Edinburgh Alternative Finance is the parent company of a new peer-to-peer lending platform that will initially focus on providing loans to smaller companies. We aim to become a leading player in the exciting alternative finance industry, connecting investors looking for attractive rates of interest with businesses seeking loans.
The secure online platform will enable individuals and other sources of funding, including private and public organisations, to select businesses that meet their requirements, based on factors such as risk profile, industry and geographic location. The platform will launch in August 2014 and we intend to develop into a multi-asset class offering during 2015.
The company is well funded and is backed by its two founders; Bill Dobbie and Stuart Lunn.
Bill is an experienced entrepreneur, specialising in internet, telecoms and technology businesses. He has led a number of businesses, including Iomart PLC (IOM), DVDs365.com (subsequently sold to Lovefilm) and Cupid PLC, an AIM-listed online dating company. Bill is also an investor in number of Internet businesses, including Maxymiser Ltd, a provider of online marketing software and services.
Stuart was previously an equity analyst, and worked for firms in the City of London, including Collins Stewart and Cenkos. Stuart has acted for a broad range of companies, including in the Internet, software and telecoms sectors and was involved in a number of fundraisings on the AIM market. Stuart is a non-executive director of Gentlemen’s Tonic, a Mayfair-based men’s grooming specialist and acts as a consultant to a niche technology company that supplies leading chip manufacturers.
The company has built a team with the best cross-industry talent available, including senior development capabilities, a credit underwriting team with a combined 120 years of experience and a marketing function that has significant experience in the financial services industry.
