9 Fintech Startups to Watch In 2016

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by Polina Chernykh · 3 min read
9 Fintech Startups to Watch In 2016
Photo: Martin Karasek/Dribbble

We’ve identified some of the most promising fintech firms that are likely to make it big in 2016.

A growing number of fintech startups are being established nowadays, given the continuous development of innovative technologies. According to CB Insights, the world investment in fintech companies tripled last year, increasing from $4.05 billion to $12.2 billion.

The trend is anticipated to continue in 2016, as we observe the emergence of new companies offering improved services for the financial industry.

Here’s the list of 9 companies worth watching this year.

TransferWise

TransferWise, the Lonfdon-based P2P transfer platform, lets its users to send money abroad bypassing banks.  Launched in 2010, the company has turned into one of the major fintech companies in the UK. It processes about $750 million monthly.

The company has raised $91 million in total from a number of prominent investors, such as Peter Thiel, Max Levchin and Richard Branson.

Deliveroo

The UK online food delivery company was founded in 2013 by a developer Greg Orlowski and a banker William Shu. Last year, the company closed three financing round, raising £127 million.

Deliveroo includes hundreds of freelance drivers who deliver food from restaurants across London within 32 minutes. In November, Deliveroo announced international expansion, with the app being launched in Hong Kong, Sydney, Melbourne, Dubai and Singapore.

Citymapper

Founded by Azmat Yusuf in 2010, the public transport app helps users to navigate their ways around unknown cities, from London to Tokyo. The app now covers 30 cities globally and is available on iOS and Android devices.

In 2014, Citymapper secured $10 million in a financing round, led by venture capital investment company Balderton Capital.  Index Ventures, Greylock Partners and Connect Ventures also invested in the startup.

Jaunt VR

The Californian company creates a technology allowing directors to produce unbelievable cinematic virtual reality content. Opened in 2013, Jaunt VR is now in partnership with some prominent brands, like Condé Nast, ABC News and Rebecca Minkoff. In September, Jaunt VR closed a $65 million Series C funding round, led by The Walt Disney Company.

Betterment

2015 was definitely the noteworthy year for the New York City-based online investment adviser. The company’s AUM (assets under management) increased from $1 billion to $3 billion, showing a growth of 200%. Besides, it launched a new automated instrument that provides businesses with a personalized advice on their assets.

It’s key competitor, Wealthfront, is also one of the globe’s most disruptive financial services providers. The Palo Alto-based online investment management platform offers a fee of just 0.25% and let to manage the first $10k for free.

WePay

WePay serves marketplaces, crowdfunding sites and small business software platforms, facilitating payments and minimizing fraud risk. The San Francisco-based credit card payments processor is valued at about $220 million. As of October 2015, the company generated $75 million in profits.

Commonbond

The alternative lending platform provides its services to graduates of over 2,000 schools. A few months ago, it completed a $35 million financing round. By the end of the year, Commonbond plans to refinance over $1 billion worth of student loans.

Orchard Platform

The company, which connects investors to lenders, has received funds from such investors as the Capital One’s co-founder, Nigel Morris, and ex-CEO of Citigroup, Vikram Pandit. Since its opening in 2013, the company has obtained a funding of $44.7 million.

Currency Cloud

The London-headquartered financial startup delivers a transparent and secure platform allowing users to send money worldwide. The firm, which gets half a billion in payments a month, has recently received an investment of $10 million.

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