Coronavirus Pushes German Fintech Monedo to Go Bankrupt

Monedo, a well known German Fintech Fintech Financial Technology (fintech) is defined as ay technology that is geared towards automating and enhancing the delivery and application of financial services. The origin of the term fintechs can be traced back to the 1990s where it was primarily used as a back-end system technology for renowned financial institutions. However, it has since grown outside the business sector with an increased focus upon consumer services.What Purpose Do Fintechs Serve?The main purpose of fintechs would be to suppl Financial Technology (fintech) is defined as ay technology that is geared towards automating and enhancing the delivery and application of financial services. The origin of the term fintechs can be traced back to the 1990s where it was primarily used as a back-end system technology for renowned financial institutions. However, it has since grown outside the business sector with an increased focus upon consumer services.What Purpose Do Fintechs Serve?The main purpose of fintechs would be to suppl Read this Term startup, could not recover from the impact of Coronavirus Coronavirus The outbreak of Covid-19 or Coronavirus in early 2020 has since redefined the financial services industry. Brokers have been forced to quickly adapt to several changes, both positive and negative.This includes the FX industry, which saw surges in volumes across the retail and institutional space in Q1 2020. This trend can be explained by an outflow of volatility, coupled with countries taking major moves to stabilize their respective economies.In conjunction with uncertainty caused by the virus, The outbreak of Covid-19 or Coronavirus in early 2020 has since redefined the financial services industry. Brokers have been forced to quickly adapt to several changes, both positive and negative.This includes the FX industry, which saw surges in volumes across the retail and institutional space in Q1 2020. This trend can be explained by an outflow of volatility, coupled with countries taking major moves to stabilize their respective economies.In conjunction with uncertainty caused by the virus, Read this Term on its business and filed for bankruptcy last week.

As reported by the local news outlet, Manager Magazin, the startup has appointed Dr Christoph Morgen, a lawyer at the Hamburg law firm, Brinkmann & Partner, to handle the proceedings of the insolvency. The company applied for 'preliminary bankruptcy' at a German court last week.

Previously known as Kreditech, the fintech was established in 2012 and was offering microcredit loans to customers all around Europe and also outside. However, it could not offer its services to German customers. The startup harvested publicly available data to evaluate the risks of approaching potential customers, which is illegal in Germany. With Spain and Poland being its largest customer base, the startup was struggling to find a viable business model despite its meteoric rise in the industry.

Earlier this year, it rebranded itself and changed its strategy to focus on the algorithm to grant loans. However, that did not work out and adding the impact of the stalling economy due to COVID-19, it could not survive.

A Heavily Backed Fintech

Monedo is heavily backed by popular tech investors, including billionaire, Peter Thiel, the bank investor of JC Flowers, and media giant, Naspers. According to Crunchbase, the startup raised over $519 million over the years.

Notably, the valuation of the fintech deflated from €200 million (around $237 million) to zero after it was revealed that the company handed out credit to private individuals in India and Russia that turned into default. “I plan to continue operations and have already started talks with possible financiers,” Morgen told Sifted. “It is my goal to bring the investor process, which was started before the insolvency application and according to Monedo management looks promising, to a successful conclusion.”