General News

February 28, 2017 @ 6:49 am By Erin Hobey  |  

rebuildingsociety.com has been awarded full authorization from the Financial Conduct Authority in recognition of our compliance with sector-specific regulations, according to its blog. Authorization means that the platform meets FCA standards and may now offer the Innovative Finance ISA.  Accepting loan applications in September 2012, UK-based… Read More

February 28, 2017 @ 6:29 am By Erin Hobey  |  

Global investment in fintech ventures grew 10% in 2016, to US$23.2 billion, driven primarily by a wave of blockbuster deals in China, according to Accenture (NYSE:ACN) analysis of data from CB Insights, a global venture-finance data and analytics firm. Fintech financing in Asia-Pacific in 2016 eclipsed… Read More

February 28, 2017 @ 6:03 am By Erin Hobey  |  

LeBruin has launched a new online lending platform branded Profunder to specialize in providing loans of between €1m and €3m.  Profunder allows borrowers to apply for a commercial real estate loan through a four-step online application process. Feedback is provided to borrowers at each stage, and… Read More

February 28, 2017 @ 5:08 am By Erin Hobey  |  

Online equity investment platform SyndicateRoom today announced the successful capital raise of £459,871 for Squirrel, which overfunded to 115% of its original £400,019 target. The fintech company has developed a personal financial management and savings app designed to help people regain control of their money. “We’re thrilled to welcome… Read More

February 27, 2017 @ 6:22 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has scheduled an “Evidence Summit” to be held at the SEC headquarters on F Street in Washington, DC on March 10th. Organized by the Office of Investor Advocate, the Summit will “discuss strategies for raising retail investors’ understanding of… Read More

February 27, 2017 @ 4:18 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

UK-based Wrexham Glyndwr University announced last week the launch its fintech undergrad program. According to the school, the new program will provide its students with the business skills that are needed to exploit opportunities within the fintech sector. While discussing the program, Claudius Tsang, Partner/Co-Head of… Read More

February 27, 2017 @ 3:00 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

Australian business media company Fintech Business announced the winners of the 2017 Fintech Business Awards, which recognized the outstanding innovation and entrepreneurship in the Australia fintech sector. The inaugural event’s description reads: “The inaugural Fintech Business Awards seeks to identify and acknowledge the leading individuals… Read More

February 27, 2017 @ 10:14 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

VeriComply, a company that automates the verification of marketplace loans for the secondary market, announced on Monday it completed its latest Angels funding round. Investors in the funding round included Jon Barlow, founder of Eaglewood Capital and John Maute,  co-founder of Helios AMC and Situs… Read More

February 27, 2017 @ 9:41 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

Australia’s peer-to-peer trade credit platform Marketlend announced on Monday it has appointed Brad Pattelli as its new non-executive director and member of the board. Pattelli reportedly has decades of experience as an investor in a broad range of businesses, multiple prior public, and private board roles. He… Read More

February 25, 2017 @ 12:59 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

DonorSee is described as a new fundraising platform specifically to improve the charity industry. Its goal is to change the way people support charities with complete transparency. Instead of giving to a large charity that may fall short of the mark or simply has huge… Read More

February 25, 2017 @ 7:00 am By Jessica Pham  |  

Two-day conference Startup Grind earlier this week set in Redwood City, California at the Fox Theater boasted “5,000 founders and investors, more than 40 keynote and fireside sessions, and over 50 exhibiting startups”.  The ability to pull back from all of the pitches and decipher key messages… Read More

February 24, 2017 @ 7:50 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

Tech City UK announced earlier the week the 26 new companies that are joining its Future Fifty program. According to the London-based business management consultant, the Future Fifty program gives participants immediate access to a valuable peer network along with expert-led classes and workshops designed to… Read More

February 24, 2017 @ 10:28 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

Global peer-to-peer lending platform TransferWise announced earlier this week it has integrated its money transfer service, TransferWise Bot, with Facebook Messenger. The online lender revealed that customers may now send money and set up rate alerts without having to leave the Facebook Messenger app. TransferWise reported that users… Read More

February 24, 2017 @ 9:43 am By Therese Torris  |  

In what is probably a worldwide premiere, the French SME lending aggregator site crowdlending.fr organized an online competition enabling retail investors to elect their favorite lending marketplaces. The members of crowdlending.fr’s community of lenders lend on average €4,500 through 3,2 platforms. The 600 voters, who… Read More

February 24, 2017 @ 8:49 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

Online lender RateSetter has formed a partnership with accountancy advisor TaxAssist Accountants to help engage with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). TaxAssist Accountant notably specializes in all businesses with a turnover of £2 million of less. It has more than 290 locations throughout the UK. While discussing the… Read More

February 23, 2017 @ 4:38 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

Real estate crowdfunding platform Sharestates announced on Thursday it received a nomination for LendIt Conference Industry Awards’ emerging real estate platform award. The winner will be announced on March 7th at the Edison Ballroom in New York City. Speaking about the nomination, Allen Shayanfekr, co-founder and CEO of Sharestates, stated: “We… Read More

February 23, 2017 @ 10:58 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

VeriComply, a company that automates the verification of marketplace loans for the secondary market, announced on Thursday it appointed former LendingClub executive, Roger Dickerson as its new president as it prepares to expand into the marketplace lending industry. According to VeriComply, Dickerson served as Vice… Read More

February 23, 2017 @ 10:07 am By JD Alois  |  

During Fitbit’s Q4 earnings call yesterday, management revealed it had paid $23 million to acquire Pebble Watch last year. At one point in time, Pebble was valued at $740 million. In a brief statement, Fitbit (NYSE:FIT), highlighted the purchase: Acquired assets from Pebble for $23 million… Read More

February 23, 2017 @ 9:17 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

NextGen Crowdfunding announced on Thursday the second round winners of the Crowdfunding Video Awards (CVAs). This event provides campaign organizers new ways to promote crowdfunding campaigns and products to backers as well as potential investors. Season one of the CVAs kicked off on January 25th with a live… Read More

February 23, 2017 @ 6:13 am By Erin Hobey  |  

Fresh from closing its £19.5 million in Series B funding round and celebrating its 2nd birthday, app-only Monzo  (formally know as Mondo) is planning to raise a further £2.5M through crowdfunding, according to multiple news sources. New York-based Thrive Capital led the round, with participation from Passion Capital… Read More