Startups like Bond Street that are challenging traditional financial institutions are having no trouble wooing technology investors. In fact, early-stage investment activity into financial technology startups has increased for three straight quarters and reached 124 deals in the first quarter of 2015, the most in three years and up 23% versus the same period a year earlier, according to research firm CB Insights. Bond Street’s new funding was led by early Twitter-backer Spark Capital, with Homebrew, Founder Collective, Collaborative Fund, Slow Ventures, Nathan Blecharczyk (Airbnb’s co-founder), David Chang (chef and founder of restaurant chain momofuku) all participating in the round.

http://fortune.com/2015/06/18/online-lending-small-business/