FinovateAsia Sneak Peek: Call Levels

FinovateAsia Sneak Peek: Call Levels

A look at the companies demoing live at FinovateAsia on November 7 and 8 in Hong Kong. Pick up your tickets today and save your spot.

CLAIRE (Call Levels AI for Reimagining Enterprises) is a secure, intelligent, chatbot SAAS solution for banks and financial institutions to optimize their customers’ experiences.

Features

  • AI chatbot framework
  • Real-time financial monitoring system and analytics
  • Double hashing blockchain security

Why it’s great
CLAIRE’s AI-powered automation enables you to bank when you want, where you want.

Presenters

Linda Ang, Head, Strategy & Development
Familiar with both corporate developments and the dynamics of financial markets, Ang is a business strategist with significant experience in Business Development and Investor Relations.
LinkedIn

Taqin Jamil, Head of Design
Jamil is responsible for the overall product interaction and experience. As Head of Design, he leads the team in creating UX-friendly fintech applications.
LinkedIn

TASCET Teams with Secured2 to Launch Algo5 Data Security Offering

TASCET Teams with Secured2 to Launch Algo5 Data Security Offering

Identification technology company TASCET announced this week it has partnered with Secured2 to launch a new data security offering. The product, Algo5, aims to protect data against both internal and external breaches, hacks, and disasters.

The new data storage solution combines TASCET’s SuperToken, which verifies a user’s identity, with Secured2’s Beyond Encryption, which protects data from the origination of a document to an endpoint of cloud, local, or hybrid storage. Algo5 offers cost savings by shrinking, shredding, and dispersing data to numerous locations, each with its own encryption. To retrieve the data, users must be authorized and verified through SuperToken.

Daren Klum, CEO of Secured2 acknowledges that there are too many “weak points” in data storage and access. Explaining the advantage of the new technology, Klum said, “Algo5 brings together two technologies – identification and data security at the file level – that are changing the way companies store, access, and retrieve data.”

“Algo5 provides all of the crucial components necessary to secure data in today’s high risk environment,” said TASCET CEO Larry Aubol. “This includes the identification of users, which ensures that access is allowed only by users who are known. This step is nonexistent in approaches that rely on authentication,” he added.

Founded in 2005, TASCET debuted Financial ICONN at FinovateSpring 2012. In June of this year, TASCET announced a partnership with Mobility Exchange to bring TASCET’s SuperToken technology to Mobility Exchange’s clients. TASCET is headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin and has raised just over $13 million.

Finovate Alumni News

On Finovate.com

  • TASCET Teams with Secured2 to Launch Algo5 Data Security Offering.
  • NYMBUS Launches Digital-First Banking Platform, NYMBUS SmartDigital.

Around the web

  • Mastercard and PayPal expand partnership to Canada, Europe, LatinAm, Caribbean, the Middle East and Africa.
  • Affirmative Technologies partners with TransCard to provide electronic payment processing for SMBs.
  • FICO introduces new payment card fraud detection models.
  • Arxan receives ISO 13485 certification.

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.

TIBCO Acquires Cisco’s Data Virtualization Business

TIBCO Acquires Cisco’s Data Virtualization Business

Integration, analytics, and event-processing software company TIBCO has agreed to acquire Cisco’s Data Virtualization business (formerly Composite Software). Today’s acquisition, which is subject to conditions, is expected to close in a few weeks.

The solution powers enterprise-scale data virtualization and offers associated consulting and support services. TIBCO will leverage the new solution to enhance its portfolio of analytics products and will help clients onboard analytics solutions faster than competing products. Additionally, it will help TIBCO adapt to a range of data sources — from traditional,  IoT-sourced, to big data. The new technology creates a virtual layer of data (without the need for extracting) and leaves the original data sources in tact.

“Data Virtualization helps our customers find and analyze the data they need in hours or days, rather than months, so that they can quickly discover insights and take insight-driven action,” said Mark Palmer, senior vice president of analytics at TIBCO. “The next generation of business intelligence depends on doing more with analytics than just putting data on a graph. Data Virtualization is a key component of getting the right data at the right time to business analysts, data scientists, and automated applications using streaming analytics.”

