San Francisco Business Times Ranks 4 Alums Among the Area’s Best Places to Work

The Bay Area is one of the hottest cities in tech right now, and with a city full of companies vying to hire the best talent comes plenty of competition in the form of job perks. The San Francisco Business Times recently released its list of the best places to work in the Bay Area in 2016.

The 125 companies that made the list were selected from a group of 400 nominees. Quantum Workplace created the rankings from survey data received from employees of nominated companies. The rankings are numeric, based on Quantum’s scoring process.

Four Finovate alums in four categories made the list:

Category: largest companies

Intuit

Rank: #4 in largest companies
2015 rank: #6 in largest companies
Founded: 1983
Best perks:

  • 8 weeks of paid parental leave
  • Subsidized rates for child care and elder care
  • Programs for pet-sitting and dog-walking

Intuit’s Mint demoed at FinovateSpring 2013 and its developer group presented at our 2015 FinDEVr event on the West Coast.


Category: large companies

Gusto (formerly ZenPayroll)

Rank: #5 in large companies
2015 rank: #1 in small companies
Founded: 2011
Best perks:

  • A ticket to visit anywhere in the world after an employee’s one-year work anniversary
  • New-hire workshops that expose employees to all aspects of the organization
  • Bimonthly meetings that openly discuss Gusto’s growth and financial situation

Gusto demoed (as ZenPayroll) at FinovateSpring 2014:


Category: mid-size companies

WePay

Rank: #20 in mid-size companies
Founded: 2009
Perks:

  • Free lunch and snacks
  • Gym membership
  • Family ski trip for all employees and their families

WePay demoed at FinovateSpring 2014


Category: smallest companies

Signifyd

Rank: #7 in smallest companies
Founded: 2011
Perks:

  • Catered lunch
  • Specialized coffee
  • Game room

Signifyd demoed at FinovateSpring 2013

To see the newest in fintech from the Bay Area, check out FinovateSpring, which comes to San Jose on May 10 & 11. Tickets are going fast so register soon.

Gusto, Formerly ZenPayroll, Closes on $50 Million Funding

Gusto, Formerly ZenPayroll, Closes on $50 Million Funding

GustoZenPayroll

Payroll and benefits provider, Gusto (formerly ZenPayroll), recently closed on $50 million. Specific investors were not disclosed, but the company states that both new and existing investors were involved.

According to Gusto, these funds are part of the Google Capital-led $60 million series B round announced in April. Gusto CEO Joshua Reeves explains, “We decided to take in more capital because we wanted to give investors a chance to increase their position. They’ve been incredibly supportive and helpful.”

Gusto filed with the SEC on 4 December, and closed the round in a week and a half. According to a VentureBeat article, Reeves disclosed that the new installment values Gusto “hundreds of millions of dollars higher” than the company’s $560 million valuation reported in April.

Gusto was founded as ZenPayroll in 2011 with a mission to make payroll delightful. In September, the company changed its name to Gusto and expanded its focus to include health benefits and workers compensation. The move positions Gusto to compete directly with Zenefits, which, having recently expanded into payroll services, describes itself as an “all-in-one HR platform.”

Gusto unveiled its payroll-processing platform at FinovateSpring 2014 in San Jose.

Finovate Alumni News

On Finovate.com

  • “Gusto, Formerly ZenPayroll, Closes on $50 Million Funding”
  • “U.K.-Based Yoyo Rolls Out Mobile Wallet in U.S.”

Around the web

  • B2B commerce technology company Handshake teams up with Xero.
  • Braintree launches new extension of its v.zero SDK in partnership with Magento Commerce.
  • CRIF Credit Solutions unveils new, fully responsive website geared toward international audiences.
  • Business Insider names Kabbage, Twilio, and Prosper as 3 of 42 startups that grew to be worth billions in 2015.
  • Top Image Systems to deploy eFLOW Digital Mailroom at GED Bulgaria.
  • NerdWallet’s five financial tips from robo-adviser CEOs feature insights from leaders of Betterment, Wealthfront, TradeKing Advisors, FutureAdvisor, and Personal Capital.
  • Nine months after launching, One Touch from PayPal reaches 10 million users in 23 countries.

