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☆ Check out the pitch deck that helped Kennek, a London fintech startup that helps digitize private credit providers, raise $12.5 million in seed funding
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Kennek, a London fintech startup that helps digitize private credit providers, has raised $12.5 million. Founded in 2021, the company offers a SaaS platform to the non-bank lending space. Kennek, a London-based fintech startup that helps private credit businesses digitize their offerings, has raised $12.5 million in seed funding, the company said Tuesday. Founded in 2021, Kennek was founded by a team of former operators in the banking and credit spaces to provide better digital tooling to the non-bank lending industry. Banks lend less than they used to, which has led to many smaller, alternative credit providers springing up to provide alternatives.

Persons: Kennek, Banks, Xavier De Pauw Locations: London

☆ Here are Friday's biggest analyst calls: Netflix, Nvidia, Eli Lilly, Disney, Levi's, Exxon, Walmart and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

JPMorgan reiterates Exxon as overweight JPMorgan said it's standing by its buy rating on the oil and gas giant. Seaport initiates Netflix as buy Seaport said it sees plenty of upside in shares of Netflix. JPMorgan upgrades Eaton to overweight from neutral JPMorgan said the industrial and electrical company is best in class. UBS reiterates Levi's as buy UBS said Levi's is still an attractive stock despite the company's disappointing earnings report Thursday. " JPMorgan upgrades Apellis to overweight from neutral JPMorgan said the pharmaceutical company is well-positioned for more upside.

Persons: Piper Sandler, Bernstein, Disney, XOM, Jefferies, TD Cowen, Cowen, Eaton, Eli Lilly, Doug McMillon, Berenberg, Morgan Stanley, Meta, Levi's, Oppenheimer downgrades O'Reilly, AutoZone, Oppenheimer, it's, Truist Organizations: Disney, Netflix, Hulu, JPMorgan, Exxon, Barclays, Nvidia, Intel, Gaudi, Citi, Discover Citi, DFS, Seaport, Bank of America, Energy, of America, Apple, Vegas, Prix, Clearway Energy, Walmart, United Auto Workers, Auto, Meta, UBS Locations: Parks, NVDA, China, ETN, TEL, AZO, ORLY

☆ Veteran Apple investor Alan Patricof says AI is the 'flavor of the month'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Venture capitalist Alan Patricof has a cautionary message about an AI bubble. "Everyone wants to be at an AI company — it's the flavor of the month," Patricof told the New York Post. Patricof recommends investing in companies utilizing AI as a tool, rather than buying AI platforms. AdvertisementAdvertisementAlan Patricof, the venture capitalist known for his investments in Apple and Venmo, has a cautionary message about an AI bubble. "Everyone wants to be at an AI company — it's the flavor of the month," said Patricof during a Thursday interview with the New York Post.

Persons: Alan Patricof, —, Patricof, Mostaque, David Rosenberg, James Penny, Wharton, Jeremy Siegel, Dan Raju, Raju Organizations: New York, Patricof, Service, Apple, Apax Partners, AOL, TAM Asset Management

☆ Kazakh's fintech Freedom is being investigated by US SEC, DOJ - CNBC
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The headquarters of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are seen in Washington, July 6, 2009. The SEC's Boston regional office has been probing Freedom for months, the report said, citing documents seen by CNBC and people familiar with the matter. The allegations in the Hindenburg report are without merit, Freedom had said then. The U.S. Attorney's Office for Massachusetts is also making preliminary inquiries into Freedom, the CNBC report added. The SEC declined to comment on the existence or nonexistence of a possible investigation, whereas the Department of Justice and Freedom did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

Persons: Jim Bourg, Freedom, Hindenburg, Jaiveer Singh, Shinjini Organizations: U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, REUTERS, U.S . Department of Justice, Securities, Exchange, CNBC, Boston, Attorney's, Massachusetts, Department of Justice, Thomson Locations: Washington, Kazakhstan, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ Kazakh fintech Freedom Holding is being investigated by DOJ, SEC, documents show
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The SEC's Boston regional office has been probing Freedom for months, according to documents seen by CNBC and people familiar with the matter. The U.S. Attorney's Office for Massachusetts is also making preliminary inquiries into Freedom, documents seen by CNBC show. Nearly 115,000 Freedom shares changed hands in the first half hour of trading, 1.25 times the stock's 10-day average. Turlov and Freedom are aware of the SEC probe, which has been going on for months, a person familiar with the matter told CNBC. An SEC spokesperson told CNBC that it doesn't comment on the existence or nonexistence of an investigation.

