Fintech funding round-up: 18 August 2017
We’ve got your back if you want to keep track of financial backing. Our latest fintech funding round-up features Options, Instamojo, AnyPay, Aegon and Funding Circle.
Options, a provider of cloud-enabled managed services to capital markets, has received nearly $100 million in investment from New York-based private equity firm Bregal Sagemount. The money will be used for growth and platform innovations. Options’ website makes no mention of any specific recruitment plans – but according to The Irish Times, Options, which opened an office in Belfast three years ago, is intending to double headcount locally (from 75 to 150) over the next 18 months.
It was founded in 1993 and began life as a hedge fund technology services provider. More than a decade ago, it started offering cloud services to the financial sector. The firm has offices in London, New York, Hong Kong, Singapore, Toronto, Dublin, Geneva, and the Caribbean.
Instamojo, an India-based digital payments platform for SMEs, has raised undisclosed pre-Series B funding from Japanese payments company AnyPay. This is AnyPay’s first investment in India.
According to Instamojo, it plans to expand its suite of offerings and introduce ecommerce-related services such as cataloguing, logistics, shipping and GST compliance assistance. The firm was founded in 2012 and allows users with a mobile device and a bank account to accept payments using credit and debit cards, e-wallets and via UPI (Unified Payments Interface). In 2014, it raised $2.6 million in Series A funding.
Dutch financial services provider Aegon is partnering with online lending platform Funding Circle. The four-year co-operation sees Aegon bring in £160 million of investment. UK firms will receive funding over the first 12 months of the collaboration and Aegon reckons this in turn could create up to 6,400 new jobs. (Aegon has also collaborated with other funding platforms such as Zopa, Auxmoney and Younited Credit.)
Using data analysis, Funding Circle assesses whether a company has “potential and provides immediate clarity to entrepreneurs about a possible loan”. It was founded in 2010 and says it has provided more than 26,000 British companies with funding, and it has more than 65,000 current investors.
Banking Technology Awards 2017 are now open for entry!
Know any innovative products, inspirational projects, skilled teams or visionary leaders that deserve a special recognition this year? Nominate them for a Banking Technology Award!
Deadline for submitting the nominations is 25 August 2017.
