Clearscore announced RomanAgora the User-centric IDV Blockchain Consortium in partnership with Ocyan
Clearscore is announcing the RomanAgora consortium – an Identity Verification (IDV) consortium and data marketplace.
End users will now be even more enabled to use services in a faster and more transparent manner – having more control over their data and when it is being shared. RomanAgora’s mission is to reduce the cost of checks, speed up processing and solve fraud while giving users control over their data.
Previously used applications involve heavy manual operations and multiple checks handling for the same individual. This costs a lot and requires a significant amount of time. Blockchain – a shared ledger of identity data between counterparties – solves this by allowing us to utilise a unique set of data multiple times without the need of identifying the individual continuously.
This partnership is disrupting the fintech space globally by allowing end users, credit bureaus and financial services providers to use a common platform for Identity Verification.
This is an overall greatly innovative platform due to the ability to now verify an individual’s identity a lot faster in a secure and traceable way utilising the latest blockchain technology as well as infrastructure. Blockchain technology and capabilities can play a big role in securing as well as accelerating financial applications.
Ocyan is proud to be the technology partner of choice for Clearscore focusing on cloud-native analytics and infrastructure for enterprise-ready Blockchain applications. By providing the complete End-to-End Cloud Platform for enterprise blockchains, large
organasations can easily innovate, scale and integrate their ventures with their rest of their legacy and cloud applications.
With the automation that Ocyan provides, partners of RomanAgora don’t have to bare the integration or infrastructure cost to join this consortium, making the required network effect of this collaboration much more interesting and less of an effort than anything else similar on the market.
This is a massive leap forward creating the first enterprise grade, scalable and production running consortium. An incredible achievement, one of the very few globally and perhaps the first IDV effort at such scale.
End users are now able to receive responses sooner, more efficiently and with the safety this technology provides as well as impactful innovation by Clearscore and Ocyan.
Gabriele Cacciola, the CTO of Ocyan commented:
“RomanAgora is a totally revolutionary platform that, thanks to the Blockchain features and capabilities, will allow end users to finally have their credit and identity profiles securely stored and get back control of their data.”
Money Dashboard raises £4.6m, the biggest fintech raise on Crowdcube this year
Money Dashboard‘s personal finance management platform that connects to over 70 financial institutions to help users manage all their accounts in one place has just raised £4.6m.
Additionally, existing investors Scottish Investment Bank and Calculus Capital also invested. The initial target was £1.5m, however that number was reached in just 45minutes.
Funds are to be used to build out the market leading personal finance app and triple the company’s Edinburgh-based team from 20 to 60 staff.
Luke Lang, co-founder of Crowdcube, commented:
“Money Dashboard’s vision to help people better manage their money has once again resonated with many of our investors. It’s fantastic to see an innovative business connect their community, fuel their growth and take those investors, in this case, on their journey to create a fairer financial landscape.”
Steve Tigar, CEO said:
“We’re absolutely thrilled to have secured this latest round of funding, particularly with the backing of over 3000 people who share our vision. We are now equipped and ready to help people from every walk of life master their money.”
Kerry Sharp, Director of Scottish Investment Bank said:
“Having supported Money Dashboard from an early stage, it is great to see the business raising the funds required to implement the next stage in its growth. The FinTech sector is a key industry in Scotland’s economy and we look forward to continuing to work with the company, both from an investment perspective and through our account management support, to deliver its long-term growth ambitions.”
Women’s Coin to launch during Scotland’s Fintech Festival
Blog by (Prof) Christine Bamford Founder and CEO Women’s Coin
Exciting news Women’s Coin is now trading!
Women’s Coin digital currency to launch in September at Edinburgh Fintech Festival and internationally at the United Nations, New York Decade of Womenon 18thSeptember
Women’s Coin operates via Bitcoin blockchain platform, using the Counterparty protocol. Blockchain is the power behind behind digital currency enabling storage of digital assets and smart contracts. Women’s Coin is Money Laundering compliant, KYC (know your customer) and ensures total transparency in its financial conduct. In partnership with Zortrex data security company – Women’s Coin intends to secure investments through military grade data security.