Persons: that's, Timur Turlov, Turlov, Hindenburg, Citron Organizations: Nasdaq, Securities, Exchange, CNBC, Boston, Attorney's, Massachusetts, SEC, DOJ, Justice, Hindenburg, Citron Research, Las, Trump, Financial, Financial Industry, Authority, Freedom Locations: Almaty, Kazakhstan, Russian, U.S, Kazakh, Central Asia, Eastern Europe, New York, Las Vegas, New

☆ This Singaporean is raising her kids in Sweden. Here are 3 parenting habits she picked up
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Goh Chiew Tong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

They love life a little bit more because they know how to enjoy it," said Min, a Singaporean raising her kids in Sweden. For the past nine years, Min, a Singaporean, has been traveling and working in various places — from South Korea to Spain and now, Sweden. Free playLiving in Sweden brought Min and her family much closer to nature — her kids attend forest school on the weekends. "In Sweden, children have a lot of say, they are respected and they have a voice — just like adults," Min said. But in Sweden, kids can choose whether they want to use the time to get some shuteye — or play.

Persons: Min, We've, — Organizations: Autonomy Locations: Sweden, South Korea, Spain, Stockholm, Singapore, preschools

☆ This AI company wants to help you control your dreams
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Hayden Field | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

It's a tech startup building what the company calls the "world's first wearable device for stabilizing lucid dreams." Lucid dreams occur when a person sleeping becomes aware they're dreaming and may be able to control parts of the dream. Humane AI, a company founded in 2017 by former Apple employees, debuted its wearable — the AI Pin — on the runway last week at Paris Fashion Week. And famed iPhone designer Jony Ive and OpenAI's Sam Altman are also reportedly discussing an AI hardware project. The co-founders have the type of lofty dreams typical of a modern-era tech startup, with Wollberg comparing the company to OpenAI.

Persons: Eric Wollberg, Wesley Berry, Wollberg, Berry, Grimes, BoxGroup, Card79, Jony, Sam Altman, Prometheus Organizations: a16z's Scout Fund, Plaid, Elon, Apple, Paris Fashion, Donders Institute for Brain, Radboud University Locations: Netherlands

☆ NTT Docomo forms capital tie-up with Monex to strengthen financial business
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

TOKYO, Oct 4 (Reuters) - Japanese mobile operator NTT Docomo said it formed a capital tie-up with fintech firm Monex Group (8698.T) on Wednesday to build a new financial services business centred on managing its customers' assets. Monex's brokerage unit Monex Inc will form an intermediate holding company in which Docomo will take a 49% stake and make its consolidated subsidiary, Docomo said. Docomo will buy shares of the intermediate holding company from Monex Group for 46.56 billion yen ($312.00 million) and subscribe to a third-party allotment of shares worth 2 billion yen, Monex said. ($1 = 149.2300 yen)Reporting by Satoshi Sugiyama Editing by Chang-Ran KimOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Docomo, Monex, Satoshi Sugiyama, Chang, Ran Kim Organizations: NTT Docomo, Monex Group, Thomson Locations: TOKYO

☆ The wonky world of regulation is actually a hot spot for fintech investing. Here are 12 compliance startups set to take off.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Bianca Chan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Insider asked more than 30 top fintech investors to nominate the most promising startups. Here are 12 up-and-coming fintechs looking to offer solutions to wonky regulations and tax rules. Startup investors are zeroing in on fintechs that make it easier for businesses to comply with regulations and tax policies. Funding for fintechs has slid since 2021, but one bright spot has been startups that sell regulatory tech to financial services players. Such "regtech" players had a record 2022, according to KPMG, as the value of deals in this space hit $20.9 billion.

