Asia

July 30, 2015 @ 12:24 pm By Erin Hobey  |  

UK Prime Minister David Cameron has backed the UK FinTech 2020 manifesto created by FinTech trade body Innovate Finance, according to a release. The manifesto, which was released as Cameron leads a trade delegation of British FinTech leaders to South East Asia this week, aims… Read More

July 30, 2015 @ 11:28 am By Erin Hobey  |  

Startupbootcamp FinTech, a global accelerator focusing on financial innovation, hosted its first Demo Day in Singapore on 29 July for the top 11 FinTech teams selected out of 300 applications earlier this year. “Startupbootcamp FinTech is the first FinTech accelerator in Singapore and the only… Read More

July 30, 2015 @ 3:15 am By Midori Yoshimura  |  

  While the crew behind a great movie may think outside the box to create the flick, the single-occupant Solo Theater, from Japanese design house Lucy Alter Design, means you can now watch a film in a box, using your smartphone or tablet–all by yourself. Now overfunding on Japanese platform Makuake,… Read More

July 28, 2015 @ 11:55 am By Erin Hobey  |  

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has announced the formation of a new Fintech & Innovation Group (FTIG) to be headed up by former Citibank executive, Sopnendu Mohanty. Effective August 1, FTIG will be responsible for creating development strategies and regulatory policies around technology innovation… Read More

July 28, 2015 @ 1:08 am By Midori Yoshimura  |  

  Moody’s Investor Service on Monday said that tighter regulations in China, which is Aa3 stable, have been successful in slowing the growth of core “shadow banking” activity. However, other alternative banking activities have been expanding more rapidly–a situation akin to pushing down on an inflating air mattress and watching the surrounding space rise… Read More

July 27, 2015 @ 1:27 pm By JD Alois  |  

Jason Best, Principle at Crowdfund Capital Advisors and early proponent of crowdfunding, hit the studios of CNBC to chat up investment crowdfunding and its largest market – China.  Best notes that crowdfunding, both debt and equity, is an important part of China policy and their… Read More

July 27, 2015 @ 9:19 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

China Rapid Finance, China’s online consumer lending marketplace serving online users and China’s emerging middle class, today announced an initial closing of $35 million in its Series C round of financing at a pre-money valuation of US $1 billion. The round was led by Broadline… Read More

July 24, 2015 @ 2:23 pm By JD Alois  |  

New peer to peer lending platform Funding Societies has inked a partnership with Orangefield Trust to hold funds from lenders.  The collaboration is said to “provide lenders with greater confidence in engaging P2P lending platforms”. “We have taken steps to ensure there is no mishandling of… Read More

July 23, 2015 @ 10:34 am By Erin Hobey  |  

Orios Venture Partners, an India-based early-stage VC firm floated by serial investor Rehan Yar Khan, announced a new US$150 million fund according to e27. The new fund (Fund II) will primarily focus on startups working in the fintech, B2B commerce, used merchandise and affordable products spaces, as well… Read More

July 23, 2015 @ 10:12 am By Erin Hobey  |  

Capify, formerly AUSvance, will serve as an international conglomerate provider of unsecured alternative finance solutions to SMEs. Capify,  powered by a proprietary technology and analytics platform, today announced its global rebrand aiming to become the most diverse, worldwide alternative SME financing platform. Headquartered in the… Read More

July 21, 2015 @ 2:15 pm By Erin Hobey  |  

Mara produces an award-winning range of shake-on seaweed seasonings – healthy salts – marketed as “Flavours of Scotland.” Best Producer Finalist in 2015 BBC Food & Farming Awards, Mara launched in London’s iconic upscale retailer Harrods in 2014 and is now on sale in M&S… Read More

July 19, 2015 @ 11:52 pm By Midori Yoshimura  |  

    With China’s stock market crash still recent, the People’s Bank of China (PBC) released guidelines for the country’s rapidly burgeoning online finance market at the start of this weekend, outlined in a document published by the PBC.  The peer to peer lending industry in… Read More

July 18, 2015 @ 8:09 am By JD Alois  |  

  CoAssets, Southeast Asia’s first real estate crowdfunding platform, held its second Expo for Property, Investing and Crowdfunding (EPIC) in Singapore this past week. Organizers state that attendance doubled over year prior as interest in real estate crowdfunding has soared.  Over 900 attendees participated in… Read More

July 16, 2015 @ 4:04 pm By Erin Hobey  |  

Cocolico, an exclusive brand for children’s clothing collections made in France by Blue Poppies for international stores and department stores, recently launched its crowdfunding campaign on WiSeed seeking to raise €300,000, with a minimum €100 investment. Oohed and aahed for decades if not centuries, notable contemporary French-made children’s clothing… Read More

July 16, 2015 @ 8:22 am By Erin Hobey  |  

Cyber-security solutions, blockchain technology and behavioral analytics applications are some of the innovative services being developed by the seven financial technology entrepreneurs selected this year to participate in the 2015 FinTech Innovation Lab Asia-Pacific. Launched by Accenture (NYSE:ACN) in Hong Kong in June 2014, the FinTech… Read More

July 14, 2015 @ 11:50 am By JD Alois  |  

Luxe.Co & Fashion.VC have announced raising RMB 10 million (USD $1.6 million) via equity crowdfunding. According to the company, investors included ZhenFund led by Xu Xiaoping plus 12 angel investors.  Xiaoping is the founder of New Oriental a publicly traded company on the NYSE. Luxe.Co… Read More

July 9, 2015 @ 2:17 am By Midori Yoshimura  |  

  Qlipp, a smart tennis sensor that weighs only 8 grams, is now crowdfunding on Indiegogo, and has raised 90 percent of its $30,000 fixed funding goal. Developed by Singapore startup 9 Degrees Freedom, Qlipp offers insights into users’ speed, swing, ball spin and more, through real-time stroke… Read More

July 8, 2015 @ 1:52 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Korean National Assembly has passed a set of laws to boost economic growth and incorporated in the new legislation was an act that legalizes crowdfunding.  According to a report by G3 Partners based in Seoul, prior to these new rules entrepreneurs were limited to… Read More

July 8, 2015 @ 1:29 am By Midori Yoshimura  |  

  China has still not issued crowdfunding regulations, leading big developers to seek out legal advice when employing crowdfunding, according to a recent article in the South China Morning Post. Given that the mainland authorities have also not licensed any crowdfunding platform, industry experts suggest that the… Read More

July 7, 2015 @ 12:01 pm By JD Alois  |  

Singapore based real estate crowdfunding platform CoAssets will publicly trade shares on NSX, an Australian stock exchange. This comes as CoAssets announces expanding its platform into Australia.  According to a report from the company, CoAssets, the first crowdfunding site for real estate projects in Southeast Asia, will… Read More