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

Around the web

  • edo Interactive brings its card-linking technology to the Rewards Network.
  • ZenPayroll changes its name to “Gusto,” adds health care and worker’s compensation to its services.
  • Boku partners with Japan’s Ueshima Coffee Company to allow customers to top up coffee cards using their mobile phones.
  • Cachet Financial Solutions receives approval from its issuing bank and MasterCard to offer Select Mobile Money for corporate clients.
  • KPMG and Matchi form alliance to enhance access to financial innovation.
  • Radius Bank partners with Prosper to direct customers interested in personal loans to the marketplace lender and receive referral fees.
  • Eastern Bank to pilot Stratos partner program.
  • Handpoint receives undisclosed investment from Icelandic VCs Eyrir Sprotar and Frumtak to fuel U.S. expansion.
  • WePay launches ACH-transfer capability to expand its payment-type platforms offered to customers.

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: Slice Introduces Intelligent Shopping API”
  • “Arxan Technologies Drafts Joe Sander as CEO”

Around the web

  • Kasasa reaches milestone: 300+ community FIs now offer Kasasa to members, a total of 823,000 accounts.
  • NY Times lists Betterment, Coinbase, Wealthfront, ZenPayroll as companies that may be the next startup unicorns.
  • Crowdfund Insider: Zopa tops £1 million in loans, a U.K. first for peer-to-peer lending.
  • Global News interviews Karl Martin, Nymi CEO and founder.
  • Trustly bolsters team with appointments from H&M and Klarna.
  • FIS launches financial inclusion lab in India.
  • SME Insider interviews CurrencyTransfer.com‘s CEO Daniel Abrahams.
  • Silanis to deploy eSignLive technology with TransGuard and Occidental Fire & Casualty.
  • Puerto Rico-based Evertec to enable mobile e-commerce courtesy of Acculynk’s PaySecure.
  • Payoneer wins contract with Dailymotion.
  • NPR interviews Pindrop Security‘s CEO Vijay Balasubramaniyan.
  • Selling Power ranks OnDeck 17 out of 50 on its list of 2015 Best Companies to Sell For.
  • Nostrum Group receives FCA authorization for debt administration to cover its involvement in customer loan accounts and debt collection.

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

  • Xero and ZenPayroll Win Honors at CPA Practice Advisor 2015 Reader’s Choice Awards
  • Finovate Debuts: Using Financial Media Solutions’ MAPPS to Create Videographics

Around the Web

  • MasterQueue, powered by Intellaegis, partners with Whitepages Pro.
  • Bitpost lists Coinbase and Blockchain as 2 of the top 5 bitcoin wallets on Android.
  • EVO Payments partners with Boomtown to simplify tech support for POS developers and merchants.
  • Fintech Today reports: With Paydiant, PayPal Will Be a Huge Hit with Merchants.
  • Blackhawk to integrate Kofax Mobile Capture SDK into its digital services platform.
  • Team One CU to pilot MShift’s AnyWhereMobile payment-network with a locally owned restaurant in Michigan.
  • SecondMarket’s Bitcoin Desk Relaunches as Genesis Trading.
  • Taulia named by AlwaysOn as a 2015 OnFinance Top 100 Company.
  • According to Gartner, Check Point Software Technologies lead the worldwide market share for firewall equipment in Q4 2014 and FY 2014.

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.

 

Xero and ZenPayroll Win Honors at CPA Practice Advisor 2015 Reader’s Choice Awards

Xero and ZenPayroll Win Honors at CPA Practice Advisor 2015 Reader’s Choice Awards

CPAPracticeAdvisor_logo

Two Finovate alums, Xero and ZenPayroll, have won first place in their respective categories at the CPA Practice Advisor 2015 Reader’s Choice Awards.

According to CPA Practice Advisor, more than 5,000 readers participated in the 11th edition of the awards. The goal is to give accounting firms a “professional-to-professional” opinion as to which systems are “most beneficial” for those working in the tax and public accounting industry.

