The FinTech 50 2014 Mar. 2014 | Page 17

FinTech50 FinTech50 FUNDING CIRCLE SAMIR DESAI, CO-FOUNDER & CEO F unding Circle is revolutionizing the world of finance by allowing businesses to sidestep the banks and borrow directly from investors in both the UK and US. Our technology is truly disruptive. We help businesses get fast, low-cost finance whilst investors earn a better return on their money. We have trebled in size in the last year, and since launching three years ago we have helped thousands of businesses to borrow approximately £200 million. We recently launched in the US, and will soon be moving into property and asset finance as part of our commitment to helping millions of businesses access finance to grow. We believe Funding Circle could account for 10-20% of the market within a decade, but it isn’t just about growth - we want to build a sustainable business, which means creating an atmosphere which is innovative and fun. About Funding Circle is a global online platform or marketplace that links investors – both individuals and organizations - with businesses that need loans to expand and grow. We help thousands of businesses access finance, typically within two weeks, whilst investors earn attractive returns on their money. @FundingCircle @samirdesai01 GOCARDLESS GREY BAKER, HEAD OF OPERATIONS G oCardless supercharges the UK’s Direct Debit network. In 2013 we became the UK’s largest Direct Debit provider, allowing thousands of merchants to bill their customers by Direct Debit for the first time. %