TransferMate cross-border B2B payments technology solution announces a €21 million investment from ING Group for a small minority equity stake in the Company. TransferMate and ING have also agreed to a strategic partnership, where TransferMate services will be available to all SME and corporate clients of ING. Using TransferMate’s award-winning cross-border API technology and global payment licences, this partnership will reduce international payments costs and improve cash flow for ING business customers who send or collect funds cross-border. The ING investment follows a recent €30 million investment from Allied Irish Banks to accelerate growth across the USA, Canada, Australia and Europe; and brings…

Credit Suisse Asset Management’s NEXT Investors, an investor in the fintech space, announced the final closing of NEXT Investors II, L.P. (the “Fund”), with approximately USD 261 Million of capital commitments. The Fund will invest in growth-oriented technology and financial services businesses. Alan Freudenstein, Co-Head and Portfolio Manager of NEXT Investors at Credit Suisse Asset Management, said, “The team at NEXT Investors has been investing together for over 18 years, and by leveraging Credit Suisse’s broad banking and technology platform, we are uniquely positioned to source and evaluate investment opportunities in financial services technology and to create value for our…

The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA has launched enforcement proceedings against envion AG. FINMA has evidence that the company may have breached financial market law in relation to an ICO. FINMA launched enforcement proceedings against envion AG in July 2018. The proceedings focus in particular on possible breaches of banking law resulting from the potentially unauthorised acceptance of public deposits in connection with the Initial Coin Offering (ICO) for the EVN token. 100 Mio CHF to be returned to 30’000 investors. Investigations carried out by FINMA to date indicate that, in the context of its ICO, envion AG accepted…

Digital Asset, a provider of distributed ledger solutions announced a new collaboration with Google Cloud to bring Digital Asset’s blockchain platform and developer tools to Google Cloud Platform. Developers now have access to a comprehensive suite of tools and services to build, test and deploy distributed ledger applications on-demand and without having to configure the underlying platform. Blythe Masters, CEO of Digital Asset said, “We’re partnering with Google Cloud to provide developers with a full stack solution so they can unleash the potential for web-paced innovation in blockchain. This will reduce the technical barriers to DLT application development by delivering…

According to IDC’s new Worldwide Semiannual Blockchain Spending Guide, Europe will be the second-largest investor in blockchain technologies. With a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 80.2% for 2017–2022, Europe will increase its spending from around $400 million in 2018 to $3.5 billion in 2022, helping it to close the gap with the U.S., the biggest blockchain investor. 2017 was a significant year for blockchain in Europe, with companies asking themselves how blockchain solutions can help simplify, improve, and secure their businesses. A recent IDC survey across Europe, however, revealed there is still some way to go in terms of…

Bei der SWICA Gesundheitsorganisation können Kunden und Interessierte erstmals mit einem Chatbot austauschen. Dieser ist ein weiteres Puzzleteil in der Digitalisierung und der Erreichbarkeit rund um die Uhr. Die Tests sollen Erkenntnisse bringen, wie der Chatbot genutzt wird und wo sein Wissen noch zu vertiefen ist. SWICA testet erstmals einen Chatbot. Bereits seit Anfang 2016 steht der telefonische Kundenservice 7×24 rund um die Uhr zur Verfügung. Seit Juni 2016 gibt es zudem eine Chat-Funktion, mit der Kunden und Interessierte auf der SWICA-Internetseite in Echtzeit online mit einem KundendienstMitarbeitenden kommunizieren können. Um jederzeit eine hohe telefonische Erreichbarkeit sicherzustellen, wird der Chat…

Carhelper.ch ist die grösste Schweizer Vergleichs- und Buchungsplattform für Autoservice- und Reparaturen. Automobilisten können Garagen online vergleichen und buchen, erhalten automatisch kalkulierte Festpreise und müssen somit nicht auf Offerten der Garagisten warten. Jetzt wird bekannt, dass die Basler Versicherungen und AMAG aktive Investoren bei Carhelper sind. Die Erfolgsgeschichte vom jungen Zürcher Auto-Start-up geht weiter. Das Gründerteam um Matthias Gerber und Aleksander Stevanovic konnten diese Tage eine weitere Investitionsrunde abschliessen. Mit dabei ist der grosse Versicherungskonzern Baloise. Bereits seit zwei Jahren am Jungunternhemen beteiligt sind die AMAG und die Swiss Startup Factory. Anfang 2018 kam die überarbeitete Plattform von Carhelper auf…

