Debt payment start-up Credit Clear poaches OpenPay’s CEO Simon Scalzo ahead of raise
Fintech payments technology start-up Credit Clear has poached the CEO of one of its start-up rivals as it prepares to embark on a $10 million capital raising push. The company, which automates the debt collection process and facilitates customer communication over Facebook Messenger, SMS or email, has lured Simon Scalzo from “buy now pay later” platform OpenPay to lead the company. Credit Clear launched in July and has been predominantly funded to date by its chairman and co-founder Mark Casey, a property developer who made $14 million from the sale of a sheep farm near Geelong. Mr Casey started the business alongside SpotJobs co-founder Lewis Romano, saying it would make it easier for people to pay […]
Sharequity wants to lead equity crowdfunding in new direction
Australia’s newest equity crowdfunding platform, Sharequity, is planning to work with the corporate fundraising sector rather than compete with it as the first companies get ready to raise capital through the crowd in Australia. Founded by former GMP Securities Chief Operating Officer, Asia Pacific, Geoff Reilly and backed by leading crowdfunding figure Jack Quigley, Sharequity already has several companies ready to raise capital by traditional routes, and then through equity crowdfunding when it’s license is approved. Sharequity, which will also feature other complimentary products, has also already signed a partnership with share registry business Automic and expects to do deals with more corporate advisors, brokers and other traditional […]
Monthly fintech revenues triple in a year
The median monthly revenue growth for Australian fintech companies is up 208 per cent over the year to June 2017, according to a new report by EY and FinTech Australia. The 2017 EY FinTech Australia Census report, the second of its kind and released at the Collab/Collide Summit in Melbourne yesterday, found that 86 per cent of fintech companies had increased their monthly revenue growth in the year to June 2017. The median monthly revenue growth of fintech companies at the post-revenue stage had grown by 208 per cent (or 3.1 times) in the year ending June 2017. Almost one in four (24 per cent) fintech companies reported revenue growth […]
Australian Fintech companies amongst 2017 Finder Awards
Once again the 2017 Finder Awards was dominated by Australian Fintech companies, like they have done in previous years. Congratulations to all the Fintech winners: Best Investor Home Loan (PI 3-Year Fixed) UBank UHomeLoan Best P2P Personal Loan RateSetter 2 Year Personal Loan Best Personal Loan Pepper Money Unsecured Variable Personal Loan Best Personal Finance App Acorns Best Online Customer Service UBank Best Banking Innovation Spriggy Most Innovative Team Mario Hasanakos & Alex Badran, founders of Spriggy
Australian fintech startup HCash just revealed it raised $53 million through an ICO in July
Initial coin offerings (ICOs) are polarising the business world at the moment, but one Australian company has made hay while the sun shines, raising 21,000 Bitcoins worth of capital. Blockchain security startup HCash, which is developing its technology in conjunction with Melbourne’s Monash University, has revealed to Business Insider that the round closed on July 15. Based on that day’s exchange rate, the 21,000 Bitcoins were worth $53 million. ICOs are a method of raising funds where a startup sells electronic tokens or “coins” to buyers that are betting that the business will do well in the future, thereby raising the value of the token. Unlike traditional venture capital, no […]
Supplying services to business the new growth area
Australia’s fintech sector is firing on all cylinders. More than 400 fintech companies are jostling for shoulder room in the market right now, and 72 per cent of these companies are supplying services to businesses. The upsurge in fintech companies can be attributed to the speed of business today, which places a greater premium on business readiness. Fintech companies are typically new financial services entrants providing genuine alternatives in areas such as wealth generation, lending, payments, insurance, cyber security and regulatory management. By global comparison, Australians are big fintech adopters. A recent report reveals that we have among the strongest fintech market penetration in the world, ahead of other advanced […]
Venture capital tax incentives extended to fintech
The federal government has released exposure draft legislation that will remove restrictions for venture capital investors to access tax concessions when investing in fintech. Treasurer Scott Morrison has announced the government will seek to reform Treasury laws in order to make it easier for fintech firms to receive early stage investment. In the 2016-17 federal budget, Mr Morrison announced a number of new tax incentives for venture capital and angel investors aimed at boosting innovation in the economy. The fintech sector, however, was exempted from those incentives – a decision the government is now looking to reverse with its draft legislation. “The proposed amendments highlight the Turnbull government’s commitment to […]
