News

Newsletter, 07 February – 13 February 2015

German Startups Group invests in FinTech startups/ German Startups Group beteiligt sich an fünf weiteren Startups

Mit fünf neuen Investments will die German Startups Group ihre aktive Rolle in der Startup-Szene unterstreichen. Diesmal im Fokus: FinTech.

http://www.gruenderszene.de/allgemein/german-startups-group-fintech?utm_source=newsletter

Kreditech competitor Ferratum going for IPO / Kreditech-Konkurrent Ferratum geht an die Börse

FinTech boomt in der Startup-Szene, insbesondere bei Mikrokrediten. Mit dem finnischen Anbieter Ferratum geht heute der erste Anbieter an die Frankfurter Börse.

http://www.bloomberg.com/article/2014-11-07/anUVh4tC0p0A.html

#FinTech #Startups: just a week left to apply for the @Innotribe Challenge 2015!

Launched by SWIFT Innotribe, the Startup Challenge introduces the world’s brightest startups to highly qualified industry experts, banks and VCs. Startups from the D.A.CH FinTech community who were selected to present at the 2014 Challenge included FinTech Forum alumni BitBond, Moneymeets and Lendstar .  Apply here until 22 February 2015:

http://innotribe.com/startup-challenge/

Investment in fintech startups soars

Fintech firms around the world raised $6.8 billion in funding in 2014, a three-fold increase on the previous 12 months as the sector enjoyed a banner year that also saw its first IPOs and a host of startups joining the billion dollar club.

http://www.finextra.com/News/FullStory.aspx?newsitemid=26981

Contovista wins a big new customer segment with Finnova / Contovista erschliesst sich grosse, neue Kundengruppe

Die Finnova AG und das Fintech Startup Contovista AG gehen eine Partnerschaft ein, um den Finnova-Banken ein vielfältiges Personal Finance Management (PFM) zu bieten. Die Schwyzer Kantonalbank setzt als erste Finnova-Bank auf den neuen persönlichen Finanzassistenten von Contovista.

http://www.startupticker.ch/en/news/february-2015/contovista-erschliesst-sich-grosse-neue-kundengruppe

Swiss FinTech Startup eCollect shakes up debt collection business / Schweizer Fintech Startup mischt Inkasso-Branche auf

Inkasso-Unternehmen kommen ins Spiel, wenn unbezahlte Rechnungen doch noch bezahlt werden sollen. Das Startup ecollect bringt mit einem innovativen Ansatz und dem Einsatz selbst entwickelter Software nun frischen Wind in die traditionelle Dienstleistung.

http://www.startupticker.ch/en/news/february-2015/schweizer-fintech-start-up-mischt-inkasso-branche-auf

FN Fintech Focus: How much do banks spend on new tech investments?

…Of the total investment in IT in 2015, Celent estimates 75.4%, or $148.3 billion, will go to maintenance. This includes spending to keep up with new regulations, which primarily add to costs rather than revenues, the research firm says. That’s not necessarily bad news for fintech start-ups.

http://thetally.efinancialnews.com/2015/02/fn-fintech-focus-much-banks-spend-new-tech-investments/

The World’s Top 10 Most Innovative Companies of 2015 in Personal Finance

…FIDOR BANK For creating a social bank that leverages cutting-edge technology to respond to customer wishes. At first glance, Fidor seems crazy. It’s an online-only bank that would set the interest rates it paid on deposits according to the number of likes received on its Facebook page.

http://www.fastcompany.com/3041660/most-innovative-companies-2015/the-worlds-top-10-most-innovative-companies-of-2015-in-person#2_Fidor_Bank

Borro Gets $19M From Rocket Internet, OurCrowd To Expand Its Online Pawnshop For Luxury Goods

Borro, the U.S. and UK-based online platform that people borrow money and put up luxury items as collateral, is today announcing $19 million in new funding led by strategic investments from Israel’s OurCrowd and Berlin’s Rocket Internet.

http://techcrunch.com/2015/02/10/borro-19m/

Wirecard Announces Wearable Payments Developer Kit

Wirecard AG will be launching a software development kit (SDK) for wearable payment solutions by the end of February 2015. A dedicated developer portal will provide access to a range of programming interfaces (APIs), tools and simulators, which simplify the integration of payment functions into various different applications and devices ranging from wristbands and smart-watches to clothes.

http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/wirecard-announces-wearable-payments-developer-kit-291368541.html

Bundesrat fordert Besserstellung von Crowdfunding und Genossenschaften im Kleinanlegerschutzgesetz

Der Bundesrat hat heute über die Empfehlungen der Ausschüsse abgestimmt. Dabei wurden die Empfehlungen des Wirtschaftsausschusses zu Social Media Werbung, zur Klarstellung bezüglich der Privatanleger, zur Erhöhung der 10.000 Euro Grenze pro Investor und zur Erhöhung der 1 Mio Euro Grenze pro Projekt verabschiedet, außerdem wurden weitere Ausnahmen für Genossenschaften und soziale Projekte im KASG eingeführt.

http://www.germancrowdfunding.net/2015/02/bundesrat-fordert-besserstellung-von-crowdfunding-und-genossenschaften-im-kleinanlegerschutzgesetz/

Bitcoin-Börse verschwindet mit Millionen der Anleger

Mit einem Schneeballsystem haben die Betreiber der Bitcoin-Börse Mycoin aus Hongkong Millionen eingesammelt. Nun sind sie mit dem Geld der Anleger getürmt.

http://www.gruenderszene.de/allgemein/mycoin-bitcoin-betrug?utm_source=newsletter

ayondo announces strategic hire

London – ayondo has announced the hiring of Ms. Peg Reed as senior vice president of business development. Ms. Reed’s experience in creating and migrating distribution streams of business for numerous organizations includes FX, CFDs, Spread Betting, Options and Binaries.

http://www.automatedtrader.net/news/at/153123/ayondo-announces-strategic-hire

Savetastic app takes top prize at banking hackathon in Dublin

An app that uses a customer’s banking information to offer savings on a range of items such as utility bills, travel and shopping, took the top prize at Ireland’s first dedicated banking hackathon.

http://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/savetastic-app-takes-top-prize-at-banking-hackathon-in-dublin-1.2091244