Mastercard calls for fintech start-ups
Mastercard has put its cards on the table with a clear call for start-ups to join its Start Path programme – its effort to tap into later-stage fintech and tech firms.
Start-up
New live site for ICS Banks core banking system in Iraq
Al-Thiqa Islamic Bank has gone live with new core banking software, ICS Banks, supplied by ICS Financial Systems (ICSFS).
Fintech funding round-up: 1 December 2017
Who doesn’t love a trilogy? Following on from the round-ups on Thursday (30 November) and Tuesday (28 November) here’s another slice of fintech funding action. Features Deposit Solutions, Hanson Robotics’ Sophia, and BNP Paribas Asset Management. Germany’s Deposit Solutions, an open banking platform for deposits, has closed an investment round of $20 million led by […]
Allianz accelerates to new digital investments
Allianz with its in-house incubator, Allianz X, has switched gears and pivoted towards a new range of digital investments.
Blockchain and Bitcoin round-up: 30 November 2017
Coming straight after yesterday’s (29 November) fun and games, here’s another quick summary of the blockchain and Bitcoin action. Features the European Central Bank, Tieto, Coinsilium Group and StartupToken. Well, Bitcoin went past $11,000. And then dropped. As you read this it will have changed again. So, opinions are aplenty. And… banks should speed up […]
Fintech funding round-up: 30 November 2017
Quickly following on from Tuesday’s (28 November) funding round-up, here are more stories from a cash-drenched world. Features 1QB Information Technologies, FinTecSystems, Betalo, Nordea and Constellation Digital Partners. 1QB Information Technologies (1QBit), a quantum computing firm based in Vancouver, has closed a CA$45 million ($34.9 million) Series B round comprising equity and revenue contracts. This […]
Fintech funding round-up: 28 November 2017
No slowing down when it comes to the fintech funding action and this week we’ve got three of the latest stories for another ever-informative round-up. Featuring MoneyMe, TreasuryXpress and Chip.
Debunking six myths on regulatory sandboxes
We are living through a period of unprecedented innovation in finance, and regulators know they need to adapt to keep up with the fast pace of change. To understand and manage the risks posed by new products, services, and business models, many financial authorities are setting up regulatory sandboxes or reglabs.
Wealthtech: a market poised for extended growth
Rapid changes are occurring in the wealth management space and the level of disruption in how advice and capital are managed is only beginning. Wealth management is a monumental industry. The players in the space run the gamut from gigantic hedge funds to individuals who manage their own investments. This changing wealth management landscape is driving a significant uptick in transactions.
Payments round-up: 22 November 2017
Hot on the heels from Monday’s (20 November) round-up, here are more lively adventures in the paytech space. Featuring Manigo powering up; Volante Technologies and eVision in North Africa; and ACI Worldwide and Payworks getting friendly. Digital money platform Manigo has launched. The firm, which is based in London’s tech hub Level39, says it will […]
Payments round-up: 20 November 2017
It pays to pay attention to the pacey payments precinct. Our latest round-up comprises Glint’s golden launch, BillPro’s licence and QR codes in Singapore. Glint, an electronic payment system that enables gold to be used as a currency, has launched its account and app based technology in the UK. Jason Cozens, CEO, Glint, says: “Everyone […]
Fintech funding round-up: 20 November 2017
Coming straight after Friday’s (17 November) fintech funding action, here’s another round-up. Features Xiaomi’s interest in India, Bamboo Capital Partners, First Access, Allied Irish Banks and TransferMate. Chinese phone and appliances maker Xiaomi plans to invest around $1 billion in 100 start-ups in India over the next five years, according to chief executive Lei Jun […]
Fintech funding round-up: 17 November 2017
Following on from yesterday’s (16 November) fintech funding fun, here’s another summary. Features Flender, Tipigo Ventures, India Accelerator, Kuants, Sumeru and a handy $2 billion in Singapore. Return to Flender. Address known. As reported in May, peer-to-peer lending start-up Flender was seeking to get €1 million in funding and is targeting a UK launch after […]
BNP Paribas and Caple make European SME credit capable
BNP Paribas Asset Management (BNPP AM) has acquired a 10% stake in European credit provider Caple, allowing for a partnership to offer alternative credit to European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Fintech funding round-up: 16 November 2017
Say it isn’t so, another fintech funding round-up? Of course! It’s busy as always. Here’s the latest news action. Featuring DIFC and its investments, ASEAN seeing a boom with fintechs on the rise, and two firms; Active.ai and PayStand get individual funding too.
TransferTo and Fern Software get UN funding for payments push
Cross-border mobile payments network TransferTo and banking software provider Fern Software have both been awarded a grant as a part of the United Nations Capital Development’s Shaping Inclusive Finance Transformation (Shift) Challenge Fund, reports Julie Muhn at Finovate (Banking Technology’s sister company). The goal of the fund is to use remittances to improve the economic power of women […]
Finastra Universe London 2017: open banking and the rise of AI
Finastra has revealed its focus on the open innovation of smart technologies in banking, alongside artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning/deep learning.
