Latest news with #Teshima
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Wealthsimple launching credit card, instant loans in push to take on big banks
TORONTO – Wealthsimple Inc. announced its first credit card and a line of credit Wednesday as it ramps up efforts to challenge the dominance of Canada's big banks. The expansion also includes the additions of mobile cheque deposits, wire transfers and bank drafts to the chequing account it launched in 2020 when it started pushing toward the full financial suite offered by banks. Wealthsimple, which started more than a decade ago with a focus on automated investment management, has long emphasized that it doesn't want to become an actual bank, and chief commercial officer Paul Teshima said it still has no plans to become one. 'What we want to do is continue to lean into the fact that because we don't have a banking licence, we can do interesting and different use cases,' he said. He pointed to Wealthsimple's arrangement with 10 banks to hold its clients' deposits, giving them Canada Deposit Insurance Corp. coverage of up to $1 million, as one of those benefits. Wealthsimple's new offerings Wednesday include its credit card with two per cent cash back, while it says its line of credit will have rates as low as 4.45 per cent when it launches by the end of the year. (The current prime rate is 4.95 per cent.) Clients will also be able to have bank drafts shipped at no cost to recipients, while they can use their Wealthsimple account balances as collateral for loans. But even as Wealthsimple adds features, its unclear how much market share the company will be able to take from the Big Six banks that include RBC, TD, BMO, CIBC, Scotiabank and National Bank. Canadians are known to be reluctant to switch away from the big banks — the six control more than 90 per cent of bank assets under management. Teshima pointed to results of a survey Wealthsimple commissioned from Angus Reid, showing a quarter of respondents were dissatisfied with the current banking system, and 38 per cent had considered leaving their big bank in the past year, as reason to think there's demand for alternatives. He said Wealthsimple has already shown it's possible to get people to move their retirement accounts, something that some were previously skeptical about. 'What I think what we've shown is that with a lot of investment in technology and working our clients, we make that process as seamless as possible, and so we're taking a very similar approach with the chequing account.' He expects strong demand for the credit card that Wealthsimple has been quietly rolling out in test phases over the past year, as it's by far the most requested product requested by clients. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. The company has shown there's demand for its combined spending and savings account as well, with about a quarter of its more than three million customers already signed up for one. Activity in higher-interest accounts boomed in recent years as rates topped four per cent, but Teshima said there's still demand even with rates on the decline. 'When we launched our high interest chequing account, it was a huge driver of new clients and deposits for us in the billions, and so we see it as a big demand, and even though interest rates are lower, I still think the clients care,' he said. 'Chequing is the foundation, but then you can quickly move it seamlessly to wherever you want to get a higher yield, is the beauty of having sort of one platform together.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2025.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Wealthsimple launching credit card, instant loans in push to take on big banks
TORONTO — Wealthsimple Inc. announced its first credit card and a line of credit Wednesday as it ramps up efforts to challenge the dominance of Canada's big banks. The expansion also includes the additions of mobile cheque deposits, wire transfers and bank drafts to the chequing account it launched in 2020 when it started pushing toward the full financial suite offered by banks. Wealthsimple, which started more than a decade ago with a focus on automated investment management, has long emphasized that it doesn't want to become an actual bank, and chief commercial officer Paul Teshima said it still has no plans to become one. 'What we want to do is continue to lean into the fact that because we don't have a banking licence, we can do interesting and different use cases,' he said. He pointed to Wealthsimple's arrangement with 10 banks to hold its clients' deposits, giving them Canada Deposit Insurance Corp. coverage of up to $1 million, as one of those benefits. Wealthsimple's new offerings Wednesday include its credit card with two per cent cash back, while it says its line of credit will have rates as low as 4.45 per cent when it launches by the end of the year. (The current prime rate is 4.95 per cent.) Clients will also be able to have bank drafts shipped at no cost to recipients, while they can use their Wealthsimple account balances as collateral for loans. But even as Wealthsimple adds features, its unclear how much market share the company will be able to take from the Big Six banks that include RBC, TD, BMO, CIBC, Scotiabank and National Bank. Canadians are known to be reluctant to switch away from the big banks — the six control more than 90 per cent of bank assets under management. Teshima pointed to results of a survey Wealthsimple commissioned from Angus Reid, showing a quarter of respondents were dissatisfied with the current banking system, and 38 per cent had considered leaving their big bank in the past year, as reason to think there's demand for alternatives. He said Wealthsimple has already shown it's possible to get people to move their retirement accounts, something that some were previously skeptical about. 'What I think what we've shown is that with a lot of investment in technology and working our clients, we make that process as seamless as possible, and so we're taking a very similar approach with the chequing account.' He expects strong demand for the credit card that Wealthsimple has been quietly rolling out in test phases over the past year, as it's by far the most requested product requested by clients. The company has shown there's demand for its combined spending and savings account as well, with about a quarter of its more than three million customers already signed up for one. Activity in higher-interest accounts boomed in recent years as rates topped four per cent, but Teshima said there's still demand even with rates on the decline. 'When we launched our high interest chequing account, it was a huge driver of new clients and deposits for us in the billions, and so we see it as a big demand, and even though interest rates are lower, I still think the clients care,' he said. 'Chequing is the foundation, but then you can quickly move it seamlessly to wherever you want to get a higher yield, is the beauty of having sort of one platform together.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2025. Ian Bickis, The Canadian Press
