Author: David Penn

AppSensorFS from Intelligent Environments Neutralizes Security Threats in Real-time

By David Penn Posted on
Categories: FinovateEurope 2015, Intelligent Environments

IntelligentEnvironments-logo_high-res.jpgThis post is part of our live coverage of FinovateEurope 2015.

Next to the stage is mobile and online security solution provider, Intelligent Environments, demonstrating AppSensorFS.

AppSensorFS is a software capability built into Interact, our multichannel banking platform, which enables the business application to detect and neutralize a security threat in real-time. It makes the application attack-aware. AppSensorFS deploys sensors within the application to detect potential threats. At its core is an expert system that makes real-time decisions to direct appropriate defense responses. AppSensorFS is a next-generation security solution with features specifically designed for Financial Services end-user applications. The framework extends to both web browser and mobile app-based solutions.

Presenters: CTO Clayton Locke; Product Development Lead Alan Brown; and Senior Software Architect Paul Spiller
 
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Product launch: February 2015
Product distribution strategy: Direct to Business (B2B), through other fintech companies and platforms, licensed
HQ: Kingston-upon-Thames, London, United Kingdom
Metrics: 130 employees
Twitter: @IntelEnviro

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StreetShares Platform Connects Small Business Owners with Retail and Institutional Investors

By David Penn Posted on
Categories: FinovateEurope 2015, StreetShares

StreetShares_logo_high-res.jpgThis is post is part of our live coverage of FinovateEurope 2015.

Our first presenter of the day is social lender StreetShares, bringing business owners together with retail and institutional investors based on shared affinities. According to the company:

The StreetShares marketplace uses social affinities and online auction technology to provide small business borrowers with loans at lower rates, and provide investors with higher returns. StreetShares blends the social loyalty and trust of affinity groups with traditional bank underwriting. It provides small business owners with the opportunity to pitch their loan requests to retail and institutional investors at no cost or obligation.

StreetShares investors then compete to fund the loans through a StreetShares auction, where the lowest rates charged to borrowers win. Through a StreetShares auction, borrowers get funded at competitive rates and investors get returns they’re looking for. Everyone wins.

Presenters: Co-founders CEO Mark Rockefeller and COO Mickey Konson
 
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Product launch: July 2014
Product distribution strategy: Direct to Consumer (B2C); Direct to Business (B2B)
HQ: Reston, VA, USA
Metrics: Raised $1.2 million seed round; 12 full-time employees
Twitter: @StreetShares

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FinovateEurope 2015: London Calling!

By David Penn Posted on
Categories: FinovateEurope 2015

We’re feeling at the “top of the dial” here on rehearsal day of FinovateEurope 2015, the first Finovate conference of the year. With 1,200 fintech execs from around the world converging on Old Billingsgate Market Hall tomorrow (10 Feb), those looking forward to two days of the latest in financial technology innovation have reason to smile.

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Here are a few last-minute items for both those who will be joining us live in London as well as those who will be following along—and chiming in—via our live blog at Finovate.com and our Twitter feed at @Finovate.
FinovateEurope 2015 mobile and web app
Once again we’ll be using the Bizzabo social networking app to help attendees reach out and connect with each other, as well as our presenters and sponsors, and partners. The app makes it easy to learn about the presenting companies, follow along with the conference agenda, and network with your fellow attendees.
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Registered attendees simply need to download the Bizzabo app (iOS version here, Android version here). Bizzabo is also available for your desktop here. Once you’ve downloaded the app, install it, and search for “Finovate,” choose “Join” and you’ll be connected to the event.

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Twitter
If you aren’t able to join us in London, then tracking the action via our Twitter feed is easily the next best thing to being here. Check us out @Finovate and be sure to tag your thoughts, insights, clever gestures and wise remarks “#Finovate.”
For more information about FinovateEurope 2015, check out our preview page here. You’ll find the event schedule, agenda, the notes on the venue, a list of presenters, sponsors, partners, and much more.
If you have any questions about the conference, visit our FAQ page or send us an email at info@finovate.com.