Blockchain and Bitcoin round-up: 15 November 2017
Following on from yesterday’s (14 November) news, here’s our latest blockchain and Bitcoin round-up. Featuring Trustology, Accenture, Monetary Authority of Singapore, Association of Banks in Singapore, Square and London Block Exchange. Another day, another new firm. Trustology has emerged from stealth and revealed it is building a peer-to-peer network of smart contract compute services. Trusted […]
Boku to raise $60m ahead of London IPO
Carrier billing company Boku plans to go public on the London Stock Exchange’s alternative investment market (AIM), an international market for smaller growing companies, reports Julie Muhn at Finovate (Banking Technology’s sister company). Ahead of next week’s public debut, the company announced it expects to raise $60 million on a post-money valuation of $164 million. Of the […]
Cisco creates $1bn financing programme for smart cities
Cisco is looking to expand its presence in the smart city and internet of things (IoT) markets with a $1 billion financing program that will allow communities to make investments in their infrastructure with the vendor’s financial backing, reports Enterprise Cloud News (Banking Technology’s sister publication). The City Infrastructure Financing Acceleration Programme also has backing […]
Reality Clash looks to make cash splash with cryptocurrency trading
While the fintech industry is no stranger to initial coin offerings (ICO) as a method of sourcing capital for start-ups, a firm is offering a novel way to make money via cryptocurrency trading.
Fintech funding round-up: 10 November 2017
Just when you thought there couldn’t be more following yesterday’s (9 November), Wednesday’s (8 November) and Tuesday’s (7 November) fintech funding round-ups, here’s more news action. Featuring Crux, Accern and Blume Ventures.
UK start-up secures inevitable Hollywood movie sequel
With unerring predictability, the Hollywood movie machine has churned out a sequel for the energetic and eventful life story of a UK-based payments start-up. As reported in May, the rise of Charon Ferries, the creation of the husband and wife team of Michelle and Mark Morrison (who have defied all known laws of the universe […]
Fintech funding round-up: 9 November 2017
Briskly following yesterday’s (8 November) and Tuesday’s (7 November) fintech funding round-ups, here’s more brief news action. Features WeLab, FinMkt and FriendlyScore. Hong Kong’s lending platform WeLab has raised $220 million of combined Series B+ equity and debt financing – and has won the backing of the Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund, International Finance Corporation (IFC) […]
Fintech funding round-up: 8 November 2017
Hot on the heels of yesterday’s (7 November) fintech funding round-up, here’s more money action. Features WeSwap, OakNorth Bank and OTCX. Peer-to-peer currency exchange platform WeSwap has revealed its £8 million series B investment round led by London-based private equity firm IW Capital. As WeSwap nears the end of 2017, it says further product features include […]
Fintech funding round-up: 7 November 2017
Not cash-strapped just backed. Our latest fintech funding round-up features Douugh, Choice Financial, Monzo and Smartkarma. All rise please. Banking (not baking) challenger Douugh has partnered with community bank Choice Financial to launch an integrated checking account and debit card. Choice has also made an investment to “support Douugh’s roadmap”, bringing the company’s total seed funding […]
Al Qurtas Islamic Bank live with new core banking system, BML Istisharat’s ICBS
A start-up bank in Iraq, Al Qurtas Islamic Bank, has gone live with its core banking system, ICBS, supplied by a Lebanon-based banking tech vendor, BML Istisharat.
Sunlight Payments to “revolutionise” distribution for global philanthropic sector
Sunlight Payments, a US-based paytech start-up, says it has “successfully tested a new platform to enhance controls and accountability for philanthropic funding and grants”. The test was carried out with Pathfinder International, a women’s reproductive health non-governmental organisation (NGO) that works in 19 countries.
Revolut to bring processing in-house
Revolut is building its own in-house processor, following a string of outages caused by its current third party provider.
Fintech funding round-up: 2 November 2017
The money rolls for all you fintech souls. Our latest funding round-up features TransferWise, Lendified and Glint. Let’s begin with a big one. TransferWise has got $280 million in a Series E round led by asset management company Old Mutual Global Investors and Silicon Valley VC firm IVP. A source speaking to TechCrunch and “close to […]
BondIT closes $14m in funding
Advisory tools tech company BondIT landed $14 million in funding from China-based Fosun Group.
Persado unveils Persado One; lands $30m credit facility from Silicon Valley Bank
Artificial intelligence (AI)-generated marketing campaign company Persado has unveiled a new product, along with a fresh $30 million credit facility to fuel further expansion.
Fintech funding round-up: 27 October 2017
Just when you thought there couldn’t be more; the latest stories from the fintech funding world returns for another round. Features Constellation, Credit Sesame and Jirnexu.
Map: fintech landscape
A very detailed map of the current fintech landscape, produced by VentureBeat, listing hundreds of companies in the banking, payments, investments, financing, insurance, infrastructure and enabling technologies verticals.
ING launches €300m fintech fund, ING Ventures
ING Ventures, a new investment fund set up by ING, has €300 million to pump into fintech companies.
Fintech funding round-up: 25 October 2017
More of the latest stories from the fintech funding world. Features Verrency, Countingup, Finn.ai and Bud.
Zain Bank signs for Path Solutons’ iMAL core banking system
Zain Iraq Islamic Bank for Investment and Finance, a start-up retail bank in Iraq, has opted for the iMAL core banking system from Path Solutions.
Tink secures investment and bank partners as it plans European expansion
Swedish fintech company Tink has signed with Nordic banks Nordea, Klarna and Nordnet. Integrating in 2018, the banks will use Tink’s payment technology and personal finance management (PFM) platform within their existing customer channels.
Sherpa Foundry and Silicon Valley Bank create Silicon Foundry, corporate innovation platform
Sherpa Foundry and Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) have joined forces to launch Silicon Foundry, a membership-based corporate innovation platform.
Clinc teams with Enacomm to bring AI chatbots to small banks and credit unions
Artificial intelligence (AI) fintech start-up Clinc is making its chatbot Finie more widely available through a new partnership with Enacomm.
