Doxo to Provide Electronic Billpay Solution to R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company

Doxo to Provide Electronic Billpay Solution to R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company

Billpay solutions company doxo announced a new partnership with R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company (RRD) recently that will offer the marketing and communications solutions provider’s clients access to doxo’s electronic billpay solutions.

Tim Reedy, president of RRD Business Communications Solutions said, “We partnered with doxo because consumers are increasingly seeking a seamless, digital bill pay experience, and doxo has developed a capability that delivers that experience.” doxo’s secure payment solution enables customers to access and pay bills from more than 45,000 providers using a single set of login credentials. “Like our other business communications solutions, doxo integrates easily into our clients’ current workflows and processes to further enhance their communications program without any down time,” Reedy added.

doxo is compatible with existing billing systems and allows billers to electronically connect for free. The platform offers a simplified experience for end users and provides a complete online payment system for billers who have yet to go digital. Among the company’s list of billing partners are AT&T, National Grid, Puget Sound Energy, Kansas City Light, and more providers across finance, utilities, healthcare, telecom, banking, and insurance sectors.

Founded in 2008, doxo debuted its Control Panel at FinovateSpring 2011. The Seattle-based startup is among the companies that will take the Finovate stage at FinovateSpring to demo its newest technology. doxo has raised $18.8 million and counts Mohr Davidow Ventures, Sigma Partners, and Bezos Expeditions as investors.

Once SaleMove, Glia Raises $20 Million in Post-Rebrand Funding

Once SaleMove, Glia Raises $20 Million in Post-Rebrand Funding

Omnichannel digital customer engagement platform for financial services Glia has raised $20 million in new funding. The Series B round for the Best of Show winning company formerly known as SaleMove was led by Insight Venture Partners, and takes Glia’s total capital to $29 million.

The company will use the funds to get bigger, adding to its product development, sales, solutions, and marketing organizations and infrastructure. Glia co-founder and CEO Dan Michaeli praised Insight’s record of collaborating with “best-in-class SaaS companies” and made a direct connection between the firm’s investment with Glia’s growth plans.

“By adding an investor as strong and experienced as Insight, we are poised to rapidly expand Glia’s market reach,” Michaeli said.

Left to right: Glia’s Jordan Christopher (SVP Sales) and Patrick Yoon (Account Executive) demonstrating Omniguide at FinovateEurope 2019.

Glia specializes in helping companies maximize the way they engage with their customers. Its digital communications platform enables businesses to leverage messaging, video, co-browsing, AI, and voice to communicate with their customers the way they want to communicate and via the channel of their choice – whether between sessions or in the middle of a session.

“Almost every interaction between businesses and customers today involves a screen, yet the main method of getting in touch is still an old-school phone call,” Michaeli explained. “Over the next 3-5 years, the move from phone-first to digital-first communication will define the businesses that win customer experience in their category.”

With Glia, a customer service conversation can begin on a smartphone, transition seamlessly to co-browsing, and then move on to conversational AI with an intelligent agent or live chat with a human representative. And while the technology has strong application for sales teams (hence the company’s original name, SaleMove), the evolution of the technology has led to an evolution in the way the technology can be deployed.

“As we’ve built on (our) initial vision, our customers have found many ingenious uses for our functionality that we didn’t imagine at the time,” Michaeli said. “We realize now that the platform does so much more than move sales, so we’ve made the decision to build a brand which supports that wider vision of the value our customers are achieving.”

A four-time Best of Show winner as SaleMove, Glia picked up a fifth Best of Show award for its live demo at FinovateEurope earlier this year. At the conference, the company showed how its new solution, OmniGuide, enables companies to deploy one or more conversational AI engines across the enterprise.

Finovate Alumni News

On Finovate.com

  • Once SaleMove, Glia Raises $20 Million in Post-Rebrand Funding.
  • Doxo to Provide Electronic Billpay Solution to R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company.

Around the web

  • Low code development platform OutSystems reports record revenues for 2018.
  • NICE Robotic Process Automation (RPA) teams up with CallVU.
  • Finastra named a leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide End-to-End Corporate Banking Solution Providers 2019 Vendor Assessment report.
  • Kony named a leader for low-code development platforms by independent research firm.
  • OurCrowd announces it has raised $1 billion to date.

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.

Stash Scores $65 Million; Launches Stock-Back Rewards

Stash Scores $65 Million; Launches Stock-Back Rewards

With the stock market in rally mode and up significantly from the Christmas Eve lows, micro-investing fintech startup Stash is celebrating the occasion with a $65 million fundraising.

The Series E was led by an unnamed private institutional investor and featured participation from current investors including Union Square Ventures and Breyer Capital. The new capital takes Stash’s total funding to $181.3 million. The company said it will use it to drive product growth as well as marketing.

