Michelle Beyo, Advisor, Payments and Financial Inclusivity
July 17th, 2020
Michelle Beyo is Founder & CEO of Finavator INC, Money2020 RiseUp Alumni, Women in Payments Glob[...]
Tencent launches new blockchain game merging concepts behind Pokémon Go and CryptoKitties
South China Morning Post | Zheping Huang | Apr 13, 2019
The world’s biggest gaming market is finally getting a taste of Pokémon Go and CryptoKitties.
Not the original versions but a new title that merges concepts underlying the two games into one, produced by Chinese gaming giant Tencent.
The Shenzhen-based company on Thursday launched its long anticipated augmented reality (AR) game called Let’s Hunt Monsters, where users can cruise around streets and catch hundreds of virtual monsters, while rearing and trading millions of digital kittens stored on a blockchain. That essentially combines what Pokémon Go and CryptoKitties are known for.
Launched about three years ago, Pokémon Go is the most successful mobile title in the Pokémon franchise, with an estimated US$2.5 billion in total revenue, according to data from Sensor Tower. CryptoKitties, meanwhile, is the first viral blockchain game, which upon its release in late 2017 jammed up the ethereum network where it is based with players spending millions of US dollars trading cartoon kittens.
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Both titles have had little or no exposure in China. Pokémon Go’s location-based gameplay is dependent on Google Maps, which is banned in the country. As for CryptoKitties, players essentially need to get ether – the world’s second biggest cryptocurrency after bitcoin – to trade those digital cats, and there is no easy way to do that in China after the government banned cryptocurrency exchanges in 2017.
As of Friday, Let’s Hunt Monsters ranked as the most downloaded free game on China’s iOS App Store, beating in-demand titles like PUBG Mobile and Honour of Kings.
Much like in Pokémon Go, players of Tencent’s new game can flick a ball on their screens to capture virtual creatures while exploring real-world locations – only the monsters in this case are not Pikachus but mythological beasts like dragons and phoenixes. In a separate feature, players will get to summon digital kittens that they can trade with other players on Tencent’s own blockchain platform – in return for in-game credits rather than real money.
Tencent could use Let’s Hunt Monsters as a much needed helping hand to boost its gaming revenue while the company is still waiting for government approvals to monetise two smash-hit shooter games, PUBG and Fortnite.
Continue to the full article --> here
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Guest Post | Aug 7, 2020 As a business owner, you'll always be on your toes to ensure that your business succeeds. However, this may not always be the case. There are financial liabilities that could cost your business a great deal. These may include debts, payable interests, overdrafts, and other various acquired expenses. Liabilities can be categorized into current liabilities, contingent liabilities, and non-current liabilities just to mention but a few. All these could mean disaster for your business especially if you had not had a contingency plan. Now, this could either spell catastrophe for your business or the start of something new. In this informative guide, we'll be shedding more light on what you need to do if your business is on the edge of bankruptcy. 1. File for Bankruptcy If you've been running your business unsuccessfully and are found to be in debt, you shouldn't spend sleepless nights lamenting over it. Just file for bankruptcy and you'll find the help that you need. In doing so, it will help to shield you against creditors. This simply means that when creditors try to collect accumulated debts from you, you'll have been granted immunity by the courts. This, however, ...
Read More
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Read More
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Read More
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Read More
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Read More
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Read More
Guest Post | Aug 7, 2020 As a business owner, you'll always be on your toes to ensure that your business succeeds. However, this may not always be the case. There are financial liabilities that could cost your business a great deal. These may include debts, payable interests, overdrafts, and other various acquired expenses. Liabilities can be categorized into current liabilities, contingent liabilities, and non-current liabilities just to mention but a few. All these could mean disaster for your business especially if you had not had a contingency plan. Now, this could either spell catastrophe for your business or the start of something new. In this informative guide, we'll be shedding more light on what you need to do if your business is on the edge of bankruptcy. 1. File for Bankruptcy If you've been running your business unsuccessfully and are found to be in debt, you shouldn't spend sleepless nights lamenting over it. Just file for bankruptcy and you'll find the help that you need. In doing so, it will help to shield you against creditors. This simply means that when creditors try to collect accumulated debts from you, you'll have been granted immunity by the courts. This, however, ...