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Alumni News– February 9, 2015

By David Penn Posted on
Categories: CREALOGIX, FIS, Malauzai Software, Realty Mogul, Rippleshot
  • 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.jpgCredit Union Times reviews Malauzai Software’s report on the growing popularity of debit card on-off functionality.
  • Crain’s Chicago Business profiles Rippleshot.
  • Inside-it.ch: CREALOGIX leverages TouchID API to develop biometric fingerprint authentication app for mobile banking.
  • PYMNTS.com: MPD CEO Karen Webster interviews Bruce Lowthers, FIS EVP for North American Retail Payments.
  • CrowdFundBeat features Realty Mogul CEO Jilliene Helman.
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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Alumni News—February 6, 2015

By David Penn Posted on
Categories: Betterment, blooom, CardFlight, Coinbase, FutureAdvisor, LifePay, Mint.com, Misys, Motif Investing, Personal Capital, Ripple, Venmo, Wealthfront
  • 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.jpgCardFlight releases its mobile POS app, SwipeSimple 2.0.
  • Sky News reports Temasek is investigating a possible purchase of Misys.
  • The Observer features Ripple Labs in its look at the “race to replace bitcoin.”
  • Column on digital money accounting highlights, Mint, Venmo, and Coinbase.
  • Investopedia compares Motif Investing to investing with traditional exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
  • Forbes highlights Betterment, Wealthfront, FutureAdvisor, blooom, Motif Investing, and Personal Capital in a column on roboadvisors.
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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SixThirty Accelerator Deadline Extended to February 6

By David Penn Posted on
Categories: Gremln, MiiCard

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SixThirty Accelerator is extending the deadline for its spring 2015 incubator class to Friday, February 6th.

SixThirty has played a role in the development of two Finovate alums: miiCard, which was a part of the Fall 2013 cohort, and Gremln, a participant of the Spring 2014 class.

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Co-founded by Jim McKelvey, SixThirty invests up to $100,000 per selected company, for a total of $800,000 a year in late seed-stage, financial startups. Through the four-month program, SixThirty provides companies with expert mentorships and the opportunity to network and connect with the region’s FI ecosystem, which includes MasterCard, Wells Fargo, and Scottrade.
The spring 2015 cohort will be announced at the end of February.

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FinovateEurope 2015: Come for the Demos, Stay for the Networking

By David Penn Posted on
Categories: FinovateEurope 2015

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We got the word on Monday: FinovateEurope 2015 will be the largest Finovate conference in Europe to date.

This is a great way to start the year. And we’re hoping you’ll join us in London on February 10 and 11 to enjoy our first event of 2015. We’re headed toward a sold-out show, so get your tickets before they’re gone. 

Live demos are Finovate’s stock-in-trade. But the high-quality networking opportunities are not to be overlooked. And with 500 minutes of demos and an equal amount of time dedicated to high-quality networking, we think we’ve got the balance just right.
Here’s a look at the kind of folks you’ll be rubbing elbows with at FinovateEurope 2015 this year.
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FinovateEurope tends to have a particularly international flavor. And this year’s conference is no exception. Below is a map that shows where each of our 70 presenters is headquartered (click to enlarge). 
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Find out more about this year’s presenting companies here, or check out our Sneak Peek Preview series below.

FinovateEurope 2015 is sponsored by The Bancorp, iBe, Financial Technology Partners, KPMG LLP, Life.SREDA.

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Alumni News– February 4, 2015

By David Penn Posted on
Categories: ayondo, Coinbase, Currency Cloud, CurrencyFair, Expensify, Kashoo, Kony Solutions, ProfitStars, Temenos, TransferWise
  • 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.jpgIntelligentHQ features TransferWise and CurrencyFair in its look at the “currency transfer revolution.”
  • ayondo hires Peg Reed as Senior Vice President of Business Development.
  • School of Bookkeeping reviews Kashoo Simple Cloud Accounting.
  • Fintech Monthly focuses on recent fintech fundraising including recent investment in TransferWise.
  • ProfitStars adds billpay, invoice management, and mobile banking functionality to its ICBA Preferred Service Provider program.
  • Temenos teams up with Polytech Ventures to launch the first Swiss fintech incubator.
  • Expensify adds 4,000 new customers in 2014, including  the BBB, ZenDesk, and Yahoo!  
  • Forbes features Currency Cloud’s cross border payment API.
  • Kony’s partners now offering apps on its business mobile app marketplace.
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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Fidelity Investments Acquires eMoney Advisor for Reported $250 Million

By David Penn Posted on
Categories: eMoney Advisor

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Congratulations to our latest “one and done alum,” eMoney Advisor. The wealth management technology company that made its Finovate debut last September has been acquired by Fidelity Investments.

The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed; however, Philly.com is reporting that Fidelity paid more than $250 million for the company.