Stash also announced this week that it was launching a new rewards program, leveraging its Stash debit card, that will provide users with fractional shares of stock whenever qualified purchases at publicly-held companies are made. The Stock-Back rewards program gives consumers a micro-investment in companies like Amazon and Chipotle every time they shop using the Stash card. For privately-held companies that do not have stock available, consumers will get their Stock-Back rewards in the form of fractional shares in a broad-based, global equity exchange-traded fund (ETF).

“During the testing period, we saw an overwhelming positive response from users as they pay ordinary bills like Netflix, and in returned received Netflix stock as well as access to dividends, educational resources and financial advice,” Stash co-founder and president Ed Robinson said.

Stash demonstrated the Stash Retire feature of its mobile-first, micro-investing platform at FinovateFall 2017. Stash Retire offers users a low-fee, self-directed Roth IRA account that can be invested in for as little as $100 to start. Users of Stash Retire can take advantage of all of the options available in their Stash Invest accounts, such as auto-invest and $5 investment minimums.

Named to the Forbes Fintech 50 last month and honored by the FinTech Breakthrough Awards in the Best Robo Advisory Platform category last spring, Stash was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in New York City.

TickSmith Teams Up with CanDeal to Power DataVault Innovations

TickSmith Teams Up with CanDeal to Power DataVault Innovations

TickSmith will power the new market data platform for institutional electronic marketplace for Canadian debt and derivatives trading, CanDeal. The company will leverage the TickSmith Data Pooling Platform in order to support the launch of its DataVault Innovations data-as-a-service (DaaS) offering.

DataVault Innovations aggregates over-the-counter (OTC) data on multiple Canadian assets classes from banks and other sources and distributes it to end users and third-party providers. The DaaS technology also provides pricing, risk, and analytics features to help market participants bolster internal risk modeling and remain compliant with relevant regulations.

“TickSmith provides the well-tuned engine that DataVault Innovations needs for peak performance,” Head of DataVault Innovations Andre Craig said. “As an industry service, DataVault Innovations will not only provide the premium data to fuel more impactful product development; it will lead to more reliable benchmarks, expanded access to quality OTC data, and vastly improved risk management and regulatory compliance for FRTB and other mandates.”

Francis Wenzel, TickSmith CEO, complimented CanDeal’s consolidation of OTC multi-asset class data, and underscored TickSmith’s experience in capital markets. “We’re confident that we can deliver and unmatched service to DataVault Innovations, that will be robust enough to support an array of data, services, and clients for years to come.”

TickSmith demonstrated its TickVault and FIXVault financial big data platforms at FinovateFall 2014. More recently, the Montreal, Quebec, Canada-based company introduced its transaction cost analysis (TCA) solution, and announced a partnership with trading and market access technology provider Vela. TickSmith began the year with news that it had achieved Amazon Web Services (AWS) Financial Services Competency status.

First Wave of Demoing Companies for FinovateSpring Revealed!

First Wave of Demoing Companies for FinovateSpring Revealed!

FinovateSpring returns to San Francisco, California, May 7 through 10. With more than 1,300 attendees, 60+ demoing companies, and 120+ speakers anticipated, we are excited to host some of the most innovative fintechs and insightful industry leaders at our upcoming event.

To whet your appetite, here’s a look at the first wave of demoing companies for FinovateSpring. Whether you are a global financial services provider, a community bank, a fresh new fintech startup or an established tech firm looking for new opportunities, FinovateSpring is for you!

Stay tuned for more information about FinovateSpring in the weeks to come. Our Sneak Peek series, with details about the demoing companies, their innovations, and their presenters, will launch soon here on the Finovate blog.

And remember that FinovateSpring will also feature a pair of special Summit Days on May 7 and May 10. The sessions on these days will feature deep dives and extended conversations on topics such as AI, customer engagement, community and digital banking, as well as payments and lending. Check out our FinovateSpring agenda for more.

Visit our registration page and save your seat today. Discounts are available for for tickets purchased before March 29.

We’ll  see you in San Francisco!

Finovate Alumni News

On Finovate.com

  • Stash Scores $65 Million; Launches Stock-Back Rewards.
  • TickSmith Teams Up with CanDeal to Power DataVault Innovations.
  • First Wave of Demoing Companies for FinovateSpring Revealed.

