Passport Raises $43 Million from Bain Capital

Passport Raises $43 Million from Bain Capital

Transportation mobile payments company Passport is starting 2018 with an extra $43 million in the bank. The North Carolina-based company closed the Series C round– an investment that brings Passport’s total capital to $60 million–  just before the holidays.

Today’s investment comes from Bain Capital, which joins previous investors Grotech Ventures, MK Capital and Relevance Capital. Bob Youakim, Passport’s founder and CEO, said that he sees the Bain Capital team as partners who “align really well with both our vision and our culture.”

In the press release, the company notes it will use the funding to evaluate strategic acquisition opportunities and bolster sales and marketing efforts. Youakim also said the investment, “gives us additional resources to expand quickly and strategically into new markets, innovate rapidly, and support our clients around the world.”

Proving its readiness for expansion, the company has already achieved notable growth. In the past three years, Passport has experienced 3.5x revenue growth and has expanded its staff to 100 employees in the past year with plans to add 50 more employees in 2018.

Founded in 2010, Passport offers mobile payment solutions for parking, transit, and tolling. To date, the company’s solutions have been adopted by more than 450 agencies in over 5,000 locations worldwide, including Chicago, London, Toronto, Boston, Vancouver, Portland, Montreal, and Miami. At FinovateEurope 2016, the company demoed its Mobile Ticketing for Transit solution. Last month, the company partnered with TransLink to develop and launch Park&Go, a free mobile payment app for Park & Ride users in Metro Vancouver.

Quovo Launches Modular PFM Widgets

Quovo Launches Modular PFM Widgets

Financial data provider Quovo is getting into the PFM game by launching account aggregation modules built on its API layer. The new modules will enable end users to track spending and saving, view their net worth, improve budgeting, and make progress toward their financial goals.

Because of the modular configuration, financial institutions can completely customize how they design their PFM offerings. Banks can opt to implement the full package or individual widgets to achieve the optimal mix of build vs. buy. The modules are designed for mobile use and can easily be white-labeled to fit a bank’s branding.

Niko Karvounis, Chief Product Officer and co-founder of Quovo said that account aggregation is a “must-have centerpiece for any digital strategy in fintech,” but that firms often struggle between building on Quovo’s API or buying a front-end, turnkey solution. Karvounis added, “With the launch of Quovo PFM, we now support the full spectrum of configuration options for deploying world-class account aggregation, including directly via our API, through embeddable modules, within a full dashboard — or even a combination of our approaches.

Founded in 2010, Quovo has presented at FinDEVr New York 2016 and FinDEVr New York 2017, where it was awarded Favorite FinDEVr Alum. Earlier this year, the company was listed on CB Insights’ Fintech 250 list. This fall, the company unveiled a new account authentication solution, Autoverified Micro-deposits. Quovo serves hundreds of institutions, thousands of advisors, and millions of end-users. Lowell Putnam is co-founder and CEO.

Ripple Establishes Infrastructure Innovation Initiative

Ripple Establishes Infrastructure Innovation Initiative

Blockchain solutions company Ripple announced yesterday it is establishing an Infrastructure Innovation Initiative in an effort to take “the next logical step to help build the Internet of Value.”

The goal of the initiative is to help central banks, regulators, and market infrastructures pilot real-world blockchain solutions by leveraging the Ripple team’s expertise in payment systems and distributed ledger technology (DLT). Potential blockchain solutions include creating regional networks, reducing the cost of payments, and opening up networks to new participants while managing risks.

Dilip Rao, who has led the business development in the APAC/MENA region and worked closely with banks and market infrastructures, will lead the initiative. Rao has worked for Ripple since 2014 and brings more than 30 years of experience working with banking technology. “My first priority will be piloting interoperability between payment systems, the use of DLT for domestic clearing and settlement and novel applications of xCurrent as well as our digital asset XRP,” said Rao. “I look forward to exciting new initiatives in building the Internet of Value in 2018!”

Company co-founder Chris Larsen debuted Ripple (originally known as OpenCoin) at FinovateSpring 2013. Brad Garlinghouse took the reins as Ripple CEO last fall. Last month, Ripple teamed with AmEx and Santander to support blockchain-powered international B2B payments. Earlier this month, the company’s XRP digital currency overtook Bitcoin Cash as the third largest cryptocurrency.

CashStar Launches Digital Gifting Program with Belk Department Store

CashStar Launches Digital Gifting Program with Belk Department Store

If you’ve been waiting to send a digital gift card for southern clothing styles, you’re in luck today. Digital gifting and incentives platform CashStar has teamed up with Belk, a North Carolina-based department store.

The agreement is two-fold. First, CashStar will offer Belk shoppers a personalized digital gift card experience with its CashStar Consumer platform. This platform enables Belk to offer a branded gift card experience for the purchaser and the recipient. Additionally, end clients can tailor their gift by selecting a design and adding a personalized message.

CashStar will also leverage its CashStar Product eGifting to help shoppers digitally send physical gifts. Product eGifting enables Belk shoppers to gift a product from Belk’s ecommerce site without knowing specific details such as the recipient’s preferred size, color and shipping address. Once the recipient receives an email with the gift information, they can personalize the gift or opt to receive an eGift card instead.

