This fall, the Commission will host a forum – the second in its FinTech series – on crowdfunding and peer-to-peer payment systems. Crowdfunding is the process by which companies and individuals raise money from the public to fund new products, projects or individual needs. Peer-to-peer payment systems are online services – often in the form of mobile apps – that allow consumers to share money electronically. These systems make it easier for consumers who may not carry cash to send and receive money from other people quickly. The half-day forum will bring together industry participants, consumer groups, researchers, and government representatives. The forum will examine the various models of crowdfunding and peer-to-peer payments used by companies, the potential benefits to consumers, and possible consumer protection concerns. In addition, the forum will look at how existing consumer protection laws might apply to companies participating in these areas.
US Fintech Feature Section

FinTech Forum Blog: A closer look at marketplace lending
Marketplace lenders are typically online non-bank financial companies that leverage technology to reach potential borrowers, evaluate creditworthiness, and obtain credit sources for loans. Marketplace lenders tout the ability to provide consumers with a faster, cheaper, and easier way to get credit than some traditional lenders. Participants at the June 9th Forum also discussed the potential for marketplace lenders to reach and provide credit to borrowers with limited credit histories and to historically underserved communities. Marketplace lending has seen huge growth, and, as a presentation by the FTC’s Office of Technology Research and Investigation showed, has expanded to include loans for purposes as wide-ranging as education, mortgages, and medical expenses.
Fintech Research

Robo Advice: Revolution or Evolution?
Low cost, automated investment advice is set to become the core of financial planning services, with a market potential of $19.5 trillion assets under management, according to a new report by Big Market Research, the financial services experts, and The Business Research Company. The current market for robo advice is dominated by the USA, with an estimated $1.2 trillion under management.

Financial Services Compliance Officers Saddled with Dated Technology, Tight Job Market Fight to Manage Implementation and Staffing, New Survey Says
In an increasingly complex regulatory environment, many financial institution executives are concerned that they have insufficient staff, technology and budgetary resources to support their anti-money-laundering (AML) efforts, a survey of financial service executives released today by financial technology solutions provider NextAngles™ revealed.
Fintech Investments

Finexio, the Smart B2B Payment Network, Raises $1 Million Seed Round Led by James R. Heistand and Loeb.nyc
Finexio’s B2B payment capabilities intelligently route payments on and off existing ACH and credit card rails to find the best possible transaction price. This solution seamlessly integrates into enterprise accounts payables and procurement software platforms to effortlessly embed payments into the corporate buying and selling experience.

RightCapital Secures $1 Million Seed Money
RightCapital, Inc., a financial planning platform for registered investment advisors and independent broker-dealers, has secured $1 million in a seed capital fund raise. Camellia Venture Capital led the round with other individual strategic investors. Camellia Venture Capital is a New Jersey based venture capital firm that focus on early-stage, high-growth fintech firms.
Fintech Events

Leading the Digital Transformation Charge Captures the Discussion at HMG Strategy’s Upcoming 2016 Atlanta CIO Executive Leadership Summit
Digitization is changing how we work, how companies communicate with customers, along with other significant changes. The CIO is at the center of these changes in the enterprise and the role that IT leaders play in driving the digital revolution will be the focus of discussion at the 2016 Atlanta CIO Executive Leadership Summit to be held on August 23, 2016 at the St. Regis Atlanta.

Telecom Council of Silicon Valley Announces 2016 SPIFFY Award Nominees
Nominees are selected by the carriers in Telecom Council’s Service Provider Innovation Forum (SPIF) from among over 200 early-stage companies. These companies represent a broad range of telecom products and services presented at Telecom Council meetings between July 2015 and June 2016.

Born2Global Demo Day to Unveil 19 Promising Korean Startups in LA
K-ICT Born2Global (B2G) will be hosting “Creative Korea Roadshow K-Startup LA Demo Day 2016” and present successful business models of the top 19 startups from Korea to the VCs, accelerators, entrepreneurs, corporate partners and live audience. These promising Korean startups are leading innovative companies in the areas such as AI, big data, fin-tech, healthcare, IoT, wearable, mobile app, device, 3D printing, social media, platform and VR.

Domestic Chinese Capital Makes Inroads into Silicon Valley
Last week, the Sino-US Financial-Technology Venture Contest was held in Silicon Valley by 9F, together with Matrix Partners and IDG. The winning competitor Snapcard will take part in the finals of contest in Beijing. According to data from iResearch, internet finance remains the industry with the most active capital in China in 2016.
Fintech People

Private Client Resources Taps Seasoned FinTech CEO As Vice Chairman and Strategic Advisor
Bob Miller, Founder and former CEO of CorrectNet and a pioneer in the web-based delivery of consolidated investment data, has joined PCR as its Vice Chairman and Strategic Advisor. PCR is the leading aggregator of total wealth data for ultra-high-net-worth families. As founder and CEO of four FinTech companies, Mr. Miller has a long history delivering managed solutions to the financial services industry.