At the Beginning of the Apple Pay Era, FinDEVr Brings Builders Back into the Spotlight

At the Beginning of the Apple Pay Era, FinDEVr Brings Builders Back into the Spotlight
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What are fintech developers up to in the newly-christened Age of Apple Pay?

Long before anyone had a clue what was going on with payments in Cupertino, fintech developers were busy at work building on many of the innovations that have already helped put financial technology in the same conversation as the latest consumer electronics gadget and the hottest trends in social media.

So it is no surprise to find these developers bringing many of the same themes that dominant tech headlines to FinDEVr: the first event for fintech developers.
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FinDEVr is a unique opportunity for software architects, product engineers, and other builders to meet, network with, and learn from the professionals whose technology is behind some of the most widely deployed financial goods and services in the world. 
With presentations and workshops from industry veterans ranging from Avoka to Yodlee (see the full line up here), FinDEVr is an ideal setting for developers to make key contacts, discover new tools and technologies, and jumpstart their own projects.
Coming to San Francisco’s UCSF Mission Bay Conference Center, FinDEVr begins Tuesday, September 30 and continues through Wednesday, October 1. To get your tickets and save your spot, visit our registration page.
And be sure to join the FinDEVr community while you’re at it. We’ve partnered with Bizzabo to make it even easier to find, meet, and get to know your fellow attendees before, during, and after the event.
If you’ve registered to attend FinDEVr, then you’re set. Just download the Bizzabo app (available for both iOS and Android) and use the same email address you used to register for the conference to log in to Bizzabo. Search for “FinDEVr” and you’re ready to go.
Questions? Send us an email at [email protected].


Alumni News– September 15, 2014

  • Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Finovate-F-Logo.jpgMoven CEO Brett King says Apple Pay anticipates the end of physical bank cards.
  • United Way Worldwide now accepts bitcoin courtesy of Coinbase.
  • Monitise releases fiscal year 2014 financial results; announces new strategic partnership with Santander.
  • Business Spectator looks at how Apple, Google, Lending Club, and SocietyOne are part of “banking’s double disruption.”
  • Allied Payment Network announces integration of FlexPay with PicturePay.
  • Feedzai teams up with Azul Systems to speed its real-time data analysis.
  • The Washington Post features Betterment and HelloWallet.
  • Millicom and Kalixa partner to offer payment acceptance services for businesses and consumers in Africa and Latin America.
  • ProfitStars introduces Gladiator Hosted Network Solutions to enable FIs to move their IT infrastructures to the cloud.
  • Rippleshot, Braintree highlighted in Chicago Tribune column as examples of local contributors to the commerce infrastructure.
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.

Tink Raises $4 Million in Series A Round

Tink Raises $4 Million in Series A Round

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In a round led by Sunstone Capital, Swedish personal finance management innovator Tink raised $4 million in new funding. 

The capital will help fuel the company’s expansion internationally, as well as help grow the team and continue product development.

Also participating in the round was entrepreneur Sven Hagströmer, along with additional existing investors. The investment brings the company’s total capital to $4.8 million.

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The investment also brings Christian Lindegård Jepsen, Sunstone Capital general partner and co-founder, to Tink’s board of directors, Jepsen specifically referenced the “beautiful UI” of Tink’s PFM app, as well as the degree of automation, which he said would help speed adoption.
Tink CEO and founder Daniel Kjellén echoed this point, saying “the fact that Tink is fully automated and everything is presented in a feed format makes it useful even if you only have two minutes to spare.”
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Tink has more than 200,000 users, with the average “Tinker” being a 23 year old female who uses the app two to three times a week, according to the company. The app is available for both iOS and Android.
Based in Stockholm, Sweden, Tink demoed its technology at FinovateEurope 2014 in London, where it won Best of Show. See the company in action here.

