We’ve focused heavily on fintech startups the past week and a half. After covering trends and regulations, it’s only natural to share some of the fintech startups making their mark on the sector. With headwinds possibly building against continued growth in the industry, fintech startups must continue to innovate, challenge established banking norms, and delight customers to ensure their future.

Here are seven fintech startups poised to maintain the momentum they’ve built so far and change the entire financial services sector for the better.

Ripple

Category: Payments

Founded: 2012

HQ: San Francisco, CA

https://ripple.com/

Having just landed a $55 million round of funding, Ripple is obviously on the right track. Focusing on real-time international payments for banks, they use blockchain distributed technology to allow financial institutions to directly transact with each other. Banks will love the reduced processing costs and ability to deliver better, faster service to customers.

TransferWise

Category: Payments

Founded: 2010

HQ: London, UK

https://transferwise.com/

Another entrant in the ripe for disruption international payments space, TransferWise works fundamentally like a peer-to-peer network with holdings in numerous currencies around the world. By allowing users to deposit money in one currency ‘pot,’ they then pull money out of the currency required by the recipient. Yet because no funds are actually transferred across borders, they can keep fees to an absolute minimum.

Nutmeg

Category: Investment automation

Founded: 2010

HQ: London, UK

http://www.nutmeg.com/

Nutmeg’s online investment service provides a fully managed and customized investment portfolio for its users. Emphasizing transparency, this fintech startup takes strips away the consultation and trading fees typically associated with discretionary investing. They also provide continual portfolio rebalancing based on your goals and risk aversion, ensuring good asset balance and global diversification.

WorldRemit

Category: Payments

Founded: 2010

HQ: London, UK

https://www.worldremit.com/

Yet another upstart aiming to improve international payments, WorldRemit makes direct payment to friends and family in other countries extremely simple. Simply input your location, where you’d like to send the money, and in what form (bank deposit, cash pickup, mobile money transfer, or airtime refill) to get started. Watch out Western Union.

Funding Circle

Category: Lending

Founded: 2010

HQ: London, UK

https://www.fundingcircle.com

In case you haven’t noticed, London is a hotbed for fintech startups. Funding Circle makes it easy for small businesses to secure loans, and for individuals to invest in successful small businesses. Taking on the traditional lending establishment by targeting an underserved market, $2 billion has already been lent to businesses around the world.

Betterment

Category: Investment automation

Founded: 2008

HQ: New York, NY

https://www.betterment.com/

With a simple platform and customized recommendations based on basic investment goals, Bettement delivers automated online portfolio management with low fees and excellent customer service. Securing a sixth round of funding earlier this year, investors are almost as high on the startup as its users are.

CommonBond

Category: Lending

Founded: 2011

HQ: New York, NY

https://commonbond.co/

Another fintech startup focused on a niche lending market, CommonBond targets student loans. Aiming to make higher education more affordable, they provide lower-cost loans as well as student loan refinancing while providing investors a competitive return on investment. This customer and community oriented business secured a third round of funding just two months ago and seems poised to make educational lending better for students everywhere.

Curious about what your fintech startup can do to see the high growth and funding of these featured companies? Contact us.