Author: Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz)

Finovate Alumni News

By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: ayondo, CBW Bank, DAVO Technologies, Hedgeable, Moven, Segmint, Swipestox, TransferWise

On Finovate.com

  • “Check Out Who Took Home Top Honors at Last Night’s European Fintech Awards”
  • “TransferWise Available in Canada, eh?”

Around the web

  • Segmint launches new features for SegmintOne.
  • Ayondo planning $155 million ‘Reverse Takeover’ IPO on Singapore Exchange.
  • SwipeStox wins Best Pitch Award at Wolves Summit.
  • “DAVO Technologies Joins Intuit’s QuickBooks Partner Platform to Offer Unique Payments Solution for Sales Tax”
  • Canada’s TD Bank goes live with Moven-powered MySpend PFM app.
  • Celent names CBW Bank 2016 Model Bank.

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.

Share this:

Send Post Twitter LinkedIn Facebook

Where Are They Now? A Look at FinovateSpring 2015 Best of Show Winners

Where Are They Now? A Look at FinovateSpring 2015 Best of Show Winners
By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: Alpha Payments Cloud, Avoka, Money Amigo, Moven, NAMU Systems, Shoeboxed, Stratos

Finovatefloor

FinovateSpring is quickly approaching. This year’s show, May 10 & 11 in San Jose, California, will be our biggest show yet with 72 winning ideas pitched to more than 1,500 fintech execs. Pick up your ticket to save your seat. While we’re eager to see this year’s demos, we wanted to reflect on the successes of last year’s Best of Show winners (in alphabetic order):

Alpha Payments Cloud

HQ: Singapore
Founded: 2012
Total funding: $12 million

APCStage

May 2015 demo: Alpha Payments Cloud showed AlphaHub, its omnichannel solution-access platform that helps banks, merchants, MSPs, and ISOs gain access to any solution provider in the world. (Demo video)

Partnerships, presentations, and product offerings since August 2015:

Avoka

HQ: Broomfield, Colorado
Founded: 2002

AvokaStage

May 2015 demo: Avoka showed Transact for Financial Services, which combines social, cloud services, and crowdsourcing into the world’s fastest credit card application. (Demo video)

Partnerships, presentations, and product offerings since September 2015:

MoneyAmigo

HQ: Las Vegas, Nevada
Founded: 2015
Funding: $300,000

MoneyAmigoState

May 2015 demo: MoneyAmigo debuted its new platform that brings financial services to the underbanked and underserved, delivering traditional banking products in an innovative way. (Demo video)

Activities and media coverage since May 2015:

Moven

HQ: New York, New York
Founded: 2011
Funding: $24.4 million

MovenStage

May 2015 demo: Moven introduced its Financial Health Platform that provides real-time, contextualized notifications and interactions that create “gamified money moments.” (Demo video)

Media coverage and new product features since October 2015:

NAMU Systems

HQ: Mahwah, New Jersey
Founded: 2014
Funding: $200,000

NamuStage

May 2015 demo: Namu debuted its Joyful Banking which uses new and intelligent behavior modeling to focus on customer behavior and digital experiences to create a new standard in mobile banking. (Demo video)

Namu’s awards and press coverage in 2015:

Shoeboxed

HQ: Durham, North Carolina
Founded: 2007
Funding: $2 million

ShoeboxedStage

May 2015 demo: Shoeboxed launched Receipt Capture for Banks solution which boosts the functionality of online and mobile banking apps while providing fraud protection. (Demo video)

Shoeboxed recently received media buzz for its product update and corporate move last year:

Stratos

HQ: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Founded: 2012
Funding: $6.63 million

StratosStage

May 2015 demo: Stratos debuted its dynamic Stratos Bluetooth Connected Card and Digital Card Issuance Platform that analyzes card usage trends and interactively engages card members. (Demo video)

Awards and activities:

Share this:

Send Post Twitter LinkedIn Facebook

PayPal Marks U.K. Rollout of PayPal Credit with Interest-Free Financing

PayPal Marks U.K. Rollout of PayPal Credit with Interest-Free Financing
By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: PayPal

PayPalHomepage4.16

Starting this week, PayPal users in the United Kingdom can now spread out the cost of larger purchases when using PayPal at an online retailer or paying with their PayPal digital wallet.

Eligible customers may now enjoy interest-free financing on purchases over £150 ($212) for four months, thanks to the launch of PayPal Credit. After that the rate is 17.9%.

PayPal has partnered with a handful of online retailers to integrate a range of financing deals within their checkout experience:

  • Blacks
  • Chain Reaction Cycles
  • Dyson
  • Millets
  • Samsung
  • Simply Games
  • Ultimate Outdoors

Interest rates start at 0% with terms of up to 24 months.

