VIAINVEST is a new peer-to-peer lending marketplace offering both private individuals and companies to invest in consumer loans originated across Europe. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Riga, VIAINVEST follows a worldwide trend and aims to offer investors safe and more effective investment opportunities than traditional banks do. Within just a few months, VIAINVEST has already reached the milestone of €4 million loans funded. The main aim of VIAINVEST is to ensure outstanding investor support as well as provide easy and accessible investment environment that does not require useless actions or extra time for understanding ongoing processes.
To learn more about VEAINVEST and corresponding investment opportunities, we did an interview Eduards Lapkovskis, the CEO of the young company. Here it is:
VIAINVEST was launched in December of 2016. How is it going so far?
This time has been really busy and exciting at the same time. When VIA SMS Group decided to diversify its product portfolio and idea about VIAINVEST came up, we knew that shifting from alternative consumer lender to the fintech company is inevitable. Our team has grown significantly since launching VIAINVEST and we are not planning to stop platform development after reaching some milestones. Until now we have been working according to the initial plan. VIAINVEST is not aiming to catch up with the largest market players in a short period of time, we are more focused on the quality of the service and personalized approach to each investor.
What are the main advantages for investors and what ROI can they expect?
VIAINVEST is truly customer-oriented company, and we strive to provide the most satisfying investing experience possible. Great deal of investors’ concerns are related to investment safety, so all loans listed on VIAINVEST are secured with a Buyback Guarantee. Also, to guarantee that one investor will never be 100% committed to particular loan, originators keep 5% “skin in the game” for each loan. To develop the platform that would be convenient and easy to use, we encourage investors to leave their feedback; each of recommendations is reviewed and most of them are included in our future updates list.
Currently investors can enjoy up to 12,2% ROI by investing in short-term consumer loans originated by VIA SMS Group daughter companies across Europe.
Is VIAINVEST open to international investors?
VIAINVEST is open to any investors holding a bank account within the European Union or other country to which the requirements arising from European Union legislation on the prevention of money laundering and terrorism financing apply. Currently there is no legislation in Latvia regulating operations of peer-to-peer lending platforms, but it may be developed in 2017, so VIAINVEST is already implementing existing regulations.
How is VIAINVEST financed as a company itself?
As a daughter company of VIA SMS Group, VIAINVEST is financed from company’s budget and is not dependant on the funds deposited on the platform by investors. As VIA SMS Group has issued its bonds on Nasdaq Riga stock exchange, all financial reporting documents are available on Nasdaq web page, so investors are able to monitor financial performance of the company.
Where do you see VIAINVEST in about 5 years from now?
Fintech is changing traditional finance world in such pace, that it is hard to predict what will happen even in a year. VIAINVEST will definitely continue to expand its loan originator list and implement new features to make online investing much easier and accessible to everyone. We have great plans, first news will be out soon, stay tuned!
