Author: David Penn

Swiss Digital Banking Innovator CREALOGIX Raises CHF 25 Million

Swiss Digital Banking Innovator CREALOGIX Raises CHF 25 Million
By David Penn Posted on
Categories: CREALOGIX

CREALOGIX_homepage_Nov2015

Digital banking innovator CREALOGIX has raised 25 million Swiss francs ($25.4 million) in a convertible bond offering launched in late October and placed with institutional investors. The fundraising is the largest fintech investment of the year in Switzerland.

CREALOGIX CEO Bruno Richle said the”very oversubscribed” investment will help his company grow “not only in Switzerland, but also in Germany and Great Britain.” Richle added that the funds will help drive innovation in the company’s Digital Banking Hub.

CREALOGIX_stage_FEU2015

From left: Antony Bream, managing director, United Kingdom, and Roger Gatti, senior product manager demonstrated CREALOGIX’s BankClip at FinovateEurope 2015 in London.

Proceeds from the convertible bond sale will also support CREALOGIX’s new stake in German fintech, ELAXY. ELAXY provides interactive advisory solutions for banks, and CREALOGIX has acquired 80% of ELAXY Financial Software and Solutions and 20% of ELAXY Business Solution and Services. Combined, the two businesses have annual sales of €10 million.

Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, CREALOGIX demonstrated its BankClip technology at FinovateEurope 2015 in London. The company announced its outlook for fiscal 2015-2016 last month, signaling net sales of “at least CHF 54 million” which would represent growth of more than 10%. The company unveiled the latest edition of its Digital Banking Portal this spring with new PFM and fund-brokerage features, and added biometric authentication via TouchID to its mobile banking solutions in February 2015.

If you’re a fintech fan in the United Kingdom or Europe, then make sure to mark 9/10 February 2016 on your calendar as FinovateEurope returns to London. Learn more about the first fintech event of 2016 at our FinovateEurope 2016 page.

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iSignthis Completes $10 Million Capital Raise

iSignthis Completes $10 Million Capital Raise
By David Penn Posted on
Categories: iSignthis

isignthis_homepage_Oct2015

iSignthis has successfully placed more than 26 million shares with institutional investors in a capital raise of $10.45 million.

“The funding will enable iSignthis to accelerate growth, and further leverage our market advantage as a superior product with only limited competition,” said John Karantzis, iSignthis marketing director. He says the funding will help the company expand marketing efforts, add to its sales team, and provide working capital for the company while it grows its sales pipeline.

Shares were priced at 40 cents. iSignthis trades on the Australian Stock Exchange under the ticker “ISX.”

isignthis_stage_FEU2015

Managing Director and CEO John Karantzis demonstrated iSignthis at FinovateEurope 2015 in London.

Originally founded to help merchants fight card-not-present (CNP) fraud, iSignthis provides a cloud-based identity-verification and -authentication platform for payment service providers (PSPs), payment gateways, FIs, card issuers and acquirers, and more. The technology helps businesses meet KYC, AML, and other regulatory requirements, and is available to more than 3 billion customer accounts in 200-plus countries.

iSignthis has bookended 2015 with fundings, previously raising $3 million in January. The company announced a partnership with global workplace credential management firm, TikForce, in October. And in September, iSignthis teamed up with the largest digital currency processor in Europe, Coinify.

Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, iSignthis made its Finovate debut at FinovateEurope 2015 in London.

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Finovate Alumni News

By David Penn Posted on
Categories: Avoka, CREALOGIX, FIS, Fiserv, iSignthis, Top Image Systems, Trulioo

On Finovate.com

  • “Swiss Digital Banking Innovator CREALOGIX Raises CHF 25 Million”
  • “iSignthis Completes $10 Million Capital Raise”

Around the web

  • Landmark Bank to deploy core banking technology from FIS.
  • Avoka partners with Trulioo to provide digital identification authentication to international banks.
  • Telhio CU chooses Fiserv DNA account-processing platform.
  • Top Image Systems wins eFLOW5 contract upgrade with leading Pan-African financial services company.

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.

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Finovate Alumni News

By David Penn Posted on
Categories: BizEquity, Dwolla, Gro Solutions, Heckyl Technologies, mBank, Revolut, Ripple, TransferTo, vaamo, WS Integration

Around the web

  • mBank partners with PayU to bring mTransfer Mobile to Poland.
  • WS Integration awarded Little British Battler status by Techmarketview.
  • BizEquity named one of the ‘Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America’ by Entrepreneur magazine’s Entrepreneur 360 Awards.
  • Bluepoint Solutions partners with Gro Solutions for mobile account opening.
  • Germany-based vaamo now enables customers to open accounts online.
  • Irish Mirror features Revolut among 8 startups “you need to know about” at the Web Summit in Dublin.
  • Forbes takes a look at how Dwolla is bringing real-time payment technology to CME Group.
  • BNY Mellon’s Leda Glyptis lists Heckyl Technologies among her personal favorite startups.

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.