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eMoney Advisor’s leadership will remain intact, including founder Edmond Walters who will continue as CEO. The company will also keep its offices in California and Pennsylvania where Walters promises to “hire a lot more Philadelphia people.”
Walters highlighted eMoney Advisor’s history with Fidelity’s advisor clients as one of the main synergies contributing to the deal, as well as Fidelity’s “multi-million-dollar commitment to technology.” Michael Wilens, president of Fidelity Enterprise Services, underscored the point, saying, “We apply design-thinking in our labs, incubate new companies and work with some of the brightest minds in the country—all for the benefit of our clients.”
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Above (left to right): Chad Porche, User Interface Designer, and Kyle Wharton, Business Development, at FinovateFall 2014.
eMoney Advisor will be used to help Fidelity build out its data management, office, and collaborative tools for investors and advisors. Fidelity’s Institutional clients who work with registered investment advisors, broker-dealers, and banks will be the first to take advantage of the technology.
Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, eMoney Advisor’s platform helps financial professionals serve the investment and wealth management needs of their clients. eMoney has 25,000 registered investment reps and 46 out of the top 50 broker dealers using its technology, which tracks more than $1 trillion in client assets. EMX, the company’s “rebranded” platform, was previewed at FinovateFall 2014 and released in December.
If you missed it last fall, check out our Finovate Debuts feature on e-Money Advisor.

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Alumni News—February 2, 2015

By David Penn Posted on
Categories: GMC Software Technology, Green Dot, Heckyl Technologies, IDTheft 911, Motif Investing, Nymi, Seergate, SigFig, Sonavation, Trulioo
  • 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.jpgThe Telegraph features SigFig and Motif Investing in its list of the 10 best apps for new investors.
  • PostConnect to deploy customer communications management technology from GMC Software Technology.
  • Heckyl Technologies chooses Gurpreet Sidana for President-Sales.
  • Tom’s Guide column on identity theft quotes Adam Levin of IDTheft911.
  • American Banker reports: Green Dot to start offering credit lines to its customers.
  • TechVibes: “Trulioo Launches $100,000 Developer Fund to Support Financial Inclusion Efforts”
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 Populate the FinTech50

By David Penn Posted on
Categories: Algomi, BehavioSec, Blockchain, Currency Cloud, Darwinex, eToro, ETRONIKA, Fidor Bank, Five Degrees, Holvi, InvoiceSharing, Ixaris, Klarna, Kreditech, Mambu, mBank & Efigence, Nutmeg, Tink, TransferWise, Trunomi, Trustly, Zooz

Looking for the most innovative startups in fintech? The FinTech50 is a great place to start.

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It also turns out to be a great place to find Finovate alums. Of the 50 companies recognized by FinTechCity’s panels of judges as being “game-changers transforming the future of finance,” nearly half are alumni of Finovate conferences – including our upcoming event in London.
Here is the list of alums in alphabetical order:
According to Chris Skinner, who was one of the panelists, more than 700 companies competed for spots in the FinTech50. The selection panel included veterans of finance and technology from companies ranging from American Express and Google to Silicon Valley Bank and UBS. The FinTech50 winners were announced at an invitation-only event in London.
Speaking of London, Five Degrees, InvoiceSharing, Ixaris, mBank, and Trunomi will be in town next month, demonstrating their latest solutions at FinovateEurope 2015, February 10 and 11. More information on the event available here.

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Alumni News– January 30, 2015

By David Penn Posted on
Categories: BehavioSec, Betterment, Bitbond, Blackhawk Network, Bolstr, Cloud Lending, Entersekt, EyeLock, EyeVerify, MasterCard, Mint.com, Mitek, Nymi, Personal Capital, SimpleTuition, TSYS, Valore, wipro
  • 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.jpgWipro wins multi-year, IT outsourcing contract from Allied Irish Banks (AIB). Join Wipro in London for FinovateEurope 2015 next month.
  • The Financial Services Blog features more than 20 Finovate alums in its look at the 50 most innovative FinTech firms.
  • MasterCard PayPass partners with St. Petersburg Metro to bring contactless payments to Russian subway.
  • Blackhawk Network unveils Blackhawk Engagement Solutions to build customized incentive and rewards programs.
  • FinovateEurope 2015 Sneak Peek: Part 6 is now up.
  • American Banker highlights Cloud Lending’s role with banks.
  • PYMNTS interviews TSYS Merchant Solutions’ Tom Boyer about changes in the payments acquiring space.
  • Bolstr Raises $1.7 Million in Seed Funding.
  • The blog herald shares an infographic detailing online security methods: Nymiband, Myris, Eyeverify, BehavioSec, Entersekt.
  • Lifehacker features Betterment, Mint, Personal Capital as tools to manage your investments.
  • Bitcoinist features Bitbond. Check them out at FinovateEurope February 10 & 11.
  • BetaBoston: After a successful 2014, student services company SimpleTuition rebrands as Valore.
  • Mitek Q1 revenue up 21% YOY; reports 3,300 financial institutions now signed & 2,700 live.
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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