Kony Appoints Former IBM CTO as its New CTO

Kony Appoints Former IBM CTO as its New CTO

KonyHomepage

Mobile app specialist Kony announced yesterday it has brought on Bill Bodin as CTO.

Prior to his new appointment, Bodin worked for nine years as CTO for IBM’s Mobile Computing CIO group. Throughout his 27-year career at IBM, Bodin served as a programmer, a senior technical staff member, and was recognized as a Distinguished Engineer and Master Inventor at the company.

Bodin holds many patents and is the creator of multiple technical developments at IBM:

  • Creator and thought leader for IBM Catalyst, a mobile development accelerator framework
  • Led in the developemnt of WhirlWind, IBM’s first Enterprise Mobile App Store
  • Led in the creation of n.Fluent, IBM’s text-translation service
  • Led as chief architecht for Media Library

In a press release, Dave Shirk, Kony’s president of products, strategy and marketing, describes Bodin as “an extremely well-respected technology visionary leader with an incredible reputation and depth of knowledge and expertise in the enterprise mobility space.”

Kony’s solutions enables banks to design and develop and visualize device-agnostic applications deployed across multiple channels. Earlier this month, the Florida-based company partnered with Cognizant, which will integrate Kony’s mobile app design capabilities into its offerings. In July of 2015, Kony released the newest version of MobileFabric 6.5 which enables developers to use any open framework to build applications.

At FinovateFall 2011, Kony debuted its commercial banking suite.

Finovate Alumni News

On Finovate.com

  • “Kony Appoints Former IBM CTO as its New CTO”
  • “Boku to Power Carrier Billing for Spotify in Germany and Italy”

Around the web

  • IBM announces a new set of blockchain services running on IBM Cloud and Docker.
  • PYMNTS interviews Hyperwallet CEO Brent Warrington.
  • Forbes features how Student Loan Genius is revolutionizing the student loan industry.

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.

Infosys Launches EdgeVerve Blockchain Framework

Infosys Launches EdgeVerve Blockchain Framework

InfosysEdgeverve

This week, technology and consulting giant Infosys announced its subsidiary EdgeVerve Systems launched a blockchain offering for banks called the EdgeVerve Blockchain Framework.

The new framework is a distributed, permissioned ledger that empowers banks to offer a variety of blockchain-based applications, including:

  • Asset transfer
  • Analytics
  • Administrative
  • Security
  • Smart contracts

The company’s promotional video describes its plans for the new solution:

https://youtu.be/FIlVnXA11Zg

The Blockchain Framework has three main attributes:

  1. Distributed and permissioned: minimizes transaction costs and improves data sharing in a secure environment
  2. Asset agnostic: allows businesses to store and transfer a variety of assets on a single network
  3. Extensible: an API layer lets banks develop and deploy their own blockchain solutions

Infosys was founded in 1981 and serves 450 million customers in 84 countries. At FinovateEurope 2016, the Bangalore-based company debuted Finacle Youth Banking. At FinDEVr New York earlier this year the company’s subsidiary, EdgeVerve, presented how REST APIs are changing core banking.

BlueVine Receives Boost from Citigroup

BlueVine Receives Boost from Citigroup

bluevinehomepage

Alternative lending company BlueVine this week received an undisclosed amount of funding from Citi Ventures, Citibank’s investing arm. The funding adds to BlueVine’s $40 million round, led by Menlo Ventures, that closed a few months back.

While the full terms of the deal have not been disclosed, the two are working on a strategic relationship. Citibank is already working with P2P lender Lending Club to offer credit to underserved communities, and it’s likely the megabank is hoping to tap into BlueVine’s expertise in factoring, which accounts for about 85% of its business.

In a statement, managing director at Citi Ventures, Arvind Purushotham, states:

“We found BlueVine doing factoring in a much more modern fashion. They’re able to approve invoices to be factored very quickly, and because they’re online and plugged into account systems that small- and medium-sized business use, they’re able to pull data from a variety of sources.”

This strategic partnership follows a recent trend of financial institutions experimenting with alternative lending partnerships. Citibank’s 2015 partnership with Lending Club has so far been successful, but earlier this month the bank shuttered an agreement with Prosper in which Citibank was to sell $377 million in bonds backed by Prosper loans. Also this month, JP Morgan Chase launched a partnership with On Deck to offer online loans to small business clients.

BlueVineFF14StageBluevine’s VP Operations Edward Castaño and CEO Eyal Lifshitz demonstrated on stage at FinovateFall 2014.

