Libra Credit is a decentralized lending ecosystem that facilitates open access to credit anywhere and anytime based on the Ethereum blockchain. Libra Credit is a global initiative with a mission to provide financial inclusion and lower the cost of financial services. Powered by its proprietary big data, AI-based credit assessment technology and existing global partnership networks, Libra Credit has the expertise and capabilities to realize its mission. Libra Credit aims to offer a seamless digital lending process that can be completed in 5 steps: application, verification and credit assessment, confirmation, collateral deposit, and disbursement. The Libra Credit platform will focus on a dual-credit risk scoring mechanism that considers the creditworthiness of the pledged collateral as well as the credit information of the borrower. Borrowers will be able to pledge any crypto-assets as collateral and receive loans in their desired asset. Using smart contracts and a proprietary collateral valuation and liquidation system, Libra Credit will lock in agreed terms between borrows, lenders, custodians, guarantors and liquidators. Libra Credit was founded in 2017 and operates out of San Francisco, USA. They are backed by investors such as FBG Capital, GBIC, DHVC, Dekypt Capital, Crypto Parency, and others. Lu Hua, Co-Founder & CEO has experience in the payments, financing, and risk management industries. He was previously the CEO of moKredit, one of China’s top digital credit servicing companies. Lu was also the Head of Core Payments for PayPal China and the Head of Global Banking Platform for PayPal US. Dan Schatt, Co-Founder & COO has previously worked as the Chief Commercial Officer at Stockpile Inc., a leading fintech company, and as General Manager of Financial Innovations at PayPal. Howard Wu, Chief Scientist, he is a blockchain and cryptography expert who is a Founding Partner of Dekrypt Capital, Advisor of Blockchain at Berkeley, and Software Engineer at Google. He advises the project in a technical capacity and has received a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences from UC Berkeley. There are already quite a few blockchain lending projects, so competition is stiff. Libra Credit’s development progress is rather early compared to its competitors. The crypto-to-crypto lending part seems to be well thought out. However, not so much with the crypto-to-fiat part. According to the roadmap, crypto-to-fiat lending is scheduled to launch in 2018 Q3. With details lacking in the weekly blog update about crypto-to-fiat lending, it is difficult to gauge whether the proposed timeline is reasonable.
Friendz is a digital marketing company whose main goal is to connect brands with their target audience, taking advantage of the most powerful marketing tool ever: “word of mouth”. When we look at what the future holds for us we see global expansion, larger communities of users, more services provided and happier clients. All this made possible by the use of the blockchain technology and the adoption of Friendz Coins, the new standard currency for buying digital services and activate community of engaged users all around the world. Friendz has been actively present in the market since 2016. As of year 2018, we have offered services to more than 200 brands. Our team is composed of 35 people, with different backgrounds and skills, operating in our offices in Switzerland, Italy and Spain. Friendz app boasts over 200,000 organic users who have published well over 3,000,000 pictures in the last two years. In 2016 Friendz received €500,000 worth of financing from Triboo Group, a public company and important player in the digital marketing industry, enabling it to hit the market and create its network. At the end of 2017 revenues amounted to € 1,200,000. Roadmap 1. We plan to use blockchain technology to provide an even safer and reliable experience to our clients. Through the use of a decentralized blockchain technology that the safe transfer of funds and the completion of services will be certified. Friendz platform will become even safer and more advanced technologically thereby protecting the interest of our community and clients worldwide. 2. We plan to decentralize the digital advertising business, creating a traceable single tool that can be adopted globally to activate users and involve them in the creation of advertising campaigns. We are planning to introduce a transparent system that will track the flow of marketing spending on Friendz platform, in a totally revolutional way to digital advertising. The use of Friendz Coins will in fact provide brands with the opportunity to spread their advertising messages and to reach the friends of Friendz users in a genuine and creative way. Users will be rewarded for being active and will use the reward to purchase other services from Friendz. 3. In the long term we want to provide every online activity-as-a-service, in and beyond the world of digital marketing. The idea is to develop a platform where companies can activate large communities of users to perform various activities that will enhance their brands. Our plan is to maintain a focus on digital advertising but with an open eye on new markets and opportunities. Friendz platform will be available to any company that requires services such as validation systems, quick content generation, bug testing, market research and app review. Our clients will not only be B2C companies, but also B2B, and those coming from the blockchain industry, all with the common goal of reaching the final users. The automation of all activities will ensure that Friendz’s role becomes that of merely guaranteeing community participation and engagement in the activities proposed.