At this year’s third meeting of G20 finance ministers in Buenos Aires, Federal Councillor Ueli Maurer underlined Switzerland’s position on cryptocurrencies. In addition, Switzerland joined the call for open markets for goods and services. Regarding the taxation of the digital economy, Switzerland also wants to see a careful examination of the background situation and, based on this, an internationally applicable standard. Switzerland’s Finance Minister Ueli Maurer was at his third meeting of G20 finance ministers this year. He attached particular importance to digitalisation. In the financial sector, in particular, it is important to create the framework necessary for innovation.  At…

The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA has amended the due diligence requirements for client onboarding via digital channels to take account of technological developments. Market participants will be given a transitional period until 1 January 2020 to introduce the relevant changes. Two years on from the publication of the circular on “Video and online identification”, FINMA has carried out an ex-post evaluation of the regulation’s purposefulness. The evaluation has shown that in light of the gained hands-on experience and the rapid pace of technological change, some of the circular’s requirements are no longer optimally aligned with the needs of…

SVC Ltd. for Risk Capital for SMEs (SVC Ltd.), an investment vehicle of Credit Suisse in Switzerland, is investing in Assetmax AG, an asset management service provider based in Zurich and Lugano. This is SVC Ltd.’s second investment in a fintech after providing Tradeplus 24 AG with growth capital in the fourth quarter of last year. SVC Ltd. has a total of 130 million Swiss francs available for investments in Swiss SMEs, 30 million of which is specifically for fintechs. After Credit Suisse provided its subsidiary SVC Ltd. for Risk Capital for SMEs with CHF 30 million in additional investment…

Financial services are changing – changes are being driven by evolving customer behaviour, by the emergence of new types of financial services, and increasingly by novel technology and business models driving the fintech revolution. These changes are happening against a backdrop of fundamental changes across all sectors as the way we work, communicate and live rapidly evolves, which means businesses, and especially banks, need to adapt to new ways of operating and new service paradigms. Money and the nature of value are transforming, as different currency systems emerge, which don’t fit existing classifications, while central banks and commercial banks are…

Die Scout24 AG, ein Betreiber digitaler Marktplätze mit Fokus auf Immobilien und Automobile in Deutschland und anderen ausgewählten europäischen Ländern, hat eine Vereinbarung zum Erwerb sämtlicher Anteile an der FFG FINANZCHECK Finanzportale GmbH, einem deutschen Online-Vergleichsportal für Verbraucherkredite, unterzeichnet. Scout24 übernimmt Finanzcheck.de von Acton Capital Partners, btov Partners, Highland Europe, HarbourVest Partners sowie von dem Gründer und CEO und anderen Investoren. Das Closing steht unter dem Vorbehalt der kartellrechtlichen Genehmigung und wird in den nächsten vier bis sechs Wochen erwartet. Die Transaktion erfolgt auf Basis einer Gegenleistung in Höhe von 285 Millionen Euro, frei von Barmitteln und Schulden. Der Kaufpreis…

Bayern Kapital hat sich an der Münchener wealthpilot GmbH beteiligt. Das Finanztechnologie-Start-up hat eine zweite Finanzierungsrunde erfolgreich abgeschlossen. Angeführt wurde die Runde von erfahrenen Start-up-Unternehmern. Neben dem Neuinvestor Bayern Kapital hatten sich aber auch die Altgesellschafter beteiligt. wealthpilot ist ein führender Anbieter von Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)-Lösungen für die Vermögensberatung. Mit den eingeworbenen Mitteln will wealthpilot vor allem neue Funktionen in die SaaS-Plattform integrieren, seine Vertriebsteams weiter ausbauen und den Wachstumskurs fortsetzen. Mit der SaaS-Plattform von wealthpilot können Vermögensberater und -verwalter mehr Vermögenswerte und Anlageklassen von Neu- und Bestandskunden betreuen und durch Prozessautomatisierung deutliche Zeiteinsparungen erzielen. Insgesamt arbeiten derzeit mehr als 1500…

