Brighte founder and CEO Katherine McConnell has been named Australia’s fintech leader of the year and Afterpay the fintech organisation of the year at the second annual Finnie Awards.
Run by FinTech Australia, the 23 awards were decided by a panel of 81 judges, recognising companies that FinTech Australia CEO Brad Kitschke said are providing consumers and businesses new and improved services and “a real alternative” to traditional financial institutions.
“The winners include smaller fintech startup companies but now also include larger scaleup fintechs which are dominant players in their sectors and are major employers in their own right,” he said.
The win for McConnell follows a big few months for Brighte.
The startup, which allows customers to purchase solar panels, insulation, and batteries for their properties on a no-interest repayment plan from more than 450 partner vendors, in mid-May secured a $20 million debt funding facility from NAB, and raised $18.5 million in a Series B round led by Airtree Ventures.
