Get Your VAT Back: Expensify Integrations to Streamline Reclamation

Get Your VAT Back: Expensify Integrations to Streamline Reclamation

Back to school season is also back to business travel season for many professionals. And this makes the news of two new integrations from expense management innovator Expensify all the more timely and welcome.

The San Francisco, California-based company announced today that it has integrated with two major value-added tax (VAT) reclamation solutions: Global VaTax and Taxback International. This will make it easier for businesses to reclaim VAT by exporting expenses directly from Expensify to one of these two services.

“Many companies don’t know that VAT reclamation exists, much less how to benefit from it,” Director of Strategy and Marketing for Expensify Ryan Schaffer said. “But with the right tools it can mean some serious money back with minimal effort upfront.”

Both Global VaTax and Taxback International help individuals and businesses maximize VAT reclamation. Once the data is extracted from Expensify, the VAT reclamation process analyzes all expenses, invoices, and VAT calculations per expense type. The company’s solutions then review all invoices for VAT refund compliance, prepare submission claims for each country and submit those claims to the relevant national authorities. VAT refunds are available anywhere from three to nine months, depending on the processing speed of government.

“Companies using Expensify can already track receipts and manage expenses in more than 160 currencies,” Schaffer said. “Now, it’s just a matter of enabling one of our partner integrations to automatically extract that expense data for easy VAT processing and a maximum refund.”

Used by more than six million people around the world, Expensify leverages technologies and features like OCR receipt tracking, corporate card reconciliation, and integrations with leading accounting software solutions to automate the complete expense reporting process. Since inception, the company has processed more than $100 billion, and topped 660 million expenses created with more than 180 million expenses created in 2017 alone.

Founded in 2008, the company demonstrated its Expensify Invoices solution at FinovateSpring 2013. More recently, Expensify announced an integration with Hotel Engine, was named Innovation Partner of the Year by Netsuite, and inked a deal with Wells Fargo to pilot the launch of its ExpensifyApproved! Banks integration program.

Expensify has raised $38.2 million in funding, and includes Redpoint Ventures, OpenView, PJC, and the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) among its investors. David Barrett is founder and CEO.

Thinking Capital, National Bank Expand Funding Options for Canada’s SMEs

Thinking Capital, National Bank Expand Funding Options for Canada’s SMEs

A strategic partnership between alternative business lender Thinking Capital and National Bank will help get more financing to more growing small businesses in Canada. National Bank, with $256 billion in assets, will leverage Thinking Capital’s technology to streamline the SME loan application process with the goal of qualifying more applicants faster and with less friction.

Stephane Achard, National Bank EVP for Commercial Banking and Insurance, highlighted the bank’s commitment to helping its SME clients “find new ways to power their ideas.” He said, “This partnership with Thinking Capital exemplifies our commitment to innovation and creating new financing options that support entrepreneurs at every stage of their company’s growth.”

For Thinking Capital, which has helped fund more than 10,000 small businesses in Canada since inception, working with National Bank provides opportunities for further growth for the Montreal-based alt lender. “National Bank of Canada broadens our reach and enables us to provide even more small businesses with fast and seamless access to capital to support their growth,” CEO and co-founder of Thinking Capital Jeff Mitelman said. “We believe fintech providers and banks can work together to close the gap between the financing small businesses need and what they have access to.”

Thinking Capital’s lending-as-a-service platform leverages artificial intelligence and proprietary algorithms to accelerate the financing process for small businesses. The company offers both fixed and flexible term loans of up to $300,000 for Canadian-based businesses that have been in operation for at least six months and have average monthly sales of at least $7,000.

Founded in 2006 and based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Thinking Capital was acquired by Purpose Investments in March in a deal valued at $200 million. This summer, the company partnered with Equifax to launch a new solution, BillMarket, that helps Canadian SMEs leverage their good credit to extend payment terms in their supply chain.

Thinking Capital participated in our developers conference, FinDEVr New York 2016. The company’s Chief Strategy Officer, Anthony Lipschitz, and Chief Technical Officer, Pat Forgione, discussed Lending as a Service, and the power of the partnership model between fintechs, banks, and other institutions.

