ASIC poised to release ICO guidelines: What this means for startups
Startups enticed by the growing popularity of initial coin offerings (ICO) as a fundraising method may soon be subject to more regulation, as the corporate watchdog prepares step up its oversight of the blockchain-based funding practice to weed out any scams. However, one local startup founder who’s in the midst of his own ICO says more regulation is needed to ensure startups don’t expose themselves to unnecessary risk. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission is poised to release a guiding statement on ICOs, reports Innovation Aus, which will likely see Australia follow the lead of the US by including the fundraising method within its existing regulations governing initial public offerings […]
PledgeMe joins Equitise in eyeing Australian market
PledgeMe, the equity crowdfunding and peer-to-peer lending platform, has joined rival Equitise in signalling plans to enter the Australian market ahead of a law change coming into effect across the Tasman this month. Co-founder Anna Guenther will relocate to Brisbane for six months to establish the Wellington-based company’s Australian arm, according to a PledgeMe blog post. PledgeMe will participate in the Queensland government’s HotDesQ programme, which provides networks, support, and funding for companies to relocate to the state. “There are over 2.1 million SME’s in Australia (compared to just under 500,000 here in New Zealand), so the opportunity is pretty clear,” she says. The Australian Corporations Amendment (Crowd-sourced Funding) Act […]
Eight of 10 Australians don’t get financial advice. Is technology the answer?
About eight in 10 adult Australians are not receiving financial advice, even though many would benefit. Despite surveys showing how stressed many of us are about money, it’s a figure that hasn’t changed over the past 25 years. Many people are put off by the cost of face-to-face advice, they’re concerned that products would be pushed or they perceive a lack of independence within some parts of the financial planning industry. Sometimes people find some advisers are not very interested in talking to clients who don’t have substantial wealth to invest. Those behind “robo-advisers”, which provide automated advice, say technology can reduce the advice gap by making the advice cheap. […]
Macrovue announces two new executive hires from Macquarie and BT
Macrovue, an investment service backed by AMP, continues to grow its executive team, announcing the appointment of Sriram Seshadri as its Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Maz Zaman as Head of Sales. Macrovue offers a leading-edge platform to invest in thematic portfolios of global companies. The portfolios are constructed using in-house research, giving Australian investors unprecedented access to international markets. The two new hires further bolster Macrovue’s strength in global markets. Sriram Seshadri, formerly an Associate Director with Macquarie Group and a Senior Developer with Goldman Sachs, brings even more international expertise to Macrovue’s leadership team as its new CTO. Seshadri has more than 20 years experience building commercially successful […]
Bitcoin: What China’s crackdown means for Digital Currency
It’s been another rollercoaster ride for bitcoin. After breaking the $5,000 mark this weekend, the digital currency has dropped around 15%—in large part because China brought a screeching halt to the novel form of fund-raising known as “initial coin offerings.” According to one expert, China’s ban on these ICOs—which have allowed companies to raise over $1 billion this year by selling digital “tokens”—will have both short and long term effects for bitcoin and other digital currencies. “Chinese investors have played a crucial role in the growth of the ICO market and the recent rise in valuations,” says Robert Crea, an attorney with the law firm K&L Gates, who specializes in […]
Peppermint secures strategic investment at a premium
Peppermint Innovation Ltd (ASX: PIL) announce a strategic placement agreement has been executed, for the investment of $1,000,000 at 2 cents per share via a placement of 50,000,000 shares in the Company, with an option to place a further $1,000,000 at a 25% premium to 5 day VWAP within 60 days from the first placement. The placement agreement has been executed between the Company and Smidge Digital Unit Trust, an Australian special purpose investment vehicle that subscribes for minority positions in innovative fintech and enterprise data analytics companies. Chris Kain, Managing Director & CEO comments: “This is a significant relationship with a strategic investor who has an intrinsic […]
Picking your peer-to-peer platform provider to invest
Disruption is not just happening to retail, hospitality and taxis. It’s also happening in financial services, especially banks, where borrowers and lenders are finding ways to engage, cutting traditional players out of the picture. At best, in this scenario, both investors and borrowers can end up winning, with better lending rates and higher returns. This sector is worth investigating for investors comfortable with debt, but be prepared to do your homework. The sector is expanding rapidly with a range of new businesses, offering differing features. But for most investors the field can be split into peer-to-peer lenders and corporate bonds. The lenders Funds are available for personal commitments such as […]
Mike Cannon-Brookes leads $4m round in home energy fintech start-up Brighte
Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes has made his latest move in his ongoing effort to move the dial on Australia’s energy crisis, becoming the lead backer in a capital raising for home energy funding platform Brighte. The company, which was founded by former Macquarie Group senior manager Katherine McConnell in 2015, provides on-the-spot finance online for home energy improvements such as solar panels and home batteries. It promises to dramatically increase the number of homes installing renewable, clean energy equipment by taking away the often hefty upfront cost and making it easier and more affordable. Brighte raised an initial seed round of $3.5 million from high net worth investors and family […]
