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Finovate Blog
Tracking fintech, banking & financial services innovations since 1994
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.
The 100 million members of Credit Karma will soon have access to more than just tools to better understand and improve their credit scores. The company announced this week that it is launching a new, high-yield savings account with no fees, no minimums and an initial rate of 2.03%. Credit Karma added that it will leverage its partnerships with as many as 800 banks to find and switch to those institutions offering the best rates on cash.
“We spent the first 12 years focusing on helping Americans manage their debt,” Credit Karma CEO and founder Ken Lin said. “We want to make savings accessible to every American in the same way we have with credit scores. We look forward to helping our members grow their money with Credit Karma Savings.”
Credit Karma will facilitate the opening and managing of the savings accounts, while the funds themselves will be kept and insured by FDIC-licensed partner MVB Bank to the tune of $5 million. The current rate offered by Credit Karma Savings is more than 20x the national average. The solution will be available via the Credit Karma app, and members can begin signing up for the new feature on October 28.
“When we built Credit Karma Savings, we wanted to develop a product that made opening a savings account as easy as possible for our members,” Credit Karma General Manager of Savings and Tax Jagit Chawla said. “We’re also making it possible for members to see the power of high-yield savings with our savings simulator, which shows how your money could grow over time.”
The move by the company comes as more fintechs are focusing on savings solutions as a way to add value to their personal finance or roboadvisory offerings. Companies like MaxMyInterestannounced a few weeks ago that it is adding a high-yield checking account to its high-yield savings option. Other fintechs in the wealthtech space, such as Betterment and Wealthfront have also introduced high-yield savings options. We took a look at the way fintechs are innovating on the savings side in our feature by senior analyst Julie Muhn: The Race is On in the High Yield Savings Game.
Founded in 2007 by Ken Lin (CEO) and headquartered in San Francisco, California, Credit Karma demonstrated its technology at FinovateSpring 2008. One of Finovate’s earliest alums, the company began the year with news it had been added to the Forbes Fintech 50 roster of the most innovative companies in fintech.
Credit Karma has raised $868 million in funding. The company includes Silver Lake Partners, SV Angel, QED Investors, CapitalG, and Susquehanna Growth Equity among its investors.
Join us next week as our annual Asia-Pacific fintech conference returns to Singapore! FinovateAsia is one of the best ways for fintech startups and innovative industry veterans from the region and around the world to showcase their latest technologies before an audience of C-level decision-makers, venture capitalists, all-star analysts, and more.
FinovateAsia runs from October 14 through October 15, with an additional Summit Day on October 16. Visit our registration page and pick up your ticket today.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Finovate alums Hydrogen, Sedicii, Strands, and Wealth Migrateearn finalist spots in the South African Reserve Bank’s Fintech Demo Day.
Carbon CEO Chijioke Dozie offersFive Lessons Global Banks Can Learn from African Fintechs.
Business Tech highlights 12 of the hottest fintechs in South Africa according to the country’s biggest banks.
Central and Eastern Europe
Alior Bank’s Alior Kantor to deployEfigence’sEFI4 Digital Banking Platform.
Deloitte Romania and FintechOSpartner to offer banks digital transformation and automation solutions.
Sberbankunveils new “Apply for Mortgage” feature on its Sberbank Online mobile app.
Middle East and Northern Africa
Dubai earns top ten ranking in the Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI).
Boubyan Bank of Kuwait and Zain Telecom team up to launch a digital Islamic bank.
Saudi Capital Market Authority (CMA) authorizes financial technology experimental permits enabling three companies to build an equity crowdfunding platform.
Central and Southern Asia
Khatabook, an Indian fintech that helps SMEs track and record businesses transactions, raises $25 million.
Varanium Capital launches $28 million venture fund focused on Indian fintech.
Indian fintechs await regulatory guidelines for deployment of Video KYC technology.
Latin America and the Caribbean
OurCrowd to open its 13th global office in São Paulo, Brazil.
Colombian small business lender Sempli raises $8 million in Series A funding.
EBANX will process payments for Uber in Brazil and other countries in Latin America.
