Alumni News– January 27, 2015

  • Finovate-F-Logo.jpgHarland Clarke to use CUneXus’ cplXpress to enable automated, pre-approved lending to its customers.
  • With grant from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Social Money to pilot CorePro in India to help underbanked.
  • Spreedly crossed the $50 million credit card transactions per month milestone in December.
  • TechCrunch: Prosper purchases American Healthcare Lending for $21 million.
  • Cachet Financial’s Mobile Money Platform integrates with ApplePay.
  • Check out FinovateEurope 2015 Sneak Peek: Part 5. We’ll see you there in two weeks.
  • Hara Partners lists PayStand as one of five ecommerce solutions for SMBs.
  • Tradeshift partners with Recruit Holdings, Japan’s largest staffing company, to solidify presence in Japan.
  • Navy FCU’s Visa Buxx App, powered by Cachet Financial Solutions, named winner in Paybefore Awards.
  • Authentify’s xFA available on Samsung’s Solutions Exchange, enabling two/multi-factor authentication on Samsung devices.
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.

Themes and Presenters at FinovateEurope 2015

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With January coming to a close this week, European fintech followers have something to look forward to: an onslaught of new financial technology solutions at FinovateEurope.

The event will take place at Old Billingsgate Market Hall in London on February 10 & 11. Get your ticket to be a part of the action.

The themes we’ll see on stage at FinovateEurope next month align with the trends predicted by analysts for this year. Significant topics include mobile, lending, small business tools, and advisor solutions. Additionally, payments and personal finance maintain footholds and there’s a resurgence of interest in rewards and digital currencies.

Click to enlarge:

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FinovateEurope allows you to meet the companies behind each theme during numerous networking sessions. Here is the full list of companies that will take the stage:

For more information on these companies, check out our company info page or view our Sneak Peek series below.

We anticipate a full crowd so be sure to guarantee your seat at the show. Once you get a ticket, we’ll see you in London!

Questions? Check out our FAQ page to get some answers.


FinovateEurope 2015 is sponsored by: The BancorpBe GroupFinancial Technology PartnersKPMG LLP and Life.SREDA.

FinovateEurope 2015 is partners with: Bank Innovators Council, BankersHub, bobsguide, Breaking Banks, Canadian Trade Commissioner Service, Celent, Datamonitor Financial, The Financial Services Club, Future Finance, Harrington Starr, Hotwire, Mapa Research, Mercator Advisory Group, and The Trading Mesh (formerly HFT Review).

Kreditech Secures $200 Million Line of Credit

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Germany-based Kreditech said, “hallo” to a $200 million line of credit yesterday. Victory Park Capital supplied the debt.

The company has served 2 million customers in 9 countries since launching in 2012. It will use this debt to “address the growing demand for loans of longer durations at fair prices.”

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Kreditech CFO, Rene Griemens says, “Setting the stage for our upcoming Series C financing round, the credit facility will reaccelerate our growth well beyond the 500 percent per year mark.” According to TechCrunch, the impending Series C round will bring Kreditech to a $750 million pre-money valuation before its anticipated IPO in two to three years.

Kreditech uses its big data credit-scoring technology to better serve the world’s un and underbanked population, which accounts for four billion people. Earlier this month it acquired Kontomierz for its KYC technology and ability to get unique data in real-time.

Check out its live demo from FinovateSpring 2014.

BlueVine Grabs $18.5 Million to Increase Small-Business Lending

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Being a small business short on funds is never a good thing. However, with more startups tackling short-term funding headaches for small businesses, there are now more options available.

For example, BlueVine Capital raised $18.5 million in a series B round today, bringing its total funding to $24 million. The announcement comes a day after its competitor, Taulia, pulled in $15 million.

The funding was co-led by 83North (formerly Greylock Partners) and Lightspeed Ventures. Silicon Valley Bank, Correlation Ventures and private investors also contributed.

The Palo Alto-based company will use the funding to expand into new verticals and add software integration. It also plans to double its employee base this year.

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In March of 2014, BlueVine beta-launched its cloud-based platform that helps small businesses smooth out their cash flow by freeing up funds stuck in unpaid invoices. Businesses can receive credit lines from $5,000 to $50,000.

Since launch, BlueVine has processed thousands of invoices and provided several million dollars to small businesses in the U.S.

Check out BlueVine’s debut at FinovateFall 2014 in New York.

