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AI Lender Upstart Raises $50M and Announces New Bank Partnerships

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Upstart, the leading artificial intelligence (AI) lending platform, today announced a $50M equity investment from Progressive Investment Company Inc., Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan, and First National Bank of Omaha.

Upstart has raised more than $160M since inception and has more than $100M in cash and equity capital on hand. Additionally, Upstart will be the newest offering in the Progressive portfolio of Advantage Products, which are third-party products offered to meet consumers’ changing needs. Upstart loans will be available through www.progressive.com in the near future.

“We started on this journey because credit is not just a cornerstone of our economy but a fundamental ingredient in the lives of Americans,” said Dave Girouard, Upstart co-founder and CEO and former president of Google Enterprise. “For hundreds of years, credit has represented opportunity and mobility for those seeking what’s next in their lives. Whether it’s to learn a new skill, to relocate to a new city, to start a new business, or to buy a new home or car, the price of credit is the price of opportunity and mobility. It’s the price of what’s next.”

Upstart co-founder Paul Gu added, “Credit is generally overpriced and unfairly distributed, because it relies on techniques developed before the advent of modern computing. But technology and data science, in the form of AI, have the opportunity to change all of that.”

After more than $3.3B in loans originated in the last five years, Upstart has demonstrated loss rates less than half those of peer platforms for borrowers with similar FICO scores. Furthermore, a study comparing Upstart’s model to those of several large U.S. banks showed that Upstart could cut their loan losses by three-quarters or almost triple their approval rates.*

Thus far in 2019, more than 60% of Upstart originations were entirely automated and approved in real time, an unprecedented feat in installment lending. On the back of strong unit economics and exceptional credit performance, Upstart grew revenues by about 80% in 2018 and reached profitability in the second half of the year.

Upstart’s business is designed not to compete with banks but to partner with them. Upstart launched its first partnerships with Customers Bank and its BankMobile division. Today, the company announced it has signed “Powered by Upstart” partnership agreements with First National Bank of Omaha, First Federal Bank of Kansas City and Accion Chicago. With Powered by Upstart, banks and other lenders can leverage Upstart’s AI platform in the form of a white-labeled lending application to power their own lending programs. The Powered by Upstart platform allows banks and other lenders to enforce their own credit policy and lending terms while benefiting from Upstart’s patent-pending risk modeling and automation.

“We chose to partner with Upstart because their approach to modernizing lending is well aligned with FNBO’s focus on a customer-centric experience,” said Marc Butterfield, senior vice president of enterprise digital solutions and emerging business at First National Bank of Omaha. “Upstart’s AI/ML-based pricing engine and automation will allow us to profitably serve a broader set of customers, within a great digital onboarding experience, than we could before.”

“Our mission at First Federal Bank of Kansas City is to help people build a better financial future,” said J.R. Buckner, president and CEO of First Federal Bank of Kansas City. “Fulfilling this mission means we must find innovative new ways to more effectively engage with current and prospective customers. Our partnership with Upstart is a key part of this strategy and will allow us to extend our products and services to a broader customer base that is more digitally savvy.”

“Accion Chicago’s mission is to help neighborhood entrepreneurs grow, which is why we provide our low-cost microloans to minority- and women-owned businesses who create jobs and wealth in underserved communities throughout Illinois and Indiana,” said Brad McConnell, CEO of Accion Chicago. “We believe that partnering with Upstart is the most creative, careful, and cost-effective way to lend to these inspirational small business owners that other lenders overlook.”

While personal loans are the fastest growing segment of credit, they’re far from the largest. With this equity round completed, Upstart expects to expand its AI platform to other types of credit. The company recently launched the first ever Upstart-powered credit cards with Customers Bank’s BankMobile division. Upstart partnered with BankMobile to develop two credit cards: the BankMobile Classic Mastercard and the BankMobile Rewards Mastercard, both available now via online application.

“We were excited to partner with Upstart as their vision of making credit more accessible aligns with our focus on low-cost banking services to low/middle-income Americans who have been left behind by the high-fee model of ‘traditional’ banks,” stated Luvleen Sidhu, Co-Founder, President and Chief Strategy Officer at BankMobile. “Upstart’s focus on automating the customer experience combined with their modeling capabilities further our goal of adding breadth to our growing banking products and services available to our customer base.”

Upstart CEO Dave Girouard will be on stage with Marc Butterfield, SVP from First National Bank of Omaha, at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9 at LendIt Fintech USA 2019, taking place in San Francisco, California.

 

SOURCE Upstart

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World 50 Group Announces Winners for the 2024 I&D Impact Awards, Recognizing Workplace Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

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ATLANTA, March 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — World 50 Group, the global community of business leaders from the most respected and influential companies, is delighted to announce the winners of the 2024 Inclusion & Diversity (I&D) Impact Awards. Now in its second year, the I&D Impact Awards spotlight the remarkable strides organizations have taken to create more equitable workplaces and communities around the world.

