Fintech PR
Edu-loans Platform Credenc Raises US $2.5 mn in Round led by Omidyar Network India
Credenc, a leading education loans platform, recently announced that it has raised INR 17.8 crore (US $2.5 million) in seed funding, led by Omidyar Network India with participation from EMVC , Better Capital, and IIMK Alumni Fund. The start-up intends to build up a loan book of US $0.5 billion over the next 5 years. The capital raised shall be used to expand operations to 1,000 colleges across 50 cities over the next 2 years. Credenc also plans to hire across technology, credit and banking partnerships.
Delhi-based Credenc, founded by Avinash Kumar and Mayank Batheja in 2017, works as the digital finance desk of 200+ management colleges across 17 Indian cities. The start-up has approved loans worth INR 100+ crore (US $15 million) as yet. With more than 200 loan requests a day, Credenc undertakes a rigorous evaluation process using a proprietary AI model which tracks 15 million data points to predict the future income of students applying for loans. Industry-wide, approval for education loans can take up to 2 months, vis-a-vis Credenc which qualifies applications within a fraction of that time.
As a unique platform to finance meritorious students for their college expenses by underwriting their employability, rather than the means available to their families, Credenc is disrupting the domestic higher education financing market with its future income prediction model which ensures the best students of our country are not starved for funds for their education.
As per Credenc, 30% of Indian students’ families sell assets to fund their education. 20% borrow from local money lenders at rates as high as 3% a month. Another 30% give up on a college education. The start-up has mapped 70,000 job roles across 50,000 companies in India and developed a deep understanding of employability in India, to change the status quo. After providing financial support, Credenc works with students and helps them with employability services, handholding applicants as they transition from student to professional life.
Speaking of the round of funding, Mayank Batheja, Co-founder, Credenc, said, “Currently only 5% of the ~$50 billion annual spend on college tuition fee is financed by organised lenders. We believe this penetration should be at least 15%,” to which Avinash Kumar, Co-founder added, “Our target segment consists of the top 10,000 colleges in India, and we would like to ensure that we are available for the top 10% of students from these colleges.”
“Credenc’ differentiated lending model provides financing to deserving students, which helps them access post-secondary education and get meaningful employment. Avinash and Mayank’s solution will help in creating a level playing field for students from the Next Half Billion population by making quality education more accessible. We see this partnership as an opportunity to demonstrate that a highly impactful and profitable business can be built in the large and untapped higher education financing space,” said Sarvesh Kanodia, Associate, Omidyar Network India.
“Credenc is solving a multi-billion dollar domestic education financing problem, putting students’ abilities at the center. Their distribution model of being the ‘financial aid office’ at colleges is spot on and will unlock a large market opportunity, creating a win-win for students and colleges,” said Vaibhav Domkundwar, CEO, Better Capital, to which Melissa Frakman, Managing Partner, EMVC, added, “The innovation that Credenc has developed — and is already deploying across institutions in India — has the opportunity to change the course of retail financial services in India, unlocking financing and other resources for millions of creditworthy, high-potential students who otherwise wouldn’t have access to credit. Growing the massive workforce required to meet India’s skilled labour demand is a challenge that’s fundamental to India’s economic growth and Credenc is solving this with new technology and distribution.”
The annual spend on college fees in India is US $50 billion or INR 3.5+ lakh crore, of which only 5% is financed by organised lenders. For the USA, this figure stands at more than 60%. Credenc intends to change the segment perception and reduce underwriting risk basis its future employability score, which will help this percentage go up to 15%, as it partners with more than 3,000 colleges in 100+ cities to build an INR 3,500+ crore loan book in the next 5 years.
SOURCE Credenc
Fintech PR
WSPN Partners with Viction and Ninety Eight Ecosystem to Boost WUSD Adoption and Expand Market Reach
SINGAPORE, Nov. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Worldwide Stablecoin Payment Network (WSPN) is excited to announce a strategic partnership with Viction, a global Layer-1 blockchain that empowers builders at every level through accessible and scalable infrastructure, along with holistic guidance. In collaboration with the Ninety Eight (formerly known as Coin98) ecosystem, this partnership aims to expand WUSD’s reach, strengthening its role as a stable and accessible digital asset across the evolving Web3 landscape. Together, WSPN, Viction, and Ninety Eight will enhance interoperability, boost liquidity, and drive local market adoption, with a strong focus on growth in emerging markets.
Expanding WUSD as a Native Stablecoin on Viction
WSPN will deploy WUSD natively on Viction, supporting integration across Web3 applications and enhancing liquidity for users and developers. With WUSD as a core asset, Viction’s ecosystem will foster secure, stable transactions, empowering dApps, protocols, and platforms with increased interoperability and cross-chain functionality.
Market Expansion, CEX Listings, and Joint Community Outreach
To expand WUSD’s presence in Vietnam, Viction will tap into its resources alongside the Ninety Eight ecosystem to drive local adoption through strategic partnerships and collaborative community outreach. Listing WUSD on major centralized exchanges will increase accessibility, reaching a broader audience. This joint effort benefits both WSPN and Viction, with WUSD enhancing visibility for Viction’s technology and ecosystem, while Viction’s strong local network and Ninety Eight’s established connections boost WUSD’s growth. Through initiatives like webinars, ambassador programs, and developer workshops, the partnership will engage the community and build a lasting foundation, fostering an understanding of both WUSD’s value and Viction’s strengths.
