Investment Platforms and Marketplaces

May 11, 2017 @ 2:24 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

On Thursday, peer-to-peer lender China Rapid Finance (NYSE: XRF) that the underwriters of its previously announced initial public offering (IPO) have exercised in full the option to purchase an additional 1.5 million American depositary shares (“ADSs”) from China Rapid Finance to cover over-allotments. According to… Read More

May 11, 2017 @ 11:42 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

Real estate marketplace lending platform RealtyShares announced on Thursday that Edward Forst, former president and CEO of Cushman & Wakefield, was named the newest member of the company’s board of directors. According to RealtyShares, Forst oversaw 16,000 real estate professionals in 60 countries at Cushman & Wakefield. He joined… Read More

May 11, 2017 @ 6:28 am By JD Alois  |  

SoFi has decided to become a bank. The Fintech firm that has spent so much time telling the world they were not a bank has decided to join the ranks of their erstwhile adversaries and apply for a bank charter. If you can’t beat-em, join-em…. Read More

May 11, 2017 @ 5:49 am By JD Alois  |  

The first peer to peer lender to launch in the UK back in 2005 has finally received full authorisation from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Zopa, a trailblazer in the global online lending sector, announced that it has been granted full authorisation for peer-to-peer lending… Read More

May 11, 2017 @ 4:58 am By Erin Hobey  |  

In honor of its seventh birthday, GoFundMe reached out seven of its top organizers for advice for running a great campaign. Here’s what they shared: 1. Push past the nervousness. “Take action on the things that make you afraid — it’s an opportunity for the biggest reward. ” Campaign… Read More

May 10, 2017 @ 4:52 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) announced on Tuesday it has assigned preliminary ratings to one class of notes issued by SoFi Consumer Loan Program 2017-3 LLC (“SCLP 2017-3”). According to the firm,  this was a $530 million consumer loan ABS transaction that is closing on… Read More

May 10, 2017 @ 12:01 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

Finland-based equity crowdfunding platform Invesdor announced on Wednesday that €30 million has been invested through its funding portal. This news comes just a few months after Invesdor revealed €25 million was invested on its website. “We are very happy to announce that we just reached the… Read More

May 10, 2017 @ 10:34 am By JD Alois  |  

Robert L. Malin, Managing Director and Head of Equity Capital Markets at WR Hambrecht + Co, delivered a presentation today at a meeting of the SEC’s Advisory Committee on Small and Emerging Companies (ACSEC) on the emerging Reg A+ market.  Hambrecht is a broker dealer… Read More

May 9, 2017 @ 5:25 pm By Therese Torris  |  

One of the benefits that a well-established equity crowdfunding platform brings to fundraising entrepreneurs is a loyal audience of investors. But how does a crowdinvesting platform keep its audience engaged? We asked Yannig Roth, the Marketing Director of French equity crowdfunding platform WiSeed, to present… Read More

May 9, 2017 @ 5:22 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

CrowdPal, a new equity crowdfunding platform, announced on Tuesday it has officially launched its website to connect Palestinian entrepreneurs with investors. The funding portal’s description reads: “CrowdPal is the first online equity crowdfunding platform purpose-built to support Palestinian entrepreneurship. The company was created with the… Read More

May 9, 2017 @ 3:57 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

On Tuesday, The DICK’s Sporting Goods Foundation and CALIA by Carrie Underwood announced they have teamed up to fully fund girls team sports projects on education crowdfunding platform, DonorsChoose. The organizations will pledge $200,000 to go towards an estimated 100 teams across the country throughout the… Read More

May 9, 2017 @ 2:17 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

On Tuesday, Biz2Credit released its latest small business lending index which revealed loan approval rates at big banks ($10 billion-plus in assets) rebounded in April 2017 after a setback month. The company reported that small business loan approval rates at big banks increased by two-tenths of… Read More

May 9, 2017 @ 11:41 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

Honeyfund, a crowdfunding platform dedicated to honeymoons, announced on Tuesday it formed a partnership with prepaid commerce solutions provider CashStar to create a travel and experience egift card for newlyweds. While sharing details about the new card feature, Honeyfund CEO and Co-founder Sara Margulis, stated: “The Honeyfund… Read More

May 9, 2017 @ 11:00 am By Erin Hobey  |  

“Imagine if each person suffering from a mental illness or witnessing someone close to them struggling with mental health could do something about it. If dollar by dollar, we could come together as a community and spark a mental health revolution by supporting the science… Read More

May 9, 2017 @ 6:59 am By Jonathan Nieh  |  

Welcome to Part 1 of a series discussing the various ways an issuer can easily screw up their offering. In this part, we’ll be talking about general solicitation as it applies to Regulation D (Reg D) offerings. For those that are unaware, Reg D is, for… Read More

May 8, 2017 @ 8:28 pm By JD Alois  |  

OnDeck (NYSE: ONDK), a leading online lender targeting small business, published Q1 results today. While the lending platform reported and increase of loans under management to $1.2 billion, a 25% increase versus prior year, the news was not good enough to boost shares in the… Read More

May 8, 2017 @ 3:56 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

Online loan marketplace, LendingTree (NASDAQ: TREE), announced on Friday the top customer-rated lenders by loan product for 2017’s first quarter. According to the platform, the list features top lenders in multiple loan product categories, which includes mortgages, personal loans, business loans, and auto loans. Speaking… Read More

May 8, 2017 @ 12:10 pm By JD Alois  |  

Do you remember the Ezubao Ponzi scheme that ended in the single largest peer to peer lending fraud of all time? Investors, saw approximately 50 billion CNY or about USD $7.2 billion flushed down the tube. Reportedly 900,000 investors were impacted as an astounding 95%… Read More

May 8, 2017 @ 9:24 am By Erin Hobey  |  

Monkey Beer’s glass is more than half full, its nearly 80% full. Founded in Toledo in 2014,  artisanal brewer Monkey Beer was recognized by WBCHALLENGER in 2016 as one of the best breweries in the world.  The craft beer brand has sold more than 200,000 pints in 2016 and… Read More

May 8, 2017 @ 7:32 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

CEO and co-founder of Seedrs, Jeff Lynn, announced on Monday the UK-based equity crowdfunding platform is set to launch its second market this upcoming summer. According to Lynn, the new market will enable investors who have shares held under the Seedrs nominee to buy and… Read More