U.S. customers have used this feature since PayPal acquired Bill Me Later in 2008. In 2014, the San Jose-based company rebranded the service to PayPal Credit and began offering U.S. consumers interest-free financing on purchases over $99.

PayPal was founded in 1998 and works in 203 countries and markets. Its 179 million active accounts allow customers to get paid in more than 100 currencies, withdraw funds to their bank account in 57 currencies and hold a balance in their PayPal account in 26 currencies. Last year, 28% of the 4.9 billion payments the company processed were made on a mobile device.

PayPal’s Braintree Developer Evangelist, Justin Woo, presented at FinDEVr New York 2016 last month:

https://finovate.wistia.com/medias/q3ch6fgcm1

PayPal’s last Finovate demo was at FinovateEurope 2012 where it debuted Instant Account Creation.

Share this:

Send Post Twitter LinkedIn Facebook

Ixaris Receives $6 Million in Funding After Spinning Off from Parent Company

Ixaris Receives $6 Million in Funding After Spinning Off from Parent Company
By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: Funding, Ixaris

IxarisHomepage

Payments-solutions provider Ixaris has spun off Ixaris Technologies, a dedicated B2B tech-focused arm that will support its Open Payment Ecosystem Platform, an offering that launched last June.

With the launch of Ixaris Technologies as a distinct company, the London-based company’s shareholders have contributed $6 million in launch funding to accelerate growth. Combined with its previous $10 million in equity funding, Ixaris’ total funding is $16.

CEO Alex Mifsud highlights the fiscal reasoning behind the spinoff: “Our B2B payment offering now accounts for 25% of Ixaris Group revenues, which exceeded $16 million in 2015.” He continues by explaining the market reason behind the separation: “The payments industry is shifting focus towards APIs and technology solutions to help drive open banking, further reinforcing that the time is right to launch a company dedicated to open payments.”

Ixaris’ sister-company EntroPay will focus on its self-service consumer and SMB virtual card business.

At FinovateEurope 2015, Ixaris launched a UI editor for its Open Payments Platform.

Share this:

Send Post Twitter LinkedIn Facebook

FinDEVr APIntelligence

By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: BehavioSec, CardFlight, Cloud Lending, Envestnet, FinDEVr APIntelligence, Google, Google Cloud Platform, On Deck Capital, OutsideIQ, PayNearMe, Praesidio, Stratumn, Streamdata.io, Thinking Capital, VIX Verify, Yodlee

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

  • “Envestnet | Yodlee Unveils its Risk Insight API”
  • “Google’s Guide: New Book Explains How Google Manages its Cloud Infrastructure”

The latest from FinDEVr New York 2015 presenters

  • OutsideIQ joins fintech accelerator, Bank Innovation INV, as an API partner. See OutsideIQ at FinovateSpring in San Jose next month.
  • Vix Verify opens new offices in Atlanta, Georgia’s Transaction Alley as part of American expansion.
  • Chase launches OnDeck-powered SMB loan platform.
  • Praesidio ranks top 10 most-promising cloud-banking-solution providers of 2015.
  • API report covers Streamdata.io.
  • CryptoCoinNews takes a look at the recent funding for blockchain-development platform, Stratumn.

Alumni updates

  • “CardFlight and Miura Systems Partner to Offer EMV and NFC Mobile POS Solution to the U.S Market”
  • PayNearMe facilitates users to pay for their taxes in cash.
  • “BehavioSec, Nationwide, Unisys Team Up on Biometrics”
  • Crowdfund Insider interviews Snehal Fulzele, Cloud Lending CEO.

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

Share this:

Send Post Twitter LinkedIn Facebook

Malauzai to Offer Geezeo-Powered PFM Tools

Malauzai to Offer Geezeo-Powered PFM Tools
By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: Geezeo, Malauzai

MalauzaiHomepage

Finovate alums Malauzai Software and Geezeo have teamed up this week to bring Geezeo’s PFM tools to community financial institutions using Malauzai’s SmartApps technology solutions. Six Malauzai clients, including Indiana-based Fort Financial Credit Union, have signed contracts to deploy Malauzai’s solution with the new PFM offering.

The partnership enables financial institutions using Malauzai’s online banking platform to offer consumers and small businesses a view of their assets, bills, overall cash flow, goals and budgets. With such a comprehensive view into their customers’ financial lives, banks have an opportunity to cross-sell relevant products and services.

