October 4, 2016 @ 3:08 pm By JD Alois  |  

A federal court has sided with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) imposing a record $1.3 billion fine against race car driver Scott A. Tucker and his associates affiliated with AMG Payday Lending. Tucker also faces a criminal trial in New York, according to the Kansas… Read More

October 4, 2016 @ 9:46 am By JD Alois  |  

Crowdcube has released version 1.0 of the Crowdcube App allowing platform users the ability to invest anywhere or just monitor their investments. The new App hit the Apple App Store last week and already has a few ratings which is pretty impressive. The App is… Read More

October 4, 2016 @ 8:49 am By JD Alois  |  

Aire, a UK-based Fintech startup that is seeking to redefine how the market approaches credit scoring, has received regulatory approval from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).  Aire said it was the “first” in this sector of Fintech – an area typically dominated by the big… Read More

October 4, 2016 @ 8:09 am By JD Alois  |  

Global law firm Baker & McKenzie will be supporting Hong Kong-based SuperCharger Fintech Accelerators 2.0. Baker & McKenzie is very active in China with offices in Hong Kong, Beijing, and Shanghai. Baker & McKenzie was previously a supporter of SuperCharger FinTech Accelerator 1.0 – the… Read More

October 3, 2016 @ 10:23 am By JD Alois  |  

The government of Singapore has made Fintech an important part of their future economic growth. The island city-state has always punched above its weight economically and policy makers are moving quickly to establish Singapore as the Asian hub for financial innovation. Today the Monetary Authority… Read More

October 3, 2016 @ 8:33 am By JD Alois  |  

Facebook has launched a new e-commerce feature labeled “Marketplace”. The new application will allow individuals and groups to buy and sell to anyone – around the world.  While initially available in just four countries; the US, UK, Australia & New Zealand, Marketplace is expected to… Read More

October 3, 2016 @ 8:17 am By JD Alois  |  

World First, a money transfer and FX firm, has commissioned a report by the Centre for Economics & Business Research (CEBR) that states there is a £141.3 billion export shortfall being experienced by UK SMEs. The report, entitled Thinking Global: The route to UK exporting success,… Read More

October 2, 2016 @ 7:29 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced the agenda for the Advisory Committee on Small and Emerging Companies (ACSEC) meeting scheduled for October 5th. The Committee will be reviewing regulation S‑K disclosure requirements, research regarding corporate board diversity, and outreach to smaller companies about… Read More

October 2, 2016 @ 6:12 pm By JD Alois  |  

LDF, an alternative lender to SMEs, has acquired Southampton based broker Asset & Corporate Finance (ACF). ACF is a “major player” in the construction industry providing hard asset loans. The acquisition is said to enhance LDF’s offer to SMEs across the UK. The combined businesses will now… Read More

October 2, 2016 @ 5:53 pm By JD Alois  |  

Coolest Cooler, the 2nd most funded Kickstarter campaign of all time, continues to struggle in its quest to deliver coolers to campaign backers. Late last month we reported that Amazon was selling Coolest Coolers for about what you had to commit during the crowdfunding campaign… Read More

October 2, 2016 @ 2:12 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) held its inaugural conference at Cambridge University this past week engaging in a wide range of topics covering the world of alternative finance. A distinguished cadre of policy makers, platform operators, and academicians descended upon Downing College to… Read More

October 1, 2016 @ 3:37 pm By JD Alois  |  

Brian Korn, a prominent attorney in the alternative finance sector, says the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is on the offensive. Korn pointed to recent settlements with LendUp and CashCall as indicative of its aggressive approach towards financial service enforcement. At the end of 2013,… Read More

October 1, 2016 @ 2:48 pm By JD Alois  |  

The advent of digital currencies and blockchain technology has engendered great consternation and interest from policy makers around the world. The concept of bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies may be the next step in fiat currency. Having made the leap from barter to coins and then… Read More

September 30, 2016 @ 7:50 pm By JD Alois  |  

Lending Club (NYSE:LC) has been stocking up on new executive hires during the past several months. One of the recent hires, Patrick Dunne – a former Blackrock executive, joined this past July as Chief Capital Officer. Dunne plays an important role is communicating with both… Read More

September 30, 2016 @ 8:39 am By JD Alois  |  

LendIt, the prominent online lending conference, is predicting a hugely successful event in New York this coming Spring. Each year the gathering has grown. Reportedly 2017 will be no different as Lendit expects over 5,000 participants from around the world. LendIt began in the US… Read More

September 30, 2016 @ 8:06 am By JD Alois  |  

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has ordered LendUp to pay approximately $1.83 million in refunds and pay a civil penalty of $1.8 million. The enforcement action was taken as the “online lender did not help consumers build credit or access cheaper loans” as the… Read More

September 29, 2016 @ 9:02 am By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has “temporarily suspended” the Regulation A+ offer by Med-X listed on StartEngine.  Med-X is a company is an entrepreneurial cannabis startup that is seeking up to $15 million in equity. The SEC order said the Med-X’s Tier 2 Reg A+ offer,… Read More

September 29, 2016 @ 3:27 am By JD Alois  |  

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) have formed a unique partnership to assist in the review of the UK alternative finance industry. The first joint project will inform the FCA’s ongoing post-implementation review of crowdfunding regulation which is in… Read More

September 28, 2016 @ 12:04 pm By JD Alois  |  

Speaking at the Toronto Region Board of Trade this week, Maureen Jensen, Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) Chair and CEO, delivered a wide-ranging keynote address that tackled the topic of Fintech, regulations and announced a forthcoming regulatory Sandbox for entrepreneurs. Jensen acknowledged the rise of Fintech… Read More

September 28, 2016 @ 10:51 am By JD Alois  |  

Dubai based Eureeca, a global investment crowdfunding platform, has officially opened its European hub with an office in the Netherlands.  FCA regulated Eureeca is seeking to expand its services and investment offerings across Europe. The company, which offers a digital marketplace for early stage entrepreneurs to… Read More