Stockspot lowers fees but reduces honeymoon period
Robo-adviser Stockspot has halved the period of its free introductory offer for savers with less than $10,000 but has compensated clients with lower fees thereafter. Stockspot has reduced the initial fee-free offer for savers with small balances to six from 12 months. Thereafter, instead of charging a $77 annual advice fee plus a 0.92 per cent management fee, the automated advice platform has introduced a flat $79.20 annual management fee. The new fee model comes as competition in the robo-advice sector heats up, with recent launches of competitors such as Superstash and Six Park, which is backed by former federal finance minister Lindsay Tanner, founding head of the Future Fund […]
Forex fintech Airwallex secures US$3m from Alibaba’s VC firm
Fintech startup Airwallex has strengthened its Melbourne and Chinese development teams and accelerated R&D of its international payments platform following a US$3 million pre-Series A investment round led by Shanghai-based VC Gobi Partners. Gravity VC as well as angel investors Huashan Capital One and Billy Tam (CEO of Easylink Payments, the company behind Chinese payment powerhouse PAYECO) also participated in the fundraising. Currently in beta trial stage, the Airwallex platform is powered by a peer-to-peer algorithmic engine that enables businesses to issue and pay invoices in their preferred currency at the mid-market foreign exchange rate, avoiding inflated bank margins and minimising currency fluctuation risks. Airwallex Co-Founder and […]
H2 Ventures Fintech Expo 2016
H2 Ventures Fintech Expo 2016 H2 Ventures are hosting its third annual Fintech Expo, an opportunity to hear from some of the most talked about and exciting Fintech companies in Australia. Tuesday 19th of July 2016 Get your tickets here: http://h2vfintechexpo.eventbrite.com.au/ Save Save
Fintech losses blamed on rerating
DirectMoney chief Peter Beaumont yesterday defended the fintech company’s stockmarket listing and expressed disappointment over losses worn by shareholders, arguing there were many benefits and the sector globally had suffered a de-rating. As DirectMoney prepared to open a fresh $5.7 million capital raising, Mr Beaumont said marketplace and peer-to-peer lenders had been revalued in the past year, citing the more mature US market where industry icon LendingClub saw its shares plunge 70 per cent. “We’re disappointed there were investors that came in at higher prices and have had capital losses at this point, but marketplace lending globally has experienced a resetting of valuations, whether it’s LendingClub in the US or […]
Crowdfunding start-up DomaCom eyes $100m ASX float
DomaCom, the company that shot to prominence with a crowdfunding campaign to acquire the property assets of the iconic Kidman Station empire, is looking to float as a near $100 million company on the Australian Securities Exchange. The ambitious group is hoping to ride the worldwide popularity of crowdfunding which it has used to set up real estate funds and it plans to extend its reach into the corporate bond market and equity release products. Company founder, Arthur Naoumidis, who also set up the now listed portfolio technology provider Praemium, had previously flagged plans to raise $100m through a float last year but the timing of the IPO was pushed […]
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, […]
Fintech has chance to capitalise on Whatsapp, WeChat and more, says Citi’s Linda Duncombe
Integrating financial services into messaging applications such as Whatsapp and WeChat is the next big opportunity for the fintech sector, Citibank global fintech chief marketing officer Linda Duncombe says. The environment where consumers are communicating is changing and the financial services sector needs to develop its products to changing habits. “Look at messaging apps and their growth, it is phenomenal,” Ms Duncombe told The Australian Financial Review. “I think about my life, living in New York, Whatsapp is a huge part of my life and how I stay engaged and connected to my family and friends in Australia. “When you hear the word disruption … no consumer is saying that. […]
Robo-advice start-ups go beyond disruption to new clients
Robo-advice start-ups are looking to use technology to drive massive expansion in the financial advice market, rather than to simply disrupt it. While established players, such as AMP, and the wealth management arms of banks are among those vulnerable to robo-advice, start-ups claim they are not targeting their market. “People talk about disrupting the financial services industry with robo-advice, but only 20 per cent of the country gets advice,” David Pettit, chief executive of Perth-based robo-advice start-up Future Penny, told The Australian. “There’s a massive piece of the market that aren’t seeking or engaging with advice professionals.” Robo-advice delivers investors a low-cost investment management portfolio based on algorithms and technology. […]
