FIntech

Citi Mobile Challenge: the next gen Hackathon?

Citi Mobile Challenge: the next gen Hackathon?

With thousand of startups working on the next financial innovations, it is clear that banks – despite all their resources – will find it challenging to be at the forefront of innovation. On the other hand, banks know that they will have to adapt to the world of Finance 2.0 and we have seen many(…)

Banks to compete with Google and Amazon! The empire strikes back?

Banks to compete with Google and Amazon! The empire strikes back?

Google and Amazon the next competitors to banks? This is a recurring theme, which has been debated at length (here and here for example) But banks competing with Google or Amazon, that is, shall we say, more daring… But this is exactly what happened last week, when Santander announced that it will offer cloud storage, therefore(…)

Fintech scene in the UK. And in Switzerland. And Germany. And Romandie!

Fintech scene in the UK. And in Switzerland. And Germany. And Romandie!

Marc Bernegger is a Fintech investor (now venture partner at Orange Growth Capital, previously at NextGFI), and previously a serial entrepreneur. Having been in that space for a long time, he is a very insightful observer of the Fintech developments. As a result, the lists he compiled of people in Fintech are extremely useful for anyone(…)

How a Fintech company could lose $200m. In one day.

How a Fintech company could lose $200m. In one day.

A bank can lose money because it takes risks on its balance sheet, but what about a Fintech startup that only acts as an intermediary ? I wrote in a previous article about the financial concept of Principal vs. Agent, and how disruptive finance has seen a lot of companies focus on being Agents, in(…)

Update: Spain now ahead of New York in Fintech!

Update: Spain now ahead of New York in Fintech!

Further to my previous blog on the world ranking of Fintech places based on Twitter followers, there was some healthy discussions that were well summarised by Silvia Mensdorff: @Huynguyentrieu Love the rain of reactions your blog provocateur has sparked. Looking forward to the updated #fintech twitter ranking — Silvia Mensdorff (@silviamensdorff) December 13, 2014   Of(…)

Fintech: London losing ground to Hong Kong and New York, says Twitter

Fintech: London losing ground to Hong Kong and New York, says Twitter

“I want the UK to lead the world in developing Fintech. That’s my ambition – short and sweet.” (George Osborne, UK Chancellor at the launch of Innovate Finance) And as evidenced by the multiple initiatives coming from the Silicon Valley, New York, Amsterdam, Paris, Berlin, Singapore, Hong Kong, Sydney and many others, this is clearly(…)