Women’s Coin is not just a digital currency it is a coin of value ”“ transferring profits from the currency into humanitarian support. The profit for purpose ethos sets out to build a better world through micro-financing women owned sustainable businesses. Women’s Coin supports United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 5 ”“ Gender equality
Women’s Coin is not just for women ”“ men are also critical to the movement (He for She)
Together we can use the power of the wallet to deliver social change
If you want to learn more about Women’s Coin’s amazing vision and product, (Prof) Christine Bamford is speaking at:
- International Cyber Security Summit – 4thSeptember Edinburgh Napier University
- United Nations, New York ”“ Decade of Women – 18thSeptember
- Meeting of Coin Networking Event ”“ Virgin Money Lounge – 25thSeptember
- Fintech Summit ”“ DIGIT – 26thSeptember
womenscoin.com
@womenscoin#MorePowerToHer #Fintechscotland @KateForbes
Join Us for Scotland’s Biggest Fintech Event
With just over one month to go, DIGIT is gearing up for its sixth annual Fintech Summit, hosted at Edinburgh’s Dynamic Earth on the 25th and 26th of September.
The two-day summit will explore the rapid evolution of the financial services sector; ranging from disruption within Scotland’s startup community to ongoing tech developments at established financial institutions.
DIGIT’s 2018 Fintech Summit saw more than 400 delegates in attendance over the two days, exploring and discussing current trends and developments.
Scotland’s national strategy to establish itself as a global fintech leader will also be an area of key importance at the 2019 Fintech Summit – exploring funding, collaboration and the country’s ongoing efforts to boost digital skills.
Outside of London, Scotland boasts the UK’s most complete financial services sector with world-class capabilities in banking, investment management, asset servicing and a flourishing technology startup scene. The financial services sector also employs more than 80,000 people across Scotland.
Speaking at Fintech 18, Finance Secretary Derek Mackay said: “The sector is, and has always been, of huge importance for Scotland, and that will continue.
“It is an area in which we’ve got a longstanding reputation and are rightfully recognised as world leaders. That will continue in spite of the uncertainties of Brexit.”
Fintech Summit 2019 Speakers
Covering a range of topics and subject areas, this year’s Fintech Summit will see 30 speakers in total across the two-day event.
A selection of those set to feature include:
- Philip Goffin, CTO, FNZ
- Icy Zhang, CIO, Listings Ledger
- Amir Nooriala, COO, OakNorth
- Andrew McKee, CIO, Ultimate Finance
- Faith Reynolds, Consumer Representative, OBIE Steering Group
- Clara Durodie, Author & CEO, Cognitive Finance Group
- Kristen Bennie, Head of Open Experience, RBS
- Domenico De Fano, Senior Product Owner: Open API, Revolut
- Callum Sinclair, Partner and Head of Technology, Burness Paull
- Juliette Souliman, Fintech VC Specialist, Octopus Ventures
Information on all of the confirmed speakers at DIGIT’s 2019 Fintech Summit can be found at: www.fintech19.com
This year will also feature the inaugural Scottish Financial Technology Awards, which aim to recognise and celebrate the pioneering figures and organisations operating across Scotland’s financial services sector.
For additional information on the inaugural Scottish Financial Technology Awards, please visit: www.scottishftawards.com
CodeClan opens Data Analysis course in Glasgow
Earlier this year, CodeClan, Scotland’s national digital skills academy, introduced a new Data Analysis course, modelled upon their multiple award-winning Professional Software Development programme. The organisation has so far produced over 700 graduates through this course, many of whom are working within Fintech Scotland members, from the startup sector, through to the country’s largest financial institutions.
Developed with expert partners, including the Data Lab and Effini, the new course aims to do for data what CodeClan has already done for programming, by creating a new talent and training pipeline, to produce high quality, qualified data analysts with existing work experience and soft skills.
While the Data Analysis course was developed to support every industry sector, interest from Scotland’s fintech sector has been particularly high. So high in fact that the academy is bringing the programme to it’s city-centre Glasgow campus far earlier than planned.
