Privacy fears fuel a fintech pioneer
A rebellion is stirring against our digital overlords, as seed and venture capital investors place bets on new business models that feed on privacy concerns in the post-Snowden era. Perversely, large-scale data breaches only benefit fintech companies like the Stone & Chalk resident Meeco, which aims to disrupt the likes of Google and Facebook by enabling consumers to regain control of their personal data and turn it into a valuable asset. Until about five years ago, Meeco founder and chief executive Katryna Dow’s privacy mission was falling on deaf ears — she was out of step with a seemingly manic desire by people to share everything online. In 2013, a […]
The other credit risk to watch in China: Fintech-fuelled debt
China’s government has copped what Scott Morrison is so desperate to avoid: a credit rating downgrade. But in the discussion about Moody’s surprise move last week to cut its rating for our biggest trading partner, there’s one word that has been notably absent, even though it’s a risk of growing importance to investors and officials. That word is “fintech”. Nowhere are the large potentially huge benefits of fintech – and longer-term risks – clearer than in China. This realisation comes as financial regulators everywhere, including in Australia, start to turn their attention to how these risks could eventuate, if fintech one day grabs a larger share of the financial services […]
Fintech B2B small business lending marketplace Bigstone raises $3 million
Fintech start-up Bigstone has raised $3 million from a range of investors, including ASX-listed diversified investments and venture capital firm CVC, to grow its small business lending marketplace and offer an alternative to the big banks. The seed funding round is the first capital raised by the start-up, which connects small businesses wanting to borrow up to $250,000 with non-bank lenders. Other major investors in the round were the founders of Bangkok-based fund Lighthouse Venture Partners Paniti Junhasavasdikul and Narith Phadungchai, in addition to private investors. Bigstone co-founder and chief executive Boyd Pederson said the capital would be used to fuel expansion, grow its marketing team and to continue developing […]
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 […]
ScotPac and Dancerace team up to deliver faster, world-class invoice finance experience
ScotPac has taken another big step in its technology-led transformation program by partnering with Dancerace, a global leader in innovative commercial finance platforms.
Here are the finalists for the 2021 Finnies
The Finnies are on again, representing many of the best fintech companies in Australia. Here is a list of the 2021 Finnies finalists.
Thank You & Merry Christmas!
From the team at Australian FinTech, we’d like to say a massive THANK YOU to everyone who has supported us over the past 12 months.
Prospa raises $20m from Partners for Growth
Online business lender Prospa has raised $20 million from Silicon Valley-based Partners for Growth through a tailored debt facility that will allow it to ramp up loans and further develop its technology allowing credit assessments to be made in seconds. Prospa, which has lent more than $400 million to small businesses, up from $250 million in February after a strong fourth quarter, has deals with 4000 distribution partners, including finance brokers and cloud accounting platforms. It also has a referral partnership with Westpac Banking Corp. Prospa chief financial officer Ed Bigazzi said some of the new capital will be used for product development, including in invoice financing, and a stronger […]