ZenPayrollLogoZenPayroll won the payroll category, beating out competing technologies from QuickBooks, AMS, PayChex, and ADP. Xero won best “Online Invoicing/Bill Payment Solutions” in a category that included solutions from Intuit, Bill.com, and FreshBooks.

We recently featured ZenPayroll and the company’s $60 million funding in a round led by Google Capital. The company opened up its API to small-business technology providers last September 2014.

An alum of FinovateSpring 2014, ZenPayroll is headquartered in San Francisco, and was founded in October 2011 by Joshua Reeves (CEO), Tomer London (CPO), and Edward Kim (CTO).

Xero_logo_hi-resXero participated in FinDEVr San Francisco 2014, and is an alum of Finovate conferences, as well, most recently FinovateSpring 2011 in San Francisco. Earlier this week, we reported on Xero’s partnership with TransferWise to help small and medium-sized businesses save on international currency-transfer fees.

Xero was founded in July 2006, is headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand, and has offices in Los Angeles, Atlanta, New York, Denver, and San Francisco, where the company’s U.S. headquarters is located. With more than 400,000 customers in more than 100 countries, Xero has raised more than $250 million in funding, and is led by CEO and Executive Director, Rod Drury.

ZenPayroll Raises $60 Million in Round Led by Google Capital

ZenPayroll Raises $60 Million in Round Led by Google Capital

ZenPayroll_homepage_full

Forget about presidents and painters. The next face I want on my paper currency is that of the ever-smiling ZenPayroll CEO Joshua Reeves, whose startup just raised $60 million in a round led by Google Capital.

Also participating in the Series B were Emergence Capital Partners, General Catalyst, Google Ventures, Kleiner Perkins Caulfield & Byers, and Ribbit Capital. The investment round takes ZenPayroll’s total funding to more than $85 million and, according to TechCrunch, values the company at more $550 million.

Coverage in the New York Times noted that round-leader Google Capital typically specializes in funding “older companies with more established businesses.” Google Capital partner Laela Sturdy pointed to the way ZenPayroll “changed payroll from an impersonal transaction into a meaningful connection between employers and employees.” And beyond ZenPayroll’s capacity to “solve every business owner’s biggest headache”—as another observer put it—Sturdy had high praise for the company’s human capital, as well. “We’re big believers in Josh and his team, and big believers in where they can take this company.”

ZenPayroll_FS2015_stage_full

Above: ZenPayroll co-founder and CEO Joshua Reeves presented at FinovateSpring 2014 in San Jose.

ZenPayroll offers all of its features: direct deposit; unlimited payroll runs; year-end W-2s and 1099s for $29 per month plus $4 per employee. There is no longer-term contract, and nothing to download. The online platform is accessible 24-7 from any web-enabled device. ZenPayroll is currently promoting a 2-month, free trial.

We last reported on ZenPayroll in September when the company opened up its API. The company processes billions of dollars in annual payroll for more than 10,000 SMEs in 47 states and the District of Columbia. With the additional funding, ZenPayroll anticipates going nationwide by the end of the month.

ZenPayroll made its Finovate debut last year at FinovateSpring 2014 in San Jose, Calif. Founded in October 2011 by Reeves, Tomer London (CPO), and Edward Kim (CTO), the company is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

Finovate Alumni News

On Finovate.com

  • Finovate Debuts: LockByMobile Lets Cardholders Lock Out Fraud
  • ZenPayroll Raises $60 Million in Round Led by Google Capital
  • FinovateFall 2015: Ladies and Gentlemen, Launch Your Applications!
  • Finovate Debuts: Pirean’s “Access: One” Keeps Access Management Simple

Around the web

  • Feature on automation in debt collection highlights Global Debt Registry and True Accord. See True Accord at FinovateSpring 2015 in San Jose.
  • Ripple adds dropdown customizations to its price charts.
  • Huffington Post: Trulioo, Making Trust Online an Option.
  • Callcredit Information Group partners with Trulioo. Check out Trulioo at FinovateSpring 2015.
  • GMC Software Technology Named SIIA Software CODiE Award Finalist.

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.

