Consumers often know less about their credit than they should. According to the American Bankers Association, only 42 percent of Americans are aware of what their FICO score is. And that is problematic since, according to data released by the Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED),...
Though perhaps a bit overstated, the sharing and subscription economy is changing the face of the way consumers interact with the marketplace of goods and services. Yesterday, Google Ventures managing partner Bill Maris proclaimed that Uber was not only the fastest growing company his team had...
Beacons are about to be the next big thing – if the Internet is to be believed. Google “beacons are coming” and there are 11 articles from separate sources that use that phrase. Whose beacons? Which type? Using what tech? What use can merchants best...
When the Portland (Oregon) Seed Fund got its start four years ago, the concept of “going to City Hall for seed funding” was a bit of an eyebrow-raising idea. But it was one that started gaining traction in 2011 in Portland (and other U.S. cities),...
Last week San Francisco welcomed the latest unicorn to the herd – P2P lending site Prosper. Prosper announced that it brought in another $165 million in venture funding and sailed right past the “unicorn-making” $1 billion mark to a total valuation of ~$1.9 billion. For...
When the history of the mobile revolution is written, the chapters on payments, media and small businesses will be among its richest reading. And while we anticipate that the complete history of the mobile wallet wars will be very interesting, for our part here at...
One of online gaming’s hottest rivalries is at an end. Yesterday, Optimal Payments – parent company of the Neteller digital wallet – announced its $1.2 billion dollar acquisition of Skrill – parent of the eponymously named mobile product. The deal will combine Neteller digital payments...
Prominent tech investor Bill Gurley captured headlines coming out of SXSW last week with his rather grim predictions of things to come for the startup economy – and unusual addition to what is generally a celebration of all the potential of what’s new and now...
When Sophia Amoruso’s first version of Nasty Gal launched in 2006, it was as her personal store on the eBay marketplace. That small, original venture developed a reputation for eclectic and edgy fashions combined with a young, visible and fashion-forward following. Fast forward nine years,...