Top-20 banks should be investing in disruptors, says Reinventure co-founder Simon Cant
As Reinventure announces its third $50 million fintech investment fund, co-founder and managing director Simon Cant says its important for big banks to invest in the very startups that are disrupting their industry. The latest fund brings the Westpac-backed VC firm’s total funds under management to $150 million, and follows two previous funds, which have invested in 20 startups. Cant tells StartupSmart that, under its independent venture capital structure, Reinventure is focused on ensuring “our interests are financially aligned with those of the entrepreneur”. Specifically, this third fund will be looking for startups that could be relevant to top-20 banks and their global operations. While Cant says Reinventure will still […]
Open banking already changing the UK market
The launch of “open banking” in Britain earlier this year is prompting the incumbent banks to develop new smartphone apps that give customers a holistic view of their finances. But they face newfound competition from fintechs, telcos and e-commerce giants who see the data-sharing regime as a way of becoming dominant financial services providers in the digital economy. That’s the assessment of the head of Britain’s Open Banking Implementation Entity (OBIE), Imran Gulamhuseinwala, who predicts the regime will result in fintechs flourishing and force a fundamental shift in the incumbents’ retail banking strategies. Treasurer Scott Morrison said last week a similar open banking regime in Australia would be switched on […]
Fintech Australia’s new CEO is Brad Kitschke, Uber’s former government lobbyist
Industry group Fintech Australia has appointed Brad Kitschke as its new CEO. Kitschke previously worked at Uber Australia, where he was the Head of Public Policy and Government Relations from 2014 to 2017. “It is a tremendous honour to be able to lead an organisation which has been able to achieve so much to advance the fintech cause in a relatively short period,” Kitschke said. He replaces inaugural Fintech Australia CEO Danielle Szetho, who oversaw a rise in the association’s membership base from around 50 to more than 200 over a two-year period. Szetho stepped down in March, with Sarah Worboys working since then as CEO in an interim capacity. […]
NSW fintech and cybersecurity businesses set sights on London
Minister for Trade and Industry Niall Blair today announced $15,000 in sponsorship to help five NSW fintech and cybersecurity businesses join a business mission to London from 2 to 5 July 2018. The five NSW companies form half of the Australian-British Chamber of Commerce’s (ABCC) ‘Fintech and Cyber Catalyst’ delegation to the United Kingdom, with the other five companies from other states. NSW currently exports over $5 billion in financial services and Information and Communication Technology. “The NSW Government are always looking for opportunities to support companies that want to take on the world,” Mr Blair said. “The announcement of the Australia-UK ‘Fintech Bridge’ has opened new doors for our […]
HashChing eyes white label mortgages
The mortgage marketplace has launched a crowdfunding campaign in a bid to help facilitate its growth plans, which include rolling out its own white label loans. On Tuesday (15 May), mortgage marketplace HashChing launched a crowdfunding campaign with the target of raising $5 million to fund its growth ambitions. HashChing has invited interested parties — including brokers, investors and borrowers — to invest a minimum of $250 in the mortgage platform via Sydney-based crowdfunding platform Equitise. Speaking to The Adviser, HashChing CEO Mandeep Sodhi said: “[The] company chose to raise capital via equity crowdfunding to provide an opportunity to the loyal members of the HashChing community to own a part […]
Afterpay lands in the US, keen for a slice of $3.8 trillion market
Afterpay (ASX: ATP) has taken its first steps into the United States market through a landmark deal with the parent company of consumer lifestyle brand Urban Outfitters. This week the company launched its payment plan services across the URBN network, which includes brands Anthropologie, Free People and Urban Outfitters, comprising one of the largest fashion and lifestyle retailers in the US. URBN boasts a total sales volume of US$3 billion across its bricks and mortar and digital channels, a figure equal to roughly the size of the entire Australian online fashion market. Afterpay says the US market represents a substantial opportunity for its business, as retail sales exceeded $3.8 trillion […]
Fatfish Internet Group secures new cryptocurrency mining site
The new cryptocurrency mining site is expected to be operational within three months. Fatfish Internet Group Ltd’s (ASX:FFG) 51%-owned APAC Mining Corp has secured a new industrial site in Montreal, Canada, that will be converted to a cryptocurrency mining operation. APAC Mining currently mines Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dashcoin and Litecoin through its mining operations in Malaysia. Mining cryptocurrencies is electricity-intensive and Montreal is located in a hydro-powered state with one of the lowest energy rates in the world. The new Quebec site will have a total energy capacity to power up to 700 cryptocurrency mining servers. APAC plans to secure more sites with the region Fatfish’s CEO Kin Wai Lau said: […]
These Aussies are flying the flag at the US’s biggest crypto and blockchain conference
Blockchain companies and cryptocurrency traders are in overdrive this week as the industry’s most hyped conference gets underway in New York. The CoinDesk Consensus 2018 conference has tripled in size from last year with 250 speakers. And it’s even sparked a boon for bitcoin holders — with the digital token’s price climbing up from a three-week low as soon as the lambos rolled in. At about $2000 a ticket, the conference brings together the industry’s best and brightest — including a contingent of Aussie companies on an Austrade tour. Austrade senior investment specialist Kevin Cryan points to major blockchain projects in Australia by the ASX, Australia Post and CommBank. “There […]
