FinLab acquires crowdfunding platform Venturate / Finlab übernimmt Venturate

FinLab AG is pleased to announce that it has acquired a majority stake of 60% of Munich-based crowdfunding platform Venturate AG.

http://www.dgap.de/dgap/News/corporate/finlab-finlab-acquires-majority-stake-crowdfunding-platform-venturate-ag/?companyID=1507

4^th FinTech Forum: line-up of presenting startups announced

The startups presenting at the (sold out) 4^th FinTech Forum event on 19^th March in Frankfurt include a “Financial Facebook”, a “connector” of traditional and cryptocurrencies, and big data analytics for traders and analysts. Check out the “Startups in a Tweet” here: http://www.fintechforum.de/english/programm/

7 Questions with Jens Jenissen of fairr.de

Who are you? My name is Jens Jennissen and I am the founder of Fairr.de GmbH. Fairr.de offers savers innovative and transparent retirement solutions…We currently offer one retirement product, the fairriester, with the aim of broadening the product line this year with one additional product and by entering the market for corporate pensions.

Fidor Bank to Open Branchless Cryptocurrency Platform in US / FIDOR Bank und Bitcoin.de führen Bitcoin Express-Handel ein

Der größte Bitcoin-Marktplatz Europas wird zum weltweit ersten Bitcoin-Handelsplatz mit direkter Anbindung an das klassische Bankensystem. Transaktionen und der Handel mit Bitcoins werden dadurch nicht nur sicherer.

http://newsbtc.com/2015/02/23/fidor-bank-open-branchless-cryptocurrency-platform-us/

AXA sets up EUR200 million disruptive venture fund

AXA has launched a EUR200 million venture capital fund dedicated to investing in budding strategic innovations in the insurance, asset management, financial technology and healthcare service industries.

http://www.finextra.com/news/fullstory.aspx?newsitemid=27039

European alternative finance market breaks EUR2 billion barrier

The European alternative finance market as a whole grew by 144% last year – from €1,211m in 2013 to €2,957m in 2014, according to benchmarking research by the University of Cambridge… Germany is the third-largest online market overall with €140m,

http://www.finextra.com/news/fullstory.aspx?newsitemid=27028

FinTech Investment Expected To Double In 2015

If 2014 finally forced the financial services industry to recognize the ascendance of financial technology, 2015 may end up being the year of the FinTech revolution. Global investment in FinTech is set to double from $10 billion in 2014 to $19.7 billion in 2015, according to a new paper by MarketResearch.com and Banking Reports.

http://m.wealthmanagement.com/blog/fintech-investment-expected-double-2015

The fintech scene is so hot, it’s boiling

I just picked up Silicon Valley Bank’s latest report on Fintech, and it makes fascinating reading.  Here are the headlines: the fourth quarter of 2014 was the busiest time in fintech history, with 214 deals taking place globally; the entire fintech market saw 211 acquisitions in 2014 alone, making it the most prolific period of the last 5 years…

http://www.nextbank.org/2015/02/23/the-fintech-scene-is-so-hot-its-boiling/

Registrations open for the ultimate #FinTech conference

We are FinTech veterans and pioneers: the right mix of experts, entrepreneurs, bankers, innovators and misfits @FinTechStage, Milan 30-31 March 2015. Register here with the partner discount code FS25OFF. http://bit.ly/1Hr2Mqf

The BBVA bank vaults that hoard data instead of bullion

…Spain’s second-largest bank, which has a major presence in Turkey, Latin America and the US, has established itself as one of the most ardent disciples of digital transformation. Between 2011 and 2013, it spent an average of €850m a year on investing in technology, infastructure — such as data centres — and software development.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/bbbfebc4-b79f-11e4-981d-00144feab7de.html#ixzz3St1NYvFb

Cool Infographic of the German FinTech Startup Scene / Die deutsche FinTech-Start-up-Szene als schicke Infografik

FinTech. Egal wo man derzeit hinschaut, überall dreht sich alles um FinTech! Passend zum Boom gibt es nun auch eine schicke Infografik über die deutsche Fintech-Start-up-Szene.

http://www.deutsche-startups.de/2015/02/19/die-deutsche-fintech-start-szene-als-schicke-infografik/

Visa brings tokenisation to Europe; preps P2P/social media payments service

Visa Europe is to launch a tokenisation service customised for the European marketplace in mid-April in a move which would pave the way for the roll out of Apple Pay across the continent.

http://www.finextra.com/news/fullstory.aspx?newsitemid=27030

Google building a new payment system? / Android Pay: Google entwickelt neues Bezahlsystem

Google bereitet laut Insidern den Launch einer neuen Payment-API vor. Mit Android Pay können Entwickler mobile Zahlungen in ihre App integrieren. Die Technologie soll bei der Google I/O im Mai vorgestellt werden. Google Wallet soll als eigenständige Anwendung weiter existieren.

http://www.gruenderszene.de/allgemein/android-pay-google-apple-jawbone

Deutsche Börse plant bis Sommer Plattform für Start-ups

Bis zum Sommer will die Deutsche Börse eine Plattform für Start-ups an den Start bringen. Wie diese vorbörsliche Plattform für Start-ups funktionieren soll? Über die Plattform, wie auch immer sie aussehen soll, können sich Start-ups und Investoren erst einmal in einem wohl geschützten Bereich beschnuppern.

http://www.deutsche-startups.de/2015/02/20/deutsche-boerse-plattform-startups/

Umbau bei Kreditech sorgt für Stellenstreichungen in Hamburg

Kreditech wächst, und das rasant. Drei Jahre nach Gründung ist das Fintech-Startup in neun Ländern aktiv, es beschäftigt über 200 Mitarbeiter, im Blick hat das Unternehmen ein Wachstum von „weit mehr als 500 Prozent pro Jahr“, wie CFO René Griemens vor wenigen Wochen erklärte.

http://www.gruenderszene.de/allgemein/kreditech-ausland-tochter

Fidor Bank AG: FIDOR Bank Reports Positive Preliminary Result for 2014 and Continues its Growth Course

FIDOR Bank AG announces preliminary figures for the year 2014: the bank’s preliminary unaudited financial statements show a net after-tax profit of approximately €2.5 million (previous year: €0.2 million). Total assets increased by 33% to €305 million.

http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/fidor-bank-ag-fidor-bank-reports-positive-preliminary-result-for-2014-and-continues-its-growth-course-293612421.html

Wirecard Presents Innovative Solution for Card Payments at POS Terminals

Wirecard is to expand the range of functions for point of sale (POS) terminals with an intelligent payment interface.

http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/wirecard-presents-innovative-solution-for-card-payments-at-pos-terminals-293799281.html

Liebe Mobile-Payment-Anbieter: Ihr habt es versiebt!

Liebe Anbieter mobiler Bezahlverfahren, als ich im Februar letzten Jahres einen offenen Brief an euch gerichtet und geschrieben habe, dass der Hype beim Mobile Payment nur in eurem Kopf sei, bekam ich bitterböse E-Mails und wurde beschimpft oder ausgelacht.

http://t3n.de/news/mobile-payment-anbieter-kommentar-595030/