Online broker to enter major mortgage market

Joust has raised almost $2 million since its inception in early 2015. The home loan auction website launched with a pilot in South Australia in June 2016 and expanded into Victoria in October 2016.

The new capital raising provides the startup with funding to further expand its advertising and marketing activities into the NSW market beginning in March this year.

Joust co-founder and managing director Mark Bevan explained that 650 customers have used Joust for their home loan needs and that the value of home loans “jousted” has exceed $250 million.

“We have been thrilled with the response to our pilot from the South Australian and Victorian public. We now have 11 banks on the platform and the continued support from existing investors and now NOVA Entertainment, gives us the confidence to expand in to the Sydney market next month,” Mr Bevan said.

Part of the fintech company’s push into the highly competitive Sydney market will be driven via radio advertising. After a successful campaign with Smooth FM in Melbourne, where the group saw $50 million worth of deals ‘jousted’ in one month, the company now hopes to replicate this success in Australia’s largest mortgage market.

“Scaling the business and increasing consumer awareness in the important markets of Melbourne and Sydney are key focus areas for Joust in the first half of 2017,” Mr Bevan said.

Joust was recently named as a finalist in the 2017 Fintech Business Awards under the category of Startup of the Year.

[Related: Lender embraces digital mortgage distribution]