KPMG has acquired a minority stake in AdviceRobo, a Dutch fintech startup developing technology that predicts financial risk of people and companies taking out loans.

KPM

Image: KPMG has acquired minority stake in AdviceRobo. Photo: courtesy of rawpixel on Unsplash.

To predict risk, the company applies artificial intelligence(AI) on non-financial data including the behavior of potential borrowers. AdviceRobo’s technology enables lenders, such as banks and retailers, to limit the risks of lending and reach a larger group of clients.

The cooperation will enable KPMG to help its clients across the world to strengthen and future-proof their existing risk management. As part of this alliance, AdviceRobo will have access to KPMG’s expertise in the fields of risk management, regulation, data and analytics.

Advice Robo will also have access to KPMG’s global network. Erik Rood, partner at KPMG Financial Services, will lead the cooperation on KPMG’s behalf.

KPMG advisory head Rob Fijneman said: “AdviceRobo is definitely a frontrunner in the sector.

“We are very pleased that the alliance with AdviceRobo will enable us to add these types of AI-based predictive behavioral models to our services for lenders. AdviceRobo’s models will enable lenders to improve their credit risk models and thus reduce costs, especially in areas where data is the limiting factor.  In addition, it allows lenders to considerably increase their acquisition of new lending clients.”

AdviceRobo CEO Diederick van Thiel says there are some 4.5 billion people worldwide who have insufficient or no access to loans, because they have little or no credit history.

“Our software enables lenders to target these underserved customers and streamline their credit processes,” said Van Thiel.

“This stimulates prosperity and the economy. Moreover, our software has the potential to accelerate credit processes and identify the key risk signals of existing clients. For instance, the software can identify vulnerable consumers who will be at risk of defaulting on loans in the future.”

KPMG’s minority interest is a considerable boost for AdviceRobo. Van Thiel, “The combination of our competency in behavioral psychology and AI software with KPMG’s expertise and experience in the field of risk management, regulations and data analytics will result in new intelligent software products for our joint global client base.

Cooperation with such a prominent player will power our further global growth.” The two founders of AdviceRobo, Van Thiel (CEO) and Rosali Steenkamer (CCO), will continue to head the company.

KPMG is a global network of professional services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. We operate in 154 countries and territories and have 200,000 people working in member firms around the world. The independent member firms of the KPMG network are affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity.

Diederick van Thiel and Rosali Steenkamer founded AdviceRobo in 2013 to develop software for predictive risk services. With clients across ten countries in Europe and Latin America, AdviceRobo software supports lenders to speed up their risk processes and enables financial inclusion in both developed and developing markets.

Source: Company Press Release