A Canadian financial technology startup has emerged from stealth following a Series A round of funding. [Read more…] about Pine Pops Out of Stealth with $27 Million in Hand to Reimagine Mortgages in Canada
How the Pandemic and Inflation are Affecting Spending Habits in Canada
Nearly 90% of eligible Canadians have used Interac e-Transfer, which Interac Corp. noted reached one billion transactions within a year for the first time since the service launched two decades ago. [Read more…] about How the Pandemic and Inflation are Affecting Spending Habits in Canada
Brim Partners with Mambu to ‘Redefine Banking Services’ in Canada
Brim Financial recently announced a strategic partnership with Mambu, a software-as-a-service banking platform. [Read more…] about Brim Partners with Mambu to ‘Redefine Banking Services’ in Canada
Montreal’s Hardbacon Finds Success with Equity Crowdfunding
Hardbacon this week launched an equity crowdfunding campaign through the FrontFundr portal where it has secured more than $400,000 in the first 24 hours. [Read more…] about Montreal’s Hardbacon Finds Success with Equity Crowdfunding
Calgary’s Helcim Goes Vibrant with Latest Merchant Offering
Helcim has given its card reader a makeover and now offers merchants a choice of vibrantly coloured stands with orders.
The colours are no coincidence—the stands come in the Helcim-brand tones of Pink, Purple, and Yellow. [Read more…] about Calgary’s Helcim Goes Vibrant with Latest Merchant Offering
Arthur Zhao Upgrades Brim Financial’s Exec Team as Company Charges Ahead
Brim Financial recently announced the appointment of a chief financial officer.
The Toronto-based financial technology startup says that former Marqeta finance executive Arthur Zhao has joined the crew as part of a broader executive suite expansion.
The overall expansion is to support market demand for the company’s flexible and scalable embedded finance solutions, including its platform-as-a-service and credit card infrastructure, according to Brim.
“We are committed to building one of the most talented teams in the industry and are thrilled to have Arthur join us to support our rapid expansion at Brim,” said Rasha Katabi, CEO of Brim Financial.
“His proven leadership experience in high-growth environments and wealth of industry knowledge is a perfect addition to our team,” she added.
Zhao boasts 20 years of experience in the fintech industry, most recently serving as vice president of finance and revenue operations at Marqeta, where he was instrumental in building a finance function to support the company’s rapid growth, including multiple rounds of capital raise and a successful IPO in 2021. He also worked at PayPal.
“I have been fortunate to be a part of some outstanding organizations and in Brim, saw an opportunity to play a key role in a dynamic, growing company,” said Zhao.
“Brim is well positioned globally within an evolving digital banking and payments ecosystem, and I look forward to helping them continue on their trajectory as a market leader,” he added.
Last year, Brim raised a $25 million Series B round, co-led by Desjardins Group and US-based EPIC Ventures.
Toronto’s HomeStars Taps Perch for Digital Financing Feature
HomeStars this month announced a partnership with Perch, a fellow Toronto company working to disrupt the real estate industry. [Read more…] about Toronto’s HomeStars Taps Perch for Digital Financing Feature
Shopify Makes Accepting Crypto Easy for Merchants with Latest Integrations
Crypto.com announced recently that Shopify merchants can now enable Crypto Pay on their online storefronts, giving customers more ways to make their purchases.
Founded in 2016, Crypto.com is an exchange app offering 250 cryptocurrencies to 50 million customers across 90 countries. Crypto Pay allows merchants to receive cryptocurrencies instantly from a global base of users with zero transaction fees.
“Providing more customers and merchants the ability to engage in commerce using cryptocurrencies is a priority for Crypto.com,” said Kris Marszalek, Chief Executive Officer of Crypto.com. “We are incredibly excited to integrate into Shopify, and to bring this capability to even more customers and merchants around the world.”
Through Crypto.com Pay, customers can pay with more than 20 tokens, including BTC, ETH, CRO, SHIB, and even DOGE.
“We’re happy to welcome Crypto.com to help Shopify merchants provide an additional fast and convenient way for customers to pay for their online orders,” said John Lee, Lead of Blockchain Ecosystem at Shopify.
Last month, Shopify struck a similar integration deal with Strike, a digital payments platform built on Bitcoin’s Lightning Network.
“Our growing blockchain ecosystem demonstrates our commitment to supporting merchants with alternative payment methods on their storefronts, helping to further expand what’s possible in commerce,” Lee added.
“We’re proud to partner with Shopify to provide merchants with a cheaper and faster way to accept US dollars using Bitcoin technology,” Jack Mallers, CEO of Strike, said in April. “The Lightning Network is a global payments network that lowers costs, enhances speed, drives innovation, improves financial inclusion, and brings the power of choice to consumers and merchants.”
In a similar vein, crypto acceptance is also gaining steam amongst non-profit organizations too.
Toronto’s Requity Homes Closes Seed Round to Expand Rent-to-Own Program
Requity Homes has closed a $1.2 million pre-seed round of funding.
The Toronto-based real estate platform says the early financing will fuel its growth as the company scales its approach to creating an alternative path to home ownership in Canada.
The financing round was led by Boardwalk Investment with participation from Highline Beta, Conconi Growth Partners, and several angel investors. Founding partner of Highline Beta Ben Yoskovitz was appointed to Requity’s board of directors.
Requity Homes was founded in Toronto in 2020. The company operates a rent-to-own program that empowers Canadians to get one step closer to home ownership by allowing them to rent and save for their dream home with the option to purchase at a guaranteed price.
“Requity Homes is a new innovative way to help Canadians reduce barriers to home ownership,” said Sam Kolias, President of Boardwalk Investment Limited and CEO of Boardwalk REIT. “It allows investors to partner with home buyers, helping bridge the gap between renting and owning a home.”
Requity Homes offers a steppingstone to home ownership for families that are not mortgage ready today due to credit history, lack of down payment, or self-employment.
“With the rising cost of home ownership, it has become increasingly out of reach for many families,” said Amy Ding, CEO of Requity Homes. “At Requity Homes, we are offering a fair and flexible alternative path to home ownership by introducing more innovative financing options to an underserved market.”
Leveraging robust underwriting technology, Requity Homes can assess aspiring homebuyers’ future mortgage capability. When clients are ready, they can buy back the home at a predetermined price and become a proud homeowner. The program helps to bridge the gap between renting and owning by giving renters the price security and certainty to save towards ownership.
The program is currently available throughout Northern Ontario with plans to expand into Western Canada by end of 2022.
CanadaHelps and CarbonX Unlock Donation by Crypto for 86,000 Charities Across Country
Canada’s largest platform for donating and fundraising online today announced that it now accepts donations of cryptocurrency in support of any of Canada’s 86,000 registered charities. [Read more…] about CanadaHelps and CarbonX Unlock Donation by Crypto for 86,000 Charities Across Country