Taulia’s Fresh $15 Million to Fuel International Growth

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Invoice management company, Taulia, raised $40 million over the last six months, and brought in even more cash yesterday. The new, $15 million installment, which has been added to its previously-closed Series D round, comes from Zouk Capital.

Since launching in 2009, the San Francisco-based company acquired BillFLO in 2011 and has raised a total of $91 million. It operates primarily in North America and Europe and the new funds will be used to fuel international expansion.

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The growing funding mirrors the company’s rising success. Over the past year, Taulia has doubled the number of employees to 200. Additionally, its network of suppliers has grown by 186%.

At the start of 2015, Tauila brought Rik Thorbecke on board as CFO. In the remainder of the year, the company plans to bolster R&D efforts and expand its enhanced financing options for buyers.

Taulia demonstrated its Early Invoicing Platform at FinovateSpring 2012.

LendingRobot Pulls in $3 Million to Boost Your Lending Club and Prosper Portfolios

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Yesterday, LendingRobot received $3 million in funding for its platform that helps individuals invest like pros on P2P lending sites, Prosper and Lending Club. Europe-based Runa Capital led the Series A round.

The new funding, plus the undisclosed amount received in a Seed round last April, brings LendingRobot’s total raised to somewhere north of $3 million.

The Washington state-based company plans to use the funds to add new features, enhance its prediction models, and accelerate growth.

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LendingRobot uses an algorithm to invest users’ available balance in their Prosper and Lending Club accounts to get them the best return.

How is this different from Prosper’s QuickInvest or Lending Club’s Automated Investing?

Think of it as Bid Sniper software for eBay-meets P2P Lending. Popular loans are funded seconds after they are posted on Prosper or Lending Club, usually by institutional investors or hedge funds with automated loan investing technology. By the time the average individual makes their investments, often times the best loans have already been snatched up.

Additionally, it offers its 1,000+ users more than 40 filtering criteria to insure their cash is being invested how they want.

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LendingRobot has no up-front fees, and manages users’ first $10,000 for free, after which it takes 0.45% per year.

LendingRobot was recently named a finalist in SWIFT Innotribe’s Startup Challenge.

We featured LendingRobot in our Behind the Scenes feature in May of 2014. Check out LendingRobot’s live debut at FinovateSpring 2014.

FinovateEurope 2015 Sneak Peek: Part 3

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We’ll be in London three weeks from today, where drinks will be served, networking will be in full force, and we’ll be wrapping up the first day of FinovateEurope 2015 (get your ticket here).

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To help you prepare for the onslaught of 70+ live demos full of new technology, some of the presenters provided us a summary of what to expect from them on stage. This week, we’re featuring CoinJarEVRYFOBISSStrandsTrunomi, and VATBox:

Don’t miss previous posts:


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CoinJar is a digital finance platform that gives customers a way to manage and spend both traditional and digital currencies when and how they want.

Features

    • Store bitcoin without volatility 
    • End-to-end solutions to make bitcoin adoption easy 
    • Buy bitcoin reliably with a simple interface

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CoinJar provides end-to-end solutions to unlock Bitcoin’s potential.

Presenters

Asher Tan, CEO and Co-Founder
Economic Analyst. Researcher. Bitcoiner.
LinkedIn

Ryan Zhou, COO and Co-Founder
Rubyist. Student at University of Melbourne. Bitcoiner.
LinkedIn


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EVRY is the Nordics’ leading financial service provider and is presenting Spendific, a concept designed to make personal finance simple.

Features

    • Automatically generates personalized budget based on previous spending
    • Gives users feedback on their finances in real-time
    • Motivates users to reach their goals

Why it’s great
In Spendific there are no complicated graphs or charts to tell you whether you’re on track with your finances. Just one number. No worries.

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Presenters

Anne Moa, Product developer
Moa has previously worked as a youth economist in a large Norwegian bank, with responsibility for the bank’s main channel of communication towards young people.
LinkedIn

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Magne Meldal, Business developer
Combining two decades of technology and marketing experience with an open mind, Meldal is passionate about bringing better financial services to consumers.
LinkedIn


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FOBISS is a first modern tool enabling retail banks to manage their entire cash supply chains with one button click.

Features

    • Automates optimization and decision-making
    • Based on Artificial Intelligence technologies
    • Can be flexibly adapted to existing processes

Why it’s great
The industry’s first and only cash management system empowered by Artificial Intelligence and driving best decisions on time.

