1st Annual Australian FinTech Awards 2016
Congratulations to the winners of the 1st Annual Australian FinTech Awards 2016! FINTECH INNOVATION IN PAYMENTS – Afterpay FINTECH INNOVATION IN WEALTH MANAGEMENT (ROBO ADVICE) – Owners Advisory by Macquarie Group FINTECH INNOVATION IN LENDING (FOR FINTECH) – SocietyOne BEST INNOVATION IN CYBER-SECURITY & ANTI-FRAUD – Entersoft BEST FINTECH COMMUNICATIONS CAMPAIGN – Acorns BEST RESEARCH IN FINTECH – Panalitix BEST FINTECH-BANK COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR – OnDeck Capital’s partnership with CBA FINTECH LEADER OF THE YEAR – Daniel Foggo of RateSetter FEMALE FINTECH LEADER OF THE YEAR – Loretta Joseph of the Sydney Stock Exchange FINTECH CTO/CIO OF THE YEAR – Glenn Riddell of RateSetter INSURE-TECH STARTUP OF THE YEAR – […]
Australian FinTech Company Profile – HashChing
FINTECH COMPANY: HashChing FINTECH SECTOR: Online Mortgages WEBSITE: www.HashChing.com.au CONTACT: [email protected] PHONE: 1800 464 338 FOUNDED: 2015 FOUNDER(S) / CEO: Mandeep Sodhi & Atul Narang DESCRIPTION: HashChing is Australia’s first online marketplace allowing consumers to access great home loan deals without having to shop around. ABOUT: Completely FREE to consumers, HashChing connects you directly to verified mortgage brokers who can further negotiate a better rate from the lenders and save you time, hassle and money. Ask any home loan related question on HashChing and only verified financial experts will respond to you promptly to help you make smart and informed financial decisions. HashChing’s vision is to keep Australians financially smart […]
FinTech sector accuses banks of not playing fair
The Financial Tech start-up industry, known as FinTech, is a vibrant new sector that promises to disrupt—or at least compete with—incumbent finance businesses in Australia. The Turnbull Government has made several announcements indicating support for the sector. But some in the sector are accusing the banks of not playing fair, by actively misleading their customers in advising them not to connect to FinTech services. LISTEN: To listen to ABC’s Fran Kelly, joined by RN Breakfast’s Technology Editor Peter Marks, click on the link below… Source: FinTech sector accuses banks of not playing fair – RN Breakfast – ABC Radio National (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Fintech to invest $1b into blockchain this year
Financial and technology firms are expected to invest more than $US1 billion to bring blockchain technology to capital markets in 2016. That’s according to a new survey from Greenwich Associates, where a majority of participants said blockchain has the potential to change markets within the next five years. The 134 interviewees, including executives at banks, exchanges, asset managers and blockchain technology companies, said the main obstacle hindering the technology’s widespread use was a “vested interest” in legacy systems. “The financial sector will continue to put its weight behind blockchain this year,” Richard Johnson, vice president for Greenwich’s Market Structure and Technology group, said in the report. “Blockchain is beginning to […]
Australia’s Small Businesses receive boost to their funding with new credit tool
Australia’s leading peer-to-peer business lending platform, ThinCats Australia, has boosted small businesses’ opportunities for funding through the launch of a new credit assessment tool that makes finance applications easier. Created by local company Othera, the credit assessment tool allows small companies to prequalify for loans on the ThinCats platform, as well as allowing its 300 peer-to-peer lenders make more informed business lending decisions. ThinCats now has access to Othera’s Lender Dashboard to run credit assessments on loans applied for by small businesses on the platform. According to John Pellew, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Othera, the typical prequalification process takes lenders anywhere from two to four […]
Blockchain more than hype: Nikko AM
Speaking on a panel at the Bloomberg buy-side forum, Nikko Asset Management managing director Sam Hallinan described blockchain as “the new facilitator”, one that is set to drastically improve efficiency in the sector. “It could be deemed hype, but it could also be the biggest change to asset management in years,” he said. Blockchain’s capacity to list and reconcile transactions and trades represents a marked shift from traditional methods, which rely on several phonecalls and paperwork, Mr Hallinan said. “The current method of reconciling trades hasn’t changed in 40 years,” he added. According to Mr Hallinan, the change to retail market interaction triggered by robo-advice is significant, and he noted […]
ASX spends $9m to boost stake in blockchain company
The Australian Securities Exchange has forked out an extra $9.5 million to increase its stake in blockchain company Digital Asset to over 8 percent. The stock exchange in January announced it had paid $14.9 million for a 5 percent stake in the US-based fintech firm. The money was also intended to help fund the development of a new post-trade platform for the ASX based on distributed ledger technology. At the time the ASX said it had the potential to buy further equity if it chose. It today said it had taken up that option and splashed an extra US$7.1 million (A$9.5 million) to increase its stake to 8.5 percent. Digital […]
Ethereum, rival to bitcoin, gains traction
With a rising market value and a roster of high-profile patrons, Ethereum in recent months has become the next hot thing in cryptocurrencies. Ethereum is an open software platform, comprising a currency called ether, a public “blockchain” ledger for keeping track of transactions and tools for building so-called smart contracts that automatically make payments when their terms are fulfilled. Anyone can develop new applications that make use of its code. More ambitiously, the currency’s inventors and users are revolting against the growing centralisation of the internet under big companies like Google and Facebook by creating financial structures that can run themselves. Much like its older cousin bitcoin, however, ether is […]