CredoLab, which made its Finovate debut at FinovateAsia last fall, has teamed up with all-digital CIMB Bank Philippines to help improve financial inclusion in the country. The bank is using CredoLab’s white label solution, CredoApp, to gain instant insight into the creditworthiness of loan applicants. CIMB Bank hopes to leverage the AI-powered technology to better serve underbanked populations with “thin-file” credit histories.
“With CredoLab, we are now focusing on making our application and underwriting process more efficient so that we can extend credit to a broader market without compromising on our cost of risk,” explained CIMB Bank Philippines CEO Vijay Manoharan. “In this way, we can further drive financial inclusion by enabling more Filipinos access to formal credit lending facilities efficiently.”
Personal loans are the first products to be introduced as part of this collaboration between CIMB and CredoLab. Customers can now apply for a loan of up to one million Philippine pesos ($19,000 USD) and receive in-principle approvals via their CIMB app. The bank said that within the first two weeks of launching the partnership, more than 1,000 customers have already been scored.
“CIMB Bank has been steadfast in adopting the latest technologies to present the best banking solutions to their customers,” CredoLab CEO and co-founder Peter Barcak said. “We are delighted that through our plug and play solution that complements and boosts their existing processes, we are powering CIMB Bank Philippines’ latest effort in driving financial inclusion by providing credit to those who lack a traditional credit background.”
CredoLab demonstrated its CredoScore solution at FinovateAsia 2018. The technology leverages AI-backed algorithms to turn the digital footprints of customers into highly predictive scorecards. With more than 50,000 data points from the customer’s mobile device – collected with the customer’s permission and privacy consent, CredoScore enables financial institutions to gain more accurate insights and make more informed decisions.
Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Singapore, CredoLab has raised more than $3 million in funding from investors including Walden International, Fintonia Group, and FORUM. The company was featured in FintechNews Singapore’s 29 Hottest Fintechs in Singapore in 2019 roster earlier this year.
A newly announced strategic partnership between SigFig and Refinitiv will enable the company’s clearing and custody platform, Refinitiv BETA, to offer institutional clients an end-to-end robo advisory solution complete with account opening, automated investment management, money movement, and more.
Refinitiv Managing Director and global head of Wealth Management Joe Mrak highlighted the ability to offer investment management services and advice as a way for its clients to “differentiate themselves and add greater value for their customers.” The partnership with SigFig comes as the financial markets data specialist adds to its overall offerings in the wealthtech space, most recently its Market Psych Indices introduced in September. With SigFig’s technology, the company will be able to offer its wealth management clients an enterprise-grade digital advisory solution that Mrak said “will dramatically transform and improve their investing services and capabilities.”
Founded in 2007, SigFig made its Finovate debut in 2010 as Wikinvest. In the years since, the company has grown into a leading digital advisory technology firm that reaches more than 70 million consumers via partnerships with some of the largest financial institutions in the world. Earlier this year, the company introducedSigFig Atlas, an interactive, financial advice and software-guided sales platform for banks and customers.
“By partnering with Refinitiv, SigFig is able to continue to expand access to our industry-leading digital management advice solutions for both consumers and advisors,” SigFig CEO and co-founder Mike Shea said. “By bringing new levels of speed, scalability, and efficiency to Refinitiv’s wealth management business solution, we’re creating a fully integrated solution from front end client experience all the way to the back office.”
With more than $119 million in funding, SigFig includes General Atlantic, DCM Ventures, Bain Capital Ventures, and Union Square Ventures among its investors. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, California.
A look at the companies demoing live at FinovateAsia on October 14 through 15, 2019 in Singapore. Register today and save your spot.
Upgrade Pack is a market-first platform for exclusive travel upgrades. The company helps financial institutions reward their most valued customers while also driving incremental card revenue.
Features
Brand differentiation by providing customers with exclusive upgrade offers in real time
Highly scalable platform technology, no complex integration
Purchase data aids future customer segmentation
Why it’s great Upgrade Pack helps you optimize the latest platform technology to deliver product innovation that will retain and attract the most high value customers.
Presenters
Urchana Moudgil, Co-Founder and Group COO Moudgil has held senior finance roles in leading consultancy firms. Her experience in financial management and operations has helped Upgrade Pack raise £3 million and scale internationally in just a year. LinkedIn
Tobias Berger, COO-Asia Pacific A digital leader with 20 years of experience, Berger has built and led digital innovations within APAC for brands including Expedia and Google, with a recent focus on platforms and commercial strategy. LinkedIn
A look at the companies demoing live at FinovateAsia on October 14 through 15, 2019 in Singapore. Register today and save your spot.