This is the California-based company’s third acquisition this year, after announcing plans to acquire both nanoscale.io for its microservices in July, and data science company Statistica in May. Last month, TIBCO received a number of accolades, having been named a leader by Dresner Advisory Services, and Forrester, and ranking first in Dresner Advisory Services 2017 Advanced and Predictive Analytics Market Study.

TIBCO presented at FinovateAsia 2013, showcasing how banks can leverage their clients’ transactional data to gain insight into customer behavior. Founded in 1997, TIBCO was acquired by Vista Equity Partners in 2014.

Temenos Teams Up with MuleSoft to Accelerate Open Banking

Temenos Teams Up with MuleSoft to Accelerate Open Banking

Banking software provider Temenos has teamed up with Mulesoft, a platform provider for building application networks. The move is intended to break down barriers to the open banking initiative by facilitating API connections.

As a part of the partnership, Temenos will develop a core banking adaptor for MuleSoft’s AnyPoint platform, a system that helps companies connect applications, data and devices into a network that allows for reuse and self-service. This will establish a standard interface between MuleSoft and the Temenos integration framework and “reduce barriers” to offer banks a “seamless experience on a unified banking platform.”

Neal McLoughlin, Head of Partners at Temenos said, “With MuleSoft, clients gain an experienced and knowledgeable partner to facilitate integration between our Core Banking platform and countless other applications and devices. We are pleased to partner with MuleSoft on this open banking initiative.”

Founded in 1993, Temenos debuted its Connect Mobile Banking application at FinovateFall 2015 in London. Earlier this month the company announced that the Cooperative Bank of Oromia (CBO) went live with its UniversalSuite. Temenos is headquartered in Switzerland, employs 4,300+ people in 63 offices to serve clients in 145+ countries. David Arnott is CEO.

Finovate Alumni News

On Finovate.com

  • Temenos Teams Up with MuleSoft to Accelerate Open Banking.
  • TIBCO Acquires Cisco’s Data Virtualization Business.
  • Aviva Acquires Majority Stake in U.K. Online Wealth Management Specialist, Wealthify.

Around the web

  • PayNearMe announces the PayNearMe Channel Partner Program for U.S. Partners.
  • CoverHound reveals an expanded partner and insurance carrier network.
  • Neustar’s Trusted Device Identity solution integrates with NetFoundry’s Application Specific Networking. platform to extend ID-based solutions across multiple networks and clouds.
  • BlackRock in talks for stake in Capital Preferences.

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.

Worldpay Makes Strategic Contribution to Featurespace’s $21.9 Million Funding Round

Worldpay Makes Strategic Contribution to Featurespace’s $21.9 Million Funding Round

Behavioral analytics company Featurespace has raised $21.9 million today. The round was led by Highland Europe and supported by Worldpay, Touchstone Innovations, Invoke Capital, and existing investors. Today’s investment brings the company’s total funding to $38.3 million.

Global payments company Worldpay will play a strategic role in the investment as well, forming a technology partnership with UK-based Featurespace. According to the agreement, Featurespace will leverage behavioral analytics to power risk management and fraud prevention services for Worldpay’s merchant clients. Atlanta-based company Worldpay will also use Featurespace’s technology to enhance its own capabilities in the development of Intelligent Payment Services.

Mark Kimber, Chief Information Officer at Worldpay, said that the company is “confident that this partnership will deliver superior outcomes for our customers, by preventing more fraudulent transactions whilst reducing the number of genuine transactions that are declined.” Kimber added, “We’ve been incredibly impressed by the evolution of this business and believe it has the potential to grow significantly. With our investment in the company, we are looking forward to supporting the Featurespace team as they grow their business and capabilities.”

At FinovateFall 2016, Featurespace demonstrated its ARIC Fraud Manager that understands the real-time behavior of each customer, then uses machine learning to prevent fraud by pinpointing anomalous behavior. The company’s clients — including Vocalink/Zapp, William Hill, and TSYS — have deployed products and services in more than 180 countries. In August, Featurespace was selected by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to power the organization’s fraud prevention solution. Earlier that month, the company teamed up with PwC to offer the firm’s clients a solution for combating financial crime risk.