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
NTT Research's Dr. Tetsuhiko Teshima Receives MEXT Young Scientists' Award
Teshima studying self-assembly of nano and soft materials to support bio digital twin initiative News Highlights: Dr. Tetsuhiko Teshima awarded national Japanese prize for research into the analysis and control of biological dynamics based on the self-organization of functional thin films. MEXT award recognizes young scientists "who have made notable research achievements" for studies that are "pioneering" or "based on original perspectives." Teshima leads the Munich-based office of the NTT Research Medical & Health Informatics Lab and supports the lab's cardiovascular bio digital twin initiative. SUNNYVALE, Calif. & TOKYO, May 14, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NTT Research, Inc., a division of NTT (TYO:9432), announced that Tetsuhiko Teshima, Ph.D., received the Young Scientists' Award from Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) for his research into the analysis and control of biological dynamics based on the self-organization of functional thin films. The award, according to MEXT, recognizes researchers under the age of 40, "who have made notable research achievements that demonstrate high research and development capabilities, such as pioneering research or research based on original perspectives." Nominated for the recognition by The University of Tokyo, Teshima received the award at a ceremony on April 15, 2025. "I am delighted to hear that Dr. Tetsuhiko Teshima has received the MEXT Young Scientists' Award," said Professor Shoji Takeuchi, a project professor at the Graduate School of Information Science and Technology at The University of Tokyo and Teshima's academic advisor. "Even during his Ph.D. studies, he explored novel ways to integrate thin-film technology and cell manipulation, such as folding cell-laden films using magnetic fields for unique observations. His continued dedication to interdisciplinary research has led to impressive progress in the field of bio-digital twins. This award is a well-deserved recognition of his achievements, and I look forward to his future scientific contributions." Teshima is a research scientist with the NTT Research Medical & Health Informatics (MEI) Lab's Munich office, created to support a joint research agreement with the Neuroelectronics Group within the Technical University Munich (TUM) Institute of Biomedical Engineering, where Teshima also works as a senior researcher. Focused on the design and fabrication of bioelectronic interfaces and sensor arrays, this group supports the MEI Lab's mission of advancing the medical and health sciences by empowering the application of precision-based medicine practices. Specifically, the MEI Lab is pursuing the creation and application of bio digital twins to achieve optimized, individualized therapies, beginning with the realization of a cardiovascular bio digital twin (CV BioDT) and an in vitro heart-on-a-chip digital twin platform. "Dr. Teshima has played a vital role in the MEI Lab's advancement of bio digital twin technologies, and his recognition by MEXT is very well deserved." said MEI Lab Director Joe Alexander (M.D., Ph.D.). "His leadership of our office in Munich has seamlessly enabled a global research collaboration that is producing findings fundamentally evolving our understanding of biomaterials." For example, in the 2021 paper, "Bioelectronics for Biodigital Twin," Teshima introduced the research framework of the MEI Lab's Munich office, its three main research topics—flexible bio-electrodes, soft neural interfaces, and shape-morphing electrodes—and concluded with an outlook on future technological development to achieve the ultimate goal: a bio digital twin. A 2022 paper published by Teshima, "3D and 4D Biointerfaces and Bioelectronics for CV BioDT," outlined his study of cardiomyocytes to induce electrophysiological behavior similar to that of the natural heart as well as the creation of an electrical signal amplitude and frequency database. In January 2025, Teshima co-authored the paper, "Self-Foldable Three-Dimensional Biointerfaces by Strain Engineering of Two-Dimensional Layered Materials on Polymers," published by ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. The research explored engineered tissues and organoids—miniaturized, three-dimensional structures formed of cells mimicking the architecture and function of real organs, enabling researchers to study organ development, model diseases and test new therapeutics in a controlled and physiologically relevant environment. For more information about that research, please read the NTT Research blog post on its findings. In addition to his affiliations with NTT Research and TUM, Teshima is a member of the Keio University Faculty of Science and Technology. Previously, he was a researcher in the NTT Basic Research Laboratories and Bio-Medical Informatics Research Center in Japan. Teshima received his Ph.D. in information science and technology from the University of Tokyo, Japan. For more information about the NTT Research MEI Lab and the CV BioDT initiative, please visit: About NTT Research NTT Research opened its offices in July 2019 in Silicon Valley to conduct basic research and advance technologies as a foundational model for developing high-impact innovation across NTT Group's global business. Currently, four groups are housed at NTT Research facilities in Sunnyvale: the Physics and Informatics (PHI) Lab, the Cryptography and Information Security (CIS) Lab, the Medical and Health Informatics (MEI) Lab, and the Physics of Artificial Intelligence (PAI) Group. The organization aims to advance science in four areas: 1) quantum information, neuroscience and photonics; 2) cryptographic and information security; 3) medical and health informatics; and 4) artificial intelligence. NTT Research is part of NTT, a global technology and business solutions provider with an annual R&D investment of thirty percent of its profits. ### NTT and the NTT logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION and/or its affiliates. All other referenced product names are trademarks of their respective owners. ©2025 NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION View source version on Contacts NTT Research Contact:Chris ShawChief Marketing OfficerNTT Research + Media Contact:Nick GibiserWireside Communications®For NTT Research+1-804-500-6660ngibiser@
