The Canadian arm of the REACH real estate technology scale-up program is now accepting applications for its 2023 cohort. The award-winning REACH program was developed and is operated by Second Century Ventures, the strategic investment arm of the National Association of Realtors. [Read more…] about REACH Real Estate Tech Scale-up Program Accepting Applications For 2023 Cohort
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Pine Pops Out of Stealth with $27 Million in Hand to Reimagine Mortgages in Canada
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
Blockchain Foundry Launches Web3 Educational Platform Covering Blockchain, Crypto, NFTs & More
Toronto’s Blockchain Foundry has launched Metacademy.com, a free-to-use, risk-free, hands-on learn-to-earn platform that teaches users about blockchain, cryptocurrency, NFTs, smart contracts, Web3 and other associated technologies. [Read more…] about Blockchain Foundry Launches Web3 Educational Platform Covering Blockchain, Crypto, NFTs & More
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
Wellington-Altus Partners with CapIntel to Put More Innovation in Advisors’ Hands
Toronto fintech startup CapIntel has landed another significant partner to their impressive client roster.
CapIntel’s intuitive sales platform will now be used by Wellington-Altus Financial‘s advisors. [Read more…] about Wellington-Altus Partners with CapIntel to Put More Innovation in Advisors’ Hands
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.
Moves Raises USD $5 Million to Empower Gig Workers to Own the Gig
Toronto’s Moves has closed a USD $5 million seed funding round led by OMERS Ventures to advance its mission of making the gig economy work for its workers.
Moves is the all-in-one financial app built exclusively for gig workers. Moves’ members across 50 states manage their money better while earning free shares in the companies they work for.
The gig economy, which has erupted over the last several years, continues to grow exponentially, and now includes more than one-third of all U.S. workers. In the U.S., the current gig workforce of 59 million is expected to grow to 86 million by 2027.
“The gig economy is surging, yet its workers continue to be left behind,” said Matthew Spoke, CEO of Moves. “Recent studies have shown that 80% of gig workers report an unexpected expense of $1,000 would be difficult to pay. Our commitment to helping our members starts with reducing day-to-day financial challenges and then grows to give them a seat at the table as shareholders. As we move forward in our journey, we are grateful to those investors who are joining us in our support for gig workers.”
Moves launched its mobile app in 2021 after spending hundreds of hours in cars, on bikes, on foot, in parking lots and burrito lines listening to gig workers. Since its founding, Moves has built its products in partnership with gig workers, focusing exclusively on their needs.
Moves has over 10,000 members on track to earn over $56 million by year’s end 2022 and better manage their money with early deposits for weekly payouts, earnings insights across 16+ supported apps, and cash advances up to $1,000.
To accelerate its mission of making the gig economy work for its workers, Moves has taken a radical approach of enabling thousands of gig workers to become owners in the companies they earn on. Inspired by recent shareholder activism towards ESG objectives, Moves is allowing its members to earn share rewards* in Uber, Lyft, Doordash, Grubhub, Target and Amazon through the Moves Collective.
“Moves is uniquely positioned to solve many of the challenges gig workers are encountering,” said Laura Lenz of OMERS Ventures. “The Moves Collective, for example, is a brilliant solution to a persistent issue for gig workers, who traditionally don’t share in any of the value they have helped create.”
The Moves Collective now holds over 4,500 shares across the supported public gig companies.
In parallel, Moves has elevated the voice of its members through its first shareholder proposal to Uber, advocating for an independent board member with first-hand experience earning in the gig economy.
The $5 million financing round also included a group of former gig economy and consumer technology senior executives from companies such as Airbnb, eBay, Facebook, Lyft, Uber, and Shopify. Other investors for this round include Panache Ventures and N49P Ventures.