Founded in 2007, CashStar serves major brands such as SEPHORA, Starbucks, The Home Depot, Uber, and Walmart. At FinovateFall 2011, the company’s co-founder David Stone debuted a geolocation-based iPhone app that enables consumers to walk into a store and redeem credit card loyalty points in real-time in the form of a mobile gift card. Before it was acquired by Blackhawk Network for $175 million in October, CashStar had raised a total of $44 million.

Azimo Brings Faster Money Transfers to Nigeria

Azimo Brings Faster Money Transfers to Nigeria

International remittance service Azimo has sped up money transfers in Nigeria. Just shy of a year after launching its service in the African country, the U.K.-based company announced last week it has enhanced that service.

The revamped money transfers empower users to receive cash at all major Nigerian banks 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, depending on the availability of the payout partners. Additionally, the service ensures that money sent from 22 European countries to the Nigerian market will reach recipients within 30 minutes, including on weekends.

Faster money service to Nigeria has the potential to make a real difference in the country. According to the press release, “64% of transfers to the country [are] sent for family support – including to pay for hospital and food bills – a speedy service every day of the week is essential.” Azimo also leverages its own network to offer money transfers at a lower rate than traditional, brick-and-mortar services.

Azimo was launched in 2012 to serve as a better way to send funds around the world. Its digital network enables customers to send money to more than 190 countries from any internet-connected device. The company debuted its global money transfer platform at FinovateEurope 2013 in London. Earlier this year, Azimo updated its service to add instant transfers to the Philippines.

Finovate Alumni News

On Finovate.com

  • Bluefin Buddies Up: Decryptx P2PE Network Grows to 50+ Connected Partners
  • Fiserv Teams with TransUnion to Enhance Automotive Loan Origination System
  • Azimo Brings Faster Money Transfers to Nigeria
  • eToro to Build Blockchain-Based Social Trading Products in Partnership with CoinDash
  • CashStar Launches Digital Gifting Program with Belk Department Store

Around the web

  • Mark Saltzman Interviews Flybits Founder & CEO on TD for Me (video).
  • API Evangelist features Streamdata.io.
  • LearnVest CEO Alexa von Tobel featured on NPR podcast How I Built This.
  • MapD unveils latest release featuring new geo heatmap , custom aliases, faster SQL sorts and more

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.

Fiserv Teams with TransUnion to Enhance Automotive Loan Origination System

Fiserv Teams with TransUnion to Enhance Automotive Loan Origination System

Financial services company Fiserv and credit reporting agency and risk information provider TransUnion have joined forces today. Under the agreement, Fiserv will integrate TransUnion’s CreditVision Link to increase precision of scoring and risk modeling in its Automotive Loan Origination System.

Specifically, Fiserv will leverage data from TransUnion to identify high-risk and high-potential borrowers, including thin-file applicants, based on an evaluation of their credit application. This addition helps serve the underbanked population, raising Fiserv’s reach to potential underserved borrowers to 60 million. The additional data has also boosted the “super prime” customer base by 23 million.

Shaimaa Elk, Chief Information Officer, Lending Solutions for Fiserv said, “The partnership between Fiserv and TransUnion enables lenders to provide borrower-focused customer service and better optimize profitability, cost reductions, and efficiencies.”

CreditVision Link uses alternative data sources that include 30 months of data on factors such as address stability, checking account history, microloans/ alternative lending, and property ownership. TransUnion made a move to bolster the service last month when it acquired FactorTrust, a company specializing in alternative credit data, analytics, and risk-scoring. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Steve Chaouki, executive vice president and head of TransUnion’s financial services business unit, said that understanding clients is critical not only for decision making, but also for building customer relationships and loyalty. Chaouki added, “Our integration of CreditVision Link trended and alternative data sources into Automotive Loan Origination System enables lenders to score approximately 95 percent of the U.S. adult population.”

Founded in 1984, Fiserv most recently presented at FinDEVr New York 2017, where the company’s Sr. Product Manager, Jon Zimmermann, and VP of Electronic Payments, Paul Diegelman, addressed the audience in a presentation titled Payments Processing: Bank-Grade Standards, Now Available to Anyone. Earlier this year, Fiserv agreed to acquire Monitise for $89 million. The deal was finalized in September.

At FinovateFall 2016, TransUnion debuted Prama Insights, a suite of solutions that leverage data to offer lenders market intelligence. Prior to TransUnion’s acquisition of FactorTrust last month, the company acquired eBureau to enhance its versatile data and analytics capabilities. TransUnion is a publicly-traded company (NYSE: TRU).

TSYS to Acquire Cayan for $1.05 Billion

TSYS to Acquire Cayan for $1.05 Billion

Payments service provider TSYS has boosted its portfolio this week. The Georgia-based company has agreed to acquire Cayan, a payment technology company, for $1.05 billion. TSYS expects the deal to modestly benefit its net revenue growth and adjusted earnings per share.

Cayan’s flagship platform, Genius, provides a scalable, unified commerce experience across channels. The company offers merchant acquiring services to 70,000+ companies and 100+ U.S.-based partners.

