WeLend at Web Wednesday (V72)

Join us for our 72nd Web Wednesday Social Mixer where we will be interviewing Simon Loong, CEO of Welab, an ambitious start-up looking to "democratise finance". Their first service is "WeLend", Hong Kong's first social lending (or "peer-to-peer" lending) platform.

Their lofty goal is to "help people fulfil their dreams". Or in Chinese, "每人都有夢想，不論是學習新的技能、遊歷世界、或開創生意。要夢想成真？我們助你踏出夢想第一步" which translates to "Everyone has dreams, whether it's to learn a new skill, travel the world or start a new business. If you want your dream to come true, we can help you take a step closer to realising it".

WeLend sees itself as "a new community for borrowers and lenders to connect through a secure, efficient and professional online platform. Borrowers benefit from more convenient access to capital at lower interest rates whilst lenders enjoy higher interest rates than conventional bank rates".

But my favourite and most poignant part of their self-description is, "In our increasingly unequal and isolated community, we believe our business model will create great social benefits. We do this by connecting individuals from all levels of the market to create wealth and by introducing both a social and an altruistic element into the world of personal finance."

Chase the dream on their Facebook Page - Facebook.com/yourdreams.

After 15 years in banking, with his last post as Regional Head of Northeast Asia at Standard Chartered Bank, Simon is now applying his expertise to bring individual lenders and borrowers together via the internet. He has recruited a team of experts from leading international companies, including Amazon, Oracle, Goldman Sachs, Citibank, HSBC, Bank of Montreal and Hutchison Telecom.

Doors open at 6:30pm with the interview starting at 7:15pm on Wednesday 3rd July, 2013 at Bisous, 9/F, LKF Tower, 33 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong. The entrance fee of HK$100 includes a complimentary drink, the chance to network with Hong Kong top's digerati and hear an ambitious start-up share it's dreams. Come prepared with questions to ask the brave founders of WeLend.

Let us know you're coming via the event invite page on the Web Wednesday Group on Facebook.