Highlights of the evening included:
Over 150 in attendance with nearly all the major platforms from the UK and Europe in attendance
15 awards, mostly based on the decision making of just under two dozen independent judges who are thought leaders in the space
RateSetter grabs four awards including Alternative Finance Platform of the year UK
Zopa scoops the Editors Choice Award, decided by the editorial team here at AltFI
Rhydian Lewis Founder of RateSetter was delighted to take home the Alternative Finance Platform of the year award and told AltFi that:
“We are absolutely thrilled, it matters to us because it shows that consumers come to our website everyday and are starting to recognize us as a company.”
Ratesetter’s other awards included People’s Choice Award, P2P Consumer Platform of the Year and Most IFA-Friendly Platform. On receiving The People’s Choice Award Mr. Lewis said:
“It’s the best award because it’s voted for by the people instead of a panel of five judges.
“We are absolutely honored and this is the one we will care most about.”
Zopa scooped the prestigious Editor’s Choice Award based on the platforms pioneering work over the last nine years and its success in creating perhaps the most well known brand in the space. On winning the award Giles Andrews CEO of Zopa told AltFI
“We are delighted and the event shows how much the industry has grown up.”
The Zopa CEO felt that the night had been a success and opined that it was fantastic to see the industry coming together.
Over in the Crowdfunding space, market leader Crowdcube grabbed the Crowdfunding Platform of the year award for the UK & Europe.
In the SME funding sector, Funding Circle won P2P Business Platform of the Year, while MarketInvoice scooped the Online Invoice Funding Platform of the Year.
One of the most hotly contested awards at the event amongst the younger platforms was the ‘Most Innovative New Entrant’ award – with UK based debt consolidation specialist QuidCycle ultimately coming away with the honours. CEO Frank Mukahanana told AltFi that he was: “Absolutely elated – for us to win against so many other platforms is a big endorsement for what we do. If you know how many entrants are coming into the industry, it’s absolutely amazing and all of them are niche, it says a lot for us to win.”
The full list of winners is as follows:
The Editors Choice – Zopa
Alternative Finance Platform of the Year (UK) - RateSetter
Alternative Finance Platform of the Year (EU) – Bondora
The People’s Choice Award – RateSetter
Crowdfunding Platform of the Year (UK & EU) - Crowdcube
P2P Consumer Platform of the Year (EU) – Bondora
Most Innovative New Entrant - QuidCycle
P2P Business Platform of the Year (UK & EU) – Funding Circle
P2P Consumer Platform of the Year – RateSetter
Most IFA-Friendly Platform - RateSetter
Online Invoice Funding Platform of the Year (UK & EU) – MarketInvoice
Fastest Growing Platform of the Year – Wellesley & Co
Best Clarity of Data for Investors (UK & EU) – Funding Circle
P2P Property Lender of the Year (UK & EU) - LendInvest
Social Impact Platform of the Year (UK & EU) – Abundance
See all the photos from the evening by following this link.