A launch event is taking place at CodeClan Glasgow on August 22nd. The event is aimed at professionals already working with data, businesses which want to retrain existing staff, employers looking for new staff with valuable data skills and career changers who want to future proof their career with a valuable new set of skills.
Using the powerful R programming language, the course brings together the three key areas of data science:
- technical skills & coding
- business knowledge
- maths & statistics
Students learn the entire data analysis process from capturing requirements and asking the appropriate questions for the business, through to communicating results clearly and effectively to stakeholders. In addition the course incorporates elements of cyber security, ethics, privacy, User Experience (UX) design, visualisation and story-telling.
Hosted by CEO, Melinda Matthews, the event will introduce CodeClan, explain its teaching methods, introduce the instructor team and partner programme, with a particular focus on Glasgow’s Fintech sector. Due to high demand CodeClan suggests that early booking is recommended.
Melinda Matthews-Clarkson, the CEO of CodeClan, said: “Since we first announced the Data Analysis course, enquiries from students and demand from industry partners in Glasgow, especially those within the financial services, has been growing.
“Now our first Edinburgh cohort is underway, we’re delighted to be able to bring the course to Glasgow and we look forward to introducing businesses, employers and students to CodeClan’s unique approach to teaching data analysis.”
The Data Analysis launch takes place on 22nd August (18:00-19:30) at Clockwise, 77 Renfrew St, Glasgow. Tickets are available here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/glasgow-launch-data-analysis-course-tickets-65808810925
Scotland Fintech Festival 2019 announced
Scotland’s Fintech Festival will welcome guests from around the world with its focus on new financial innovation and inclusive collaboration opportunities
FinTech Scotland has confirmed the Festival will take place over three weeks in September (between the 9thand the 27th) celebrating the nation’s thriving fintech community and economy.
Building on the huge success of last year’s impromptu community driven Festival, this year’s activities will see over fifty events ranging from meet ups, conferences, networking and social activities.
The events include a number of showcase events such as the FinTech Summit at Dynamic Earth, the FinTech Awards evening and the FinTech Future conference at University of Strathclyde
Other events organised by the community will be up and down the country from Glasgow to Fife, Edinburgh to Dundee, Stirling to Aberdeen and Inverness
Events can be seen on www.scotlandfintechfestival.com
This year will attract a large international delegation with FinTech Scotland working closely with Scottish Development International and the Department for International Trade.
FinTech Scotland was able to announce today that most European fintech hubs will be in attendance, and that delegations from the US and Asia will also attend the festival.
Stephen Ingledew, Chief Executive at FinTech Scotland said: “I am very excited about this year’s Fintech Festival with its global appeal and engagement. We are building on last year when the impromptu festival was born out of real collaboration and inclusion with many participants and organisations coming together to create something very special. This year, even more organisations have put their hands up to participate. This is a real testament to the fact that the fintech scene across the country is vibrant and inclusive, welcoming people and enterprises to Scotland from around the world”
Graham Hatton, Team Leader, Inward Investment at Scottish Development International said: “International interest in Scotland’s Fintech community has never been higher. In the 12 months following last year’s Fintech festival, firms from London, Hong Kong and California have established operations in Scotland to support their growth, attracted largely by a domestic workforce with a deep understanding of Financial Services and expertise in areas including Data and Artificial Intelligence.”
Rory Archibald, Head of Association & Sectors at VisitScotland Business Events said; “We are thrilled to be supporting the fintech community here in Scotland for a 2ndyear to help promote this thriving sector to the world. Fintech Festival is testament to the positive outcomes of collaboration between many organisations. The goals of the fintech sector and indeed the Scottish Government to promote social change, inclusive growth and inward investment can be achieved by bringing people together to realise the news ideas that will drive fintech forward.’
The apprentice route to start in fintech
Origo apprentice Jack Scott recently became a permanent employee of the company. Rob Kingsbury talked to him about his decision to go the apprenticeship route and his experience of working at the Fintech
Jack Scott left school knowing he didn’t want to go to university and saw the apprenticeship scheme from QA, one of several open to young people in Scotland, as a route into a career in IT.
