Advanced analytics and machine-learning applications present financial services firms with a challenge. On one hand, consumers want their financial institutions to utilize technology to provide new and more frictionless services. But they also want their sensitive personal data to be protected to the fullest extent possible.
Read More“'A sad day for the American financial system… It represents a significant blow to New York City's economy and marks the end of an era in American finance.'' That’s a 1990 quote from then-Rep. Charles Schumer discussing the demise of Drexel Burnham, a firm that pioneered junk bonds.
Read More“And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or on their foreheads. And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” That passage from the Book of Revelations describes the mark that everyone will need to have in or on their bodies during the “end times.”
Read MoreLooking back, it’s hard to believe the skepticism in the online lending sector that greeted the arrival of Marcus, Goldman Sachs’ online retail lending arm. After a few growing pains, Marcus has hit its stride, benefiting greatly from a parental balance sheet that has no legacy credit card business or branch network to constrain lending.
Read MoreGuy Gentile is a scrappy entrepreneur who had been involved in a number of risky financial adventures before he was arrested by the FBI. According to this fascinating podcast, though, the real reason the FBI arrested Gentile was to use him to get to someone else they were trying to nab.
Read MoreFrom academics to AI gurus, it seems like everyone has a view on the Zuckerberg-Musk trashtalkathon over AI regulation. For us, recent discussions with finance pros with AI chops have fueled our Muskian perspective. Here’s our theory on Zuckerberg’s position:
Read MorePayPal has partnered with Baidu to let Baidu Wallet users send payments to Paypal’s 17 million-strong merchants worldwide. Also in payments land, Stripe paid an undisclosed amount for Payable to bolster its tax reporting and contractor payments offerings; and Visa has made an investment in Marqeta
Read MoreAlthough Scott Blumstein and Jimmy Levin look like bar mitzvah boys, each just received far more than a $100 check from Grandma. In 25-year-old Blumstein’s case, it was the $8.15 million he received last week as the winner of the World Series of Poker. Said the new millionaire, “I definitely feel like I’m in this position because I’m from New Jersey.”
Read MoreGreater St. Louis is the 19th largest metropolitan area in the US. But somehow, throughout its history and today, the city has managed to punch above its weight in the worlds of business and finance. We were reminded of that theme recently when we connected with SixThirty’s managing partner, Atul Kamra, who discussed the St. Louis-based fintech venture fund and business development program that gets its name from the height and width of the St. Louis Arch (630 feet). Founded in 2013, SixThirty invests up to $100,000 in eight to ten fintech start-ups from around the globe every year and participates in follow-on capital raises as well. The ideal fit for the 10-12 week program is a B2B start-up in its “late seed stage” that has a working product, market traction and early revenue but could use added business development and go-to-market guidance. That support is assisted by the input and network of SixThirty general partners, including Kamra and Brian Matthews. It’s also nurtured through partnerships with firms including Edward Jones, Ernst & Young, State Farm, Reinsurance Group of America (RGA), Twain Financial Partners and UMB, as well as through collaboration with Washington University’s Olin Business School. “Founders don’t come to SixThirty for a general purpose start-up program,” said Kamra. “If you are hungry for capital, go to San Francisco. If you are hungry for revenue, come to St. Louis.”
Read MoreSilvernest is one of several home-sharing platforms connecting homeowners with roommates. But what’s distinctive about the Denver-based company is that it’s riding multiple powerful trends affecting the US economy. According to CEO and co-founder Wendi Burkhardt, the typical homeowner who posts a room for rent on Silvernest is a female baby boomer, often unmarried, who finds herself long on spare rooms and short on companions.
Read MoreTaavet Hinrikus will be stepping down as CEO of UK-based Transferwise, just months after he said he would relocate the company’s HQ to the EU mainland. While this fits the Brexit doomsday scenarios of fintech start-ups fleeing the UK, new financings by Receipt Bank, Soldo, Tide, Curve and Revolut demonstrate that Britannia remains fertile fintech ground.
Read MoreImagine what would happen if you unexpectedly met your maker. If your online habits are typical, your loved ones would have to identify a myriad of accounts, insurance policies, wills and other important records that only you know how and where to access in their entirety.
Read MoreSoFi, which just disclosed that it has applied to the FDIC for an industrial loan charter in Utah, has indicated that it plans to hire up to 400 professionals in Delaware. Also this week, Dash Financial Technologies hired Goldman Sachs capital markets veteran Robert Boylan to head business development, while DefenseStorm added Steve Soukup as chief revenue officer.
Read MoreThe Financial Revolutionist is weekly newsletter and blog focused on the torrid pace of financial innovation. Today, thanks to the exponential rate of technological change, explosion in global trade and new regulations ushered in by the Great Financial Crisis, a new financial revolution is under way. In this battle, virtually every aspect of the greater financial services sector is subject to rigorous challenge. With the Financial Revolutionist, we are aspiring to create a boots-on-the-ground and highly opinionated assessment of important financial innovation developments in the past week.
