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Three portfolios nominated as CB Insights China Fintech 50, Michael Mao of Yunqi Partners calls on fintech start-ups to safeguard boundaries and create long-term value

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4 years ago

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On the afternoon of June 29, CB Insights China held the “Future of Fintech CHINA and CB Insights China Fintech List” summit, and three Yunqi Partners’ portfolios – 360 Finance, Inc, IceKredit and Xtransfer – were included in the List. Michael Mao, founding partner of Yunqi Partners, held round table dialogues and discussions with corporate leaders, exchanging ideas focused on key topics such as national policy direction, financial oversight, data compliance and applications, as well as financial security and privacy. An abstract of the views discussed is set out below:

1. The ups and downs of internet finance: Safeguard your capability boundaries and create long-term value

Prior to founding Yunqi Partners, Mao was a financial team leader at IDG, and looked at quite a lot of financial projects. IDG is China’s first VC involved in investing in internet finance. In retrospect, a wave of internet finance took place in China at the time, triggered by two events in the summer of 2013:

The first was Baidu’s USD1.9 billion acquisition of 91 Wireless. That was a landmark event in the internet finance sector as none of the BAT had spent so much money acquiring a start-up previously.

Another was the debut of Yu EBao. It was an industry and financial sector game changer. There were lots of media reports on fintech every day. Coupled with the proposal for “mass entrepreneurship and innovation”, internet finance start-ups became all the rage, and together with O2O, became the two major start-up booms.

During that time, internet finance enterprises grew very rapidly, and became unicorns in just three to four years. In addition to being technology- and data-driven, domestic policy driven trends were significant as well. Between 2014 and 2016, start-ups in related industries burgeoned, generating enormous economic dividends, but there were poor quality companies as well. As regulatory oversight tightened, a large number of P2Ps imploded, and the fast money bubble burst. Those that ultimately survived were technology-enabled enterprises with sound growth that nourished their businesses, safeguarded their capability boundaries, and created long-term value.

2. Yunqi’s fintech layout: Early stage investment companion with focus on compliance and development

After Yunqi was founded in 2014, we were focused primarily on “technology-enabled industry upgrading”. Fintech was a key layout direction. We invested in a number of technology-driven start-ups in sectors such as cross-border corporate payment, consumer finance, small and micro credit, intelligent risk control, and supply chain finance. As an angel/early lead investor, we accompanied them throughout their growth phase.

When investing in fintech enterprises, we focus on three particular areas: First, financial background and industry experience; second, grasp of technological advantages and enabling industry development; and third, compliance. For instance, among Yunqi’s portfolio of invested enterprises, 360 Finance, Inc‘s former CEO, Jun Xu, once worked at HSBC, and was the youngest partner in McKinsey Asia Pacific in charge of banking, securities and trust operations in China; IceKredit founder Lingyun Gu was a core member of renowned US fintech start-up ZestFinance; Qiang YanMagnet Finance founder  had more than 20 years of commercial banking experience; and Xtransfer founder Bill Deng had more than 10 years of management experience at Visa and Ant Financial.

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Some entrepreneurs had conducted finance operations based on an internet finance mindset, which in fact contravened the essence of finance. Although there was no supervision at the time, there was significant risk. We wouldn’t have invested even if these companies were affordable.

On the basis of such knowledge, despite the consistent collapse of a large number of renowned internet finance companies over the last two to three years, we have not only managed to sidestep all the mine fields and remain untarnished, all the enterprises in our portfolio have in fact grown rapidly and steadily, and three of the companies in our portfolio have been included in the CB Insights List this time round.

Going forward, although China’s financial digitalization still has a long way to go, and the 2020 pandemic will accelerate digital transformation among Chinese industries, fintech may well become the frontier of change. Entrepreneurs should grasp growth opportunities, respect objective laws, excel in their technical expertise, and enable and increase the overall value of the industry.

SOURCE Yunqi Partners

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Fintech PR

WSPN Partners with Viction and Ninety Eight Ecosystem to Boost WUSD Adoption and Expand Market Reach

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52 mins ago

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November 5, 2024

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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.

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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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The Adecco Group: Q3 2024 RESULTS

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2 hours ago

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November 5, 2024

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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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DAMAC International Expands Presence in APAC with New Office in Hong Kong

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6 hours ago

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November 5, 2024

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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.

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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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