GeezeoPFMCentral to the partnership is a passion to serve community financial institutions. Shawn Ward, CEO and co-founder of Geezeo, says, “We are really excited about this partnership with Malauzai because we share a commitment to provide innovative financial tools to credit unions and community banks.”

The integration will work on both web:

cportweb

… and mobile:

cPort PFM4

Prior to today’s partnership, Malauzai’s apps were focused on the transactional aspect of money management. According to Rob Gaynor, chief product officer for the Austin-based company, the addition of financial management tools boosts the value of the two apps. He says the apps “allow banks and credit unions to better cement their roles as trusted financial partners to those they serve.”

Malauzai, which launched in 2009, recently revamped its banking software. At FinovateSpring 2015, Malauzai launched its Virtual Banking Experience.

Geezeo was the first-ever company to demo at a Finovate conference (check out their retro video from 2007). The company last demoed at FinovateFall 2014 where it debuted TruBusiness business financial management software. Geezeo’s other recent partnerships include NYMBUS and Backbase.

Share this:

Send Post Twitter LinkedIn Facebook

Aire Receives Funding from Accion Venture Lab

By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: Aire, Funding

AireHomepage2016

Aire, a startup that democratizes access to credit, received funding from Accion Venture Lab, a $10 million nonprofit initiative dedicated to building a financially inclusive world. The amount of the investment was undisclosed; the company stated it prefers to focus on the strategic partnership with Accion.

Aire boasts previous funding from Barclay’s Accelerator, Techstars, and SparkLabs Global Ventures. The London-based company gathers meaningful data about potentially credit-worthy clients via an online interview and other reliable sources. It uses artificial intelligence to process the data and qualify users for credit. The company also helps lenders by expanding the pool of qualified applicants.

Co-founder and CEO Aneesh Varma, who we interviewed earlier this year, launched the company in 2014 after he personally experienced the difficulty of accessing credit, despite being a credit-worthy individual. In a press release, Varma commented on the funding:

Accion Venture Lab has been very supportive of our research and product since our early years. I am really glad to have them come onboard now as we start our international expansion.

Aire, which launched its API at FinovateEurope 2014 in London, plans to use the funding to fuel international expansion.

Share this:

Send Post Twitter LinkedIn Facebook

Credit Sesame Launches SnapLoan, The Amazon One-Click for Consumer Loans

Credit Sesame Launches SnapLoan, The Amazon One-Click for Consumer Loans
By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: Credit Sesame

CreditSesameHomepage

Credit and loan management tool site Credit Sesame has introduced SnapLoan, a platform that helps qualified consumers quickly obtain a loan. The California-based company is comparing the new offering to Amazon’s One-Click purchase option.

SnapLoan ties into qualified users’ credit and financial profiles in real time to streamline the loan application process for potential borrowers. Founder and CEO Adrian Nazari says, “We are making it easy for our users to get the most relevant and accurate loan offers and approvals from marketplace lenders in a snap, with the click of a few buttons.”

CreditSesameSnapLoanapp

Credit Sesame is piloting SnapLoan via a partnership with BorrowersFirst, an online lender powered by Cross River Bank that offers personal loans ranging from $2,500 to $35,000. The product launches in beta today, and there is no word yet when it will be available to Credit Sesame’s 8 million users.

Founded in 2010, Credit Sesame debuted its newest PFM features at FinovateSpring 2015.

Share this:

Send Post Twitter LinkedIn Facebook

LendingRobot’s Mobile App is “Mint” for P2P Lending Accounts

LendingRobot’s Mobile App is “Mint” for P2P Lending Accounts
By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: LendingRobot

LendingRobotHomepage2016

It’s surprising that neither Lending Club nor Prosper have their own official apps* for tracking portfolios. But it’s even more mind-boggling that a third-party hasn’t seized the opportunity to aggregate P2P lending accounts, similar to what Mint did 10 years ago for bank accounts.

LendingRobot, a platform that uses an algorithm to optimize P2P lending investments in Lending Club, Prosper, and Funding Circle, has launched a mobile app to fill the need for the $6.6 billion industry. The free app is available on iOS and Android and while it does not require users to open a LendingRobot account, it does require registration.

Lending Robot’s app will:

  • Track portfolio health across three platforms
  • Monitor loan repayments
  • Compare loans across platforms
  • Track overall performance

LRAppImages

Emmanuel Marot, founder and CEO of the Seattle-based company, explains the move:

The fact that more than 20% of LendingRobot’s traffic is via mobile is, in itself, a great reason to have a mobile app. But the fact that not a single one of the major peer-lending platforms offers a mobile app leaves a lot of room for LendingRobot not only to meet the needs of our customers, but also become a daily part of any investors’ monitoring of their own investments.