“I had studied social subjects and computer/IT subjects at school and I thought the latter best suited an apprenticeship and it was something I was really interested in,” Jack explains. “Also, as an apprentice you study on the job and you get paid for your time.”
The interview with QA was an initial chat, a technical test, followed by a more in-depth interview. Having been accepted on to the course his CV was passed to companies with openings for apprentices. Jack was looking for an apprenticeship as an infrastructure analyst. It wasn’t a shoe-in; Origo was the fourth company who interviewed him.
Apprenticeships are primarily work based (around 80% of the working week) giving apprentices practical experience as well as completing set modules and attending workshops and courses to build knowledge that is essential in the working environment.
Jack started his apprenticeship in November 2017. Origo had been interviewing for just one apprentice but two candidates stood out for them and they made the decision to offer both a place.
“On my first day, if I’m honest, I was bricking it,” Jack admits. “Tyler (the other apprentice) and me were given the task of building a computer, setting it up and installing all the software it needed. I’d never done anything like it, while Tyler was so much more technical than me, he was just getting on with it. I had to say, look I’m struggling here, can you help me understand what we’re doing?’ It was the start of an effective team.
Since then setting up computers to Origo specifications has become a regular part of their role. “Recently, everyone in the company got a new PC and we were tasked with building the computers, installing the software, setting up the security and doing the handover to the user, making sure they were comfortable with the new machine and how it worked.”
Now the two of them play to their individual strengths, Jack explains.
“Tyler is technical and I’m more of a people person, so he does most of the technical build and I take responsibility for the handover.”
It’s a team approach endorsed by the company.
“Origo is a really good company to work for. They are good at getting the best from people. There’s a job to be done but they look to what you are good at and really encourage you to develop.”
The apprenticeship Jack followed is a two-year programme including modules such as health and safety, customer service and technical fault diagnosis. An assessor came into the office on a monthly basis and there were set courses in both years ”“ a couple of two-week-long courses in year one and four courses lasting a week each in year two.
If there is one challenge he has had in the two years, Jack says, it is having confidence in his own abilities.
“I’m quite a confident person but being given work that was new to me but I could see someone else doing, like on my first day, that was hard. But it’s about knowing you can ask questions and getting your head down and getting on with it. Then, when you can do it, you love it.”
The most enjoyable part of his experience to date, he says, has been the people side of the job.
“It’s why I like the computer deployment side of the job now because I get to talk to new people.”
On 1 July Jack and Tyler became full-time Trainee Infrastructure Analysts with Origo. “I like the fact that we’ve gone from being apprentices to trainees. I think it’s the right title because I’m very aware that there’s a lot I still don’t know and there’s a learning process to go through.
“I’ve learned so much in the past two years. As well as doing things I’d never seen in my life before, I’ve improved my time management and I’ve become used to working in an office. I almost don’t recognise myself from where I was nearly two years ago. It’s been a fantastic experience.”
Jack says he’d recommend an apprenticeship in Fintech or technology in general.
“If you’re debating whether to go to University or getting a job, I’d recommend an apprenticeship. It’s the best of both worlds. You’ll have the study skills you’d get from University, as well as the practical skills from doing the job, and you get paid instead of building up student debt.“And there are so many apprenticeships in Scotland. It’s a really good opportunity.”
The University of Edinburgh launches a fintech doctoral programme
The University of Edinburgh is launching a new initiative to help companies access talent and develop innovative products and services, a Fintech Doctoral Programme delivered is partnership with companies.
It combines a PhD training structure with a specific focus on topics at the intersection of finance/economics and informatics/technology with a company research project. Each student works on a project commissioned by their sponsoring company partner. Projects need to be of commercial interest to the sponsor and aim to ultimately drive development of new digital solutions and products.
Business partners will set the projects’ topics and will be involved in the candidates’ selection process. Sponsoring companies provide a company supervisor for the project and remain closely involved to ensure delivery of commercially-relevant outcomes. The PhD student is also supervised by 2 academic experts from the University of Edinburgh.
