FinTech & AltFi: The future of finance?

Crowdfuding, Peer-to-Peer Lending and Invoice trading are just some of the many options now available to the SME & Small Business market, with countless Alternative Finance companies opening their doors for business and looking to give the Banks a run for their money... Literally!

When the financial crisis hit in 2008 things changed dramatically, with banks becoming increasingly conservative about their lending habits. Subsequently this offered up a wealth of opportunity for these Alternative Financiers to take on these "riskier" transactions, that the banks were keen to shy away from and the market has grown ever since, with a study by Nesta showing UK market growth of 84%, providing ￡3.2bil worth of facilities in 2015.

While many say this new offering is merely a bubble waiting to burst, others rush to champion the work of these organisations and in truth, I suppose only time will tell! But can these new-comers truly offer real competition to the Banks, who have controlled the market for so long? Well, In a world where Leicester City are Premier League leaders and Jamie Vardy tops the goal-scoring charts, surely anything is possible... right?

With regard to the companies I have had the pleasure of working with in the market, there is a refreshing theme of entrepreneurial flair, coupled with true ambition to provide new financial solutions to this ever changing, increasingly digital and self-serving generation.

At Elbrus James this is a market we have a true interest in and given our wealth of skills and knowledge of the commercial lending market, I believe we can truly offer a great resource to these fast expanding businesses.

As ever, I am always happy to have a further conversation and see what I can do to help, so please feel free to get in touch!

- Craig -

E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: +44 (0) 207 240 0760