Around the web

  • Aerospike launches suite of add-on modules, Aerospike Connect, to make it easier for businesses to integrate the company’s database.
  • Identitii renews its partnership with HSBC Global Services (UK).
  • Onfido appointed to the FIDO Alliance Board of Directors.
  • ACI Worldwide announces the extension of its partnership with South Africa’s Capitec Bank.
  • IdentityMind Global to support Koi Trading’s AML Compliance-as-a-Service offering.
  • Gusto appoints Square’s former Head of Information Security Fredrick Lee as its new Chief Security Officer.
  • PayPal adds instant transfer feature for bank accounts.
  • Insuritas and ReliaQuote partner to offer ID theft protection to 10 million consumers.
  • Fenergo enables financial firms to digitally visualize risk in fight against financial crime.
  • GroundFloor partners with Dwolla to make payments more efficient for borrowers and investors.

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.

Mastercard to Acquire Digital Commerce Fraud Fighter Ethoca

Mastercard to Acquire Digital Commerce Fraud Fighter Ethoca

Terms were not disclosed, but the announcement today that Mastercard has agreed to acquire real-time anti-fraud solution provider Ethoca is another sign of how seriously financial services firms are taking cybersecurity.

The deal, which is expected to close in Q2 of this year, will allow Mastercard to leverage Ethoca’s network of more than 5,000 merchants and 4,000 financial institutions to fight digital commerce fraud in general and the challenge of chargebacks in specific.

Ethoca’s technology enables merchants to get real-time data when potentially fraudulent transactions are spotted. This empowers merchants to analyze transactions and confirm, stop delivery, and/or reverse transactions before the chargeback process begins.

Calling Mastercard “a natural home,” Ethoca CEO Andre Edelbrock looked forward to extending the reach of the company’s anti-fraud solutions. “For more than a decade, we’ve connected e-commerce businesses with banks to make the payments system simpler and more secure,” Edelbrock said. “We are excited to have the opportunity to bring our service to more places and people, ultimately contributing to the best possible online payment experience.”

In a statement, Mastercard said that it plans to scale Ethoca’s capabilities and combine them with its own cybersecurity protocols, data insights, and AI-powered solutions to help fight e-commerce fraud. The press release noted a report from Juniper Research that indicated that retailers anticipate losing $130 billion over the next five years due to online fraud.

“Ethoca is a strong addition to our multilayered cyber strategy, helping customers take immediate action against fraud and eliminate chargebacks before they can occur,” Mastercard president of cyber and intelligence solutions Ajay Bhalla said. “In turn, consumers are provided with a better checkout experience every time they shop at a participating site.”

Ethoca demonstrated its Ethoca Alerts solution at FinovateEurope 2016. Founded in 2005, and headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the company partnered with French payment system Cartes Bancaires in December. In October, Ethoca teamed up with American Express to help merchants better communicate with AMEX Customer Care during service calls.

With investors including Pivot Investment Partners, Spectrum Equity, and Difference Capital, Ethoca had raised $45 million in funding prior to today’s acquisition announcement.

Mastercard demonstrated its Cash Pick-Up solution at FinovateFall 2017. Last year, the company teamed up with Vipera to present mobile payment solution, SME-Pay, at FinovateEurope 2018.

Fiserv Helps NationalLink Maximize Smart Safe Technology

Fiserv Helps NationalLink Maximize Smart Safe Technology

Just a few weeks after revealing a pair of new credit union clients, Fiserv is back in the fintech headlines. The company announced that NationalLink will deploy Fiserv’s CorPoint cash supply chain management software to help maximize its use of smart safes. This will include gaining the ability to access smart safe data regardless of location.

Smart safes support the accounting and validation of in-store cash payments, and are typically only able to run on the proprietary cash management software of their manufacturer. Fiserv’s CorPoint can accept data from any smart safe, as well as consolidate data from different smart safes into an all-encompassing view of cash status.

CorPoint also provides real-time access to audit-level views of cash deposits, balances, and pickups. The platform allows users to aggregate and segment data by cashier, denomination, location, and other factors.

“For many consumers, cash remains a preferred form of payment, but cash is labor-intensive for merchants to manage,” Fiserv SVP and GM for Fraud, Risk, and Compliance Shawn Holtzclaw explained. “Merchants are actively seeking ways to improve cash management efficiency, and NationalLink is meeting this demand with a single platform that provides a holistic, hardware-agnostic view of smart safe transactions.”

NationalLink provides cash handling solutions, including complete ATM solutions and armored cash management services. The firm’s network of 16,000 ATMs reaches all 50 states of the U.S., as well as the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa. The company was founded in 1992 as a merchant services acquirer.

Fiserv joined Samsung SDS on the Finovate stage last spring to demo the integration of Samsung SDS’ biometric authentication and collaboration solution into its Commercial Center: Security (CC:S) product. Founded in 1984 and based in Brookfield, Wisconsin, Fiserv announced at the beginning of the year that it would merge with First Data Corporation in an acquisition valued at $22 billion.

Finovate Alumni News

On Finovate.com

  • Fiserv Helps NationalLink Maximize Smart Safe Technology.
  • Mastercard to Acquire Digital Commerce Fraud Fighter Ethoca.

