David Cameron launches pensions fee review as he accuses industry of charging “rip off” exit fees July 30, 2015 The Prime Minister has accused the pensions industry of charging “rip off” exit fees, saying the sector is taking advantage of pension reforms by creating a “new way of charging people”. Exit fees are currently charged when savers try to get hold of their money, which could be capped as part of a further overhaul. [...]
London FinTech startup Iwoca raises $20m series B funding from Commerzbank and Acton Capital July 30, 2015 London FinTech startup Iwoca has landed a new round of funding including investment from Commerzbank. The $20m series B round from the German bank's venture capital arm CommerzVentures, Acton Capital Partners, the Munich-based private equity and VC firm, Redline Capital and other existing investors, will accelerate the lending platform's growth across Europe. “We're aiming to offer [...]
How the UK will become a world leader in FinTech to rival Silicon Valley July 30, 2015 Innovate Finance’s manifesto outlines our vision for FinTech 2020 for the UK. It’s bold and ambitious, but also achievable if we continue to have the support from everyone within our ecosystem. According to Prime Minister David Cameron, his government wants the UK to “be the leading FinTech centre in the world” and has appointed a Special Envoy, [...]
A quiet tech revolution is happening – not in Shoreditch or Birmingham – but in Croydon July 30, 2015 I read Nick Holzherr’s recent article championing Birmingham’s Silicon Canal with a mixture of interest and a large degree of scepticism. As the founder of Croydon Tech City, I agree that the UK’s technological future doesn’t lie solely with the denizens of Old Street. But I argue vehemently with his alternative. If you want [...]
How crowdfunding will revolutionise R&D: What platforms offer the world’s most innovative businesses July 30, 2015 Iriss Medical recently closed a round on Seedrs, 197 per cent funded. The company makes an innovative medical device which performs automatic eye tests aimed at the early detection and prevention of lazy eye in children. It raised £491,387 for 4.92 per cent equity. Over the past decade, donation-based crowdfunding has played a reasonably [...]
FinTech investment triples to $12.2bn with Europe experiencing biggest growth July 29, 2015 Investment in the flourishing global FinTech sector tripled to a staggering $12.2bn (£8.2bn) last year and grew at more than triple the rate of overall VC investment. Europe's share of investor cash grew at the fastest rate compared to anywhere else in the world as the region cements its reputation as an area for producing successful [...]
One in four millennials would rather bank with a tech company like Apple or Google than their current bank July 29, 2015 Fed up with your bank? You’re not alone. Just one in three millennials (that's people born after 1980) actually think their bank meets their requirements, and in fact, quite a few of them think Apple or Google would do a better job. It seems out of touch banks risk losing millennial business, as just 32 [...]
Pension tax relief for top earners could be at risk as government mulls reforms July 28, 2015 Pensions minister Ros Altmann said last night that the government is considering ending special pension tax relief for high earners. The government is currently carrying out a consultation into whether there is a case for reforming pensions tax relief. Currently top-rate taxpayers receive 20 per cent tax relief on their pensions, and can claim back [...]
July 27, 2015 We can survive longer without food than without sleep. We spend about 10 per cent of our lives eating and drinking, one per cent of our lives exercising, and almost one whole third sleeping. So why do we pay sleep quality and quantity so little attention? We all know about the importance of exercise and [...]
David Cameron to take UK fintech leaders on Asian tour July 26, 2015 David Cameron will go on a trade mission to Asia next month as part of the government’s plan to develop the UK financial technology sector. The delegation is made up largely of senior staff from the financial tech sector, reflecting the government’s aim to position the UK as a fintech leader. Thirty businesses will be [...]