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Presenters

Mindaugas Leonavicius, Managing Director
Leonavicius has more than 10 years of experience in management consulting. Led multiple businesses through start-up phases from establishment to breakeven.
LinkedIn

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Andrius Ojeras, Global Sales Director
Ojeras is an IT Sales professional with more than 10 years of experience within multinational IT organizations.
LinkedIn


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Strands designs and creates next-generation digital banking experiences to help individuals and SMEs manage their finances.

Features

    • Help SMEs analyze and forecast future financial needs
    • Empower SMEs to deliver targeted marketing campaigns on mobile devices
    • Help banks address the digital banking needs of business owners

Why it’s great
With Strands Loop, financial institutions can create a more seamless and personal banking experience and build better relationships with their SME clients

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Presenters

Dario Lombardi, General Manager, Strands Finance
Lombardi leads the Finance BU. He joined Strands in 2011 as Business Development Director and has been responsible for managing sales in EMEA. Prior to Strands, he worked for Bloomberg LP
LinkedIn

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Cesar Jimenez Richardson, Director, Business Development
Richardson joined Strands in 2014 and is managing Strands Finance in the Americas. Previously he founded and managed tech startup companies in travel and education tech arena and worked for Bloomberg LP
LinkedIn


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Trunomi offers an innovative technology platform that streamlines Know Your Customer and mobile verification using a revolutionary consent-based data sharing platform.

Features

    • TruMobile securely connects customers with banks.
    • Monetises and personalises your customer’s data experience.
    • Streamlines verification KYC using a revolutionary consent-based data sharing platform.

Why it’s great
A customer-focused mobile solution that eliminates their most significant pain-points; making their account opening and data management experience simple, secure and easy.

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Presenters

Stuart Lacey, Founder & CEO
Lacey is an innovator, team-builder and thought leader. Sometimes mistaken for the Energizer Bunny – he is relentless in his drive to find better ways to learn, build, nurture and share great ideas.
LinkedIn

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Chia Brewin, Customer Development Executive
Brewin is a multi-tasking, Trunomian super-star. She attended University in the UK, helped run campaigns for major political parties then earned a black belt in the “Art of Customer Development”.
LinkedIn


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VATBox is the first, cloud-based automated solution for Foreign/Domestic VAT recovery, providing data-driven visibility and insights while maximizing VAT returns.

Features

    • Eliminate human-error and resources with automated VAT technology
    • Gain complete visibility, compliance and control of VAT spend
    • Benefit from VAT recovery optimization, maximizing refunds

Why its great
VATBox’s Automated VAT recovery solution enables customers to have one global process that tracks and manages VAT spend with ease, and to maximize VAT refunds.

Presenters

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Isaac Saft, Co-Founder & CEO

    • 2012 – 2013 – President and Global Business Development, KCS Ltd
    • 2004 – 2012 – Founder and Chief Executive Officer, KCS Ltd
    • 1994 – 2003 – Commanding Officer, Israel Defense Forces

LinkedIn

Stephen Coleclough, Advisory Board Member
Coleclough is a Tax Consultant in Mishcon de Reya’s Tax Group with over 30 years’ experience in tax and law. He was formerly a Partner and Global Leader of Indirect Taxes at pwc.

FinovateEurope will be held February 10 & 11 in London. Pick up your ticket today to save your seat at the hottest fintech event of the year.

Questions? Check out our FAQ for some answers.

Coinbase Raises $75 Million from BBVA, USAA, NYSE, & Others

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Amid recent murmurs of cryptocurrency’s projected outlook for 2015, bitcoin wallet Coinbase just received some credibility from some major financial institutions.

The San Francisco-based company pulled in $75 million in a round led by Draper Fisher Jurvetson (DFJ). BBVA VenturesUSAA Bank, New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), and Crypto Currency Partners also contributed, along with existing investors Andreessen Horowitz, Union Square Ventures, and Ribbit Capital.

From a fintech standpoint, the most notable investors are BBVA and USAA. Both have historically been known for being on the cutting edge of fintech. In an interview yesterday with CoinDesk, BBVA Ventures executive director Jay Reinemann stated:

“This is unfortunately not an announcement that we’re opening up the bank to do that, it’s moreso a precursor. We need to better understand the industry and understand how merchants and consumers are interacting with bitcoin.”

According to TechCrunch, this is the largest round yet a bitcoin-related company has raised. The new installment adds up to more than double its last three rounds combined, and brings its total funding to almost $107 million.

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What’s a bitcoin-focused company to do with all of those dollars? The Coinbase team will use the money to work on its mobile channel, increase its international availability from the current 19 countries to 30 countries, and build out its API.