Persons: KPMG's Organizations: fintechs, KPMG

☆ Brite Payments, a fintech startup founded by a former Klarna employee, just raised $60 million using this 10-slide pitch deck
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Fintech startup Brite Payments has raised $60 million in venture capital funding as it looks to scale its European operations. Founded in 2019, the Swedish firm is in the instant bank transfer space, a burgeoning sector of open banking known as account-to-account (A2A) payments. Based in Stockholm, Brite was founded by a former employee at buy-now, pay-later giant Klarna, Lena Hackelöer, and operates in 25 countries leveraging Europe wide open banking regulation, known as PSD2. Its latest capital injection comes from London fund Dawn Capital which led the round alongside Headline and existing investor Incore. You can check out Brite Payment's 10 slide pitch deck below:

Persons: Brite, Lena Hackelöer, Hackelöer Organizations: Dawn Capital Locations: Swedish, Stockholm, Europe, London, Sweden, Malaga, Spain

☆ Check out the animated slides that helped a golf-betting app raise $2 million from VCs and $50,000 from users
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Margaret Fleming | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

LoopGolf is an on-course betting app that lets golfers wager with their friends on their own games. The startup raised $2 million from VCs and $50,000 from supporters through a newsletter callout. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAdvertisementWhen Matt Rum worked at Square on developing Cash App, he and his coworkers played a lot of golf on the weekends. Rum said the multiplayer experience has also helped drive customers toward the app because users are incentivized to get their friends to sign up.

Persons: —, Matt Rum, Thomas Reinholm, Reinholm, Rum, LoopGolf, it's, Mike Bartels, We've, we're Organizations: Service Locations: Rum, VCs, LoopGolf

☆ Revolut strikes share deal with SoftBank to remove barrier to UK licence - FT
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logo of SoftBank Group Corp is displayed at SoftBank World 2017 conference in Tokyo, Japan, July 20, 2017. Revolut and SoftBank had been locked in months of negotiations, with the Japanese investor demanding stiff compensation for giving up its priority class of shares, the report said. The fintech startup can only win a UK banking license if it gets rid of preference shares held by investors including SoftBank. The standoff was one of the reasons Revolut could not immediately get a banking license. The BOE and SoftBank did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment on the report, while Revolut and the FCA declined to comment.

Persons: Issei Kato, Revolut, SoftBank, The BOE, Akanksha, Maju Samuel Organizations: SoftBank, REUTERS, Financial Times, Bank of England, Tiger Global Management, Balderton, Ribbit, Financial, Authority, The, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, TCV, Bengaluru

☆ Watch CNBC's full extended interview with Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev on AI, credit cards and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWatch CNBC's full extended interview with Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev on AI, credit cards and moreCNBC's Kate Rooney sits down with Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev to discuss the fintech company's outlook for the next 10 years, how it plans to adapt to a changing stock market, and the release of the movie "Dumb Money", a fictional retelling of the GameStop retail trading saga.

Persons: Vlad Tenev, Kate Rooney Organizations: GameStop

Several venture capitalists call New York home and are writing checks to startups of all stages. The city's prominent sectors like finance and media are also prevalent in its VC activity. Insider compiled a list of New York's top VCs, based on recommendations and investment data. The Big Apple's venture capital scene is as strong as ever. This story is available exclusively to Insider subscribers.

Organizations: Street Locations: New York

☆ As interest rates soar, buy stocks like this homebuilder, Wall Street analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Interest rates keep climbing, but that's not stopping Wall Street analysts from finding a slew of stocks to buy. CNBC Pro combed through top Wall Street research to find stocks that are beneficiaries of high interest rates. HealthEquity "We view HQY as an attractive investment in a higher interest rate environment that can function as a portfolio diversifier," according to Baird analyst Mark Marcon. The firm said as middle market businesses face rising interest rates, Bunge can take advantage. Toll Brothers High interest rates are no problem for the homebuilder, Raymond James analyst Buck Horne said in a recent note.

Persons: Bunge, Baird, Mark Marcon, Marcon, Goldman Sachs, Adam Samuelson, Samuelson, Raymond James, Buck Horne, Horne, homebuilders, TOL, HealthEquity, Morgan Stanley Organizations: CNBC, Bank of America, Toll, HealthEquity, Costco, Evercore ISI, CMA, Catering Locations: HealthEquity, homebuilders, homebuilding

☆ Best High-Yield Savings Accounts for October 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Martha C. White | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +18 min

With the Federal Reserve steadily raising interest rates to fight inflation, high-yield savings account payouts have steadily risen, too. After years of near-zero returns, the average savings account rate has risen to 0.45%, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Their new High-Yield Savings account offers a 3.5% APY, but you need a hefty $5,000 deposit to open the account. Unlike some high-yield online savings accounts, you earn a high APY—currently 5%—on every dollar in your account. You can conduct immediate electronic transfers between your brokerage account and savings account, and manage both savings and investment activities on a single platform.