wikifolio.com, Europas Plattform für transparente Anlagestrategien, und der digitale Vermögensverwalter Werthstein kooperieren, um den direkten Zugang zur Geldanlage noch einfacher zu gestalten. Werthstein setzt seine für die Vermögensverwaltung entwickelten Investmentthemen ab sofort auch in wikifolios um. Ausserdem werden wikifolio-Zertifikate Teil des Angebots der Vermögensverwaltung und stehen Werthstein-Kunden zur Diversifikation zur Verfügung. Der von Werthstein entwickelte Investmentansatz bietet Kunden kostengünstig die Möglichkeit, ein breit diversifiziertes, individuelles Portfolio aufzubauen und mit der Anlage in aktuelle wirtschaftliche, technologische oder gesellschaftliche Trends höhere Renditen als der Gesamtmarkt zu erzielen. Die von internationalen Kapitalmarktexperten identifizierten Trends, so genannte „Zeitgeists”, setzt Werthstein ab sofort auch auf…

Recently, TokenPay Swiss AG announced its partnership with WEG Bank in Germany. Under the terms of the previously announced deal, TokenPay acquired 9.9% of the bank along with options to purchase approximately 90% overall of the bank pending the customary regulatory approval. Today, this 9.9% stake in WEGBank was further transacted to the benefit of Litecoin Foundation in exchange for a broad and comprehensive marketing and technology service agreement to benefit TokenPay and its related cryptocurrency and business operations. As a result of this partnership, TokenPay and Litecoin combine as a leading force in creating and delivering to the market…

Vontobel will den wachsenden Markt für Finanzierungen mit der ersten Online-Plattform revoloutineren, welche auch die Verbriefung als Wertpapier für massgeschneiderte Finanzierungen erlaubt. Dies stellt einen entscheidenden Schritt in Richtung vollkommener Digitalisierung des Kapitalmarktes dar. Die langjährige Marktexpertise und Technologieführerschaft von Vontobel im Plattformgeschäft, zusammen mit der Expertise der FINMA-anerkannten Schweizer Ratingagentur fedafin AG, ermöglicht den Schuldnern und Kapitalgebern mittels cosmofunding einen substanziellen Mehrwert zu schaffen. Der Markt für Finanzierungen von Unternehmungen und öffentlich-rechtlichen Körperschaften hat sich in den letzten Jahren stark verändert. Zunehmend wendet sich die öffentliche Hand kurzfristigeren und günstigeren Finanzierungen über institutionelle Investoren zu, die aufgrund des herrschenden…

At an extraordinary General Meeting of Evolute Group AG, the shareholders elected Patrick Barnert to the Board of Directors. Barnert has many years of experience as an entrepreneur and senior executive in the e-business and enterprise software market. He is particularly experienced in strategic planning, business development as well as sales and marketing. In the course of his career, Patrick Barnert has served as CEO and Chairman of various global technology companies, particularly in the areas of Fin- and RegTech. In 1996 he founded and built up an international digital agency and e-business company, where he is still a member…

Kickstart Accelerator has chosen 30 technology startups and 5 intrapreneurship teams for its 2018 program. The startups will come to Zurich for seven weeks this autumn, where they will meet with Swiss corporations, cities, universities and foundations aiming at initiating successful innovation partnerships and joint pilot projects. Virtual learning labs, blockchain-based contracts and text-to-speech for hearing impaired people The selected startups work on innovative solutions addressing a variety of challenges: The companies in the EdTech & Learning Vertical have developed virtual learning labs (Labster) and learning solutions for the smartphone (Gnowbe) inter alia, while the Food & Retail Tech startups…

Enterprise Ireland (EI) has launched a new fund that is designed to support promising fintech startup companies from all over the world. The fund is based on an investment strategy that made EI the second biggest fintech backer in the world. The agency invested in over 23 companies in 2017, while its biggest competitor, US-based Y Combinator has backed 29 companies. In total, EI has investments in over 200 fintech startups, with an estimated value of €1 billion as of 2016. The new fund was revealed at the Future of Fintech event in Dublin. Each chosen startup will receive €50,000…

Lykke receives a European Investment Firm Licence and will expand its regulated services into the European Markets. On July 4, Lykke Cyprus Limited received approval from the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) to operate as a regulated Cyprus Investment Firm (CIF; license number 363/18). As a firm that is regulated in accordance with the standards and laws of the European Economic Area, Lykke Cyprus Limited will adhere to the strictest financial standards and implement a regulatory framework that will include the segregation and protection of client funds, capital adequacy controls, and full transparency of its business operations. Lykke is…