Read More
Read More
Norton Rose Fulbright | July 2020 Financial institutions, including banks, asset/fund managers and insurers, as well as established FinTech businesses and start-ups, have been presented with major disruptive events with the advent of COVID-19 and national lockdowns, and with the impending risk of global or regional recessions. How are financial institutions and FinTechs responding to such challenges? What role might new business models, strategic collaborations, investment and M&A, outsourcing, regulatory considerations, and the risk of litigation play in addressing such challenges? See: Fintech Reports and Research To find out, in May and June we undertook a survey of a range of banks, asset/fund managers, insurers, established FinTech businesses, FinTech start-ups and venture capital and consulting firms across the globe. We invite you to read the findings of the survey which cover the following subject areas: FinTech as a strategic priority New FinTech use cases FinTech strategic collaborations FinTech investment and M&A Outsourcing and FinTech Regulatory impact in relation to FinTech initiatives FinTech areas of potential dispute Download the 23page PDF Report --> Now The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to ...
Read More
Read More
OSC | Press Release | Jul 31, 2020 Toronto – The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) today announced that in light of COVID-19 and the challenges it presents to small businesses seeking to raise capital, the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) made an interim local order that adopts the start-up crowdfunding regime currently in place in certain other Canadian jurisdictions (the Interim Order). The Interim Order, which takes effect in Ontario on July 30, 2020, provides registration and prospectus exemptions for start-up crowdfunding that are substantially similar to the local exemptions in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. On February 27, 2020, the CSA published for comment National Instrument 45-110 Start-Up Crowdfunding Registration and Prospectus Exemptions (the Proposed National Instrument), which will replace and harmonize the local start-up crowdfunding exemptions in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Québec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia (as well as those in Ontario adopted through the Interim Order). The comment period on the Proposed National Instrument ended on July 13, 2020. “The adoption of the Interim Ontario order will better facilitate access to capital for start-ups and other small businesses, while still providing appropriate investor protection,” said Louis Morisset, Chair of the ...
Read More
Read More
NCFA Canada | Team FFCON20 | Aug 3, 2020 Join us Thursday, August 6, 2020! As the digital economy grows and the world increasingly moves online, the future of digital identity will deliver new frameworks and infrastructure to support digital commerce, online interactions and social identification in more secure and robust ways than ever thought before. This future is here today where individuals and businesses can establish digital representations of their identities to serve as the gateway to store and protect sensitive data, manage permissions and ultimately enable the future of Convergence Marketplaces. Why digital identity matters globally in 2020 – where is it taking us and what’s the future How businesses and government need to adapt to consumer ownership of data Are consumers ready to control their own data? How blockchain technology and other core tenants are the foundation for Convergence Marketplaces – A peak into the future Liquid Avatar and and convergent marketplace DEMOs FFCON20 Week 5: In Focus NEXT UP --> Aug 6, 2020 Digital Identity & Convergence Marketplaces Time remaining for this deal ...
Read More
Read More
NCFA | Samuel He | July 28, 2020 With technical job creation outpacing the rate of technical studies graduates, demand for software developers is high. As a result, competition for in-house software development talent is expensive. The rapidly growing Fintech space requires top-notch development teams to push the limits of new financial experiences. Ideas in fintech are plentiful, but the challenge is a lack of technical capability. Recognizing this need, Finnovate.io was founded in 2016 to provide digital innovation services to customers in the Fintech ecosystem. Finnovate.io specializes in web, mobile, and blockchain application development. They have a track record of providing technical expertise at all stages of product development. See: Fearless: How Technology Helps Conquer our Fear of the Unknown Acting as a trusted software development partner, the company leverages its expertise in software technology and finance by working closely with a client’s core team. Their mission is to deliver results while cutting time to completion, costs, and stress. As a part of their product mix, they also deliver technical training to their Fintech partners. Finnovate.io’s training initiatives involved gamifying financial literacy training in the classroom for Junior Achievement. They also delivered a budget simulation experience that changes the way ...
Read More
Read More
NCFA | FFCON20 Team | July 28, 2020 Join us Thursday, July 30, 2020! Leaders inspire a vision of the future, motivate and coach others, and bring together the resources and skills to achieve a vision. They must overcome challenges and obstacles as they lead people, technology, markets and navigate regulation towards transformative change. How humans can adapt during crisis and how to unleash it How to understand and lead in culturally diverse and different environments What are the 'People lessons' learned for growing organizations? How can a dynamic leader capitalize on their vision, market and relationships? Interactive Networking Breakouts! Network and learn with experts on the topics of 'Pitching & Funding During Covid-19, Fintech Innovation and Growth Mentoring' ...
