OpenSparkz completes second capital raising, attracts local and Asian investors
OpenSparkz, an Australian fintech which has developed a global platform that removes the need for loyalty cards, offer codes and coupons, today said its second capital raising has closed oversubscribed. The latest seed raising of AUD$1.5 million attracted new regional and local investors alongside further commitments from the founders and original backers. New investors include Louise Daley, the Singapore-based Deputy Chief Executive of Accor Hotels Asia Pacific. Ms Daley will join the OpenSparkz board, which currently includes Andrew Lo, the founder and CEO of Hong Kong-based EFT Payments. “I am excited to be taking up an investment opportunity in such a dynamic player. This is a rapidly evolving industry and […]
Finnie Awards move to Melbourne
Australia’s only industry-backed fintech awards, the Finnies, is introducing new awards to highlight collaboration in fintech and is shifting this year’s awards from Sydney to Melbourne The annual awards give over 100 fintech startups the opportunity to be recognised by their peers for their work and innovation. A total of 19 awards will be on offer including with several key awards returning. These include: FinTech Organisation of the Year, Outstanding FinTech Leader of the Year, Female FinTech Leader of the Year, Emerging FinTech Leader of the Year and Emerging FinTech Organisation of the Year. Several new awards are being introduced to highlight collaboration, including: Deal of the year, Partnership of […]
Big lending fall shows businesses need to investigate crowdfunding options
A significant drop in lending activity during December has illustrated the need for business owners to investigate other ways raise growth funds, including crowdfunding, according to a major Australian crowdfunding platform. According to Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures which were released today, the value of lending commitments to businesses fell by 9.7 per cent in seasonally adjusted terms in the month of December 2018. This included commercial finance commitments dropping by 9.8 per cent and lease finance falling by 5.7 per cent. The fall in business lending outstripped the reduction in household lending commitments, which went down 4.4 per cent. In the year to December 2018, business lending commitments […]
Neo-lender Wisr sees increase in banking defectors amid Banking Royal Commission
Neo-lender Wisr (ASX:WZR) has launched a bold new campaign targeting disillusioned customers of big banks, following the Hayne Royal Commission handing down its findings into consumer lending practices. The ‘Australia’s Getting Wisr’ campaign taps into the prevailing sense of unfairness that Australians feel towards the big banks and how customers can make smarter choices when seeking personal loans. The campaign in the coming months will showcase the company’s personal loan, financial wellness programs and new smartphone application. It is the first brand campaign undertaken by Wisr since launching the brand in March 2018 and will appear nationally on television and online from this week. Earlier this week the Hayne Royal […]
The finalists of the 2019 Fintech Business Awards have been announced
The finalists of the 2019 Fintech Business Awards have been announced. Congratulations and good luck to all the finalists – both individuals and companies.
Know whether your bank is giving you a good home loan deal with uno’s loanScore
Australian fintech uno Home Loans is empowering customers to take back control with the launch of loanScore.
Bank sector transformation will come with open banking, competition: Xinja
Australian neobank Xinja said transformation of the financial services sector, described by Royal Commissioner Kenneth Hayne as often driven by greed, will only happen when consumers have clear choice, and can move easily and quickly between banks and other providers within the banking sector. The final report from the financial services Royal Commission paints a damning picture of the culture that drives Australia’s banks, with Commissioner Hayne imploring those who run Australia’s biggest and most profitable financial institutions to ‘obey the law’, ‘act fairly’ and offer services that are ‘fit for purpose’. “The reality is, the reason we’ve reached this low is that the sector has been controlled by a […]
Ezidebit goes back to childcare roots after 12 months on the sidelines
Payments solution group Ezidebit is making an aggressive push back into the booming childcare industry after 12 months on the sidelines. Ezidebit provides an integrated payments solution to streamline collecting of fees for childcare centres and Outside School Hours Care services, reducing time spent in reconciling payments. Ezidebit has more than 20 years’ experience in the childcare industry, with a dedicated team to support the segment, but has been excluded from operating in the sector since the sale of partner QikKids in early 2018 where it was previously the exclusive payments provider. Ezidebit Managing Director Australia and New Zealand Mark Healy said: “Our heritage is in childcare and we fully […]