To see the Coinbase wallet in action, check out its live demo from FinovateSpring 2014 where it demoed Instant Exchange.

Lending Club Pilots Program to Provide Low Interest Financing to Google Partners

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When you combine Lending Club’s entry into small business lending last March with its investment from Google in May of 2013, add in a successful IPO last December, what do you get?

A partnership with Google Partners.

Lending Club announced yesterday it is piloting a program that will enable Google to invest its own capital in its network of 10,000 partners by purchasing their loans. This differs from Google’s other investment arms, Google Capital and Google Ventures, as the partner investment program will offer capital without taking equity.

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The partner network consists of resellers, consultants, and system integrators that help Google distribute its applications and services. To be eligible for funding, Google partners must be based in the U.S. and meet certain requirements. Qualifying partners can get loans of up to $600,000 for a two-year term.

This six figure amount is double the $300,000 cap that Lending Club typically places on qualified small business borrowers. Also, while the interest rate for SMBs borrowing through Lending Club starts at a fixed 5.9%, those who take out loans through Google Partners will pay only interest the first year, and pay back the loan on an amortized schedule in year two.

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This isn’t Lending Club’s first time working with third parties. For a little over a year now, Lending Club has extended two-fold partnerships to banks and credit unions to 1) purchase loans from Lending Club to diversify their asset portfolios and 2) offer personal loans to their banking customers. It is also working with private equity companies.

Lending Club demonstrated at the first Finovate in 2007.

Kreditech Acquires Kontomierz for “Seven Digit Amount”

Kreditech Acquires Kontomierz for “Seven Digit Amount”

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With a growth rate of 500% per year and a vision to serve 4 billion underbanked individuals across the globe, Kreditech has a lot on its plate.

Fortunately, the Hamburg-based company announced today it acquired Kontomierz for a “seven digit amount plus Kreditech shares.” The actual amount is undisclosed.

Kontomierz is an attractive purchase. Its KYC technology, Kontomatik offers an API to banks that gives read-only access to customer accounts. Additionally, it has net revenues around 1 million Euros, three digit annual growth, and counts Alior Bank and Idea Bank as clients. Sebastian Diemer, Kreditech founder and CEO explains further:

“With its technology Kontomierz enables us to get unique data in real-time. Our subsidiary companies will hence provide an even better banking service to a bigger target group, the unbanked and the underbanked individuals. A perfect marriage, indeed.”

The 16 Warsaw-based Kontomierz employees will now work as a group within the Kreditech organization.

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Kreditech launched in 2012, and since then has served two million customers across nine countries. The following inforgraphic displays the company’s impressive growth:

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Kreditech demonstrated its Kredito24, K24, and Zaimo products at FinovateSpring 2014. You can check out the demo video here.

FinovateEurope 2015 Sneak Peek: Part 1

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2014 was an exciting year for fintech, and we estimate 2015 to be even bigger, with the ongoing battle for mobile wallet share, growth of alternative lending, and burgeoning VC funding.

At FinovateEurope, our first conference of 2015, we’re hosting more than 70 companies who will showcase their products centered on the newest trends, and some we’ve never seen before. 

For Finovate’s fifth time in London, we’re returning to the Old Billingsgate Market Hall on February 10 & 11. Register now and be the first to see the newest fintech of 2015.

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In the weeks leading up to FinovateEurope, we’re giving you a taste of what will be on stage in our Sneak Peek series. Below are the first six companies in this installment.


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ebankIT is an omnichannel banking software company that provides innovative solutions with centralized management, allowing banks to communicate faster, easier and more efficiently with their customers.

Features

    • Seamless access to financial products and services
    • Allows banks to extend its customers’ network
    • For any device and wearable technology
Why it’s great
Omnichannel & Social banking provides a consistent experience across channels to provide customers with seamless access to financial products and services.

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Presenters

João Pinto, Board of Directors
Pinto is an administrator with nearly 20 years of solid experience in the financial sector, actively participating in the design and implementation of innovative Omnichannel Solutions.
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Paulo Oliveira, Omnichannel Speacialist
Oliveira is a Project Manager, Omnichannel Specialist and Software Architect in ebankIT. He has been developing solutions in the financial sector for more than 15 years.

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Jumio’s Netverify turns your customer’s computer/smartphone into an ID scanning terminal that captures customer data and verifies customer ID documents, increasing online account opening rates.

