Ying Tan makes substantial investment in Knowledge Bank

01 December 2021

Ying Tan, founder and former CEO of leading mortgage broker Dynamo, has today acquired a significant stake in Knowledge Bank a rapidly growing fintech. Knowledge Bank is the UK’s leading criteria search system and Ying will join the board, becoming non-executive chairman.

Knowledge Bank was set up by Nicola Firth and launched in September 2017. At the point of launch it was the first ever criteria search system, pulling together the most up-to-date criteria from lenders across residential mortgages, buy-to-let, equity release, second charges, bridging, commercial loans and self-build. It now holds over 125,000 pieces of criteria from over 250 lenders making it the most comprehensive criteria search system available.

Ying is a seasoned entrepreneur. He has an impressive track record of starting, scaling and exiting companies with a technology edge in the mortgage sector.

Ying will be responsible for leading the Knowledge Bank board, formulating strategy and developing its vision. He will also be driving a charge for additional funding in order to continue to scale this exciting disruptor and accelerate Knowledge Bank’s growth.

Ying will be joined by his trusted colleague, Penny Desborough, who has been a formidable force and pillar of support over the last 15 years. Penny will also take a role on the board as a non-executive director.

Ying Tan says: “Since the successful exit from Dynamo in May, I have been inundated with angel investment opportunities and non-exec roles across many different verticals and industries. With my mortgage and fintech background I have naturally been drawn to firms in this sector. I have always thought very highly of Knowledge Bank, Nicola Firth and her team. They are a true disrupter of the mortgage industry, innovating a system that has transformed the way that mortgage brokers search for criteria and the way that lenders themselves both display and use this information.

“Knowledge Bank has really made its name in the mortgage industry, winning multiple awards for technology and innovation with a proven business model. Knowledge Bank is aligned with how I see the future of the mortgage industry; it has exciting plans to expand its services to offer an exciting suite of products to digitise and further transform the way the mortgage industry works."

Nicola Firth, CEO of Knowledge Bank, says: "It has been an exciting few years for Knowledge Bank as we have lead the charge in digitising criteria research solutions. Innovation has been in our DNA from the very beginning and the time is right for us to scale up and bring our plans for the bigger picture into play and Ying is the perfect partner for us to move forwards with. Ying is an incredibly well-respected figure in the mortgage industry; I’ve watched with admiration what he has built up and the remarkable and authentic way in which he has done this.

“We are delighted to have Ying and Penny join our board as we enter another exciting period of growth. We look forward to continuing to positively disrupt the market with the same passion and pioneering thought leadership that has revolutionised lending criteria research for both brokers and lenders so far."