Collaborative Responsibilities and Support
WSPN will oversee WUSD’s deployment on Viction and foster collaborations within its ecosystem, while Ninety Eight and Viction will support liquidity management, integrating WUSD into the Coin98 Super Wallet and strengthening infrastructure to ensure effective interoperability. Marketing initiatives led by WSPN and Viction will drive awareness and engagement for both ecosystems, reaching institutional audiences and building lasting adoption across the region.
Together, WSPN, Viction, and Ninety Eight are setting a new standard for collaboration in the Web3 space: Uniting technology, community, and accessibility to create a robust ecosystem. By empowering local markets and driving sustainable growth, this partnership is paving the way for a more inclusive, innovative blockchain future. The journey is only beginning, and the potential is limitless.
About WSPN
WSPN is a leading provider of next-generation stablecoin infrastructure, committed to building a more secure, efficient, and transparent payment solution for the global economy. Their flagship product, WUSD stablecoin, is pegged 1:1 to the U.S. Dollar and aims to optimize secure digital payments for Web3 users. WSPN ‘s Stablecoin 2.0 approach prioritizes user-centricity, community governance, and accessibility, paving the way for widespread stablecoin adoption.
Learn more: www.wspn.io | X | LinkedIn
About Viction
Viction is a global layer-1 blockchain that empowers builders at every level, provides both the foundation and enhancements necessary for projects to achieve stability and soar to their higher selves.
Viction provides seamless interoperability, scalability, flexible development, zero gas fees, enhanced security, and speed to enable builders with tech capabilities.
Beyond technical advantages, Viction offers holistic guidance through consultation, resources, funding, and strong network connections to foster project growth.
About Ninety Eight
Ninety Eight is an ecosystem of innovation companies with a shared mission to enable and empower human potential. They found and fund blockchain companies that make Web3 accessible for everyone.
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Robust performance in challenging markets; volumes stabilising
ZURICH, Nov. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ —
- Revenues -5% yoy organic TDA, -3% yoy organic, a solid result given market conditions, high comparison base; volumes stabilising
- By GBU, Adecco -5%, with good results across Asia, Iberia, EEMENA, LatAm outweighed by challenging markets, particularly in France, US; Akkodis -5%, with Consulting +2%; LHH -7%, with Recruitment Solutions stable qoq
- Resilient 19.4% gross margin, sequentially flat, reflecting lower volumes, current business mix, firm pricing
- SG&A expenses improved to €925 million, -5% yoy, with G&A -10% yoy and at 3.2% of revenues
- Robust 3.3% EBITA margin, reflecting strong G&A savings, selective protection of sales and delivery capacity
- Operating income €162 million; Net income €99 million; Basic EPS €0.59; Adjusted EPS €0.68
- Operating cash flow +€121 million, weighed by timing differences; Free cash flow +€117 million YTD, higher yoy
- Continued delivery of Simplify-Execute-Grow agenda:
- G&A savings run-rate end-24 lifted to €171 million
- Reprioritised IT/digital plan: accelerating AI adoption, expanding Global Delivery to improve fill rates, time-to-fill
- Strong track record of market share gains; relative revenue growth, reported, +850 bps since introduction of Simplify-Execute-Grow (Q3 22), and +290 bps YTD
Denis Machuel, Adecco Group CEO, commented:
“We continue to successfully deliver on our Simplify, Execute, Grow plan and third quarter performance was robust, against a high comparison base. The macroeconomic environment remains challenging, but I am encouraged to see that volume trends have stabilised.
We made further G&A savings in the quarter, allowing us to lift the year-end run-rate. We have reprioritised our IT/digital plans to accelerate AI adoption, and to expand Global Delivery to our top 25 customers. This will boost recruiter productivity and improve fill rates and time-to-fill, supporting profitable growth. We remain focused on capturing market share, building on strong progress over the last two years, and have positioned resources to capture growth opportunities as the market recovers.”
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Strategic launch to cater to the growing demand for luxury real estate across Asia-Pacific
HONG KONG, Nov. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — DAMAC International, a global leader in luxury real estate, has officially opened its new office in Hong Kong, marking its third office in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. This expansion is part of DAMAC’s broader vision to strengthen its presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing regions, renowned for its rapid investment growth. The Hong Kong office is a strategic gateway to the APAC market. It allows DAMAC to better serve its expanding clientele by offering direct access to its prestigious properties in Dubai and other international locations, such as London and Miami.
The Hong Kong office will provide investors across the region access to personalised services, offering exclusive insights into DAMAC’s luxury residential towers, branded residences, and lifestyle communities. As demand from the APAC region continues to rise, DAMAC is poised to offer high-end real estate investment opportunities that cater to the needs of discerning clients.
Talking about the opening, Abbas Sajwani, Board Member, DAMAC International, stated: “This is yet another milestone in our expansion into the APAC region. The new office will allow us to be closer to our clientele. It is a testament to our belief in the region’s potential and commitment to providing top-tier investment opportunities in luxury development.”
By establishing this new office, DAMAC continues positioning itself as a leading player in the global real estate market. It further strengthens its ability to connect with clients to provide unparalleled luxury investment opportunities for long-term value.
About DAMAC International
DAMAC International has been at the forefront of the Middle East’s luxury real estate market since 2002, delivering award-winning residential, commercial and leisure properties across the region and internationally, including in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, the Maldives, Canada, the United States, as well as the United Kingdom.
Since then, the company has delivered more than 47,000 homes with over 40,000 more in diverse planning and development phases. Joining forces with some of the world’s most eminent fashion and lifestyle brands to create tremendous living experiences, such as with Versace, Roberto Cavalli, or de GRISOGONO. With a consistent vision and momentum, DAMAC is building the next generation of luxury living across the globe.
Live the Luxury.
Visit us at www.damacgroup.com
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