Persons: Martha C, it’s, JPMorgan Chase, Wells, Wells Fargo, Ally, Synchrony, UFB, —, Achilles, We’ve, Foster, Alliant, Morgan Stanley, Marcus, Goldman Sachs, Charles Schwab, Charles Schwab Bank Charles Schwab Organizations: Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, Capital, National, One’s, JPMorgan, JPMorgan Chase JPMorgan Chase &, Chase Savings, Ally, Synchrony, CIT, First Citizens, Bank, Axos Bank, Webster Bank, National Bank, Zelle, Alliance Data Systems, Comenity Capital Bank, FDIC, Foster Care, Navy, Navy Federal, Savings, Morgan Stanley Private, Morgan Stanley Private Bank, Bloomberg, Trade, Charles, Charles Schwab Bank, Best Bank, National Credit Union Administration, dateline Locations: Chase, Zelle, Ally’s, Utah, Chicago, U.S, .

☆ Apron, a fintech founded by an ex-Revolut staffer, just raised $15 million in a round backed by Index Ventures with this 19-slide pitch deck
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Apron, a fintech startup that simplifies invoice payments for small businesses, has raised $15 million in a round led by Revolut-backer Index Ventures. The London-based company, founded in 2022, has developed a payments platform that pulls invoices into one place and enables firms to batch-pay their suppliers. Apron takes fees on associated interchange charges and also offers a three-tier subscription model. The $15 million in funding was led by Index Ventures, alongside Bessemer Venture Partners and Visionaries Club, and follows a $5.5 million seed round from July. Apron's new capital will go towards strengthening its team of 20 employees and doubling down on product and marketing capabilities.

Persons: Bogdan Uzbekov, we've Organizations: Revolut, Ventures, Index Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, Club Locations: London, Revolut

☆ New York remains top financial centre, London clings to second place - survey
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] The Wall Street sign is pictured at the New York Stock exchange (NYSE) in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., March 9, 2020. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 28 (Reuters) - New York has easily remained the world's top financial centre with London still second and gaining some ground, but also facing a tougher fight with Singapore and Hong Kong, the Global Financial Centres index showed on Thursday. Singapore, however, is now only 2 points behind London at 742, itself only a point ahead of Hong Kong in fourth place, signalling an intensifying battle for the second spot. The index is compiled every six months by London-based think tank Z/Yen and the China Development Institute. Reporting by Huw Jones Editing by Mark PotterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Carlo Allegri, London, Huw Jones, Mark Potter Organizations: New York Stock, REUTERS, Global, ., World Bank, OECD, United Nations, Arm Holdings, London, China Development Institute, New, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S, New York, London, Singapore, Hong Kong, . New York, San Francisco

☆ Mastercard and Visa have been practically unstoppable, says Jim Cramer
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Jim Cramer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Mastercard and Visa have been practically unstoppable, says Jim Cramer'Mad Money' host Jim Cramer takes a closer look at the fintech space.

Persons: Jim Cramer Organizations: Mastercard, Visa

☆ India's top 20 start-ups to work for, according to LinkedIn — most are new on the list
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Goh Chiew Tong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

The days of easy money are over as entrepreneurs face a funding winter amid a slowing global economy — and start-ups in India are not exempt. According to a local report, venture funding came in at $2.19 billion from January to March, dropping from the $11.34 billion invested in the same quarter last year. However, there are sectors that have "demonstrated resilience amid challenging times," said Pooja Chhabria, LinkedIn APAC's head of editorial. "Fintech remains a bright spot for investors despite the downturn, especially as we see funding on the recovery path and global tech giants eyeing fintech in India," she added. "The rise of edtech also underscores the continued demand for upskilling among professionals and students, especially with rapid changes due to technologies such as AI."

