ArrowArtboardCreated with Sketch.Title ChevronTitle ChevronIcon FacebookIcon LinkedinIcon Mail ContactPath LayerIcon MailPositive ArrowIcon Print
Technology

Singapore fintech learns from debt blowup of China, Greensill

After crowdfunding scams and meltdowns, Softbank-backed startup welcomes regulation

Funding Societies CEO and co-founder Kelvin Teo says he would be happy to see a well-regulated fintech sector in Southeast Asia. (File photo by Shinya Sawai)

HO CHI MINH CITY -- Southeast Asia's biggest lending startup sees a cautionary tale in China, where a decade of freewheeling growth in digital loans collapsed spectacularly under the weight of frauds and crackdowns.

The region has benefited from "preemptively regulating" against bad actors, says Funding Societies, a Singapore-based company that has raised $144 million from investors led by SoftBank Group. And that is why CEO and co-founder Kelvin Teo would be happy to see even more regulation -- to a degree.

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored Content This content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.

Nikkei Asian Review, now known as Nikkei Asia, will be the voice of the Asian Century.

Celebrate our next chapter
Free access for everyone - Sep. 30

Find out more