Founded in 1989, Worldpay presented at FinDEVr Silicon Valley 2016 about the payment journey. The company offers payment products and services to a client base of 400,000. Worldpay’s technology can process payments from 146 countries and 126 currencies, enabling customers to accept more than 300 different payment types. Earlier this summer, Worldpay agreed to merge with U.S. credit card processor Vantiv in a $10 billion deal.

Finovate Alumni News

On Finovate.com

  • More than $1 billion raised by 31 Finovate alums in Q3 2017.
  • Worldpay Makes Strategic Contribution to Featurespace’s $21.9 Million Funding Round.
  • HooYu to Provide ID Confirmation for UK’s Cars-as-a-Service easyCar Club.

Around the web

  • Actiance helps FinServ companies meet toughest MiFID II compliance challenges.
  • Finews.Asia features Finantix’s AI solution for wealth management.
  • Gemalto and Ledger join forces to provide security infrastructure for cryptocurrency based activities.
  • The Charlotte Observer names Jack Henry & Associates to Top Workplaces list for third consecutive year.
  • Diebold Nixdorf expands managed services portfolio with new offerings.
  • Kasasa now 5th largest banking branch network

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.

Truphone Raises $339 Million to Fuel Global Expansion

Truphone Raises $339 Million to Fuel Global Expansion

What would you do with $339 million? London-based mobile operator Truphone gets to answer that question today, as the company closes its $339 million (£255 million) private equity round. This brings Truphone’s total funding to more than $430 million.

The company will use the funds to retire its debt, help it “disrupt the trillion-dollar mobile industry and power the world’s connected devices,” and fuel its global expansion. Aside from its London headquarters, Truphone currently has offices in Australia, Germany, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and in three cities across the U.S. in New York, North Carolina, and Ohio.

Truphone CEO Ralph Steffens said that the funding will empower the company to “offer highly differentiated Enterprise products and are the enabler of choice for disruptive IoT and eSIM solutions.” Steffens adds, “It is an important step in achieving our long-term goal to power billions of connected devices around the world.”

Founded in 2006, Truphone leverages eSims (software-based SIMs) to enable mobile customers to use their voice and data allowances across 40 countries without incurring roaming charges. In addition to SIM-based data plans, Truphone also offers mobile plans for businesses and a mobile recording solution, which it showcased at FinovateEurope 2014Truphone Mobile Recording enables businesses and banks to record, encrypt, and store mobile communications securely and without disrupting the user experience.

The company has 350 employees across 10 countries. In July, Truphone formed a strategic partnership with Apple to allow iPad users to stay connected across 50 countries. Earlier this fall, the company earned its spot on the Inc. 5000 Europe list, which ranks private companies based on three-year revenue growth.

OurCrowd Opens Office in Spain, Lays Down Roots with Strategic Partnership

OurCrowd Opens Office in Spain, Lays Down Roots with Strategic Partnership

Equity crowdfunding platform OurCrowd has furthered its global expansion by opening an office in Spain this week. The company’s founder and CEO Jon Medved has identified Spain and the Iberian region as one of OurCrowd’s “priority markets,” considering Madrid is in the “heart of Europe” and a “gateway into South America.”

The Jerusalem-based company has established a new office in Madrid’s financial district. With this expansion, OurCrowd now has offices in six countries– Israel, the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Singapore; and has plans in place for an office expansion to a seventh– the U.K.

David Hatchwell, a leader of the Jewish community in Spain, will be the Chairman of OurCrowd Iberia— the company’s new Madrid office. “OurCrowd presents the Spanish market with a significant opportunity to taste what is happening in one of the most advanced markets in the world of tech: Israel, as well as offer other global startup investment opportunities,” Hatchwell said. “OurCrowd Spain will operate with strong local partners active in building significant companies, and as we consolidate, we will invest in Spanish tech companies seeking to bring additional leaders from the local ecosystem onto the OurCrowd platform.”