M. Troy Woods, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of TSYS, said that this acquisition “strategically complements” the goals TSYS has “to become a leading payment solutions provider to small and medium size businesses.” Woods continued, “The addition of Cayan’s unified commerce solutions puts us in a strong competitive position to jointly offer a broader set of value-add products and services to our partners and merchants.”

The acquisition has been approved by the TSYS Board of Directors and is expected to close in the first quarter of next year.

TSYS was founded in 1983 and has 11,500 employees across offices in 13 countries. Last year, the company processed 25.5 billion transactions, generating $4.2 billion in revenue. TSYS demoed its Spend Controls feature at FinovateEurope 2013 in London. Last week, the company extended its agreement with Capital One to continue providing processing services for the bank’s North American clients. This October, TSYS company expanded its ProPay merchant services to Australia and, earlier in the summer, teamed up with behavioral analytics company Featurespace to bolster its fraud prevention capabilities. TSYS is a publicly traded company (NYSE: TSS).

Finovate Alumni News

On Finovate.com

  • TSYS to Acquire Cayan for $1.05 Billion
  • TransferTo Adds Digital Wallet to Payments Network via Cellum Partnership

Around the Web

  • GoodData appoints James Smith as chief marketing officer.
  • Passport and TransLink partner to develop and launch Park&Go, an app for Vancouver Park and Ride payments.
  • Tucson FCU implements NCR’s Interactive Teller software to allow members to bank face-to-face with a live teller from their cars.
  • Azimo introduces near-instant, 24/7 money transfers to Nigeria.
  • ThreatMetrix exceeds 45% Annual Growth.
  • The Real Estate Crowdfunding Review ranks CK Mack, Realty Mogul, & Patch of Land in its list of top 100 real estate crowdfunding sites.
  • Fortune features Pindrop’s AI voice recognition.

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.

NICE Teams with Brightstar India

NICE Teams with Brightstar India

Data analytics and insights company NICE announced a strategic partnership this week. The Israel-based company has teamed up with Brightstar India, a subdivision of Brightstar Global that manages mobile devices across the wireless ecosystem.

The partnership will support the launch of NICE Uptivity, a workforce optimization solution for small-to-medium sized businesses (SMBs). Nice Uptivity offers tools such as quality assurance, speech and data analytics, coaching, and customer surveys. The tool’s modular structure allows for custom configurations that are tailored to scale to individual businesses. The companies will launch NICE Uptivity to mid-market organizations in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal.

Darren John Rushworth, President of NICE APAC said the partnership is about “bringing the market leading WFO suite for SMEs to the Indian and South Asian markets.” Rushworth continued, “Our collaboration to introduce the Uptivity WFO Suite will greatly benefit companies which are poised for growth or have multi-location operations…. NICE solutions, provided and supported by Brightstar India, are helping to bridge the gap between the needs of today and the goals of tomorrow.”

NICE’s 6,500 employees work in 35 offices across the globe. Founded in 1986, the company serves 2,500 customers, 85% of which are Fortune 100 companies. Among NICE’s clients are Alliance Data, Walgreens, and Capital One. At FinovateEurope 2015, the company showcased Real-Time Authentication, a passive, phone-based authentication offering that leverages voice biometrics. Earlier this month, NICE earned its status in the Risk Management category of Amazon’s AWS Financial Services Competency Program. In July, the company teamed up with Tableau Software to launch a visual analytics solution.

Modo Brings on Former CEO of Klarna North America, Brian Billingsley

Modo Brings on Former CEO of Klarna North America, Brian Billingsley

Cloud-based payment services company Modo Payments has given itself an early Christmas present this year, appointing former CEO of Klarna North America Brian Billingsley as Chief Revenue Officer.

Billingsley’s payments background will play an integral role in expanding Modo’s capabilities. “All I wanted for Christmas was for Brian to join the team, and Santa really came through for this lucky #paymentsgeek this year. He’s honestly the best Christmas present I could’ve asked for,” said Modo CEO Bruce Parker.

Parker and Billingsley have worked together before. In October the two companies teamed up to integrate Modo’s Checkout Event payment service to help Klarna accelerate implementation of its checkout solution for merchants.

Billingsley said he was “blown away” by Modo’s tech when Klarna implemented it. “Modo has incredible talent and technology, and I believe Modo will revolutionize payments over the next few years making complex payments function as we experience email today – it just works,” he added. Billingsley will officially join the Modo team next month.

Founded in 2010, Modo exchanges payment data across platforms on behalf of banks, payment networks, and providers, enabling them to store, share, and track payment event data. The company presented at FinovateFall 2016, where it showcased its Modo Digital Payments Hub. In addition to a partnership with Klarna last month, Modo also teamed up with Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Alliance Data, FIS, and Verifone to boost user engagement by creating PayoutCheckout, and Loyalty Events for online retailers.

Finovate Alumni News

On Finovate.com

  • Modo Brings on Former CEO of Klarna North America, Brian Billingsley

Around the web

  • Azimo launches cash pick-up in the Philippines.
  • Ripple’s XRP overtakes bitcoin cash as 3rd largest cryptocurrency.

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.