Founded in 2013, BlueVine issues working capital to small businesses who sell their unpaid invoices at a discount, then receive $5,000 to $250,000 in a matter of days to help manage operations. Unlike BlueVine’s traditional line of credit offering, the term of the financing is short, usually 60 to 90 days. The Palo Alto-based company’s CEO Eyal Lifshitz debuted BlueVine at FinovateFall 2014.

Finovate Alumni News

On Finovate.com

  • “BlueVine Receives Boost from Citigroup”
  • “Infosys Launches EdgeVerve Blockchain Framework”

Around the web

  • “Cartera Commerce-powered Splender Doubles Membership Since End of 2015 and Drives $15 Million in Sales”
  • Linqto to pilot LEVERAGE App Store with nine credit unions.
  • Fiserv integrates commercial lending capabilities of AFSVision into its core account processing platform.
  • BBVA announces having 15.5 million digital clients, including more than 9 million mobile clients.
  • U.K. e-commerce provider EKM to team up with Klarna.
  • ACI Worldwide to run the card processing operations for The Co-operative Group.
  • Insuritas chosen by First Atlantic FCU to install insurance agency solution.
  • Employee Benefits News recognizes Blooom CPO Randy AufDerHeide as a Top 50 Benefit Technology Innovator.
  • Xero for Payroll goes live in Pennsylvania, making the technology available in a total of 22 states.

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.

Marketplace Lending Power 20 List Honors 8 Alums

Marketplace Lending Power 20 List Honors 8 Alums

Power20This week, small business lender Mayava Capital honored the most influential people in small business lending in its Marketplace Lending Power 20 awards.

Representatives from eight Finovate alums were ranked among the group who are, as Mayava puts it, “redefining lending, resurrecting small businesses across the country, and consequently rebuilding the American economy, one loan at a time.” For more information about the awards, check out What Powers the Power 20.

The recipients in order of rank:

Lending Club CEO and Founder Renaud Laplanche
Rank: #1

Lending Club’s FinovateSpring 2009 demo

Prosper CEO Aaron Vermut
Rank: #5

Prosper’s FinovateSpring 2009 demo

OnDeck Capital CEO Noah Breslow
Rank: #8

OnDeck’s FinovateSpring 2012 demo

OnDeck’s FinDEVr New York 2016 presentation

Kabbage COO and Co-founder Kathryn Petralia
Rank: #9

  • Has grown to 80 employees since launching in 2009
  • Has gained 100,000+ customers
  • Has furnished almost $1 billion in loans

Kabbage’s FinovateSpring 2015 demo

Kabbage’s FinDEVr San Francisco 2015 presentation

Credit Karma CEO and Founder Kenneth Lin
Rank: #10

  • Ranked a top-free finance app in iTunes
  • Serves 50+ million users
  • Founded in 2007

Credit Karma’s FinovateSpring 2009 demo

LiftForward President and CEO Jeffrey Rogers
Rank: #17

  • Has secured credit facilities of up to $250 million
  • More than 70% of the company’s SMB borrowers return for a second loan

LiftForward’s FinovateFall 2015 demo

Patch of Land former CEO* and Co-founder Jason Fritton
Rank: #18

  • Formed the idea of the company in 2011 to help Chicago recover from the real estate crash
  • Since launching in 2013, has funded 217 loans totaling $97 million
  • Has returned $25 million to investors

Patch of Land’s FinovateFall 2014 demo

Lendio CEO and Founder Brock Blake
Rank: #20

  • Has helped more than 500,000 small business owners secure loans since launching in 2005
  • Holds a database of more than 3,500 active U.S. lenders
  • Recognized as one of Utah’s fastest growing companies in 2011

Lendio’s FinovateSpring 2011 demo


*Just this week Patch of Land appointed Paul Deitch, former managing director of Oaktree Capital Management, to take Fritton’s place as Patch of Land CEO.

FinDEVr APIntelligence

FinDEVrSV16-LogoV2(wdate)Our FinDEVr New York developer showcase last week was a success! FinDEVr Silicon Valley will be held October 18 & 19 in Santa Clara. Register today and save.

On FinDEVr.com

  • Beyond the Bitcoin BlockChain: Coinalytics is Now Skry”

The latest from FinDEVr New York 2016 presenters

  • Capgemini consulting services adds risk and fraud management technology from FICO.
  • Aerospike releases version 3.8 of its database server.
  • Wealth Professional features Betterment in a column on roboadvisors.

Alumni updates

  • Blockchain solution provider Gem launches Gem Health.
  • CNBC Africa interviews Entersekt CEO Schalk Nolte.

Stay current on daily news from the fintech developer community! Follow FinDEVr on Twitter.

