September 21, 2016 @ 8:45 pm By JD Alois  |  

Last time we visited the saga of the Coolest Cooler, creator Ryan Grepper was struggling to deliver on his backer commitments from his high-profile Kickstarter campaign. The determined Grepper promised to deliver all of the promised high-tech Coolers one way or another – but it was… Read More

September 21, 2016 @ 4:09 pm By JD Alois  |  

OTC Markets Group has launched a new service. The operator of financial markets has released an online equity research hub.  This new feature was created in collaboration with ACF Equity Research, Edison and Sidoti & Company. The research is available on otcmarkets.com and is described… Read More

September 21, 2016 @ 11:33 am By JD Alois  |  

As part of the ongoing policy initiative to keep the UK economy chugging along, Margo James, the Small Business Minister, announced the creation of a  the British Business Bank’s 21st Enterprise Capital Fund, to be run by Active PE. The fund is aimed at helping… Read More

September 21, 2016 @ 10:27 am By JD Alois  |  

Standard Chartered Bank and Supercharger, a Hong Kong-based accelerator, have opened up applications for global Fintech firms to participate in the  “SuperCharger FinTech Accelerator 2.0”, a 12-week innovation programme aimed at helping promising FinTech companies grow their footprint in Asia. The very first round saw 160… Read More

September 21, 2016 @ 9:38 am By JD Alois  |  

SoFi has released a new service as they expand their financial wellness offerings. SoFo has created “SoFi at Work”, the program is similar to a 401(k) where companies offer the service as a nice benefit. It should be noted that SoFi contributes $200 to each… Read More

September 21, 2016 @ 8:36 am By JD Alois  |  

Global investment crowdfunding platform OurCrowd has just announced raising $72 million in a Series C funding round. Alongside this announcement, OurCrowd has provided an infographic with some data points for the platform.  OurCrowd, based in Jerusalem, has taken a decidedly international approach to uncovering opportunities… Read More

September 21, 2016 @ 7:00 am By JD Alois  |  

The much anticipated Fintech firm Lemonade has officially launched in the state of New York. Lemonade has positioned its platform in a David vs. Goliath battle to challenge antediluvian insurance incumbents by providing a far better service at a superior price. Lemonade has been licensed… Read More

September 20, 2016 @ 4:03 pm By JD Alois  |  

Everybody is doing it. Lloyds Banking Group, the august financial services firm and banking group with a heritage that dates back to 1765, is on the hunt for Fintech guru to help it manage and navigate the universe of Fintech. On their Careers page, Lloyds… Read More

September 20, 2016 @ 11:02 am By JD Alois  |  

The National Crowdfunding Association of Canada (NCFA), has criticized Canada’s regulatory approach to crowdfunding in a public letter sent to the Alberta Securities Commission and Superintendent of Securities, Nunavut.  While the letter is addressed to the two entities it can be viewed as a proxy… Read More

September 19, 2016 @ 4:06 pm By JD Alois  |  

Sondors eBike creator Storm Sondors has filed a Form-C with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to raise capital for the Sondors Electric Car Company, a business created with the purpose of designing and developing an electric car labeled the “Model Sondors”. The filing states the… Read More

September 19, 2016 @ 12:56 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has slapped down CFO Lending, a payday loan firm, for unfair lending practices.  CFO Lending also operated as Payday First, Flexible First, Money Resolve, Paycfo, Payday Advance and Payday Credit. According to the FCA, CFO Lending will provide over £34… Read More

September 19, 2016 @ 9:59 am By JD Alois  |  

RateSetter has released its accounts for 2015 – 2016.  According to their financial results, top line revenue increased 46% to £18.5 million from £12.6 million versus prior period. The increase in revenue was paired with a pre-tax loss of £4.9 million compared to a pre-tax… Read More

September 19, 2016 @ 9:34 am By JD Alois  |  

Prosper Marketplace has published their monthly loan report and for investors in the marketplace lending things are looking pretty good. Prosper states that the 2016 portfolio is on track to have the highest estimated return since 2013. This is alongside the highest average FICO to date…. Read More

September 19, 2016 @ 7:50 am By JD Alois  |  

Innovate Finance, an association for the global Fintech industry founded in 2014, has revealed that global venture capital in Fintech for the first half of 2016 is up significantly. According to their numbers, during the first 6 months of the year, global Fintech investment increased… Read More

September 18, 2016 @ 9:32 pm By JD Alois  |  

Seed&Spark, the independent film crowdfunding platform, has partnered up with MasterCard on a “Crowdfunding Rally” created to uncover and launch “TVs next great show.”  Launched on September 12th, the New Voice Crowdfunding Rally seeks to empower aspiring film creators to fund a short film or… Read More

September 18, 2016 @ 8:36 pm By JD Alois  |  

China News is reporting that cooling private equity and venture capital deals are causing challenges for investors. Ni Zhengdong, head of Zero2IPO – a research group, stated; “Chinese venture capital and private equity investors made investments too quickly in the past three years and the… Read More

September 18, 2016 @ 8:18 pm By JD Alois  |  

SocietyOne, Australia’s largest marketplace lending platform, has rearranged the executive bench according to multiple reports. Founders Co-founders Matt Symons and Greg Symons (not related) have recently updated roles. Matt Symons will now become a non-executive director of the online lending firm. He is currently listed as… Read More

September 17, 2016 @ 3:04 pm By JD Alois  |  

After years of working for firms like Merrill Lynch and Pacific Crest, Nin Desai decided to launch her own venture Nin.VC. Seeing opportunity in the JOBS Act of 2012 that legalized various iterations of crowdfunding, Nin launched a VC-hybrid firm that allows accredited investors access… Read More

September 17, 2016 @ 12:21 pm By JD Alois  |  

Beer Flows Through De Halve Maan  Brewery Pipeline Wonders never cease. The crowdfunded beer pipeline turned on its taps yesterday allowing 4000 liters per hour to flow from central Bruges to the De Halve Maan plant on the outskirts of town to prep, bottle and… Read More

September 17, 2016 @ 11:36 am By JD Alois  |  

The House Financial Services Committee, chaired by Congressman Jeb Hensarling, has booked a busy schedule next week. Included on the list of hearings is a visit from Secretary of the Treasury Jack Lew. Testifying on Thursday, September 22nd at 10AM, Lew will be addressing the… Read More