KPMG Takes Minority Stake in Alternative Credit Scoring Specialist AdviceRobo

KPMG Takes Minority Stake in Alternative Credit Scoring Specialist AdviceRobo

Alternative credit scoring startup AdviceRobo announced today that KPMG has acquired a minority stake in the company. The amount of the investment was not disclosed.

KPMG Head of Advisory Rob Fijneman called AdviceRobo a “front runner” in credit risk management. He added that the partnership would “enable us to add these types of AI-based predictive behavioral models to our services for lenders,” enhancing credit risk models and lowering costs. The partnership will also enable AdviceRobo to take advantage of KPMG’s expertise in a wide variety of areas including risk management, compliance and regulation, Big Data, and analytics.

AdviceRobo’s approach to credit risk management focuses on the insights available from the non-financial and behavioral data of would-be borrowers. The company’s psychographic risk scoring can be used to access the creditworthiness of applicants for products including loans, mortgages, and credit cards. The technology is especially valuable for lenders working with customers from historically underbanked communities, whose thin credit files make them poor candidates for traditional financing. AdviceRobo CEO Diederick van Thiel estimates that there are more than four billion people around the world who fall into this category and said that technology can help financial services firms reach them.

“Our software enables lenders to target these underserved customers and streamline their credit processes,” van Thiel explained. “This stimulates prosperity and the economy. Moreover, our software has the potential to accelerate credit processes and identify the key risk signals of existing clients. For instance, the software can identify vulnerable consumers who will be at risk of defaulting on loans in the future.”

AdviceRobo demonstrated its CreditRobo solution at FinovateEurope 2016. CreditRobo leverages artificial intelligence to evaluate credit risk, providing early warnings on bad debt, default, pre-payment, and outflow; real-time behavioral data on the risk profile of the customer base; and real-time credit scoring for instant onboarding, renewal, and targeting of the underbanked, whether they are millennials or SMEs.

Founded in 2013 and headquartered in London, U.K., Amsterdam, and Paris, AdviceRobo serves clients in ten countries across Europe and Latin America. In April, AdviceRobo joined the BNP Paribas Plug and Play accelerator program, one month before the company was named to Insights Success’ 20 Most Innovative FinTech Solution Providers roster. Also this spring, the company announced a trio of new bank customers: Hungary’s OTP Group, Argenta of the Netherlands, and Banco Macro of Argentina.

A member of KPMG’s Fintech 100 Emerging Stars, AdviceRobo began the year with news that its Psychographic Credit Score solution would be available via Mambu’s Product Marketplace.

Finovate Alumni News

On Finovate.com

  • KPMG Acquires Minority Stake in Alternative Credit Scoring Specialist, AdviceRobo.
  • Thinking Capital, National Bank Expand Funding Options for Canada’s SMEs.

Around the web

  • Australia’s business bank Tyro to offer flexible same-day settlement and payroll integration courtesy of a partnership with Xero.
  • Spreedly unveils latest version of its Account Updater solution.
  • Dwolla discontinues its last branded solution Transfer; pivots to focus on Dwolla Platform, the company’s white-label API.
  • Klarna to acquire Close Brothers Retail Finance (CBRF).
  • Saudi Arabia’s National Commercial Bank partners with Ripple for instant settlement of cross-border money transfers.
  • WorkFusion launches Partner Portal to support rise in AI-driven automation engagements.
  • Solna launches its intelligent invoicing tool powered by credit score data.
  • Personal Capital Promotes Craig Birk to Chief Investment Officer.
  • Moody’s Analytics partners with Cortera on a small business solution.
  • Arxan launches advanced protection for client-side eeb apps.
  • Checkbook celebrates topping two million user milestone.

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.

Hydrogen, TD Bank Partnership Drives DIY Financial Planning

Hydrogen, TD Bank Partnership Drives DIY Financial Planning

Clients of TD Bank’s TD Direct Investing will have new tools to build their own financial plans and portfolios – thanks to a newly-announced collaboration between the Canadian bank and fintech innovator Hydrogen. The two companies have entered into a licensing agreement that will integrate Hydrogen’s APIs into TD Bank’s WebBroker platform as the first phase of the partnership.

“This is the first of several significant building blocks that will deliver a fully integrated, digital investing experience for TD clients,” Tony Ierullo, VP of Wealth Digital Innovation for TD Bank Group, said. “While our initial focus is on improving the self-directed investor experience, our ultimate goal is to bring best-in-class digital investing solutions to all TD clients, at every stage of their financial journey.” The agreement marks the first instance a Canadian bank has provided customers with the technology to build financial plans and investment portfolios on their own, all of which are integrated into the customer’s online brokerage account.

