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Appel, Ian

FundingPartner: Navigating the Nordic Crowdlending Market

Appel, Ian ; Allayannis, George (Yiorgos) ; Sesia, Aldo

F-2087 | Published August 14, 2024 | 22 pages Case

Collection: Darden School of Business

In December 2023, Geir Atle Bore, the CEO of the Norwegian crowdlending platform FundingPartner, is evaluating the company’s growth strategies. Founded in 2018, FundingPartner provides loans to small ... Read More

Decentralized Finance

Appel, Ian

F-2081 | Published July 29, 2024 | 23 pages Technical Note

Collection: Darden School of Business

This technical note introduces students to decentralized finance (DeFi)—blockchain-based protocols that offer financial services without centralized intermediaries. Advocates herald DeFi as the future... Read More

Robinhood: Welcome to the New Wall Street?

Appel, Ian ; Xu, Ting ; Maiden, Stephen E.

F-2062 | Published March 07, 2024 | 20 pages Case

Collection: Darden School of Business

Serena Khan, a fictional analyst at an investment management firm, was tasked with evaluating a potential investment in Robinhood Markets, Inc. in March 2023. Known for its sleek interface and zero-co... Read More

Upstart’s Upshot: Is Fintech Lending Fair?

Appel, Ian ; Sesia, Aldo

F-2060 | Published October 04, 2023 | 16 pages Case

Collection: Darden School of Business

Alliant Credit Union (Alliant) had to decide whether to partner with Upstart Holdings, Inc. (Upstart), a financial technology (fintech) company that offered a platform to connect borrowers and lenders... Read More

Bitcoin 2023: Keep "Hodling"?

Appel, Ian ; Allayannis, George (Yiorgos)

F-2048 | Published August 09, 2023 | 16 pages Case

Collection: Darden School of Business

This case examines a fictional hedge fund manager's decision about whether to maintain his fund’s position in bitcoin. It provides an opportunity for students to develop an investment thesis for or ag... Read More