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Digital Asset Holdings Acquires Blockchain-as-a-Service Innovator, Blockstack.io

Digital Asset Holdings Acquires Blockchain-as-a-Service Innovator, Blockstack.io
By David Penn Posted on
Categories: Blockstack.io

Blockstack_homepage_Oct2015

Best of Show winner Blockstack.io today announced an agreement to be acquired by Digital Asset Holdings. Terms of the deal were not immediately available.

Miron Cuperman, Blockstack CTO, called Digital Asset “the best platform” to deliver Blockstack’s blockchain-application-development tools as part of a comprehensive solution for customers. Digital Asset Holdings’ CEO Blythe Masters praised both Blockstack’s technology as well as its talent, calling Cuperman “a renowned pioneer in the blockchain world.”

“(Cuperman) adds tremendous technical expertise to our development team,” Masters said.

Blockstack_stage_FF2015

From left: Blockstack CEO Peter Shiau and CPO Lior Saar demonstrated Blockstack.io at FinovateFall 2015 in New York.

Blockstack provides financial institutions with a hosted platform to build blockchain-based applications using APIs and SDKs. Currently available in beta, Blockstack’s platform combines open source and proprietary technologies in a private blockchain for known participants to develop apps.

As part of the acquisition, Digital Asset Holdings and Blockstack will integrate their product offerings, giving clients a seamless integration experience. Peter Shiau, Blockstack CEO, added that Digital Asset Holding’s approach to technology is “very complementary” and that the leadership of the combined entity will have the necessary resources to scale the platform.

Founded in May 2015 and headquartered in San Francisco, Blockstack made its Finovate debut at FinovateFall 2015 in New York, and its FinDEVr debut at FinDEVr San Francisco 2015.

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Finovate Alumni News

By David Penn Posted on
Categories: AlphaClone, AlphaPoint, Arxan Technologies, Blockstack, Blockstack.io, BrightScope, CurrencyFair, EyeVerify, Fastacash, IDology, Mint

On Finovate.com

  • “Digital Asset Holdings Acquires Blockchain-as-a-Service Innovator, Blockstack.io“

Around the web

  • Let’s Talk Payments interviews John Dancu, IDology CEO.
  • AlphaPoint unveils StreamCore to help banks take advantage of blockchain data.
  • Fastacash partners with Xpress Money to launch XOPO, enabling cross-border money-transfers via social networks and messaging channels.
  • Security solutions from Arxan Technologies now running on more than 500 million devices.
  • RIA Biz highlights MaxMyInterest in feature on the NAPFA Fall Conference.
  • ETFdb interviews CEO Maz Jadallah of AlphaClone.
  • Martin Beaulieu, former BlackRock managing director, joins BrightScope as adviser.
  • CurrencyFair expansion to bring 50 new jobs to Dublin, Ireland, over the next year.
  • Porch.com acquires Fountain, a startup launched by Mint founder, Aaron Patzer.
  • Chinese smartphone maker Nubia unveils phone with EyeVerify 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.

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Presentation Videos from FinDEVr San Francisco 2015 Are Now Available

Presentation Videos from FinDEVr San Francisco 2015 Are Now Available
By David Penn Posted on
Categories: FinDEVr 2015

FinDEVr2015_stage_1

Just when you thought you might be stuck watching the GOP presidential debates tonight, we’re happy to announce that the presentation videos from FinDEVr San Francisco 2015 are now ready for viewing.

All 63 videos are available for free watching, downloading, and sharing in our Video Archive. To view videos only from FinDEVr San Francisco 2015, filter the search for “FinDEVr” and “2015.”

FinDEVr2015_videos_filter

So tonight you can send The Donald, Dr. Carson, and the rest of the bunch to the TiVo, and instead settle in for an evening of presentations from some of the most innovative developers, CTOs, and software engineers in fintech.

Remember that FinDEVr will make its New York debut next spring. FinDEVr New York 2016 is scheduled for 29/30 March, at New World Stages in Manhattan. Register by this Friday and take advantage of Launch Ticket savings.

And if you are interested in presenting at FinDEVr 2016 New York, we’d love to hear from you. Send us an email at newyork@findevr.com for more information.

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Finovate Alumni News

By David Penn Posted on
Categories: Dwolla, FIS, Markit, Nomis Solutions

On Finovate.com

  • “Presentation Videos from FinDEVr San Francisco 2015 Are Now Available“

Around the web

  • Markit launches its WSO Credit Manager, a credit and portfolio analysis solution.
  • Dwolla teams up with CME Group to bring on-demand payments to the clearing and settlement process.
  • FIS and The Clearing House partner to build a ubiquitous, real-time payment system.
  • Nomis Solutions and Zafin announce strategic partnership to provide integrated and seamless deposit pricing solution for retail banks.

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

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Spreedly Raises $2.5 Million in New Funding

Spreedly Raises $2.5 Million in New Funding
By David Penn Posted on
Categories: Spreedly

Spreedly_homepage_Oct2015

A few weeks ago, when we first read the rumors of new funding for Spreedly, we checked with the source, company CEO Justin Benson. He told us to stay tuned. “Bigger news is coming,” he said.

And so today, with word that the “Payments as a Platform” specialist has raised $2.5 million in new funding, we are happy to say that the bigger news has arrived.