Alumni News– December 16, 2014

  • Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Finovate-F-Logo.jpgTop Image Systems announces closing “six-figure eFLOW5 deal” with leading Asia-Pacific bank.
  • ACCESSbank to deploy turnkey insurance agency courtesy of Insuritas.
  • Klarna payment solution now integrated into ekmPowershop.
  • D3 Banking partners with ProfitStars to offer iPay Consumer Bill Pay.
  • Pymnts interviews Jingit, Spreedly, and TSYS CEOs on what they think will make or break 2015.
  • Pymnts: PayPal Loan Program to Compete with Lending Club.
  • ShopKeep gives free NFC reader to new customers wanting to accept ApplePay.
  • Finovate Debuts: EyeLock’s Myris Device Authenticates Using Iris Identification.
  • Arroweye Solutions to Provide Debit and Prepaid Card Production to DMS Bank & Trust Ltd. 
  • ZenPayroll now lets companies match employees’ charitable donations.
  • Arxan Integrates With IBM Security AppScan and Trusteer Products.
  • Mint launches bill pay and management platform.
  • Entersekt Receives Honorable Mention in 2014 Gartner Magic Quadrant for User Authentication.
  • Interactions closes strategic deal to acquire AT&T Watson speech recognition and natural language understanding platform.
  • Consumer Reports features AnchorID, Betterment, Blooom, EverSafe, FutureAdvisor, iQuantifi, MaxMyInterest, and Wealthfront in its column, “Bright Ideas for a Prosperous 2015.”
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.

ZenPayroll Opens Up its API to Small Business Technology Providers

ZenPayroll Opens Up its API to Small Business Technology Providers
ZenPayrollLogo

For SMEs looking at the market for fintech productivity apps, the world often seems either anarchically “a la carte” or paralyzingly prix fixe.

And while companies have come to appreciate the flexibility of having a lot of little apps doing a lot of little things, having those apps talk with each other, work with each other, can be another challenge entirely.

I suspect this is part of the thinking behind ZenPayroll’s decision to open up its API further to make it even easier for developers to ensure that their business productivity apps play well with ZenPayroll.
ZenPayrollGenerationE
Writing at the ZenPayroll blog, “Head of Inbound” David Cheng said, “(This) will make it dramatically easier for small businesses to compete with large, established companies.”
“We’re calling this movement Generation-E,” he added, “to celebrate the breed of entrepreneurs that are street smart, tech savvy, and ready to take on the world.”
As pointed out in coverage of the announcement at TechCrunch, ZenPayroll’s stable of partners already includes thoroughbreds like Intuit and Xero (both Finovate alums, by the way). But the opening up of its API for a dozen companies goes a long way toward helping even more small business technology providers bring their useful benefits and HR-related tools to market courtesy of a ZenPayroll integration.
ZenPayrollHomepage
Quoted in the New York Times earlier this week, ZenPayroll CEO and Co-Founder Joshua Reeves spoke to this point, saying, “you have these huge product suites from monolithic business software companies. Companies like Oracle, Workday, and ADP typically serve large companies. They aren’t in it for the little guy.”
Among the companies already taking advantage of the new integration are:
  • BambooHR and KinHR: human resources information systems
  • SimplyInsured and Baypoint Benefits: benefits administration
  • TSheets, WageBase/When I Work, Nimble Schedule, and Deputy: time-tracking
  • Receipt Bank: expense management
  • inDinero, Zenefits, and insynctive: back-office management
And for developers looking to integrate with ZenPayroll, the company’s developer page – including documentation of ZenPayroll’s API – is available here.
Founded in 2011 and based in San Francisco, ZenPayroll made its Finovate devout as part of the Spring conference earlier this year. See the company’s live demo here
For more from fintech’s developer community, be sure to visit our FinDEVr page.

Alumni News– September 8, 2014

  • Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Finovate-F-Logo.jpgPYMNTS.com profiles Tradeshift Co-Founder and CEO Christian Lanng.
  • ZenPayroll opens up its API to small business technology providers.
  • Silicon Republic takes a look at Trustev’s “multimillion-dollar security deal” with Radio Shack.
  • Tibco announces Engage software as a service to motivate consumers with real-time and predictive personalization.
  • Kony named “Leader” by Gartner in Magic Quadrant for Mobile Application Development Platforms.
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.