Join Katrin Herrling, Cofounder and CEO, Funding Xchange, for a panel discussion contrasting the alternative lending markets in the UK and emerging countries. Katrin will be joined by Alejandro Cosentino, Founder, Afluenta (Latin America), Ahmed Moor, Cofounder and CEO, liwwa (Jordan/MENA), and Craig Moore, Founder and CEO, Beehive (United Arab Emirates/MENA). 

The development of the UK alternative lending market over the last ten years has in equal measures driven as well as benefited from an enabling ecosystem. Innovative players have benefited from a regulatory environment that is encouraging "a thousand flowers to bloom" rather than suppressing models that did not fit into the existing mold. Government used incentives schemes to make it easier to access capital through all stages of growth from seed to exit. The traditional financial services firms provided not just talent and know-how but embraced innovation and provided access to customers. 

Clearly innovation in alternative lending is happening also in emerging markets. It is clear that emerging countries are at different stages of developing supportive ecosystems - and are taking different approaches. Is this providing today a more challenging backdrop for new players or do we start to see markets leap-frogging the UK by learning the lessons of fostering innovation more quickly? 

This raises interesting questions about how innovative lenders are establishing themselves in emerging markets based on the specific challenges in the markets in which each operates. The discussion will explore with each of the founders how they have tackled challenges and positioned their business for success.

Based on an understanding of the different models, the discussion will explore commonalities that makes FinTechs succeed in different markets. It will seek to identify the role of technology, data/data analytics, ability to serve underserved segments, focus on customer services, etc. 

About the speakers

Katrin Herrling co-founded FUNDING XCHANGE (FXE) in 2014, setting out to disrupt the inefficient SME funding space by creating the first UK marketplace for businesses to easily access bank and non-bank funding solutions in one place. FXE was announced as one of the designated referral platforms by the British Government in the 2016 Budget and is now working with nine UK banks. 

Alejandro Cosentino is the Founder and CEO of Afluenta, the leading and most active peer to peer lending community across Latin America. Members lend and borrow money for better yields cutting out expensive and traditional middleman. 

Ahmed Moor is Co-founder and CEO of liwwa. He has experience in journalism and fixed-income finance. He received his BA from the University of Pennsylvania and his MPP from Harvard University. 

As Founder and CEO, Craig Moore is responsible for overseeing the overall strategic direction and managing the day-to-day operations of Beehive. Launched in November 2014, Beehive has rapidly grown into the UAE's leading online peer-to-peer lending platform. 

Registration link has been shared with members via our Members App and email. Please contact Farah Siddique fsiddique@ifc.org if you are a member and would like to register.