

January 3, 2017 @ 11:10 am By JD Alois  |  

NASDAQ CEO Adena Friedman visited the new CNBC digs today to welcome the morning show pundits to NASDAQ and chat up her company’s vision. Friedman, previously President & COO of NASDAQ, became the CEO on January 1st. Friedman stated, “we are both an exchange operator… Read More

January 2, 2017 @ 4:49 pm By JD Alois  |  

Last year due to time constraints I was unable to publish my list of Crowdfunding/Fintech predictions for 2016. This year I am back once again, for better or worse, peering deep into my crystal ball with a list of prognostications for the coming year. The… Read More

January 2, 2017 @ 11:31 am By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission publishes an annual report on “nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (NSROs).”  These are the agencies that publish credit ratings on certain securities and institutions.  The mandated report has recognized the emergence of online lending for the very first time. The document… Read More

January 2, 2017 @ 10:39 am By JD Alois  |  

Investment crowdfunding has quickly become a viable path for early to mid stage companies to raise needed growth capital.  A truly global phenomenon, many funding platforms now operate in multiple countries sourcing both deals and investors aided by the power of the internet. While larger… Read More

December 31, 2016 @ 4:50 pm By JD Alois  |  

The European Commission has announced the appointment of a group of individuals to advise on sustainable finance. The initiative is part of the ongoing Capital Markets Union (CMU) which took a serious blow following the Brexit decision.  The intent of the expert group is to… Read More

December 31, 2016 @ 2:55 pm By JD Alois  |  

Imran Gulamhuseinwala joined the likes of Andy Murray, Victoria Beckham and Ray Davies on the annual UK New Years Honours List. This year’s list tallied 1,197 honours including 322 BEMs, 503 MBEs, and 222 OBEs.   Gulamhuseinwala, Global Lead for Fintech at Ernst and Young, earned an Officers of… Read More

December 30, 2016 @ 3:41 pm By JD Alois  |  

As one year comes to end it is a good opportunity to reflect on past events. The preceding 12 months have been a momentous period for internet finance including capital formation online. Fintech started as a curiosity that engendered much excitement – and fear for some…. Read More

December 30, 2016 @ 11:59 am By JD Alois  |  

Regulation A+, created by Title IV of the JOBS Act, has been lauded by many as a missing step in the capital ladder for smaller firms in need of funding. The updated securities exemption became effective on June 19, 2015, and since that time a… Read More

December 30, 2016 @ 9:11 am By JD Alois  |  

Former SEC Commissioner Daniel Gallagher visited the studios of CNBC yesterday to share his perspective on the SEC under the Trump administration.  Gallagher is one of the names being bandied about as the Republican pick for the SEC Chair.  Another possibility is another former Commissioner… Read More

December 27, 2016 @ 11:34 am By JD Alois  |  

CreditEase has been recognized as the  “Best Non-Bank Private Wealth Product” by The Asian Banker, a Singapore-based provider of strategic intelligence on the financial services industry. The “Best Non-Bank Private Wealth Product” award was created to recognize the institution with the ability to meet the… Read More

December 27, 2016 @ 11:00 am By JD Alois  |  

  Michael Markowski is making a bold prediction stating Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) will be the first company to breach the $1 trillion mark in valuation.  It is only this year that Microsoft topped $1 trillion in total lifetime revenues.  Microsoft is in the race for securing… Read More

December 26, 2016 @ 6:11 am By JD Alois  |  

Echo Laboratories, a startup microscope maker, has closed a $2 million funding round led by Tech Coast Angels (TCA). The round was completed in less than two months and was said to be the Angel network’s largest funding round for the year.  Tech Coast Angels… Read More

December 23, 2016 @ 1:08 pm By JD Alois  |  

Fintech firm Nutmeg is raising money fast. Last month (November), Nutmeg announced it had closed on £30 million Series C led by Convoy Global Holdings in Hong Kong. This week Nutmeg has revealed an additional cash injection of £12 million – this time Taipei Fubon Bank… Read More

December 23, 2016 @ 7:29 am By JD Alois  |  

Overstock (NASDAQ:OSTK)  has issued new shares utilizing distributed ledger technology (DLT) created by Fintech firm t0.com (t zero). The securities issues are said to be the first in history to be able to trade on an alternative trading system (ATS) using DLT. Trades settled on… Read More

December 23, 2016 @ 6:57 am By JD Alois  |  

AIM (Alternative Investment Market), a sub-market of the London Stock Exchange (LSE), has released their end of year numbers. Accoring to AIM, they have had a pretty good year: New AIM companies in 2016 up 39% post-IPO 38 IPOs raised record average of £30m Market… Read More

December 22, 2016 @ 5:41 pm By JD Alois  |  

Axoni, a Fintech company that provides distributed ledger technology, has closed an $18 million Series A funding round. Wells Fargo, Euclid Opportunities and ICAP led the funding. Axoni’s total funding to date tops $20 million. The financing round also included participation from Goldman Sachs, J.P…. Read More

December 22, 2016 @ 12:30 pm By JD Alois  |  

VPC Specialty Lending Investments has sold its portfolio of peer to peer loans that were originated on Funding Circle UK.  VPC stated it was seeking “less volatile returns” in selling the P2P assets. “The sale helps accelerate the company’s strategy of reallocating capital away from… Read More

December 22, 2016 @ 9:00 am By JD Alois  |  

Insurtech firm Lemonade launched in September as a “full stack insurance carrier” in the state of New York. Today, Lemonade is preparing to offer insurance to 97% of US citizens by filing for licenses in 46 states and the District of Columbia to offer homeowners/renters insurance…. Read More

December 22, 2016 @ 5:58 am By JD Alois  |  

  Four primary investment funds have signed agreements with Credimi, an Italy-based online lending platform. The funds have subscribed the entire portfolio of (performing) commercial credits originated by the invoice financing platform in the first year. Credimi is the first fintech company authorized by Bank of Italy… Read More