Chicago should be a FinTech hub. So why it isn’t?
Chicago has all the building blocks to become a hotbed of financial technology startups—so why isn’t it happening? The latest sign that this years-long dream may never be realized: a plan to create a hub for fintech entrepreneurs and networking at the Chicago Board of Trade building has fallen apart due to lack of capital. The Chicago area is home to some of the biggest U.S. fintech players, including futures exchange operator CME Group; mutual fund research firm Morningstar; and credit card company Discover. They’ve groomed a well-paid pool of professionals, some of whom have become entrepreneurs and angel investors. Chicago also has enviable infrastructure: It’s one of a half-dozen […]
Fintech startups impress big banks
Big banking groups are increasingly collaborating with exciting fintech startups to reshape the industry. Spain’s Bankia group announced this week the names of the young companies selected to join its inaugural international programme, which was launched late last year. The standard of applicants to the ‘Bankia Fintech by Innsomnia‘ platform was so impressive eight were picked, three more than initially planned. The plan is to collaborate with the new starts to build a a client-supplier relationship that can harness the potential of the services being developed by the startups drawn from Australia, France, Israel, the UK and America. They will join the accelerator, based at the Port of Valencia, in […]
Aviva embracing artificial intelligence in quest to become fintech firm
Aviva is eyeing acquisitions in artificial intelligence and big data as it looks to overhaul the insurance industry and transform itself into a fintech firm. Chief executive Mark Wilson said the 321-year-old insurance giant had built a good balance sheet and was primed to use it to ensure the business remains a step ahead of its rivals. Speaking at Aviva’s “digital garage” in Hoxton, East London, Mr Wilson said the insurer’s innovation projects had attracted calls from “big names in Silicon Valley” and helped seal a lucrative deal with Tencent, a 300 billion US dollar Chinese technology firm. He said: “I don’t mean billions, but we will do acquisitions if […]
Japan lender Mizuho to launch fintech venture
Japan’s Mizuho Financial Group will start a venture next month to create new businesses using “fintech,” an executive said, joining a global race in financial technology that threatens to unsettle traditional players. Japan’s second-largest lender by assets said there were already 20 projects in the pipeline for the venture, utilizing blockchain technology and artificial intelligence programs in areas such as farming and travel. Daisuke Yamada, Mizuho’s chief digital innovation officer, said the challenges were cultural as well as technological, as truly new business models required a break from Japanese banks’ conservative, overly risk-averse attitudes. For that reason, he said the bank would limit its stake in the yet-to-be named venture […]
Digital wallet services gain growing acceptance
Money and wallets simply aren’t what they used to be. Tech giants’ card-less payment services — including Apple Pay, Android Pay from Google and Samsung Pay — aim to ease the path to the truly digital wallet, and researchers project huge growth in adoption by retailers and consumers. Even staid financial giants such as Wells Fargo and Bank of America are behind a push to encourage and enable customers to access ATMs without their debit cards. Yet the digital wallet business has gotten off to a rough start, said Bay Area-based analyst Trip Chowdhry, managing director with Global Equities Research. “There have been many false starts in this industry,” Chowdhry […]
Bitcoin prices surge, here’s why cryptocurrency is skyrocketing
Bitcoin prices are skyrocketing. Business Insider reported Thursday bitcoin hit a record high, exceeding $2,700 per coin, up from $1,400 on May 1. The world’s second most influential cryptocurrency, Ethereum’s ether tokens, also broke its record this week. Ether is now evaluated at more than $200 per token, CoinMarketCap reported. For comparison, ether was selling for just $60 on April 27. There are a variety of factors driving up the market value of cryptocurrencies. The past few weeks have seen increased corporate investment in Ethereum, alongside a global “blockchain boom,” where companies like Ripple and IBM announce partnerships with leading financial institutions around the world. Japan has even kickstarted the […]
Southeast Asia’s biggest startup files for $1 Billion IPO
Sea Ltd., Southeast Asia’s most valuable startup, has filed confidentially for a potential U.S. initial public offering that could raise about $1 billion, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The Singapore-based company, formerly known as Garena, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in the past few weeks, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the information is private. Sea is considering listing in early 2018, though no final decisions have been made, one of the people said. Sea is working with Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Morgan Stanley on the share sale, the people said. Under the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, […]
Monetary Authority of Singapore teams up with World Bank’s IFC to encourage Asian fintech innovation
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a World Bank Group member, has signed a memorandum of understanding this week with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) in order to encourage fintech innovation in Asia via the establishment of an Asean Financial Innovation Network (Afin). The new Afin body, overseen by IFC and MAS, will set up a regional network this year to help financial institutions (FIs), financial technology (fintech) firms and regulators in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) trading bloc address issues of cross-border compatibility in the region. The Asean Bankers Association (ABA) was involved in the early discussions about the formation of Afin and it is hoped they […]