“This new round brings our total raised capital to a little under $5 million,” Benson said in a blog post this afternoon. “We worked with our existing investors E-Merge and as part of this new round we’re thrilled that we were able to add a founder of Ogone to our list of investors,” he said.

Spreedly_stage_FinDEVr2015

Spreedly CTO Nathaniel Talbott speaking during his presentation “The Vault Grown Up” at FinDEVr 2015 in San Francisco.

Benson emphasized the importance of this kind of traction as a motivator to help make it “through the early slog via critical validation.” He also explained how a strategy of targeting “greenfield” opportunities and early investments in the technology enabled Spreedly to get a “fully featured product” to market as quickly as they did. Benson said that the funding would allow the company to invest in sales, business development, and marketing talent “so we don’t remain the best kept secret in payments.”

Spreedly helps marketplaces and platforms accept a wider range of payment types while reducing cost, complexity, and compliance burden. Benson said the company now has nine developers on staff, a trio of “business folks”, and manages 300 marketplaces and platforms that are generating annualized processing volume of nearly $2 billion. Spreedly’s APIs are used by companies including Oxfam, SeatGeek, Tango, and Zomato.

Founded in January 2008 and headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, 12-person Spreedly demonstrated its universal credit card, token technology at its FinDEVr 2015 debut in San Francisco.

Spreedly is also a Finovate alum. The company presented its Payment Method Distribution and Card-on-File updater at FinovateSpring 2014 in San Jose.

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Finovate Alumni News

By David Penn Posted on
Categories: blooom, Cardlytics, MasterCard, Mitek, Spreedly, Top Image Systems, Vouch

On Finovate.com

  • “Spreedly Raises $2.5 Million in New Funding”

Around the web:

  • BNY Mellon to deploy iRemit, a cloud-based remittance solution from Top Image Systems.
  • Vouch Financial CEO Yee Lee weighs in on the future of banking.
  • Cardlytics partners with MasterCard to deliver card-linked services.
  • New York Magazine profiles Blooom President Greg Smith, a former Goldman Sachs banker.
  • Mitek adds facial recognition to its ID document-verification solution, Photo Verify.

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.

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Finovate Alums Earn Top Honors at U.K. Emerging Payments Awards

Finovate Alums Earn Top Honors at U.K. Emerging Payments Awards
By David Penn Posted on
Categories: Clover Network, Currency Cloud, Ethoca, Hyperwallet, Kalixa, MasterCard, Revolut

Three Finovate/FinDEVr alums won top honors at the Emerging Payments Awards in London, United Kingdom, earlier this month.

HyperwalletLogoHyperwallet won in the “Best Corporate/Government Payments Programme” division with its Paylution Global Disbursements Program. In a statement, CEO Brent Warrington highlighted the scalability and flexibility of the Hyperwallet platform, and reported that more than five million independent workers are currently using the technology. Hyperwallet demonstrated its RESTful API and embedded payout widget at FinDEVr 2015 in San Francisco in October.

Revolut_logo_high-resIn partnership with Optimal Payments, Revolut won the “Best Emerging Payments Startup” category. Optimal Payments and Revolut teamed up back in July to launch a multi-currency MasterCard and mobile app that helps travelers take advantage of the best exchange rates available. Revolut made its Finovate debut this year at FinovateEurope 2015 in London.

Clover_logoClover Mobile won “Best Payment Technological Innovation” for its Future-Proof mPOS. Clover Mobile was launched in the fall of 2014, a year after Clover was acquired by First Data. Clover made its Finovate appearance at FinovateSpring 2012 in San Francisco.

The other four Finovate/FinDEVr alums that made it to the finals were:

The event’s overall Industry Contributor Award went to IrisGuard for its EyeBank Iris Recognition electronic payment platform. The platform has been deployed to help bring “sustainable financial inclusion” to those in the Syrian refugee program. As of June 2015, the program had enrolled more than 1.6 million refugees.

Now in its eighth year, the Emerging Payments Awards help recognize creative and business talent in the payments industry. The Awards are run by the Emerging Payments Association, which has also provided the Prepaid Awards since 2006. The Association said that this year’s Emerging Payments Awards was its largest event to date.

If you’re in the United Kingdom and love fintech, then make sure FinovateEurope 2016 is on your calendar. Our two-day conference returns to London, February 9 and 10, 2016.

 

 

 

 

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Finovate Alumni News

By David Penn Posted on
Categories: blooom, Diebold, Prairie Cloudware, SimplyTapp, Trulioo, TSYS, Yodlee

On Finovate.com

  • Finovate Alums earn top honors at U.K.’s Emerging Payments Awards.

Around the web

  • NPR’s Morning Edition features Greg Smith, president of Blooom, in a segment on robo-advisory.
  • Diebold and SimplyTapp team up to introduce a white-label mobile wallet.
  • Trulioo now provides real-time ID-verification coverage in India.
  • INTECH licenses Digital Payments Guardian from Prairie Cloudware.
  • Yodlee integrates with Salesforce Financial Services Cloud.
  • TSYS and Ingenico partner on new solution to simplify EMV certification.

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

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