Persons: Pooja Chhabria, edtech Locations: India

☆ South Africa's MTN fintech arm pushes into remittances, business payments
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An MTN logo is seen outside the company's headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa, March 13, 2023. With about 9 million registered mobile money subscribers in South Africa, MTN South Africa's Chief Financial Services Officer Bradwin Roper told reporters on Thursday the group is largely focusing on the roughly 15% of South Africans that are still unbanked. South Africa-based mobile money users will now be able to send money to recipients across over 10 African countries in real time if they are also registered users of the MTN service, Roper said. To make payments easier for such business owners, MTN also launched what it says are cheaper-to-rent point-of-sale devices that merge payments and other added services like airtime purchases into one device. MTN relaunched its South African mobile money business early in 2020, more than three years after closing it.

Persons: Siphiwe, Bradwin Roper, Roper, Nqobile Dludla, Jan Harvey Organizations: MTN, REUTERS, Rights, MTN South Africa's, Financial, Thomson Locations: Johannesburg, South Africa, Rights JOHANNESBURG, Africa, South

☆ JPMorgan doubles down on startup banking by scooping up SVB veterans. Here's the bank's plan to take advantage of the venture capital slump.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Hayley Cuccinello | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The March implosion of Silicon Valley Bank created a banking vacuum in the startup world. In 2019, the group poached four executives from SVB to work with venture capital funds and their portfolio companies. But these plans were accelerated by the collapse as customers fled to JPMorgan from SVB as well as First Republic, which JPMorgan now owns. First Republic also served emerging venture capital firms, an untapped client segment for JPMorgan's commercial bank. In some aspects, the breakdown of SVB strengthened JPMorgan's appeal to tech upstarts that had previously eschewed too-big-to-fail banks, Smith said.

Persons: John China, Melissa Smith, Smith, playbook, Jamie Dimon, SVB, Darya, fintech Organizations: Valley Bank, JPMorgan, SVB, West Coast, Bay Area, Silicon Valley Bank, Capital, fintech Aumni, Capital Connect Locations: Beijing, Frankfurt, London, Stockholm, Sydney, Tel Aviv, Zurich, San Francisco, New York, Silicon Valley, West, SVB, Republic, Israel, fundraises

☆ Series, a fintech helping enterprises automate back-office functions, just raised $25 million in fresh funds with this Notion memo
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Series, a fintech startup that aims to simplify finance and operations management for enterprises, has raised $25 million in fresh funds. The San Francisco-based company, founded in 2021, enables enterprises to handle a vast array of business departments from a single platform. Series' platform allows companies to manage areas including payments operations, business-to-business payments, payroll, HR, and treasury management. Series has raised $25 million across pre-seed and seed funding which it did using a pitch memo in Notion, an increasingly common form of attracting investor attention. Series most recent funding round closed earlier this year and the fresh capital has gone towards hiring as it looks to grow out its 30-strong team.

Persons: Brexton Pham, Kleiner Perkins, Rob Lowe Organizations: Hustle, One Ventures, Caffeinated, Wischoff Ventures Locations: San Francisco, HOF Capital

☆ Here are top 10 Singapore start-ups to work for, according to LinkedIn — most are in fintech
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Goh Chiew Tong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Venture funding has taken a hit since 2022, as investors pull back on capital amid economic headwinds. According to a report from research firm Tracxn, total funding into Southeast Asian startups fell by 71% to $2.3 billion in the first half of 2023 — compared to the same period one year ago. Singapore startups attracted at least half of the funding and was the most-funded Southeast Asian city in the region, said the report. LinkedIn added that the startups that made the list "have trailblazed their way through recent economic and workplace challenges — and managed to stand out to investors and top talent along the way."

Persons: — Organizations: LinkedIn Locations: Singapore, Asian

☆ OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says he worked so hard on building his first startup with his ex-boyfriend that he got scurvy
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, said he got scurvy from working too hard on his first startup, Loopt. AdvertisementAdvertisementSam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, may have learned how to manage his workload the hard way — through malnutrition, according to a New York Magazine profile. He told New York Magazine he worked so hard on building Loopt that he got scurvy — a vitamin-C deficiency that stems from not eating enough fruits and vegetables. After selling the company, Altman said, he took a year off and spent his free time reading books, traveling, and playing video games. AdvertisementAdvertisement"It changed my life," Altman told New York Magazine of the ashram.

Persons: Sam Altman, ChatGPT, —, Altman, Nick Sivo, Loopt didn't, Loopt, Sivo —, I'm, Altman didn't Organizations: Service, New York Magazine, Stanford University, New, OpenAI Locations: Cambridge , Massachusetts

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