Alumni News– September 12, 2014

  • Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Finovate-F-Logo.jpgmiiCard launches DirectID to enable verification for high value transactions online.
  • FinovateFall 2014: Meet the People in Your Fintech Neighborhood.
  • First Trade Union Bank (+$700M in assets) deploys Q2platform from Q2.
  • TSYS and iMobile3 partner to Provide Apple Pay Integration.
  • Payfone announces release of new Mobile Identity as an Experience Platform.
  • Kony wins first place at 2014 CTIA MobITs Awards.
  • Tink raises $4 million in Series A round.
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.

miiCard Launches DirectID to Enable Verification for High Value Transactions Online

miiCard Launches DirectID to Enable Verification for High Value Transactions Online

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Online Identity as a Service (IDaaS) innovator miiCard announced the launch of DirectID, a technology that provides an embedded, integrated verification solution that makes it easier for financial services providers to securely and swiftly process high value transactions online.

miiCard CEO James Varga said, “DirectID allows business to unlock the incredible potential of new consumer finance offerings by eliminating fraud, meeting complex new regulatory requirements, and saving time and money.”

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DirectID is a single-use sign-on that leverages the customer’s bank credentials and credit bureau data to verify both identity and transaction data. What’s key is the fact that DirectID provides what Varga referred to as an “all-in-one solution”  that is especially helpful for the kind of affordability and other testing often involved in high value online transactions.
And many of those high value transactions are likely to come from alternative lenders, which helps explain why Landbay and eMoneyUnion.com, a pair of P2P lenders, are among DirectID’s early adopters. DirectID is available as a white label solution, as well. Read more about the technology here.
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miiCard also announced on Thursday that the company was opening an office in St. Louis, Missouri, and appointing Peter Esparrago as President of North America. Esparrago is a former Accenture Partner, as well as Co-Founder and General Partner of venture capital firm, Cultivation Capital.
miiCard was founded in September 2011, and is headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland. See the company’s FinovateFall 2013 demo here. And get to know miiCard CEO James Varga in our Finovate Interview.
And for developers and other fans of enabling technologies like this, remember that FinDEVr less than a month away on September 30 and October 1. Find out more here.

FinovateFall 2014: Meet the People in Your Fintech Neighborhood

FinovateFall 2014: Meet the People in Your Fintech Neighborhood
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FinovateFall 2014 is only a few weeks away. And if you are still among those who have not yet picked up your tickets, here’s a reminder of the kinds of folks who have already registered to be in attendance at what promises to be our largest FinovateFall to date.

As always we’ll have the Presidents, CEOs, Directors, and SVPs, the key deciders at innovators and enterprises large and small. But take a closer look below. 

Chief Creative Officers, Innovation Strategists, and Software Architects will also be on hand … to say nothing of the managers, analysts and partners who handle everything from acquiring talent to coordinating strategy to investing capital.

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Lights go up at FinovateFall 2014 on Tuesday, September 23, and the conference continues through Wednesday. 72 companies. 300 minutes of high-quality networking. 500 minutes of live demos. And an audience likely to top 1,200. What’s not to look forward to about FinovateFall 2014?
There’s no better way to meet the people in your fintech neighborhood than being a part of FinovateFall. To pick up your tickets today, visit our registration page here. And if you’ve already registered, be sure to join the FinovateFall 2014 community on Bizzabo.


From API to POS: The Themes of FinovateFall 2014

From API to POS: The Themes of FinovateFall 2014
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It’s hard to believe that FinovateFall 2014 is only two weeks away. And if the pre-event buzz is any indication, conference attendees and presenters alike are in store for quite a show.

As always, our presenters are a fascinating mix of new startups and industry veterans, and the innovations they will be demonstrating on stage later this month are no less diverse and interesting.

Take a look for yourself courtesy of our FinovateFall 2014 Theme Word Cloud. From authentication and biometrics to machine-learning algorithms and self-service banking, FinovateFall has something for everyone.