During the first year of the programme the students are based mostly in Edinburgh as they will be undergoing a comprehensive training programme. During the years 2-4 of the programme their time will be divided between the partner company and the University. The exact arrangements would be decided with the company for each project to suit their project requirements. After completion of the programme which lasts 4 years, graduates typically enter employment with their company sponsor. Programme provides a high-quality talent candidates who help their host company deliver new innovative products and services.
The University of Edinburgh is also partnering with the EIT Digital (European Technology Institute) which provides co-funding for the Fintech Doctoral Programme for their member companies. EIT Digital also provides access to innovation funding for companies for commercialisation of fintech products and services which could also be of interest to many companies.
We are currently recruiting projects for the first intake of students. If you are interested in finding out more, please contact ksenia.siedlecka@ei.ed.ac.uk More information: https://www.business-school.ed.ac.uk/collaborate/access-research-expertise/fintech-doctoral-programme
LendingCrowd and Brismo to enter partnership
Scottish fintech LendingCrowd, has just announced a partnership with Brismo to provide detailed and independently verified investment performance metrics.
Brismo provides lending performance data using sophisticated loan information to analyse and verify returns. Investors are able to access like-for-like analysis. This is a fantastic addition to the LendingCrowd platform which will allow investors to compare the performance of the LendingCrowd loan book alongside other fintech lending platforms.
Commenting on the partnership, Mike Allan, Director of Operations, LendingCrowd, said: “We are proud of our track record and believe in enabling transparency so that investors can compare performance across the lending sector. LendingCrowd has made great strides in scaling the business while remaining committed to robust credit processes and responsible lending.”
Rupert Taylor, founder and CEO, Brismo, added: “We are delighted that LendingCrowd is the latest leading platform to join Brismo and we look forward to helping illustrate the company’s impressive track record to investors. LendingCrowd is scaling its operations and diversifying its funding base at an impressive rate, so we are confident that this new partnership is a win-win for all parties.”
Brismo’s platform provides detailed loan book analysis, including loan origination figures, risk bands of borrowers, term and interest rate of outstanding principle and independently verified data on the arrears and default rate. Brismo data on LendingCrowd can be segmented and downloaded easily by investors.
Calling all ambitious women in tech! Apply for Special Edition today
Applications are now open for TRC’s Special Edition: a life-changing’ professional development programme for women in Scotland’s digital and tech sector looking to progress their careers in the industry.
At TRC we believe that gender equality in the boardroom is paramount to the wider diversity of Scotland’s digital sector, which is why we created Special Edition to empower women to achieve their full potential and claim their place in the boardroom.
What to expect?
Special Edition is a six-month training programme delivered by TRC: a Glasgow-based training body for the broadcast and digital industries.
Monthly training sessions will help boost your confidence, improve your entrepreneurial skills, expand professional networks and progress your career in digital. The initiative includes formal workshops delivered by leading industry trainers PLUS an international field trip to meet with inspiring people making moves in the digital world.
The programme has supported 42 women in Scotland’s digital sector since its launch in 2013, many of whom have gone on to secure significant job promotions and board appointments since completing the programme.
Delegates of last year’s programme said:
“My Special Edition experience has been absolutely life-changing. I was promoted to a new and exciting role as a result of an opportunity I seized thanks only to confidence gained during the course. I have a whole new mindset and perspective that has changed how I think, how I feel about myself and what I have to offer the world. That’s the greatest outcome, and more than I ever expected.” Serina MacDonald, Head of Activation, Associate Director at Amplifi – part of the Dentsu Aegis Network
“Special Edition is a sisterhood and the most valuable network I’ll ever have in my career.”
Alanna Innes, Product Owner at xDesign“To anyone thinking about applying for the course, don’t even think about it. Just do it. I pondered for a while before applying as I doubted that I would be good enough to be selected. You are good enough! Given everything I have learned, the confidence gained and my improved mindset, it scares me to think what I would have missed out on had I not clicked that button!”
Serina MacDonald, Head of Activation, Associate Director at Amplifi
Applications are now open via the TRC websiteand will close on 1stAugust 2019.