ThefcaseFraud Orchestration platform is the future of fraud operations, reducing fraud by 20% and fraud operations overhead by 40%. See the full picture of fraud with fcase.
Features
Fraud automation
A global view of fraud (case management, compliance reporting, automation, collaboration, APIs)
Continuous adaptive risk trust assessment
Why it’s great Orchestration delivers true fraud automation and collaboration that reduces fraud and customer friction at scale with efficiency.
Presenter
Barry Bowen, Global Head of Sales Bowen has 25 years focusing on fraud prevention and orchestration in financial markets. LinkedIn
A look at the companies demoing live at FinovateAsia on October 14 through 15, 2019 in Singapore. Register today and save your spot.
Libertypool is empowering people around the world to achieve financial independence through asset accumulation, especially by cryptocurrency investment.
Features
A borderless investment platform for busy investors
A diversified portfolio reflecting the entire cryptocurrency market with 99% accuracy
Customers need 60 seconds to start investing
Why it’s great LPx is the first borderless investment platform that enables people to invest with as little as $500 in the entire cryptocurrency market in a few clicks.
Presenters
Yu Yamanaka, CEO Yamanaka is a high-tech entrepreneur. He worked for startups in security, media, and AI for eight years. He entered the blockchain world as a CTO of an ICO platform that raised $9 million through a token sale. LinkedIn
Goku Anand, Head of Growth An author of ebooks on online marketing and growth hacking, Anand has more than five years of startup experience in growth hacking, digital marketing, branding, and video marketing. LinkedIn
A look at the companies demoing live at FinovateAsia on October 14 through 15, 2019 in Singapore. Register today and save your spot.
ExchangeConnect, from S-Ancial, focuses on incorporating the resourcefulness of data intelligence to empower capital markets. The company effectively integrates the global market ecosystem with its proprietary technology.
Features
Pioneers pre-transaction technologies
Gathers unstructured data and structures flow of information
Provides seamless communication and enhanced outreach between stakeholders
Why it’s great If all data released into the capital market ecosystem can be structured and machine-learnable, automation can take over, benefitting all stakeholders. ExchangeConnect does this.
Presenter
Pradip Seth, Managing Director Seth founded S-Ancial in 2014 as a fintech startup. He has broad knowledge of global corporate governance and disclosure practices. He has been spearheading the development of ExchangeConnect. LinkedIn
A look at the companies demoing live at FinovateAsia on October 14 through 15, 2019 in Singapore. Register today and save your spot.
ChintaMoney is proactively easing financial stress for individuals across the globe through a combination of open banking and payments with a personalized suite of financial products and services.
Features
Payments merged with budgeting
Financial literacy
Complete finance products and services in one application
Why it’s great ChintaMoney is a proactive, turnkey personal finance solution that combines payments with financial products and services.
Presenters
Uday Wagh, CEO Wagh is an innovator and serial entrepreneur, having launched scientific inventions in botany and physics before delving into theater as an actor and finally beginning his career in fintech. LinkedIn
A look at the companies demoing live at FinovateAsia on October 14 through 15, 2019 in Singapore. Register today and save your spot.
FinBit.io, a leading data aggregation and analytics platform, is launching a disruptive credit analytics and scoring product – BankScore – to solve for people suffering with traditional credit scores.
Features
BankScore is based on analysis of an individual’s bank transactions
Real-time aggregation and analytics using machine learning
Solution addresses the large population that struggles with credit scores
Why it’s great Traditional credit scores are broken and incomplete for developing economies as the majority of people may not have a credit card or loan history. BankScore disrupts just by analyzing a bank account.
Presenter
Prashant Paliwal, Founder and CEO Paliwal was driving Yodlee’s APAC fintech business before starting FinBit.io to address large pain points in India and Asia. He is a fellow from MIT Sloan, earned an MS from the University of Cincinnati, and holds two patents. LinkedIn
Ashvi Mittal, Product Manager Mittal is instrumental in devising core analytics algorithms and products as well as driving sales from Mumbai. She holds an MS in Finance from EDHEC France. LinkedIn
If there is one region where “A Tale of Two Fintechs” applies, that region is Asia.
