P2P lender ThinCats Australia on prowl for strategic investors, potential IPO | afr.com
ThinCats Australia is looking to capitalise on investor interest in peer-to-peer lending, as it gears up for a potential initial public offering and holds talks with strategic investors.It’s understood ThinCats Australia, backed by UK-parent ThinCats, is in discussions with private equity firms, credit unions and accounting firms about a strategic investment. The company, which launched in Australia last year, is also considering a run at the ASX boards. Source: P2P lender ThinCats Australia on prowl for strategic investors, potential IPO | afr.com
UBank opens door to start-ups
Lee Hatton, the new chief of National Australia Bank subsidiary UBank, has opened the door to partnering with financial technology start ups to enter the small business market, as she eyes longer-term growth opportunities… Source: The Australian news
AMP advises fintechs to seek bigger partners
Australian fintech start-ups looking to expand their businesses will need to partner with big companies that already boast large customer bases for a better chance of success, wealth giant AMP says.Craig Meller, chief executive of AMP, said it was unlikely a large “disruptor” would swoop into the Australian financial services sector and shake up the market, so smaller fintech companies should seek large corporates to tap their distribution footprint. Source: AMP advises fintechs to seek bigger partners
Westpac asks Gen Y to help it find the next fintech start-up
As all banks grapple with the impact of huge technological shifts, Westpac hopes to get an edge over rivals by tapping into the ideas of bright, young non-bankers. With the bank admitting it needs to be more nimble in the face of growing competition from technology-based firms, senior Westpac executives will next week be presented with business proposals on digital disruption in finance from a group of people aged 18 to 35 , from Australia and China.But none of those pitching the ideas on digital disruption are bankers. Source: Westpac asks Gen Y to help it find the next fintech start-up
H2 Ventures, born from AWI’s ashes, will fund 100 fintech firms
This is great news for start-up Australian FinTech companies looking for funding. Venture capitalist brothers Ben and Toby Heap have established a new fintech-focused venture capital fund and accelerator, H2 Ventures, which is raising $10 million to invest in 100 fintech start-ups over the next three years. The establishment of H2 follows the demise of AWI Ventures, where Toby has been managing director, after its ASX-listed parent Australasian Wealth Investors, where Ben was chief executive, withdrew support for VC. The change of heart was spurred by a restructure after the company was stung by its investment in financial services business van Eyk, which collapsed amid a governance scandal. Source: […]
ASIC set sights on growing fintech sector
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission is setting up a Digital Finance Advisory Committee manned by members of the fintech community, as the corporate regulator ramps up its attention on the technology sector and cyber risk.ASIC chairman Greg Medcraft said the regulator wanted to make it easier for start-ups and fintech businesses to navigate the regulatory system, one of which was through its “innovation hub” that was revealed last month. Source: ASIC set sights on growing fintech sector
Finance disrupters still rely on big banks, but bitcoin may replace
Start-ups, telecommunications giants, supermarkets and postal services are all getting into banking, but they concede they are not really disrupting big lenders or dominant card networks because most have to rely on banks or Visa and MasterCard to provide financial services. Source: Finance disrupters still rely on big banks, but bitcoin may replace
Fintech start-ups become hot property | The Courier-Mail
Hundreds of millions of dollars in funding await local financial technology start-ups as the largest banks, insurers and wealth management institutions jostle for pole position, in fear of missing out on the “next big thing”, experts say. “When companies look at tipping funds into fintech start-ups, talks of $50 million-plus are common as opposed to $1m-$2m,” said AWI Ventures accelerator manager Simran Gambhir. Source: Fintech start-ups become hot property | The Courier-Mail
