Author Profile
Appel, Ian
FundingPartner: Navigating the Nordic Crowdlending Market
Allayannis, George (Yiorgos); Sesia, Aldo; Appel, Ian
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
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?
Maiden, Stephen E.; Xu, Ting; Appel, Ian
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: Fintech Lending—Fair or Not?
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: Keep “Hodling”?
Allayannis, George (Yiorgos); Appel, Ian
F-2048 | Published August 09, 2023 | 20 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