“Hydrogen has built an interconnected global platform designed to provide access to some of the best financial infrastructure and products currently on the market,” President and CEO of Hydrogen Michael Kane said. “Our agreement with TD is testament to the power of embedding innovative digital solutions into established investment services.”

Additional resources are planned for the platform, including the creation of a direct access digital advisor. Once additional phases of the rollout are underway, clients will have access to a fully-integrated, end-to-end digital investing platform for both self-service and “advice-led” investing – as well as those who want a mix of both.

“Almost every industry has been disrupted due to the pervasiveness of technology and shifting customer preferences,” Kane said, “and the Wealth industry is no exception.”

Hydrogen demonstrated its technology at FinovateEurope 2018, building a European savings solution – including UI/UX, onboarding, backend connectivity, and business intelligence – live on stage in five minutes. The firm’s APIs enable companies to save tens of millions on building and running a variety of financial services apps. The company is also the maker of the Hydro blockchain, the public ledger for financial services, and Ion AI, a machine learning technology for financial apps.

Last month, the company launched the FINDI Consortium to “facilitate a more open, transparent, and decentralized global financial system” powered by public blockchains. In July, Hydrogen introduced the Hydro mobile app, a security and identity management solution that leverages the public blockchain. Winner of the grand prize at the Luxembourg Fintech Awards this summer, the self-described “Stripe for fintech” was founded in 2017 and is based in New York City.

FinovateFall Sneak Peek: Ballooning Nest Eggs

FinovateFall Sneak Peek: Ballooning Nest Eggs

A look at the companies demoing live at FinovateFall on September 24 through 26, 2018 in New York. Register today and save your spot.

A patented invention, Ballooning Nest Eggs is the world’s first investment gifting platform for parents to corral family and friends to pitch in and grow their kids’ long-term wealth.

Features

  • Social tools tastefully steer and conveniently enable gifting.
  • Invitations/announcements and social posts linked to beneficiaries’ accounts
  • Entirely new way for financial firms to engage consumers.

Why it’s great
The only app that eliminates parents’ awkward ask for financial gifts – which most prefer – vastly increasing the likelihood such gifting takes place.

Presenters

Amy Moses, Founder and CEO
Moses is a seasoned brand builder specializing in optimizing revenue through innovative, strategic B2B marketing initiatives that simultaneously drive consumer engagement for tech-centric and media brands.
LinkedIn

 

Kent Wallgren, Project Management – App Development
Wallgren has extensive background in delivering complex cross-functional technology projects in wealth management and digital transformation for top-tier global financial services firms and startups.
LinkedIn

 

FinovateFall Sneak Peek: Charlie India

FinovateFall Sneak Peek: Charlie India

A look at the companies demoing live at FinovateFall on September 24 through 26, 2018 in New York. Register today and save your spot.

Partner HUB’s Charlie-India platform offers a white label platform for electronic invoice presentment and payment for banks, payment service providers, and fintechs.

Features

  • White label product retaining the bank’s primary customer contact
  • Solution prevents payment churn and helps realize higher payment margin
  • Value added service for SMEs with invoicing interoperability

Why it’s great
Charlie-India helps banks get primary access to business level transaction data by setting up invoice related services needed to provide more efficient trade finance and payment services.

Presenter

Katalin Kauzli, Business Development Director and Co-founder
Kauzli has significant financial services, business development, corporate finance, and startup experience. She has been involved in the fundraising and business development of several innovative startups.
LinkedIn

FinovateFall Sneak Peek: Systelos

FinovateFall Sneak Peek: Systelos

A look at the companies demoing live at FinovateFall on September 24 through 26, 2018 in New York. Register today and save your spot.

Systelos is a discovery and collaboration platform that brings client’s financial lives in one place and empowers human advisors to create value beyond investment returns.

Features

  • Discovery platform that provides a 360 degree view of client’s finances
  • Collaboration tools that communicate real time context
  • Actionable insights that create value beyond investments

Why it’s great
Systelos is more than a technology. It’s a new way of doing business for advisors and their clients.