The winners were unveiled last night at the I&D Impact Awards ceremony in Miami, where hundreds of global executives from leading organizations gathered to celebrate outstanding achievements, advancements, and progress in DEI. Partners of the I&D Impact Awards, including Amazon, Best Buy, Cognizant, Joshin, RHR International, and SLB—all esteemed World 50 member companies and DEI champions—joined in the festivities.

“The 2024 I&D Impact Awards once again underscore the steadfast commitment of today’s leading companies to building a brighter future for us all,” said Jennifer Bird Newton, World 50’s chief impact officer. “We are in a pivotal moment for DEI. The significance of coming together to acknowledge our achievements—without resting on our laurels—cannot be overstated. Last night’s festivities served as a powerful reminder of the impact of collective action, and we extend heartfelt congratulations to this year’s winners.”

Chosen from a competitive pool of more than 140 entries from 74 unique organizations, the 2024 I&D Impact Awards winners represent leaders from diverse industries, spanning nine categories:

  • I&D Ally Award: Ferrero
  • Transparency Award, in partnership with Best Buy: Rio Tinto
  • Innovation Award, in partnership with Amazon: Victoria’s Secret & Co.
  • Gender Equality Award: Kimberly-Clark
  • I&D Team of the Year, in partnership with Cognizant: Inizio Evoke
    • Highly commended: Humana
  • I&D Leader of the Year, in partnership with RHR International: Lydia Smith, Chief Diversity Officer, Victoria’s Secret & Co.
    • Highly commended: Sherri Neal, Chief Diversity Officer, HCA Healthcare
  • Community Impact Award: Amazon
  • Inclusion Award, in partnership with Joshin: EY
    • Highly commended: Union Pacific
  • I&D Impact Award, in partnership with SLB: Cummins
    • Highly commended: Cargill

The winners were meticulously chosen by a panel of esteemed, independent judges comprising 24 top DEI executives from leading organizations, including AstraZeneca, Discover, Cognizant, Hilton, Lenovo, Mars, MetLife, and Warner Bros. Discovery, among others.

“Witnessing the passion, creativity, and impact of these winning initiatives reignites my belief in the power of inclusion to reshape our future,” said Crystal Andrew Banks, global head of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at The Kraft Heinz Company. “Bravo to all companies that submitted a nomination, and let’s keep pushing boundaries together.”

Earl Newsome, chief information officer at Cummins, added: “Each submission showcased the beauty of creating diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplaces. Every entrant should take pride in the impact they are making.”

The I&D Impact Awards serve as a cornerstone of the World 50 I&D Impact Community, one of the largest groups of global DEI leaders in the world. Members convene regularly to exchange best practices and amplify what works when advancing DEI initiatives across the organization. Participation is complimentary for heads of DEI at World 50 member companies.

Learn more about the World 50 I&D Impact Awards—and how to get involved in 2025—here.

About World 50 Group
Leaders of the world’s most respected companies join World 50 to learn from one another. More than 4,800 global CEOs, board directors, and senior executives across every function—from 40 countries across six continents—trust the World 50 community for insights that deliver impact at scale.

World 50 is the safe space to exchange ideas, navigate complex challenges, and evolve as a leader. Members are at the forefront of transformation, leading organizations with a total market cap exceeding $34 trillion and more than 37 million employees worldwide.

To learn more about membership and request an invitation, visit world50.com.

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ICIS and Base Oil News Announce Partnership to Enhance Market Insights

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LONDON, March 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — ICIS, a global source of commodity intelligence, is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Base Oil News, a premier news outlet founded by industry expert Iain Pocock that provides in-depth coverage of the base oils and lubricants market. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the dissemination and exchange of critical market data and insights.

With more than two decades of journalism experience at Bloomberg, Reuters, and Argus Media, Iain Pocock brings unparalleled expertise to this partnership. His deep understanding of illiquid energy markets makes him a credible and influential figure in the industry. Since November 2023, Iain has been working closely with ICIS to share and exchange valuable data and insights, enhancing the services both platforms offer to the base oils and lubricants market.

Through the collaboration, Iain integrates ICIS’ extensive content and data resources in Base Oil News market coverage. In return, he contributes market insights to ICIS News, including expert and exclusive analysis of supply and demand dynamics, price margins, and other critical market drivers. This exchange ensures that subscribers of both ICIS and Base Oil News have access to the most comprehensive, timely, and accurate market information, empowering them to make informed decisions.

“It’s a very exciting partnership – where we leverage each other’s strengths and provide actionable insights to our customers,” said Iain Pocock, Founder of Base Oil News. “The market is the winner.”

