Japan’s SoftBank to invest €900m in Wirecard
Japan’s SoftBank has agreed to invest €900m in Wirecard, the German digital payments company battling an accounting scandal. SoftBank, a technology conglomerate that has become one of the sector’s biggest and most high-profile investors, will buy five-year Wirecard bonds that can convert into an equity stake in the Germany company.
https://www.ft.com/content/d8890d2c-6659-11e9-9adc-98bf1d35a056
Millionen-Investment für Konkurrent von Funding Circle
Das Zürcher Startup Teylor hat in einer Finanzierungsrunde eine Million Schweizer Franken (umgerechnet etwa 900.000 Euro) eingesammelt. Zu den Geldgebern gehört das Unternehmen Steinbeis, das Gründungen unterstützt, aber auch mit Hochschulen kooperiert.
https://www.gruenderszene.de/fintech/millionen-teylor-finanzierung
The Future of Banking: guest post by Money2020 Europe
The journey from unbundling to rebundling and back has been a formidable one. Emerging technologies and the pace of innovation are driving changes throughout the banking industry at an unprecedented rate. From Asia to Europe, U.S. to Africa, and Australia to the Middle East, consumers are not only increasingly adopting digital – most are demanding it.
http://www.fintechforum.de/the-future-of-banking-guest-post-by-money2020-europe/
Cologne-based blockchain startup Ubirch raises funding for its IoT cybersecurity solution
Cologne-based blockchain startup Ubirch develops security solutions for the network industry and the Internet of Things, using encryption and blockchain technology to protect sensitive data. Founded in 2014, the startup has completed its second funding round in the seven-digit euro range. The financing round was led by existing shareholder SchneiderGolling & Cie. AG, BAUWENS digital GmbH, and ProInvest Ubirch GbR.
Soma Closes €1.1M Bridge Funding Round
Soma, a Helsinki, Finland-based blockchain-based social marketplace startup, closed a €1.1M bridge funding round.
The round included a substantial investment from the Finnish Government as well as private angel investors.
http://www.finsmes.com/2019/04/soma-closes-e1-1m-bridge-funding-round.html
Madrid-based Bdeo raises €1 million for its video-based insurtech solution
Madrid-based Bdeo facilitates the digital transformation process for insurance companies with its visual intelligence solutions, which can generate savings in operational costs exceeding 70%, while improving the insured party’s experience.
Founded in 2017, Bdeo has now raised €1 million from Spanish firms Big Sur Ventures and K Fund.
Stripe acquires Touchtech, updates APIs to prep for strong customer authentication in Europe
Stripe, the payments powerhouse that is now valued at $22.5 billion, has made an acquisition to help it gear up for new regulations in Europe that will be rolled out later this year to improve security in online transactions. It has acquired Touchtech Payments, a startup out of Ireland that works with banks to help them build and manage Strong Customer Authentication, a verification process that will typically require customers to provide two different forms of authentication from card holders in order to process transactions.
N26 Bank finds new CFO
The N26 Bank has found a new finance and risk manager in Richard Groeneveld. He previously worked for the troubled DZ-Bank subsidiary DVB and aims to lift the fintech’s processes to the next level.
https://www.finance-magazin.de/cfo/cfo-wechsel/n26-bank-findet-neuen-finanzchef-2035421/
Upcoming Events:
Looking to connect to the European FinTech & InsurTech ecosystem? Here is a selection of events we are speaking at or attending:
InsurTech Week Cologne: 20-24 May 2019, Cologne http://insurtech-cologne.de/#veranstaltungen
Money2020 Europe: 3-5 Jun. 2019, Amsterdam https://goo.gl/BuC5TC
Digital Insurance Agenda: 25-27 Jun. 2019 http://www.digitalinsuranceagenda.com/dia-amsterdam-2019/
6 weeks to go for Money2020 Europe – use M19FIFOR to save €200
This June the most powerful and proactive elements across the global Financial Services community will combine at #M2020Eu, and we will be there! Join us to discover the elixir set to futureproof your business using the FinTech Forum discount code M19FIFOR to save €200 on your pass https://goo.gl/BuC5TC
FinTech Forum partners:
www.advinda.com
www.be-tse.de/en/
www.boersen-zeitung.de/
www.eschborn.de
www.heussen-law.de
www.innovationhub.innogy.com
www.investhk.gov.hk/
www.miles-and-more.com
www.dvfa.de/