LRDEmoLendingRobot debuted its platform, described as a “robo-adviser for P2P lending,” at FinovateSpring 2014. Its algorithm invests clients’s money across different loans, constantly adjusts the portfolio based on loans available, and automatically reinvests dividends. The company will manage up to $5,000 for free and any amount beyond that for 0.45% per year.

Founded in 2012, LendingRobot has 7 employees. It has raised $3 million from Runa Capital and angel investors.

LendingRobot is one of 71 companies to debut their newest technology on stage at FinovateSpring on May 10 & 11. Pick up your ticket to save your seat.

*Both Lending Club and Prosper have mobile-optimized sites, so mobile-account management isn’t completely overlooked. Also, Prosper launched its official mobile app in March, but it is a re-brand of the recently acquired BillGuard app and does not track P2P investment performance.

Share this:

Send Post Twitter LinkedIn Facebook

FinovateSpring Sneak Peek: OurCrowd

FinovateSpring Sneak Peek: OurCrowd
By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: FinovateSpring 2016 Sneak Peek, OurCrowd

OurCrowdHomepage

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

OurCrowd breaks barriers to startup investing by providing global, VC-level dealflow, due diligence and terms to accredited investors around the world.

Features:

  • Review investment opportunities in private deal rooms
  • Invite trusted contacts into investment discussion and review
  • Discover insight and expertise from the wider community

Why it’s great
The OurCrowd app introduces an interactive investment discovery and review process to help investors make better choices and more informed decisions.

OurCrowdPresenter

Presenter: Shai Ben Tovim, Chief Product Officer

Shai leads the OurCrowd team in developing the strategy, platform and user experience that generate value and support scale in startup crowd-investing.
LinkedIn

Check out the rest of today’s Sneak Peeks:

Share this:

Send Post Twitter LinkedIn Facebook

Live Trading Launches on SwipeStox for iOS & Android

Live Trading Launches on SwipeStox for iOS & Android
By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: Swipestox

SwipeStoxHomepage

After a six-month trial period, Germany-based startup SwipeStox has launched live trading for indices, commodities, forex and CFDs. London-based One Financial Markets (OFM) will pilot as the startup’s live trading partner.

SwipeStox, which is partnered with the seven largest brokerages in the United Kingdom, allows users to synchronize their existing accounts or open a new account directly within the app, which is available on iOS and Android. The Tinder-like user-interface allows users to swipe through live trades executed by professional traders. Users can either use the trading information to make their own decisions or simply copy the trade.

In a press release Benjamin Bilski, SwipeStox founder and CEO, noted the significance that SwipeStox isn’t a closed trading system. Rather, the company’s API enables any broker or bank to connect to the platform. Bilski says, “After one-and-a-half years, two million lines of code and with a team of thirty, we have reached our first milestone: live trading.”

SwipeStoxDemo

SwipeStox, a Best of Show award winner at FinovateEurope 2016, will announce further partnerships with banks and brokerages in the coming weeks. The company also hinted at pending features, such as an interactive news feed that lets users make real-time trades directly from news articles.

SwipeStox will demo its newest release at FinovateSpring in San Jose on May 10 & 11. Pick up your ticket today to save your seat.

Share this:

Send Post Twitter LinkedIn Facebook

FinovateSpring Sneak Peek: SwipeStox

FinovateSpring Sneak Peek: SwipeStox
By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: FinovateSpring 2016 Sneak Peek, Swipestox

SwipeStoxHomepage

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

SwipeStox offers single-trade-based copying and signal creation with one swipe. SwipeStox is the simplest social trading app worldwide with in-built risk management. It is fun and exciting.

Features:

  • Account syncing and account opening in seconds
  • Facebook-like activity-feed allows you to follow every update about trading and traders
  • Personal news feed according to your individual requirements

Why it’s great
SwipeStox is the fastest-growing social trading community worldwide which allows the users to consume news and video SwipeStoxPresenter1content, to get firsthand experience in trading, and to trade the financial markets.

Presenters

Benjamin Bilski, CEO and Founder
Ben is a serial entrepreneur, having founded e-commerce and mobile startups. He holds an M.S. from the European Business School and was a former German Champion in swimming.
LinkedInSwipeStoxPresenter2

Wladimir Huber, Managing Director and Co-founder
Wladimir has worked several years as a professional trader in an international investment bank and founded an e-commerce startup. He holds an M.A. in finance form Leuphana University.
LinkedIn

Check out the rest of today’s Sneak Peeks:

Share this:

Send Post Twitter LinkedIn Facebook