Around the web

  • Carsharing firm HyreCar leverages identity verification technology from Mitek for its mobile onboarding app.
  • PayPal invests $750 million in Argentina’s e-commerce company, MercadoLibre.
  • Tinkoff Bank reports 2018 highlights including launch of new mortgage app, a joint P2P money transfer offering with Sberbank, and more than 2.7 million new active credit customers.
  • Best of Show winner Voleo chosen to participate in Netherlands-based fintech research program.
  • ThreatMetrix teams up with Blue Turtle Technologies to help market its fraud prevention solution to customers in Africa.
  • ArthaYantra wins Fintech of the Year (India) at The Asset Triple A Digital Awards.
  • Stash launches Stock-Back, a rewards program to bridge banking and investing.
  • Jack Henry to collaborate with the Zelle Network to launch JHA PayCenter.
  • InComm expands into lottery industry with Linq3 Technologies acquisition.

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.

PayActiv and Visa Help Workers Access Earned Wages Earlier

PayActiv and Visa Help Workers Access Earned Wages Earlier

PayActiv’s campaign to transform traditional payroll and help workers get access to earned pay when they need it just won a big new ally.

The company announced late last week that it was partnering with Visa and will leverage the company’s Visa Direct real-time push payments platform to enable PayActiv’s partner businesses to offer real-time deposits. Earned wages for employees of PayActiv partners will be available in real-time via a Visa debit or reloadable prepaid card – and PayActiv is offering its own branded Visa Prepaid Card for the occasion.

“With financial stress our industry needed earning enlightenment,” PayActiv CEO Safwan Shah said. “The PayActiv Visa Prepaid Card is exactly that – a game changer and a win-win solution. Employers can get better retention, recruitment and engagement, and employees can get on a path of holistic financial wellness with timely access to their earned but unpaid wages.”

PayActiv said that the use of its Visa Prepaid Card can help employees avoid fees that might otherwise lower take-home pay by as much as $200 a month. Accepted anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted, the PayActiv Visa Prepaid card has no monthly fees, no fees for loading earned wages on the card, and no cardholder fees when transacting with U.S. merchants or making cash withdrawals from MoneyPass ATMs.

“Visa Direct is helping to power a fundamental shift in how employees access wages they have already earned, outside of the traditional two-week payroll cycle,” SVP for Global Commercialization of Visa Direct Cecilia Frew said. “We are proud to be partnering with PayActiv to offer additional choice and flexibility to employers and employees when managing their financial well-being.”

PayActiv demonstrated the Saving in Units of Time feature of its platform at FinovateSpring 2016, winning Best of Show. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in San Jose, California, PayActiv announced a partnership with Walmart last fall, adding the retail giant to the number of locations where PayActiv employee members can access earned wages in cash. Also last fall, PayActiv scored a $20 million investment in a Series B round led by Generation Partners that doubled the company’s total funding.

Visa, which celebrated its 60th birthday last year, made its Finovate debut at FinovateSpring 2010. The company is also an alum of our developers conference, presenting its Visa Checkout solution at FinDEVr SiliconValley 2014. The global payments and financial services giant trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker “V,” and has a market capitalization of $330 billion.

Temenos Drives Digital Transformation for Africa’s Vista Bank

Vista Bank, an African challenger bank, has turned to Temenos to power its digital overhaul, reports Henry Vilar of Fintech Futures (Finovate’s sister publication).

The bank is implementing Infinity, a digital front office solution, and T24 Transact for core banking.

Vista also has selected analytics and reporting, risk and compliance modules, and the Temenos Payments Hub product.

The group was established following the acquisition of First International Bank (FIB) Group in 2015 by the U.S. based investment fund, Lilium Capital.

The bank hopes to be able to introduce new products and services more quickly and support its growth ambition.

“This will help us realize our vision of building a truly pan-African financial institution group that will add value to the African economy and promote financial inclusion,” said Simon Tiemtore, group chairman at Vista Bank. “Temenos is our trusted strategic technology partner and our customers will reap the rewards of its innovative API-first, cloud-native and cloud agnostic software.”

According to Temenos, its regional model bank approach, which includes pre-configured local functionality and best practices, will enable Vista Bank to cater for specific regulatory requirements during its expansion.

Currently operating through a network of 43 branches across Sierra Leone, Guinea and The Gambia, the group’s goal is to expand its footprint into the West African Monetary Union and the Central African market, targeting a presence in 15 countries by 2025.

Temenos demonstrated its Connect Mobile Banking solution at FinovateEurope 2015. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the company also presented its B2B Financial Apps Marketplace at our developers conference, FinDEVrSiliconValley 2015.