Australian Fintech and Startups
Zip is likely to acquire US-based BNPL, Sezzle. #consolidation Link
The Consumer Data Right (CDR) that governs Open Banking, is extending into ‘Open Finance’, once it solves for Telco. Nice. Link
Raiz cracked $1bn FUM. Brilliant. Link
Big Tech
Experian is creating a BNPL bureau in the US. Link
Aside: I wrote about the future of credit scoring amidst an ocean of Fintech credit products, and postulated that ‘alternative credit scoring’ would be a thing. Link
Plaid copped a hefty fine for collecting too much data. Link
Apple’s turning their phones into mobile terminals following their acquisition of Mobeewave. This will be especially valuable in Asia and Africa. Link
Potpourri
There’s the most incredible story about German WWI Prisoners of War, who had to wait out their time in Berrima (in the Southern Highlands of Sydney) and ended up having a brilliantly convivial time. Link
Jimmy’s Notes
I trust you’re all having a stellar start to the year.
As always, these are my thoughts only and not reflective of my employer.
Trivia
(a) What are the two most populous countries whose flags include only the colours red & white?
(b) What five letter word meaning very angry can be spelled with letters used in Roman numerals? (That’s only I, V, X, L, C, D, or M. It doesn’t need to be a valid Roman numeral.)
(c ) What are the most populous & least populous independent countries beginning with the letter “P”?
Trivia Answers
(a) Japan, Indonesia
(b) LIVID
( c) Pakistan / Palau (Palau is known at the ‘thumbprint of the world’ due to the way the islands spread out (if you guessed Pitcairn Islands, it’s a British territory and technically not a country, but great guess)