Finovate Alumni News

On Finovate.com

  • “Cachet Financial Solutions to Power Mobile Account Opening for PAYTOO”
  • “First Data’s Clover Launches Ecommerce Solution”

On FinDEVr.com

  • Beyond the Bitcoin BlockChain: Coinalytics is Now Skry”

Around the web

  • Interactions partners with Arise Virtual Solutions to bring virtual assistant technology to customer care.
  • Aerospike releases version 3.8 of its database server.
  • TransferWise opens its remittance service to the U.S./Mexico regions.
  • Wealth Professional features Betterment and Wealthfront in a column on roboadvisers.
  • ThreatMetrix Updates Smart Analytics Platform.
  • “SITO Mobile Partners with Cardlytics to Power Mobile Ad Campaigns with Purchase Intelligence”
  • Bitbond joins SME Finance Forum.
  • Insuritas to power insurance agency solution for Inspire Federal Credit Union.

This post will be updated throughout the day as news and developments emerge. You can also follow all the alumni news headlines on the Finovate Twitter account.

Check Out Who Took Home Top Honors at Last Night’s European Fintech Awards

Check Out Who Took Home Top Honors at Last Night’s European Fintech Awards
GroupPhoto(Photo credit: http://www.fintech.nl/)

Last night in Amsterdam the 2016 European Fintech Awards celebrated innovators shaping the future of finance. A total of nine awards were presented to companies selected by a panel of judges for the quality of their pitch.

Four of the winners are Finovate and FinDEVr alums, including BehavioSec, who won the overall award of Best European Fintech Company of 2016:

BehavioSec
Category: Risk, Intelligence, and Security
HQ: Stockholm, Sweden
Founded: 2009
FinovateFall 2015 demo
FinDEVr San Francisco 2015 presentation

Backbase
Category: Innovative Banking Software
HQ: The Netherlands
Founded: 2003
FinovateEurope 2016 demo

Kreditech
Category: Financial Inclusion
HQ: Hamburg, Germany
Founded: 2012
FinovateSpring 2014 demo

Xpenditure
Category: Best of Show, selected for the best pitch
HQ: Mechelen, Belgium
Founded: 2011
FinovateEurope 2016 demo

A total of 29 Finovate and FinDEVr alums were recognized in the European Fintech Top 100 list. Companies awarded on this list were selected by a combination of online public votes (weighted 25%) and a panel of judges (weighted 75%).

  • AdviceGames
  • Kantox
  • Aire.io
  • Klarna
  • AMP Credit Technologies
  • Kontomatik
  • Azimo
  • Kreditech
  • Backbase
  • Mambu
  • BehavioSec
  • mBank
  • Cloud Lending Solutions
  • Meniga
  • ebankIT
  • Nutmeg
  • eToro
  • Qumram
  • ETRONIKA
  • Scalable Capital
  • eWise
  • SmartEngine
  • Fenergo
  • TransferWise
  • Holvi
  • Trustly
  • IdeaBank
  • Zopa
  • InvoiceSharing

The European Fintech Awards are organized by Amsterdam-based publishing company Alex van Groningen BV. The company offers a great explanation of the awards: “The purpose of the FinTech awards is not to scientifically prove who are the best FinTech companies. The judging is primarily based on the judges’ individual ideas and views on the nominating companies using their expertise, knowledge and ideas.”

BBVA Acquires Holvi for Undisclosed Sum

BBVA Acquires Holvi for Undisclosed Sum

Holvi_homepage_Mar2016

Described by Wired magazine as one of the “hottest startups in Finland,” Holvi has just been acquired by Spanish bank BBVA, a fellow Finovate alum.

“We’re excited about Holvi as we share a vision about the benefit of technology for the customer,” BBVA’s Teppo Paavola said. Paavola, chief development officer and GM of new digital business for BBVA, also praised the way Holvi leveraged technology “to bring a new approach to small business banking, where services essential to a business’s future, such as invoicing, are built into their core offer.”

Holvi_stage_FEU2013

Pictured: Holvi co-founder Tuomas Toivonen demonstrating his company’s platform at FinovateEurope 2013 in London.

“We found the ideal owner in BBVA,” Holvi CEO Johan Lorenzen added in a statement on the Holvi blog. “A bank with the understanding of the digital world to give us the necessary room to grow, and then the scale and expertise to underpin that growth with sound foundations.”

Terms of the acquisition were not immediately available.

Calling itself “Banking for Makers and Doers,” Holvi provides SMEs, freelancers, and entrepreneurs with a business current account that features its own international bank account number (IBAN), as well as a suite of banking, accounting, and invoicing tools to make it easier to manage company finances. Holvi accounts provide automatic financial statements, including a real-time update of VAT balance, and can be used to send invoices and even set up an online store. As of April 2016, Holvi customers in Germany, Austria, and Finland will also get access to a Holvi Business MasterCard.

Last December, Holvi was featured in TheNextWeb’s look at “10 Finnish startups to watch in 2016.” That same month, Let’s Talk Payments included Holvi in a roundup of top Nordic fintech startups. Business Insider also recognized the company last fall, naming it among the “12 hottest” fintech startups in the region. And in September, Holvi launched its Supercharge feature to make it easier for customers to add money to their Holvi accounts.

Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, Holvi demoed its technology at FinovateEurope 2013. The company is an authorized payment institution licensed and regulated by FIN-FSA (the Financial Supervisory Authority of Finland.)

 

Finovate Alumni News

On Finovate.com:

  • “BBVA Acquires Holvi for Undisclosed Sum”
  • “Swipely Rebrands as Upserve to Focus Exclusively on Restaurants”

Around the web

  • TransferTo forges strategic partnership with emerging markets telecom, Millicom.
  • Digital Insight adds Android Fingerprint ID to its mobile banking app.
  • Nomis Solutions hires Frank Bria as vice president and go-to-market leader for new presentment optimization and personalized pricing initiative.
  • Xero extends partnership with MidPoint to make cross-border procurement easier.
  • Hyperwallet adds two new VPs: Tomas Likar and Daniel Berardo. See Hyperwallet at FinDEVr 2016 in New York this month.
  • Kasasa accountholders can now use their institution-issued credit card to qualify for rewards.
  • USA Today interviews Brendon McQueen, CEO of Tuition.io.
  • BioCatch granted new patent to detect user ID on electronic devices.
  • Lighter Capital has funded seven new clients so far this year.

This post will be updated throughout the day as news and developments emerge. You can also follow all the alumni news headlines on the Finovate Twitter account.

 

Finovate Alumni News

On Finovate.com

  • “2015: A Year in Finovate Alumni Mergers and Acquisitions”

Around the web

  • TechTarget interviews Vantiv CSO Kim Jones on “creating a culture of security.”
  • Moneystream announces plans to close its doors in February 2016.
  • Nostrum Group earns a spot in Deloitte 2015 Technology Fast 500 for the EMEA region.
  • Zopa CEO Jaidev Janardana explains why 2016 will be the year P2P lending hits the mainstream.
  • Holvi is featured in this look at the top 10 startups in Finland.
  • TopFunded interviews BankersLab CEO Michelle Katics. See BankersLab at FinovateEurope 2016 in London in February 2016.
  • Credit Karma wins a spot on Fast Company’s 2015 Silicon Valley “Nice” list.
  • Emerging Prairie looks at how a local RIA is integrating Motif Investing into his business.
  • SwipeStox launches new features. Check out SwipeStox at FinovateEurope 2016.
  • Personal Capital Debuts First eBook: A Better Financial Life.
  • Backbase awarded accolades in Gartner report, Critical Capabilities for Horizontal Portals. Backbase will demo at FinovateEurope 2016.

This post will be updated throughout the day as news and developments emerge. You can also follow alumni news headlines on the Finovate Twitter account.

 

 

Finovate Alumni News

On Finovate.com

  • Rippleshot Raises $1.2 Million in Round Led by KGC Capital”
  • SocietyOne Offering Car Loans to Uber Drivers in Australia”

Around the web

  • Xero adds two-step authentication to its accounting platform.
  • CAN Capital teams up with iPayment to help SMEs get access to working capital.
  • Let’s Talk Payments features Klarna, Holvi, BehavioSec, Trustly, Meniga, and Tink in a roundup of top Nordic fintech startups. Remember FinovateEurope 2016 comes to London on February 9 and 10.
  • Check Point Names Julie Parrish as Chief Marketing Officer”
  • MyBankTracker names Mint, SmartyPig, Lending Club, Coinbase, and Loyal3 on its list of companies every millennial should know about.
  • ayondo CEO Robert Lempka Explains Innovative Trading Solutions Live on CNBC Asia”
  • TechCrunch looks at TransferWise’s growth.
  • PaymentEye interviews Daniel Abrahams, CEO and co-founder of CurrencyTransfer.com.
  • Bankless Times talks with Encap Security CEO Thomas Bostrøm Jørgensen on current trends in authentication technology.

This post will be updated throughout the day as news and developments emerge. You can also follow all the alumni news headlines on the Finovate Twitter account

Finovate Alumni News

On Finovate.com

  • “Finovate, FinDEVr Alum News at Money20/20″
  • “Figo Announces New “Seven-Figure” Financing Round”

Around the web

  • Payoneer Selected by Amazon to Expand Cross-Border Payment Options in Select Countries.
  • Business Insider names Holvi, BehavioSec, Trustly, Meniga, and Klarna among the 12 hottest Nordic fintech startups.
  • Xero reaches 600,000 subscribers in 180 countries.
  • Tradeshift launches Tradeshift Risk, a solution to monitor and mitigate supplier risk.
  • ayondo launches first product in Singapore.
  • Crowdfund Insider interviews Krista Morgan, CEO and co-founder of P2Binvestor.
  • ACI Worldwide acquires payment gateway, PAY.ON.
  • Let’s Talk Payments interviews Tom Villante, CEO and co-founder of YapStone.
  • MainStreet features “simplified 401(k) robo-adviser” Blooom.
  • SavingAdvice.com reviews Motif Investing.

This post will be updated throughout the day as news and developments emerge. You can also follow alumni news headlines on the Finovate Twitter account.

