Latest Innovation News: Finextra Research

French startups form national fintech association

Thirty six fintech startups in France have banded together in a bid to foster a national ecosystem for innovation in financial services.

29 June 2015

News/Innovation

Barclays takes on Apple with wearable payments

Barclaycard is rolling out three new wearable payments devices - a wristband, fob and sticker - that can be used to make ‘touch and go’ contactless payments across the UK.

29 June 2015

News/Innovation

Digital Asset begins distributed ledger roll-up with Hyperledger acqusition

Digital Asset Holdings, the cryptocurreny outfit helmed by former JP Morgan big wig Blythe Masters, has acquired one-time Innotribe startup finalist Hyperledger.

26 June 2015

News/Innovation

Global fintech investment triples - Accenture

Global investment in financial technology tripled last year to hit $12.2 billion, with the US market dominating, according to a report from Accenture and the Partnership Fund for New York City.

25 June 2015

News/Innovation

DBS opens dedicated startup space in Hong Kong

DBS Bank has launched a dedicated 5000 square foot workspace in Hong Kong to act as a springboard fintech startups with mentoring and support.

25 June 2015

News/Innovation

Nasdaq calls in Chain for blockchain project

Nasdaq has enlisted blockchain infrastructure provider Chain for its project to use digital ledger technology for the issuance and transfer of private company securities.

24 June 2015

News/Innovation

One hundred startups in 100 days: the Visa Europe Collab story

Visa Europe's investment in the booming fintech startup scene is beginning to take shape, with the card scheme claiming to have established relationships with 100 entrepreneurs with fresh ideas for transforming payments in its first 100 days.

24 June 2015

News/Innovation

SixThirty fintech accelerator opens applications for Autumn cohort

St Louis-based fintech accelerator SixThirty is inviting applications for its Autumn cohort, where later seed-stage startups can draw down up to $100,000 in funding and participate in a 14-week mentorship and pipeline-building programme.

24 June 2015

News/Innovation

SAP Financial Services Forum - Live Blog

Now in its fifth year, the SAP Financial Services Forum brings together over 450 financial services professionals to explore digital transformation across the financial services sector and the ways that firms can harness innovation, more effectively interact with their customers and build brand loyalty. This live blog will keep you abreast of what unfolds throughout the second day at the event.

24 June 2015

News/Innovation

CurrencyCloud scores $18 million funding round

CurrencyCloud, the London-based firm that runs the back-end processing for some of the world's most promising money transfer startups, has roped in Sapphire and Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten as heavyweight investors in a new $18 funding round.

23 June 2015

News/Innovation

Stockholm stakes claim as European fintech hub

Stockholm is staking a claim as a major European fintech hub after recording $266 million in startup investments over the past year, leaving it trailing only London as a magnet for VC inflows.

23 June 2015

News/Innovation

SAP Financial Services Forum - Live Blog

Now in its fifth year, the SAP Financial Services Forum brings together over 450 financial services professionals to explore digital transformation across the financial services sector and the ways that firms can harness innovation, more effectively interact with their customers and build brand loyalty. This live blog will keep you abreast of what unfolds throughout the first day at the event.

23 June 2015

News/Innovation

SAP Financial Services Forum Focus: Kevin Hanley, RBS

Having joined the Royal Bank of Scotland in 2009, Hanley is now director of design with responsibility for architecture, data and analytics and lean functions, as well as the strategy and innovation agenda for the bank’s services organisation.

23 June 2015

News/Innovation

Barclays bets on blockchain and startups to re-invent finance

Barclays' fintech accelerator programme is beginning to bear fruit, with the bank forging working relationships with several startup alumni involved in areas such as cybersecurity and the blockchain.

22 June 2015

News/Innovation

SAP Financial Services Forum Focus: Anne Boden, Starling Bank

Boden is CEO and Founder of Starling Bank, which was recently named by the Sunday Times as one of the top 25 FinTech Start-Ups in the world.

22 June 2015

News/Innovation

Canadian senate committee urges 'light touch' Bitcoin regulation

Canada should employ a "light regulatory touch" when dealing with digital currencies and the blockchain, according to a report from a powerful standing senate committee.

19 June 2015

News/Innovation

SAP Financial Services Forum Focus: Matthias Kröner, Fidor Bank

Co-founder of DAB Bank, continental Europe's first online broker, and once the youngest CEO and executive board member of a German bank in German banking history Kröner's career has blended the world of banking, financial services and technology.

19 June 2015

News/Innovation

Russian man embeds transit chip in own hand

A Russian engineer has sliced open his own hand and embedded a transit chip under the skin to speed up his daily commute.

19 June 2015

News/Innovation

SAP Financial Services Forum Focus: Seth McGuire, Twitter

A former senior director of business development at Gnip, prior to its 2014 acquisition by Twitter, and a research and sales executive at the Corporate Executive Board, a DC-based consulting firm – now McGuire is a senior business development manager at Twitter, focused on data partnerships. He has been a guest speaker on social media and the markets on programs including CNBC's "Squawk Box," Bloomberg's "Money Moves" and Fox Business' "After the Bell."

18 June 2015

News/Innovation

Five fintech startups win £175,000 injection from Innovate UK

Innovate UK has chosen five fintech startups to share a £175,000 prize pot and the opportunity to work with leading banks and government bodies to get their ideas off the ground.

18 June 2015