Read More
Read More
NCFA Canada | Craig Asano | July 28, 2020 TORONTO, JUL 28, 2020 – The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association of Canada (NCFA) today announced that Michelle Beyo, Founder and CEO of Finavator, has joined the Association`s growing Advisory Group to advise on the areas of payments and financial inclusivity. Michelle Beyo is Founder & CEO of Finavator INC, Money2020 RiseUp Alumni, WomeninPayments Global Console & Award Committee Member, FinTech Advisor, CPPO Member, Amazon Prime Docu-Series Associate Producer and Participate on season two of The Social Movement. Michelle started Finavator as she is passionate about payments & financial inclusion. Her background in Telecoms, E-commerce, Prepaid and Loyalty programs nurtures her passion for the world of tech. She has 20 years of extensive industry experience driving innovation across the retail and payments industry. Her most recent roles were as Chief Client Officer for a Blockchain startup focused on consent-based data sharing, Senior Director of Sales and Marketing at InComm, and Director of Loyalty Solutions for Aeroplan Division at International Marketing Company. Her company, Finavator (www.finavator.com), helps Enterprise and Fintech companies present their customers with innovative payment and digital services. Finavator's team has experience and expertise in Payments, Open Banking, Prepaid Solutions, ISO 20022, Challenger Banks, , Affiliate Marketing, Micro Loans, E-Commerce, ...
Read More
Read More
Crowdfund Insider | JD Alois | Jul 27, 2020 Seedrs has long been an innovator in the secondary market for crowdfunded securities. Today, the leading UK based crowdfunding platform is announcing variable pricing for its secondary market. Launched in 2017, Seedrs Secondary Market has continued to iterate and add new features and functionality. Of course, the biggest challenge is liquidity but that is something that should resolve itself over time as the platform grows and external issuers utilize the marketplace. According to a recent blog post, Seedrs July market volume saw levels return to their “pre-Revolut levels of trading.” Seedrs states that during the July opening, 907 share lots were sold worth £229,000. There were 456 buyers and 423 sellers trading in securities issued by 162 businesses at an average value per business of £1.4k. Seedrs reports that each seller made an average profit of £202. See: OSC LaunchPad approves TokenGX (Tokenfunder) for Secondary Trading of Digital Securities Variable pricing should make it easier for buyers and sellers to make a market by matching supply with demand more effectively. In an email, Seedrs founder and Chairman Jeff Lynn said variable pricing represents an “important milestone in our work to be ...
Read More
Read More
Sifted | Isabel Woodford | Jul 22, 2020 It's been a slow journey to get UK customers meaningful control of their bank data. Is the next phase of "open finance" the answer? It’s a noble task to want to help users control, access and utilise their financial data better. The problem is, users aren’t convinced they want a third-party poking their nose into their data, or if it’s really of much use to them. Here are their top four top takeaways about what it will take for open banking to take off, and why open finance is an important next step. 1) Success relies on building awareness The panellists agreed that one key obstacle to open banking so far has been a trust-gap; fuelled by poor communication around user-benefits. See: 3 examples of what open finance can do right now Roisin Levine referenced research that still shows “very, very low percentages” of people say they’re willing to share their data in exchange for “more personalised services.” She said these vague concepts are unhelpful and apps need to “explain this stuff…don’t use these big, high-level generic terms.” She recommended products leveraging open banking get more specific about the benefits to boost ...
Read More
Read More
The Finanser | Chris Skinner | July 21, 2020 I’ve seen a few big deals signed this month to get banks onto the cloud, such as National Australia Bank (NAB) switching to Microsoft’s Azure, and Deutsche Bank moving to the Google Cloud. McKinsey expect that cloud usage will rise from less than a quarter of banks business being cloud-based to anything between 40 and 90 per cent of banks’ workloads globally moving to the cloud over the next decade. Bankers believe coronavirus will accelerate that shift dramatically which is why companies like IBM made a big announcement of renewed Cloud for Financial Services offer yesterday. This is a development building on when Bank of America and IBM announced their collaborative efforts in creating the first public cloud specifically designed to address the requirements of financial services institutions late last year. See: 4 Digital Transformation Lessons that Banks Need to Learn from Covid-19 Bank of America’s Cathy Bessant, Chief Operations and Technology Officer at Bank of America described the new partnership with IBM as “one of the most important collaborations in the financial services industry cloud space. This industry-first platform will allow Bank of America to use the public cloud, putting data ...
Read More
Read More
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