 

Finovate Alumni News

On Finovate.com

  • “Narrative Science Enhances Quill Engage for Google Analytics”
  • “Klarna makes U.S. Debut with New Overstock.com Partnership”

Around the web

  • Thinking Capital announces back-to-school contest for SMBs.
  • Holvi launches Supercharge, a secure and fast way to move money.
  • Pymnts: PayPal could see a 40% jump to $46/share if recent investments pay off.
  • Vogogo is now live with bitcoin-exchange, Coinbase.
  • Prosper taps Parker Barrile as new chief product officer.
  • TSYS to process credit and debit card portfolios from Metro Bank as part of new payments agreement.

This post will be updated throughout the day as news and developments emerge. You can also follow all the alumni news headlines on the Finovate Twitter account.

Finovate Alumni News

On Finovate.com

  • “Finovate Debuts: Emailage Detects Fraud Through User’s Email Address”
  • “Finovate Debuts: FundAmerica Helps Crowdfunders Stay Compliant”
  • “TIO Networks Garners $1.7 Million From Secondary Stock Offering”

Around the web

  • CashStar names Katherine Edenbach as its new corporate controller.
  • E-SignLive by Silanis picked as a KMWorld Trend-Setting Product of 2015.
  • CIO cites Avoka’s win of most innovative customer solution during Citi’s demo day in London.
  • Aquiline Capital Partners reveals an investment in Fenergo, an Irish-client, lifecycle-management specialist.
  • Intuit to sell off Quicken with no plans to divest Mint or Mint bills.
  • Holvi launches app for iOS and Android.

This post will be updated throughout the day as news and developments emerge. You can also follow all the alumni news headlines on the Finovate Twitter account.

Finovate Alumni News

Around the web

  • TSYS launches new data analytics platform, Analytics Intellisuite.
  • Let’s Talk Payments interviews Rippleshot CEO Canh Tran, co-founder.
  • International Business Times previews the arrival of LoopPay-powered Samsung Pay in the U.K.
  • Business Insider looks at the growth prospects for Zopa, P2P lender.
  • New investors can now open Lending Club accounts on LendingRobot.
  • CU Mobile Apps (CUMA) chooses Cachet Financial Solutions as its preferred mobile deposit provider.
  • Holvi launches iframe to enable users to embed Holvi online store products into external websites.
  • Yodlee cites innovations from PayPal, Credit Karma, Personal Capital, and ReadyForZero in its piece 7 Habits of Highly Successful Fintech Startups. Check out Yodlee, PayPal, and Personal Capital at FinDEVr San Francisco 2015.
  • Dwolla gives account holders option to enable two-factor authentication.
  • Lend Academy: Lending Club announces open integration, third parties jump on board.
  • Kony achieves mobile competency status awarded by Amazon Partner Network.
  • Motif Investing celebrates the launch of dollar-based trading with Free Trading Day on Friday

This post will be updated throughout the day as news and developments emerge. You can also follow all the alumni news headlines on the Finovate Twitter account.

Finovate Alumni News

On Finovate.com

Around the web

  • FIDO Alliance now certifies security products from Entersekt and MicroStrategy.
  • Prosper updates credit model to PMI 6.
  • Boku acquires Mobileview Italia, offering it access to all four of the major mobile carriers in Italy.
  • NAFCU chooses Geezeo as PFM Preferred Partner.
  • Cloud Lending Solutions unveils CL Originate, its next generation, cloud-based loan-origination platform.
  • PYMNTS.com takes a look at Tradeshift’s acquisition of Merchantry.
  • BlackBerry and PayPal team up to beta test P2P payments via BBM in Canada.
  • Albawaba profiles Zooz and its unique approach to hiring developer talent.
  • Partnership with DigitalMailer to enable Primadata to provide its clients with the ability to send digital statements.
  • The Tennessean names ProfitStars a 2015 Top Workplace.

This post will be updated throughout the day as news and developments emerge. You can also follow all the alumni news headlines on the Finovate Twitter account.

Finovate Alumni News

On Finovate.com

  • Coinbase Announces Strategic Investment from Westpac’s Reinventure

Around the web

  • Let’s Talk Payments takes a look at interactive debt repayment tool, ReadyForZero.
  • Money Under 30 features personal finance apps from Personal Capital, Mint, Toshl, Mint Bills, Draft, Level Money, Bill Guard, and Credit Karma.
  • TSYS extends multi-year payment agreement with Mexico’s Banco INVEX S.A.
  • Holvi gives a sneak peek of its business debit card.
  • Cachet Financial Solutions enhances Select Mobile Deposit with geo-fencing unlimited user groups with defined business rules, and date, signature and endorsement detection.
  • Kristo Käärmann of TransferWise is quoted in The Guardian column on the relationship between U.K. fintech startups and banks.
  • Tradeshift teams up with C2FO, expanding access to the world’s largest working capital market.
  • Actiance to Deliver Content from 70-Plus Communication Channels to Office 365.

This post will be updated throughout the day as news and developments emerge. You can also follow all the alumni news headlines on the Finovate Twitter account.