The digital currency aiming to make the financial system more inclusive; Murdoch and Packer back SocietyOne; Matching startups with mature workers

HOME | ADVERTISE | CONTACT US Dear StartupSmart reader, Meet Stellar, applying participatory democracy to financial systems. Sydney-based peer-to-peer lender SocietyOne has closed a new funding round reportedly worth more than $10 million, led by Consolidated Press Holdings, News Corp Australia and Australian Capital Equity. The Federal Court yesterday rejected Apple’s attempt to own the term “app store”. Sydney startup CUZIN is working to create a global shopping familywhere users help each other buy products that are too expensive or unavailable where they live. APE Mobile looks to raise $1.5 million to fund growth of its paperless construction site safety app. Social network startups in Australia need to “carve out their niche” if they are to survive and prosper in a highly competitive environment. Melbourne startup Two Square Pegs aims to create mutually beneficial relationships between new entrepreneurs and older professionals. A new way to fix those frustrating websites. Some news of our own: From next week, Kye White will be our acting editor, as I move into an advisory role of editor-at-large. Thanks so much for all your support, we’re growing in leaps and bounds and will continue to do so under Kye’s editorship. Bronwen Clune, Editor Stellar focused on making the financial system more inclusive by Kye White A new digital currency protocol called Stellar is taking the principle of “participatory democracy” and applying it to financial systems. VIEW ALL NEWS Peer-to-peer lender SocietyOne closes new funding round with backing from Murdoch and Packer by Broede Carmody Sydney-based peer-to-peer lender SocietyOne has closed a new funding round reportedly worth more than $10 million, led by Consolidated Press Holdings, News Corp Australia and Australian Capital Equity. APE Mobile looks to raise $1.5 million to fund growth of its paperless construction site safety app by Kye White Perth startup APE Mobile is raising $1.5 million in Series A funding, as it looks to scale its paperless construction site safety app. Apple’s attempt to own the term “app store” rejected by Federal Court by Karen Coombs The Federal Court yesterday rejected Apple’s attempt to own the term “app store”. Melbourne startup Two Square Pegs matches entrepreneurs to mature-aged workers by Dinushi Dias Melbourne startup Two Square Pegs aims to create mutually beneficial relationships between new entrepreneurs and older professionals. THE NEWS WRAP: Uber raises another $US1.2 billion at $US40 billion valuation by Andrew Sadauskas Uber has raised a further $US1.2 billion ($1.43 billion) in a new funding round, with the controversial ride-sharing service refusing to name investors. READ MORE Sydney startup aims to create global shopping family by Dinushi Dias Sydney startup CUZIN is working to create a global shopping family where users help each other buy products that are too expensive or unavailable where they live. READ MORE Apple’s attempt to own the term “app store” rejected by Federal Court by Karen Coombs The Federal Court yesterday rejected Apple’s attempt to own the term “app store”. READ MORE What local social network startups need to do to thrive by Broede Carmody Social network startups in Australia need to “carve out their niche” if they are to survive and prosper in a highly competitive environment. READ MORE A new way to fix those frustrating websites  by Michael Kearney and Sarah Dods Whether it is doing your banking, looking up details of a flight or checking out some government services – if a website doesn’t work the way we want it to, it can be a very frustrating experience. READ MORE