Business Wire
14-05-2025
- Science
- Business Wire
NTT Research's Dr. Tetsuhiko Teshima Receives MEXT Young Scientists' Award
SUNNYVALE, Calif. & TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- NTT Research, Inc., a division of NTT (TYO:9432), announced that Tetsuhiko Teshima, Ph.D., received the Young Scientists' Award from Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) for his research into the analysis and control of biological dynamics based on the self-organization of functional thin films. The award, according to MEXT, recognizes researchers under the age of 40, 'who have made notable research achievements that demonstrate high research and development capabilities, such as pioneering research or research based on original perspectives.' Nominated for the recognition by The University of Tokyo, Teshima received the award at a ceremony on April 15, 2025. 'I am delighted to hear that Dr. Tetsuhiko Teshima has received the MEXT Young Scientists' Award,' said Professor Shoji Takeuchi, a project professor at the Graduate School of Information Science and Technology at The University of Tokyo and Teshima's academic advisor. 'Even during his Ph.D. studies, he explored novel ways to integrate thin-film technology and cell manipulation, such as folding cell-laden films using magnetic fields for unique observations. His continued dedication to interdisciplinary research has led to impressive progress in the field of bio-digital twins. This award is a well-deserved recognition of his achievements, and I look forward to his future scientific contributions.' Teshima is a research scientist with the NTT Research Medical & Health Informatics (MEI) Lab's Munich office, created to support a joint research agreement with the Neuroelectronics Group within the Technical University Munich (TUM) Institute of Biomedical Engineering, where Teshima also works as a senior researcher. Focused on the design and fabrication of bioelectronic interfaces and sensor arrays, this group supports the MEI Lab's mission of advancing the medical and health sciences by empowering the application of precision-based medicine practices. Specifically, the MEI Lab is pursuing the creation and application of bio digital twins to achieve optimized, individualized therapies, beginning with the realization of a cardiovascular bio digital twin (CV BioDT) and an in vitro heart-on-a-chip digital twin platform. 'Dr. Teshima has played a vital role in the MEI Lab's advancement of bio digital twin technologies, and his recognition by MEXT is very well deserved.' said MEI Lab Director Joe Alexander (M.D., Ph.D.). 'His leadership of our office in Munich has seamlessly enabled a global research collaboration that is producing findings fundamentally evolving our understanding of biomaterials.' For example, in the 2021 paper, ' Bioelectronics for Biodigital Twin,' Teshima introduced the research framework of the MEI Lab's Munich office, its three main research topics—flexible bio-electrodes, soft neural interfaces, and shape-morphing electrodes—and concluded with an outlook on future technological development to achieve the ultimate goal: a bio digital twin. A 2022 paper published by Teshima, " 3D and 4D Biointerfaces and Bioelectronics for CV BioDT," outlined his study of cardiomyocytes to induce electrophysiological behavior similar to that of the natural heart as well as the creation of an electrical signal amplitude and frequency database. In January 2025, Teshima co-authored the paper, " Self-Foldable Three-Dimensional Biointerfaces by Strain Engineering of Two-Dimensional Layered Materials on Polymers," published by ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. The research explored engineered tissues and organoids—miniaturized, three-dimensional structures formed of cells mimicking the architecture and function of real organs, enabling researchers to study organ development, model diseases and test new therapeutics in a controlled and physiologically relevant environment. For more information about that research, please read the NTT Research blog post on its findings. In addition to his affiliations with NTT Research and TUM, Teshima is a member of the Keio University Faculty of Science and Technology. Previously, he was a researcher in the NTT Basic Research Laboratories and Bio-Medical Informatics Research Center in Japan. Teshima received his Ph.D. in information science and technology from the University of Tokyo, Japan. For more information about the NTT Research MEI Lab and the CV BioDT initiative, please visit: About NTT Research NTT Research opened its offices in July 2019 in Silicon Valley to conduct basic research and advance technologies as a foundational model for developing high-impact innovation across NTT Group's global business. Currently, four groups are housed at NTT Research facilities in Sunnyvale: the Physics and Informatics (PHI) Lab, the Cryptography and Information Security (CIS) Lab, the Medical and Health Informatics (MEI) Lab, and the Physics of Artificial Intelligence (PAI) Group. The organization aims to advance science in four areas: 1) quantum information, neuroscience and photonics; 2) cryptographic and information security; 3) medical and health informatics; and 4) artificial intelligence. NTT Research is part of NTT, a global technology and business solutions provider with an annual R&D investment of thirty percent of its profits. ### NTT and the NTT logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION and/or its affiliates. All other referenced product names are trademarks of their respective owners. ©2025 NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
