New Year. New Venue. New Format. New FinovateSpring.

New Year. New Venue. New Format. New FinovateSpring.
By Heather Stowell Posted on
Categories: Finovate Marketing, FinovateSpring 2018

2018. Santa Clara. 4 days of demos & discussions.

Less than two weeks into 2018, most of us are already running to catch up. But there are a couple deadlines you should not let pass you by: demo application deadline this Friday, January 12 and ticket deadline next Friday, January 19 ($800 savings).

With its expansion to four days this year, FinovateSpring moves to the Santa Clara Convention Center on May 8-11. The first two days will continue featuring Finovate’s signature single-track demo format, while the next two days will focus on deeper dives and insights from keynotes, panels, breakout sessions and more. All the fintech bang for your buck consolidated into just four days.

Companies selected to demo on May 8-9 will receive 7 minutes on stage to demo their latest fintech innovation, a booth in the exhibition area, ability to connect with 1,500+ C-level financial execs, venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, and influential press, analysts, and bloggers, plus many other perks.

If you’re thinking about applying to demo, now is the time. Earlier applicants may receive faster selection and are also eligible for lower pricing. This next deadline, which guarantees you the lower cost, is this Friday, January 12. More information on demoing is available here.

And if you would rather check out the event with an eye towards applying next year, get your ticket before Friday, January 19 and save $800.

Send questions to [email protected].

Share this:

Send Post Twitter LinkedIn Facebook

TransferWise Brings New Multi-Currency Borderless Accounts with Debit Cards to Public

TransferWise Brings New Multi-Currency Borderless Accounts with Debit Cards to Public
By David Penn Posted on
Categories: TransferWise

 

TransferWise announced that the new multi-currency account it initially introduced to businesses last year will be rolled out to consumers in the first quarter of 2018. The borderless accounts enable users to hold and convert up to 28 currencies at the real exchange rate; get bank details instantly from the U.K., E.U., Australia, and the U.S.; and to receive money transferred from abroad in GBP, EUR, AUD, and USD for free.

They are also free to open and do not require an overseas address. New users get a British account number and sort code, a European IBAN, an Australian account number and BSB code, and an American account number and routing number. There is a small fee for converting across currencies and for cash withdrawals, but there are no charges for monthly setup or receiving fees.

“Multi-currency accounts have been available from banks at extortionate prices for years, but for the first time we’re bringing true, multi-country banking – with real bank details in key currencies – to any one who needs it,” said TransferWise co-founder and chairman Taavet Hinrikus.

TransferWise made borderless accounts available to business customers as of May of last year, but did not come with the debit card the 2018 offering will have. The company told TechCrunch that the accounts are best thought of as a “companion account that solves a couple of different but fundamental problems.” Business Insider suggested that the account and debit card combo from TransferWise will help the company serve what it called the “competitive travel money market” as well as a counter to the challenge of fintechs like Revolut and its low-fee foreign exchange card.

The news from TransferWise comes just a few months after the company’s successful $280 million Series E round led by Old Mutual Global Investors. This added to the company’s valuation, last reported at $1.1 billion in 2017. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in London, U.K., TransferWise demonstrated its platform at FinovateEurope 2013. The company was named to the European Fintech 100 in September, along with several of its fellow Finovate alums, and earned a spot on CB Insights Fintech 250 list. In July, TransferWise announced that co-founder Kristo Kaarmann would take over as CEO from Taavet Hinrikus, who transitioned to the role of chairman.

Share this:

Send Post Twitter LinkedIn Facebook

Intelligent Environments Appoints New CEO

Intelligent Environments Appoints New CEO
By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: Intelligent Environments

Mobile financial solutions company Intelligent Environments has appointed a new CEO this week. Effective immediately, Jeremy Young will take the seat of David Webber, the company’s previous CEO.

Young comes to Intelligent Environments with 20 years of experience in financial services and software. He most recently served as VP of EMEA at Fiserv. Prior to that, Young was head of retail banking and insurance at Oracle.

Young said that joining Intelligent Environments is a “tremendously exciting prospect.” He added, “With the company at the forefront of digital innovation in the financial services sector, leading its future growth and development is an immense opportunity.”

Founded in 1985, Intelligent Environments aims to help financial services organizations improve the customer experience. Among the company’s clients are Lloyds, HSBC, Sainsbury’s Bank, Argos, House of Fraser, and Toyota Financial Services.

Intelligent Environments demoed AppSensorFS at FinovateEurope 2015. AppSensorFS deploys sensors to detect potential security threats and makes decisions in real time to deploy the appropriate defense responses. The U.K.-based company was recently recognized as one of the world’s “most significant providers” in Forrester Wave’s Q3 2017 report on Digital Banking Engagement Platforms.

Share this:

Send Post Twitter LinkedIn Facebook

Finovate Alumni News

By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: AutoGravity, Bluefin Payment Systems, Dream Payments, Expensify, Intelligent Environments, Meniga, Privakey, Symphony Software Foundation, TransferWise

On Finovate.com

  • Intelligent Environments Appoints New CEO.
  • TransferWise Brings New Multi-Currency, Borderless Accounts with Debit Cards to Public.
  • Dream Payments Integrates with QuickBooks and First Data’s Clover.

Around the web

  • Meniga announced as FStech Awards 2018 finalist for ‘Challenges’ financial fitness.
  • Foundr Magazine interviews Expensify CEO David Barrett.
  • The Asian Review features Financial data and chat startup Symphony Software Foundation.
  • Forbes highlights AutoGravity’s take on lending.
  • Privakey is the latest fintech to join the FIDO Alliance.
  • Bluefin Payment Systems partners with Choice Ticketing to support PCI-validated ticketing payments.