“As ICIS is already the world’s most trusted pricing benchmark for base oils, this collaboration with Iain Pocock and Base Oil News provides an even stronger and deeper service to our customers,” said Stephen Burns, Editorial Director at ICIS. “Iain’s expertise and extensive industry connections are invaluable, and we have established a fruitful partnership that benefits the market at large.”

For the latest insights from Iain Pocock on ICIS News, visit ICIS News.  

About ICIS

ICIS – Independent Commodity Intelligence Services – helps businesses through seamlessly delivering data and analytics, across the chemical, fertilizer and energy markets. A trusted source and benchmark for price information and insight across key commodities markets worldwide. Our independent, transparent market intelligence informs thousands of quality decisions every day, taking the pressure out of negotiations and giving customers space for more innovative thinking, through published datasets including price assessments, price forecasts, supply and demand fundamentals and more.

Over 150 years of shaping the world by connecting markets to optimise the world’s valuable resources. With a global team of more than 600 experts, ICIS has employees based in London, New York, Houston, Karlsruhe, Milan, Mumbai, Singapore, Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, Dubai, Sao Paulo, Seoul, Tokyo and Perth.

ICIS is part of RELX, a FTSE15 company with a market cap of £64bn and an employee base of over 30,000 experts across 40 countries.

About RELX

RELX is a global provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers across industries. The Group serves customers in more than 180 countries and has offices in about 40 countries. It employs approximately 30,000 people of whom almost half are in North America. RELX PLC is a London listed holding company which owns 52.9% of RELX Group. RELX NV is an Amsterdam listed holding company which owns 47.1% of RELX Group. The shares are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York Stock Exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX and RENX. Total market capitalisation is approximately £64bn | €75bn | $81bn.

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Bybit Web3 Announces “Mantle Sharding With Ethena” Campaign

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DUBAI, UAE, March 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Bybit, one of the world’s top three crypto exchanges by volume, is thrilled to announce a campaign in collaboration with Mantle Network: Mantle Sharding With Ethena. This exciting event offers $MNT holders the opportunity to earn a share of a massive 2.5 billion Ethena Shards.

Lock In $MNT and Earn mShards

The official lock-in period for the Mantle Sharding With Ethena campaign runs from March 27, 2024, 10:00 AM UTC to April 26, 2024, 10:00 AM UTC. During this time, Bybit Web3 users can lock in their $MNT tokens to earn coveted mShards. These mShards, fully backed by the Mantle Treasury, can be later redeemed for Ethena’s native token, $ENA.

Maximize Your Rewards and Trade mShards Across DeFi dApps

For maximum reward potential, users are encouraged to keep their $MNT locked throughout the entire campaign period. Rewards are dynamically calculated and updated in real-time based on the total amount of $MNT locked per second by all participants.

Bybit Web3 is proud to be the first ecosystem to enable the trading of Ethena Shards in the form of mShards across various DeFi dApps. This integration marks a significant milestone for Mantle Ecosystem, paving the way for further exciting developments.

Don’t miss this opportunity to earn substantial rewards and contribute to the growth of the Mantle and Ethena ecosystems. For full details and participation instructions, please visit:

https://announcements.bybit.com/en/article/limited-time-offer-lock-in-mnt-and-grab-your-share-of-2-500-000-000-ethena-shards–blt66c8da8bd86d0910/

#Bybit / #TheCryptoArk / #BybitWeb3

About Bybit Web3

Bybit Web3 is redefining openness in the decentralized world, creating a simpler, open, and equal ecosystem for everyone. We are committed to welcoming builders, creators, and partners in the blockchain space, extending an invitation to both crypto enthusiasts and the curious, with a community of over 1 million wallet users, over 10 major ecosystem partners, and counting. 

Bybit Web3 provides a comprehensive suite of Web3 products designed to make accessing, swapping, collecting and growing Web3 assets as open and simple as possible. Our wallets, marketplaces and platforms are all backed by the security and expertise that define Bybit as a top 3 global crypto exchange, trusted by 25 million users globally.

Join the revolution now and open the door to your Web3 future with Bybit.

For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Web3.

About Bybit

Bybit is one of the world’s top three crypto exchanges by trading volume with 25 million users. Established in 2018, it offers a professional platform where crypto investors and traders can find an ultra-fast matching engine, 24/7 customer service, and multilingual community support. Bybit is a proud partner of Formula One’s reigning Constructors’ and Drivers’ champions: the Oracle Red Bull Racing team.

For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press.

For media inquiries, please contact: [email protected]

For more information, please visit: https://www.bybit.com

For updates, please follow: Bybit’s Communities and Social Media

Discord | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Telegram | TikTok | X | Youtube

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