nura breaks Aussie Kickstarter record with world-first headphones
Melbourne startup nura has officially broken a record to become the most funded Australian Kickstarter campaign ever, reaching a current total of AU$1.2 million in pledges, with 12 days to go, for its world-first invention — headphones that learn and adapt to your unique hearing. Globally, less than 1 per cent of Kickstarter projects reach funding of more than US$1 million, and nura is well on track to join this group. The average Kickstarter attracts approximately 3 per cent of backers from Australia, but almost 20 per cent of nura’s backers are Australian. There are currently more than 5,500 Australian projects on Kickstarter, across creative categories including film, music, art, theatre, games, […]
Ignition Wealth superannuation tools drive superfund engagement
Ignition Wealth is Australia’s leading provider of superannuation tools and calculators. Since 2010 our tools and calculators have been used by superannuation funds to drive member engagement and provide excellence in client experience. “With 750,000 members served over the past six years we know that user friendly tools and calculators hold the key to powerful member engagement. Our technology allows superfund clients and prospective clients to do their financial homework while becoming comfortable with the superfund. This leads to a solid growth in the superfund’s business.” Mark Fordree, CEO, Ignition Wealth. The Ignition Wealth wealth management solutions are hosted on the superfund’s own website or mobile app. Recognising […]
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 […]
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 […]
Crowdfunding and real estate align on Sydney development
Online crowdfunding platform VentureCrowd has raised more than $900,000 for a Western Sydney residential project, with most of the money coming from self-managed super fund investors. Investors put between $10,000 and $80,000 each into the 35-lot development in Riverstone East, acquiring a 49 per cent equity stake in the $10 million project. The developer, ClearState, has invested the remaining equity, totalling $1.81 million with the rest of the funding coming from mezzanine and senior bank debt. Returns in of more than 100 per cent on the equity invested are anticipated upon completion of the development in mid-2017, which is forecasting $13.1 million in net revenue with 22 of the 35 […]
Waddle secures first round funding to support $30 million in new loans
Waddle, a leading online provider of revolving credit lines to businesses, today announced it has secured its first round of debt funding lead by an Australian private investment group to facilitate $30 million dollars in new loan volume over the next 12 months. The funding round marks the first external debt raising since launching in 2014. Waddle has pioneered a new wave of invoice financing as Australia’s first fully online, cloud-based platform enabling business owners to obtain automatic approvals and ongoing revolving credit lines based on outstanding invoices held in their online accounting packages. Thanks to the seamless integration with cloud accounting providers, a two-way data exchange enables Waddle to […]
New platform makes switching easier for SMSFs
Term deposits are the latest sector of finance to feel the push of digitisation with the launch of Cashwerkz’ platform, which offers a quick and simple way for investors to manage term deposits. Cashwerkz chief executive, John Edginton, said that cutting the time that is spent on switching and managing deposits was the key for attracting self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF) customers and advisers. “The time and paperwork required to open or switch term deposits was a major disincentive and prevents many investors from achieving the best market return,” he said. “Cashwerkz customers only need verify their identity once, and then have the flexibility of switching between different term deposits.” The […]
Say no to IPO lockout for retail investors – OnMarket BookBuilds
Have you seen the recent articles in the media responding to proposed ASX listing rules changes reducing the requirement to just 100 shareholders for large IPOs? Currently, ASX rules require each IPO to have 300-400 shareholders. OnMarket BookBuilds believe that this is a major reason that retail investors get some (but in our view, not enough) access to IPOs. OnMarket BookBuilds think the proposed changes will mean that you receive fewer IPO offers. In contrast, Hong Kong and Singapore rules require that 25-40% of all IPOs are reserved for retail investors. If you support the idea of broader, fairer access to IPOs, then make sure your opinion is heard! Click […]