As a part of the recent expansion, OurCrowd has formed a strategic partnership with Cardumen Capital, a Spanish/Israel venture fund focused on “Deep Technologies.” The aim of the partnership is to offer Spanish investors “the opportunity to focus on investing in Israeli companies, building ties between Israeli and Spanish technologies.”

Cardumen’s cofounder and managing general partner, Gonzalo Martinez de Azagra said, “Together with OurCrowd, we are building a global community with an experienced team led by leading venture capitalists.” He added, “Our bilateral fund will invest in pure high tech companies, as we did at Samsung Ventures, and give access to institutional and corporate investors to these unique opportunities.”

OurCrowd’s Shai Ben-Tovim, Chief Product Officer, and Oshrat Kfir, VP of Engineering showcase at FinovateSpring 2016

Founded in 2013, the OurCrowd platform has more than 20,000 members from 112 countries. In aggregate, investors have funded more than $450 million into 120 portfolio companies and funds. At FinovateSpring 2016, the company’s Shai Ben-Tovim, Chief Product Officer, and Oshrat Kfir, VP of Engineering, debuted the OurCrowd mobile app. In June, the company partnered with National Bank of Australia (NAB) to provide NAB clients with direct access to OurCrowd startup investments. Last December, we named the company in our roundup of top direct-to-consumer wealth tech plays.

Luxoft Acquires UNAFORTIS to Broaden Client Base within Financial Services

Luxoft Acquires UNAFORTIS to Broaden Client Base within Financial Services

Software development services company Luxoft has bolstered its skillset recently. The Switzerland-based firm announced last week it acquired fellow Swiss company UNAFORTIS, a wealth management consultancy.

UNAFORTIS is a leading implementation provider of Avaloq, a popular software package that offers fully integrated banking software for the back, middle, and front office. This addition is expected to deepen Luxoft’s proficiency in standardized software as well as broaden the client base for the company’s financial services arm, DXC Luxoft. Luxoft aims to add clients within the wealth management, private, and universal banking sectors across the globe.

In fact, the company plans to build a team of 150 to 200 engineers to better combine its existing DXC Luxoft product, as well as recently-acquired derivIT, into its core capabilities offered across the globe. “We are looking forward to UNAFORTIS joining our growing Luxoft team. It is a strategically important acquisition, helping us diversify financial services business outside of our core investment banking and capital markets presence,” said Dmitry Loschinin, President and CEO of Luxoft. “Its client base complements our own, creating mid-term cross-selling opportunities that can be scaled significantly through our delivery network,” he said. “This will add another valuable premium services layer to our core application development and maintenance offering.”

Founded in 2000, Luxoft is a publicly-traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:LXFT). Last month, the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals recognized the company as a “world leading” IT service provider for the sixth year in a row and in August, Luxoft expanded its geographical presence by opening a distribution office in Russia and expanding its offices in Germany. At FinovateFall 2014, the company debuted Horizon, a visualization framework.

Blooom Surpasses $1 Billion in Assets Under Management

Blooom Surpasses $1 Billion in Assets Under Management

Wealth tech company Blooom announced this week that it has surpassed the $1 billion assets under management milestone.

The Kansas-based company manages employer-sponsored 401(k) and 403bs for “thousands of clients” across the U.S. This comes just 16 months after the company announced it surpassed the $300 million assets under management milestone.

In a blog post, Blooom’s CEO Chris Costello made a point to express the speed at which the company arrived at this milestone. “We also take pride that this Kansas-based company reached the milestone faster than both Betterment or Weathfront – while doing so on a fraction of the capital,” Costello said. He added that he uses these competitors’ achievements to benchmark the company’s own.

Chris Costello, along with the company’s CTO and co-founderRandy AufDerHeide, demoed Blooom at FinovateFall 2014. The company differentiates itself by sticking to its three principles: no more jargon; transparent and fair pricing; and stability and values. The company has raised a total of $13.2 million in funding and was recently featured as one of 10 Kansas City startups to watch in 2017.