Dear Subscriber,

In our lead story this newsletter we take a look at London-based Northzone, whose fintech portfolio already includes Stockholm-based mobile payments firm iZettle and online payments processor Klarna, plus London-based Market Invoice. We spoke to Northzone partner, Jeppe Zink, mobile-first models, e-commerce, fintech and B2B software-as-a-service.

Elsewhere in the newsletter, HSBC is continuing to explore biometric innovations by using facial recognition software that allows its business customers to open bank accounts faster using selfies.

Rounding off the newsletter, Softbank’s humanoid robot, Pepper, paid a visit to ING bank as its robotics and artificial intelligence lead, Vinoth Raman, wanted ING employees to start thinking about AI and this August Bank Holiday Weekend saw a record amount of cash withdrawn from ATMs!

Enjoy!

Fintech will be a key focus for Spotify and iZettle-backer Northzone as it announces a brand new €300m venture capital fund to invest in early-stage European startups.

HSBC’s business clients will now be allowed to open bank accounts using facial recognition technology, as part of the bank’s strategy to speed up the application process.

ING, the Holland-based bank, wanted to experience artificial intelligence first-hand by inviting Pepper, the world’s first humanoid robot, designed by Japanese firm Softbank.

This August Bank Holiday Weekend saw a record amount of cash withdrawn from ATMs, according to LINK, the UK’s cash machine network.