Finovate Alumni News

On Finovate.com

  • Check out this week’s FinDEVr APIntelligence.
  • “Finovate, FinDEVr Alums Among Winners of 2016 Fintech Innovation Awards”
  • “Marketplace Lending “Power 20” List Honors 8 Alums”

Around the web

  • FamZoo celebrates its tenth birthday of helping parents prepare financially strong children.
  • EyeVerify’s EyeprintID to power HYPR’s Biometric Security Suite.
  • Socure launches v. 2.5 of its ID+ Digital Identity solution.
  • Blockchain solution provider Gem launches Gem Health.
  • EdgeVerve Systems launches its EdgeVerve Blockchain Framework for banks.
  • Sberbank to deploy risk management technology from Wolters Kluwer.
  • FD teams up with Thomson Reuters to power its DaaS platform, Velocity Analytics.

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.

FinovateSpring Sneak Peek: Finova Financial

FinovateSpring Sneak Peek: Finova Financial

FinovaFinancialHomepage

FS2016-wdateA look at the companies demoing live to 1,500+ fintech professionals on May 10 & 11. Register today.

Finova Financial, a socially responsible lender, provides fast, affordable loans based on the equity in your car to the 70 million financially underserved Americans.

Features:

  • Costs 70% less than the current national average
  • Instant access to capital and a 12-month pathway back to financial health
  • Online/mobile 24×7

Why it’s great
Finova provides a same-day solution for emergency expenses to the millions of Americans who spend $5.3 billion annually on title loans at a cost 70% less than the current national average.FinovaPresenter1

Presenter: Gregory Keough, CEO
Keough is an executive with global experience. He is a serial entrepreneur with an impressive track record of innovation in the technology and financial services arena.
LinkedIn

FinovateSpring Sneak Peek: SaleMove

FinovateSpring Sneak Peek: SaleMove

SaleMoveHomepage

FS2016-wdateA look at the companies demoing live to 1,500+ fintech professionals on May 10 & 11. Register today.

SaleMove enables organizations to engage online visitors the same way they would in person, using video, audio, chat, and co-browsing without any downloads or installations.

Features:

  • Increase conversions
  • Enhance customer experience
  • Improve contact center efficiency

Why it’s great
Businesses that use SaleMove are able to provide online customers with the same high-touch interactions that are possible face-to-face.

salemovepresenter

Presenter: Daniel Michaeli, Co-Founder and CEO
Michaeli is a Univeristy of Pennsylvania graduate, originally from Guatemala. His career has focused on Venture Capital, Tech/Strategy Consulting and Start-Ups.
LinkedIn

FinovateSpring Sneak Peek: Linqto

FinovateSpring Sneak Peek: Linqto

LinqtoHomepage2016

FS2016-wdateA look at the companies demoing live to 1,500+ fintech professionals on May 10 & 11. Register today.

Linqto is the link between fintech developers and financial institutions. The App Store for Banks automates the process of mobile app branding and delivery. Choose your fintech from an online store.

Features:

  • Connect with and attract millennials
  • No long term contracts
  • Monetize without charging the consumer

Why it’s great
The App Store creates a revolutionary new marketplace where banks and credit unions can brand new software and use it with their customers. Automatically. In an online store. In minutes, not months.LinqtoPresenter1

Presenters

Bill Sarris, CEO of Linqto
Sarris is a recognized expert in the field of collaborative technology and has delivered major enterprise software applications for Microsoft, Intuit, Digital Insight, NCR, Stanford and other clients.
LinkedInLinqtoPresenter2

Kim Fraser, SVP Business Development at Wallaby
Fraser has extensive experience in business development, partnership and GTM strategic experience, driving recurring revenue growth, consumer acquisition and end-user engagement.
LinkedIn

LinqtoPresenter3Matt Kirchharr, Innovation Development Coordinator at LEVERAGE
Kirchharr is experienced in innovation development, vendor due-diligence of prospective partners, implementation planning, and is a subject-matter expert for all new product lines.
LinkedIn

FinovateSpring Sneak Peek: Sberbank

FinovateSpring Sneak Peek: Sberbank

SberbankHomepageFS2016-wdateA look at the companies demoing live to 1,500+ fintech professionals on May 10 & 11. Register today.

Sberbank, one of Europe’s largest banks, created an omni-purpose communication platform for people and companies.

Features:

  • A smart search tool that finds relevant people and businesses based on data
  • Chats with payments and transfers
  • New way to find and serve clients

Why it’s great
At the heart of the product is the smart-search engine that suggests contacts of people and businesses based on the user’s data that includes habits, preferences and perceived needs.SberbankPresenter1

Presenters

Vladimir Stasevich is the executive director of Sberbank’s Bank XXI department.
LinkedIn

Katerina Frolovicheva is managing director of technology innovations for Sberbank.SberbankPresenter2
LinkedIn