Life insurance plays a critical role in many financial plans, but we are in the midst of a decades-long decline in life insurance ownership in the U.S. Many carriers consider agents to be their primary customers, not the people who … READ MORE
COMMENTS [ 0 ]Risks of a decline in economic growth, not to mention a recession, are clear. Growth in China has already slowed to its lowest pace in nearly 30 years. In the U.S., job growth unexpected stalled in February. The European Central … READ MORE
COMMENTS [ 0 ]Greater Boston FinTech startups got off to a good start in 2016 on the funding front. Twelve firms raised more than $153 million in the first six months of the year, led by Circle, which raised $60 million. This is … READ MORE
COMMENTS [ 3 ]There was a time when venture capital firms would turn you away at the door if you approached with an insurance-related startup. That time is not now. Things have changed for the better, and InsurTech is actually hot. According to … READ MORE
COMMENTS [ 7 ]Insurance is not known for innovation. Those of us who have tried to transform the insurance industry – whether from inside, outside, or both – bear the scars. The multi-trillion dollar insurance industry seems to have so far dodged the … READ MORE
COMMENTS [ 4 ]It’s time once again for our first annual Greater Boston FinTech year in funding review. 2014 saw roughly $194 million invested in private financial technology companies, a substantial jump from roughly $86 million in 2013. But, for perspective, keep in … READ MORE
COMMENTS [ 3 ]The Wells Fargo Startup Accelerator is a semiannual boot camp for young companies that will help them commercialize their ideas and begin selling effectively into the enterprise marketplace and/or the financial services vertical. Wells Fargo is seeking innovations in biometrics, location-based … READ MORE
COMMENTS [ 0 ]Named for the famed Italian explorer who also lent his name to two continents, Amerigo Capital Analytics is a French start-up developing analytic tools and models to help institutional investors understand and evaluate US mortgage real-estate investment trusts (mREITS). A … READ MORE
COMMENTS [ ]CommonAngels is a small venture capital fund with over 60 Boston-area angel investors and a few family offices as its limited partners. The group is currently investing from CommonAngels Ventures Fund IV, which regulatory filings show had its first close … READ MORE
COMMENTS [ 5 ]On April 1, 2014, two startups from the greater Boston FinTech cluster were acquired. Both were venture-backed, and both were founded over a dozen years ago. Andera was the larger of the two deals. Founded by Charlie Kroll in 2001, … READ MORE
COMMENTS [ 0 ]“If no one seems to understand, start your own revolution and cut out the middleman.”
“I’m not even sure what I want, but that’s not the point – it’s that I want it now.”
“Whenever the old gives way to the new, everybody with vested interests in the old starts crying that the world will stop. There aren’t many people with vested interests in the new.”
“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”
“All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure.”
It doesn't really sound like Brian Armstrong of Coinbase has found the right way to "build a movement and change the world." At least it doesn't if you would like that change to be for the better. https://j.mp/3mfrPDg
Fidelity piloting #cryptocurrency data and analytics platform created for institutional investors within @FCATalyst: https://j.mp/3o0gmrK #fintech
The irresponsible and corruptly promoted Pebble Mine proposed for Bristol Bay in Alaska appears dead again. Let's hope this time it stays that way. It would have been catastrophic for the world’s largest sockeye salmon fishery. https://j.mp/376wukN
Vennfi, which just raised a $2.3MM seed, runs @Charityvest, which allows anyone to set up a donor-advised fund and make tax-deductible charitable contributions. Images of happy clients endorsing the service on its site are stock photos. https://j.mp/2V1bgz8
Massachusetts AG sues Town Sports International, a bankrupt gym operator run by Patrick Walsh, for violating state consumer protection laws, and it richly deserves it: https://j.mp/3fzU39s