Presenters

Jad Chehlawi, Founder and CEO
After 15 years developing successful financial advisors, Chehlawi, a Harvard Business School alum, is creating a new way of delivering value to clients.
LinkedIn

 

Arsene Toumani, Co-Founder and CTO
LinkedIn

FinovateFall Sneak Peek: Tinkoff

FinovateFall Sneak Peek: Tinkoff

A look at the companies demoing live at FinovateFall on September 24 through 26, 2018 in New York. Register today and save your spot.

Tinkoff is a digital ecosystem of financial and lifestyle products, delivered via its award-winning mobile app and web interface. Tinkoff is fully cloud-based and branchless.

Features

  • First in the world to introduce Stories in mobile app
  • New way of creating and bringing content and offers to over one million active app users
  • Almost all the Stories contain a call to action

Why it’s great

As part of its lifestyle banking approach, Tinkoff was the first bank in the world to launch with a Stories format in its mobile banking app with content ranging from financial literacy tips to lifestyle tips.

Presenter

Max Yevdokimov, Chief Digital Customer Experience Officer
Yevdokimov is responsible for defining and executing Tinkoff’s mobile banking strategy, including managing its award-winning app and other interfaces serving a customer service function.
LinkedIn

FinovateFall Sneak Peek: Crypterium

FinovateFall Sneak Peek: Crypterium

A look at the companies demoing live at FinovateFall on September 24 through 26, 2018 in New York. Register today and save your spot.

Crypterium is a mobile app that allows instant payments in cryptocurrency.

Features

  • Instant crypto payments with the existing payments infrastructure, like NFC terminals or QR codes
  • Worldwide money transfers in seconds with no fees
  • Solutions for merchants to accept crypto

Why it’s great
Crypterium lets you choose the way and the currency you want to pay with, enabling you to stay in control of your money 24/7. The company also helps merchants expand their customer outreach.

Presenters

Marc O’Brien, CEO
O’Brien is the former CEO of Visa UK, the company’s second most important market. He is a key advisor on some of the most exciting startups in the U.K., including Revolut, Britain’s first digital bank unicorn.
LinkedIn

 

Austin Kimm, COO
Kimm is the former CEO of Renaissance Life and Pensions (Russia & Ukraine) and Renaissance Insurance Group, which was sold for approximately $200 million in 2013.
LinkedIn

FinovateFall Sneak Peek: Paper.id

FinovateFall Sneak Peek: Paper.id

A look at the companies demoing live at FinovateFall on September 24 through 26, 2018 in New York. Register today and save your spot.

Paper.id is the first, free invoicing and payment app in Indonesia that leverages supply chain mapping technology to help FIs provide the right financial products to SMEs.

Features

  • Seamless integration with digital payments
  • Supply chain analysis driven by graph node analysis and machine learning
  • Industry-leading UI/UX for FIs to ease workflow

Why it’s great

Paper.id’s platform enables FIs to identify the invoicing, payment pattern, and supply chain map of an SME, allowing them unprecedented freedom in managing SME-based loan and revenue channel.

Presenters

Jeremy Limman, CEO and Co-founder
Prior to founding Paper.id, Limman was involved in strategic projects and SAP implementation at Accenture, as well as founding and advising other startups.
LinkedIn

 

Yosia Sugialam, CTO and Co-founder
Sugialam has years of technology experience including working for Symantec and co-founding Lakuin, which won an incubator’s competition in 2015.
LinkedIn

FinovateFall Sneak Peek: Banzai

FinovateFall Sneak Peek: Banzai

A look at the companies demoing live at FinovateFall on September 24 through 26, 2018 in New York. Register today and save your spot.

Banzai is a national brand with over 50% of U.S. high schools and millions of students educated. More than 750 banks trust Banzai to educate adult customers, schools, and communities, and change lives.

Features

  • Motivate and retain employees by defining your culture
  • Drive ROI and growth by providing real value to your account holders and community
  • Earn CRA credit and make a huge impact to change lives

Why it’s great

The U.S. Department of Treasury is focused on hands-on experience-based learning. Banzai is your experience-based learning solution.

Presenter

Landon Glenn, President of Business Development
Glenn oversees business development, orchestrates industry partnerships, and is instrumental in Banzai’s strategic product decisions. He has spent his career helping individuals live debt-free.
LinkedIn