From blockchain-based innovations in trade finance to leveraging mobile to better serve the historically underbanked, fintech’s role in Asia is not just a tale of economic and technological development. Increasingly, it is a story of leadership in solving real world problems, as well.
As Finovate returns to Singapore for FinovateAsia next week, we thought it would be an ideal opportunity to look at some of the notable numbers and key trends in fintech in the region.
Singapore
Singapore is home to 500+ fintech startups and 40+ innovation labs
Fintechs in Singapore picked up more than $370 million in funding in 2018
The fintech adoption rate by consumers in Singapore topped the global average this year.
When it comes to fintech, Singapore is clearly punching above its weight. With a smaller population, fewer local customers, and a modest pool of tech talent to draw from compared to the U.S., the U.K., and China, the fact that Singapore was ranked fourth in a listing of global fintech hubs – after the U.K., and the east and west coasts of the U.S. (judged separately in a report from Ernst & Young) – is a testament to the vibrancy of Singapore fintech.
How does Singapore do it? Close alliances and mentorships, including private-public partnerships and a willingness to work with other countries and fintech hubs around the world are one factor. The city-state’s central bank and financial regulatory body, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, has pledged to commit $168 million over the next five years to support collaborations between financial institutions and fintechs. Singapore has also begun issuing more digital banking licenses in recent months. Could a booming challenger bank industry be far behind?
$25.5 billion in fintech deals in 2018 according to Accenture; 44% of all fintech investments worldwide
Top Deals in 2018: Ant Financial’s Alipay raised $14 billion, Baidu spinoff Du Xiaoman Financial raised $4.3 billion, Lufax raised $1.3 billion
Four of the top 10 fintechs in the world are Chinese according to H2Ventures and KPMG
Payments dominate Chinese fintech: 34 out of top 100 fintechs are payments companies. And with ecommerce driving much of fintech innovation in China, many are wondering what the next big thing in the industry will be? Some have suggested that wealth management, catering to a new generation of Chinese investors, may be the next frontier for innovation in Chinese fintech.
Hong Kong-based fintechs received $545.7 million in funding in 2017
Host to more than 550 fintech companies, Hong Kong has a 67% fintech adoption rate
80% of publicly-funded tertiary educational institutions have fintech-related programs for undergraduates or graduates
Public-private partnerships are a key driver of fintech innovation in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s launch of its Faster Payment System in 2018 paved the way for instant fund transfers between the Chinese renminbi and the Hong Kong dollar, as well as the issuance of eight virtual banking licenses this year. The Monetary Authority is also responsible for introducing a trade finance platform based on blockchain technology.
The overall transaction value for the Indian fintech industry is estimated at more than $66 billion in 2019 by PwC
Indian fintechs received $1.8 billion in venture capital funding across 97 investments in 2018
With a fintech adoption rate second only to China’s, India surpassed China in the number of fintech deals in Q2 of 2019
India is often overlooked in the conversation on Asian fintech. But the most notable aspect of the country’s experiment with mobile payments, its unified payment interface (UPI), has been a dramatic display of the power of interoperability. In the three years since UPI was launched, the service facilitated 800 million monthly transactions. More than 140 Indian banks are participating in UPI and both Alphabet’s Google and Facebook’s WhatsApp offer instant payments via the technology.
The ASEAN region is the third largest region in Asia and consists of Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia
In Southeast Asia, less than 30% of adults have access to formal banking services. Approximately 33% of SMEs lack access to business financing
Market growth of the fintech market in Southeast Asia is expected to reach as much as $70 billion by 2020
The fintech industry of Southeast Asia is increasingly gaining the attention of analysts and investors alike. Earlier this year, Indonesian e-commerce payments and lending innovator Akulaku picked up a $40 million investment from Ant Financial. The #1 payment app in Vietnam, Momo, closed a Series C investment at the beginning of the year valued at $100 million.
And while financial inclusion is a huge theme for the underbanked in this region, innovations in a variety of fintech subcategories should be recognized, as well. For example, fintechs like Jitta in Thailand are bringing digital investing solutions to the region while Malaysia’s mortgagetech innovator MHub offers networking and collaboration solutions for property developers and financial services professionals.