Features

    • Reduces abandonment during digital account opening 
    • Creates fast & intuitive experiences for digital account opening 
    • Helps meet KYC & AML compliance requirements

Why it’s great
Jumio’s Netverify has been developed to meet the challenge of verifying identity in a connected-device environment, decreasing online account opening abandonment by up to 40%.

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Presenters

David Pope, European Marketing Director
Pope is a tech marketing specialist, having helped brands like 192business, Experian & Jumio balance the need for customer convenience with KYC compliance requirements.
LinkedIn

John McIntosh, Sales Engineer EMEAJumioPresenter2.jpg
McIntosh is the EMEA Sales Engineer for Jumio and is responsible for all information about the Jumio Product and Technical Information.
LinkedIn


SOFORT AG, based in Germany, offers Europe-wide,

SOFORTLogo.jpginnovative services for the secure purchase of goods and digital products on the internet.

Features
SOFORT Banking Paycode is an efficient method for purchasing on an account, whether online or offline. The online link contains all relevant transfer information.

Why it’s great
SOFORT Banking Paycode – the faster, smarter and easier way to pay bills online

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Presenter
Christian Mangold, Managing Director Sales
At SOFORT, Mangold is in charge of the German market and the sales strategy. He has been on the SOFORT Management Board since late 2012.
LinkedIn


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TradeRiver Finance is a non-bank online funding solution which finances trade, both cross-border and in the U.K.

Features

    • Online tool and finance for trade buyers
    • Pay global suppliers in cash and in local currency
    • Finance and execute local and cross-border transactions online  

Why it’s great
The TradeRiver platform provides a business funding and transaction execution solution which changes completely the nature and operation of cross-border trade finance.

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Presenters

Toby Lanyon, Chief Operating Officer

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Mike Mumford, Business Development Executive

provides real-time, reference financial data via cloud-based APIs to fintech innovators Wealthfront, Betterment, Personal Capital, Motif Investing, Robinhood, Stocktwits, Yodlee & more.

Features

    • New API offers trusted FactSet fundamental data, including company financials & estimates
    • Covers more than 75,000 publicly listed global companies
    • Easy integration into apps & websites

Why it’s great
The leading fintech innovators use Xignite market data APIs

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Presenter

Stephane Dubois, CEO & Founder
Dubois is a fintech revolutionary in the process of disrupting the financial services industry. He founded Xignite to pioneer market data in the cloud.
LinkedIn


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Yoyo is a mobile platform that seamlessly blends payments, loyalty, and discovery – done right.

Features

    • Combines payment, loyalty and discovery
    • Yoyo ‘magic’ button on the till – we integrate into the epos software
    • Ability to link card to mobile and to give and receive social gifts

Why it’s great
Pay fast, get rewarded.

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Presenter

Michael Rolph, Co-founder and CCO
Rolph is ex Barclaycard, First Data and PayPal. He was formerly a Director at Anthemis Group and is currently a Mentor at Seedcamp and advisor to Azimo.
LinkedIn


Check back later this week, when we’ll explore six more presenting companies. To learn about all of the presenting companies, check out our presenter page.

Space is limited; get your FinovateEurope ticket now to reserve your seat.

PeerTransfer Secures $22 Million in a Round Led by Bain Capital

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PeerTransfer, a company that makes it easier for international students to pay their tuition bills, should now have an easier time paying its own bills, thanks to a new installment of funding. 

Today, the Boston-based company brought in a $22 million Series D round led by Bain Capital. Previous investors Spark Capital, Devonshire Investors, Accel Partners, and QED Investors also contributed.

The new installment, which almost doubles its previous total, brings peerTransfer’s total raised to $43 million. It plans to use the new capital to expand coverage and penetration at schools in Australia, Asia, Canada, the U.K., and U.S. and advance its payment platform.

Matt Harris, Managing Director at Bain Capital, will join peerTransfer’s board.

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PeerTransfer enables students from 200+ countries and territories to pay their tuition and room & board using bank transfers and credit and debit cards on its payment platform. It is partnered with 600 schools across 10 countries.

Since launching in 2009, the company has processed over $1 billion in international payments and is adding 50 new clients per quarter. During the first half of the 2014/15 academic year, it doubled year-on-year revenue and reached profitability. Alex Finkelstein, General Partner at Spark Capital states that peerTransfer is poised for even faster growth and expansion.

As for the rest of the academic year, CEO Mike Massaro states that the company is on track to deliver $1 billion in cross-border payments processed for the full year. 

PeerTransfer recently won the 2014 BostInno’s 50 on Fire Award. It demonstrated its international payment solution at FinovateSpring 2011.