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If you like what you see then you’ll love what we’ve got in store for you at FinovateFall 2014. This year, FinovateFall is moving to the New York Hilton Midtown. Located on the Avenue of the Americas, our new venue is centrally located, convenient to public transportation, and fully-equipped to serve as the center of the fintech universe for two days in late September. 
We hope to see you there! Click here to get your tickets today.

Heartland Financial USA Announces 10-Bank Deployment of Q2platform

Heartland Financial USA Announces 10-Bank Deployment of Q2platform

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Ten of Heartland Financial USA’s banks have implemented the online banking platform developed by Q2 Holdings according to an announcement Tuesday morning.

The implementation of the Q2platform took place over the five months between April and August. Matt Flake, Q2 CEO and president, said, “Everyone at Heartland has an outstanding commitment to simplifying the online banking process and creating a seamless user experience for account holders.”

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A full list of the banks that have deployed the technology is below:
  • Arizona Bank & Trust
  • Dubuque Bank and Trust Company
  • Galena State Bank & Trust Co.
  • The Morrill & Janes Bank and Trust Company
  • Minnesota Bank & Trust
  • New Mexico Bank & Trust
  • Riverside Community Bank
  • Rocky Mountain Bank
  • Summit Bank & Trust
  • Wisconsin Bank & Trust
An innovator in the field of cloud-based, virtual banking, Q2’s solutions are particularly sought after by community banks, regional banks, and credit unions looking to provide new mobile and online services to their customers while keeping costs low. Q2 was recently in the news, announcing partnerships with Easy Solutions in July, and First Financial Bank in June. The company went public in March, trades under the ticker symbol “QTWO” on the New York Stock Exchange, and is currently valued at $500 million. 
Founded in 2005 and based in Austin, Texas, Q2 demoed its Risk and Fraud Analytics technology as part of FinovateSpring 2011 in San Francisco. See the company’s presentation here.

Alumni News– September 9, 2014

  • Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Finovate-F-Logo.jpgGet Connected: Join the FinovateFall 2014 Community on Bizzabo.
  • PYMNTS.com talks with TSYS executive Paul Bridgewater on the importance of tokenization in payments.
  • Nostrum Group earns spot in Sunday Times Hiscox Tech Track 100.
  • True Potential launches Investor on Android Wear smartwatches. See True Potential demo at FinovateFall 2014.
  • London Evening Standard profiles wealth management innovator, Nutmeg.
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.

Get Connected: Join the FinovateFall 2014 Community on Bizzabo

Get Connected: Join the FinovateFall 2014 Community on Bizzabo

Once again we are partnering with social networking innovator, Bizzabo to make it that much easier for you to find, meet, and network with your fellow attendees at FinovateFall 2014.

FinovateFall 2014 will mark the third time we’ve turned to Bizzabo to help provide conference attendees with every opportunity to get in touch with colleagues and new acquaintances before, during, and even after the event.

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Download Bizzabo and get connected today. Search for the app (“Bizzabo”) in the Apple App Store or at Google Play. Once you’ve downloaded the app, search for “Finovate”, sign in, and then press the green “Join the Community” bar and you’re ready to go.
If you’re new to Bizzabo, you can sign up using your LinkedIn information or simply set up an account using your email address (the email address you used when registering for Finovate) and a password. Please email [email protected] if you are asked for a code or have any difficulty signing in.
What is all this Bizzabo business good for?
  • See, meet, and connect with fellow Finovate attendees
  • Learn more about the presenting companies and their presentations via the “Partners” and “Agenda” tabs, respectively
  • Get to know the backgrounds of conference speakers courtesy of LinkedIn profiles.
You can also use Bizzabo on your laptop or PC courtesy of Bizzabo’s web app – available here.

Questions? Send us an email at [email protected] and we’ll be glad to help.

ZenPayroll Opens Up its API to Small Business Technology Providers

ZenPayroll Opens Up its API to Small Business Technology Providers
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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.
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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.
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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.