Software moguls back Australian SaaS start-up Practice Ignition
Australian Software as a Service (SaaS) start-up Practice Ignition has signed on major investor Adrian Di Marco, founder of Australia’s most successful enterprise software company TechnologyOne, in its latest round of funding. Mr Di Marco joins existing investors MYOB co-founder Craig Winkler, Canadian-based Real Ventures and a high level executive from US startup unicorn Gusto (formerly Zen Payroll), signifying growing confidence in the strength of the accounting software provider. Practice Ignition supports accountants in embracing cloud-based software, enabling accountants to establish a virtual CFO relationship with their small business owner clients and deliver them an exceptional client experience. This frictionless engagement between accountants and their clients streamlines processes and removes […]
DirectMoney eyes $32bn card debt as it targets $100m in loans
Recently-listed marketplace lender DirectMoney is targeting $100 million in loans a year as it goes after the banks’ $32 billion in revolving credit card debt. Chief executive Peter Beaumont said it was surprising that so many people were paying up to 20 per cent interest rates on credit card balances when there are much lower personal loan rates available, including DirectMoney’s, which averages 13.2 per cent. The firm’s lending rates range from 8.5 per cent to 18.5 per cent based on the risk of the borrower. “The age of rolling balances on credit cards is coming to an end,” he told Fairfax Media. “There’s about $32 billion being rolled over […]
Fintech funds are drying up, but some local players welcome the drought
Aris Allegos, the founder of online small business lender Moula, was an entrepreneur in the dotcom era and an investment banker during the global financial crisis, so he has seen first hand the havoc a speculative frenzy can create. But as the torrent of capital from US funds backing start-ups in the burgeoning fintech industry slows, instead of panicking, this time around Allegos and his rivals are more relaxed. Although less capital will mean not all start-ups will survive, a more rational approach by investors will ensure money isn’t wasted, local fintech players say. “Before the [dotcom bust] an IPO document would say ‘This business gets X number of eyeballs’ […]
Gruden to list after reverse takeover of Exoma Energy
Digital marketing and app development firm Gruden will list on the ASX as early as this week through a reverse takeover of Exoma Energy, in a deal worth $7 million. Gruden itself is a collection of specialist technology companies with offices in Sydney, China and Malaysia and its self-proclaimed “jewel in the crown” is MobileDen, a mobile payments platform used by the likes of Starbucks, Woolworths, Red Rooster, Oporto and Donut King. The federal and NSW state governments are also clients. MobileDen offers a number of white-labelled mobile services such as digital loyalty, mobile ordering, digital wallets and targeted advertising as consumers continue to ditch physical cards and replace them […]
‘EY Fintech Adoption Index’ – out today
Ernst & Young have now released their ‘EY Fintech Adoption Index’ which outlines how quickly the market is taking up FinTech products. While we are a market leader in the adoption of credit card contactless payment technologies we are slow to take up FinTech products. As our market matures this is sure to change. Exploring a new financial services landscape Driven by innovative startups and major technology players, the booming FinTech industry is capturing traditional market share by offering customers easy-to-use and compelling products and services. We surveyed more than 10,000 digitally active people in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States to better understand […]
CBA eyes collaboration with fintech companies in Asia and Europe
Kelly Bayer Rosmarin, CBA’s (CBA) Group Executive, Institutional Banking and Markets, said the Hong Kong and London labs highlighted the banks’ global approach to innovation that connected customers, employees and start-up communities to the latest fintech developments. “Hong Kong’s highly developed financial sector, strong entrepreneurial culture and proximity to China makes it the optimal location for us to establish an innovation presence in Asia,” she said in a statement. “The Hong Kong Lab will allow us to partner with the brightest minds across the city’s accelerator, government, university, start-up and fintech communities to further develop creative and innovative solutions for our clients.” Speaking in Hong Kong at the opening ceremony […]
The Australian FinTech Ecosystem’s Growth is Breathtaking
Here’s a great article and infographic that has been written by Lets talk Payments. It is always nice to get an outsiders view of a market, especially when it’s as positive as this one. Continuing our world FinTech haul after looking at London, New York, Hong Kong, Singapore and other international FinTech hubs, we decided to take a closer look at the Australian FinTech ecosystem. Recently, Aussie banks and investors have demonstrated a passionate interest in exploring opportunities with FinTech, which worth taking into consideration if you are looking for international expansion. Source: The Australian FinTech Ecosystem’s Growth is Breathtaking | Let’s Talk Payments
Ken Henry says NAB has strong capital and is ready to embrace fintech future
“If digital innovation leads to more efficient ways of achieving credit intermediation, we are in a strong position to embrace those new efficiencies. Maybe the whole sector becomes more efficient. If it does, our customers will benefit. “The establishment of NAB Labs, an innovation lab in Melbourne, and NAB Ventures, a corporate investment fund to invest in start-ups, aims to imbed an innovation culture across the bank, Dr Henry said, while also providing access to cutting edge ideas where they are emerging globally. “We are not sitting on hands here. We see [fintech] as both interesting, and an opportunity for us to do what we currently do better and for […]