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

Demoers from Near & Far at FinovateMiddleEast this February

Demoers from Near & Far at FinovateMiddleEast this February
By Heather Stowell Posted on
Categories: Finovate Marketing, FinovateMiddleEast 2018

2017 was a big year for fintech investment in the Middle East.

Amazon acquired Middle Eastern e-commerce firm, Souq.com, local powerhouses joined the race (i.e., Kingdom Holding Company driving Careem’s Series E funding), startup accelerators launched across the region, and overall investment soared.

So, at the start of 2018, the message is clear: Look to the Middle East for fintech investment opportunities, acquisitions, partnerships, inspiration and competition. And there’s no better place to start than Finovate in February.

For this launch event, Finovate has partnered with the UAE Ministry of Finance and joined UAE Innovation Month and Dubai Innovation Week. Signature 7-minute demos will remain at the core of FinovateMiddleEast 2018 with startup and established companies showcasing their latest fintech innovations live on stage.

Dorsum — A chatbot platform that improves the difficulties of customer acquisition for financial institutions.

ebankIT — An omnichannel banking platform that enhances digital transformation for banks and financial institutions.

efigence — The Insights Now! platform uses smart web analytics’ tools to arm banks and financial institutions with real-time data driven conclusions.

Munnypot — An automated online solution providing accessible and affordable investment advice for millions of people in the U.K. and overseas.

Ondot Systems — Provides mobile card services supplying financial institutions, card processors and cardholders with mobile applications for credit and debit card control.

RISQ — A financial software platform improving the effectiveness of corporate loan acquisition and customer management for commercial banks.

Wealth Migrate — A global, direct investment platform remedying the lack of direct investment products for middle class, overseas investors.

Zagtrader — An end-to-end pre-integrated framework that connects banks, brokers, asset managers, and investment banks to the ultra-complex global trading ecosystem with ease.

Additional companies will be announced over the next several weeks.

Register by January 11 to save $300. Book online, call +1 (888) 670-8200, or email [email protected].

 

Share this:

Send Post Twitter LinkedIn Facebook

Alkami Scores $70 Million in Series D Funding

Alkami Scores $70 Million in Series D Funding
By David Penn Posted on
Categories: Alkami Technology, Funding

In a round led by General Atlantic, and featuring participation from current investors S3 Ventures and Argonaut Private Equity, digital banking solutions provider Alkami has raised $70 million in new funding. The Series D round, which represents a strategic investment in the company, takes Alkami’s total capital to more than $116 million.

“In an era of digital transformation, our clients, who consist of credit unions and banks in the U.S., count on Alkami to inspire and power their digital strategies through enhancing value, growth, service, efficiency and relationships,” Alkami CEO Mike Hansen said. He added that the strategic investment from General Atlantic will “accelerate the delivery of our world-class technology and innovative solutions to our clients, ensuring Alkami remains synonymous with digital transformation in finance.”

Alkami enables financial institutions to take advantage of the latest trends in online and mobile banking technology through its cloud-based digital banking platform. With more than 4.5 million users across its community bank and credit union client base, Alkami provides a unified solution that works across devices and channels to deliver retail and business banking services, billpay, PFM, marketing, and more.

As part of the strategic investment, Raph Osnoss and Gene Lockhart will join Alkami’s board of directors. Lockhart is a Special Advisor of General Atlantic and former President and CEO of MasterCard Worldwide. He is also Chairman and Managing Partner of MissionOG, a technology investor that also participated in Alkami’s Series D. Osnoss is Vice President of General Atlantic, and praised Alkami’s “vision, technology, client success, and business model” as well as the way the fintech helped FIs better engage with their customers.

“Digital banking needs are evolving along with consumer and business behaviors,” Osnoss said. “And we believe Alkami is at the center of this industry-wide shift.”

Plano, Texas-based Alkami made its first Finovate appearance in 2009 as iThryv. In November, the company was highlighted as the 13th fastest growing company in Dallas by Southern Methodist University’s Cox Dallas 100 and ranked 66th fastest growing company in North America by Deloitte’s 2017 Technology Fast 500. Alkami announced a deployment of its digital banking platform with Veridian Credit Union ($3.4 billion in assets) late last fall, and in August, the company inked a deal with Mountain America Credit Union ($6.7 billion in assets) to integrate its digital banking technology with Mountain America’s existing core system.

Share this:

Send Post Twitter LinkedIn Facebook

CREALOGIX Acquires Innofis

CREALOGIX Acquires Innofis
By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: CREALOGIX, Innofis

Digital banking company CREALOGIX has acquired Barcelona-based Innofis, a privately held, internationally-focused digital banking firm, this week. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Under the agreement, Innofis’ workforce of 120 engineers and specialists will join CREALOGIX; the existing management structure will remain the same. The acquisition is not only expected to give CREALOGIX access to Innofis’ established customer base, the Switzerland-based company will also gain a presence in additional territories, most notably the Middle Eastern region.

CREALOGIX will benefit from Innofis’ digital banking product suite, which it expects will complement its current solution portfolio due to “optimal synergies” between the product portfolios. Because of the use of open architecture, many of the companies’ modules can be integrated interchangeably. New features Innofis brings to CREALOGIX include:

  • Predictive analytics based on big data and customer behavior segmentation
  • Advanced online campaign management
  • SaaS based-digital loyalty program
  • A suite of Islamic banking modules
  • Extensive functionality for business banking

Founded in 2012, Innofis has experienced double-digit growth and currently generates over $10.2 million (CHF 10 million) in revenue. Innofis CEO David Moreno, who will transition to a member of CREALOGIX’s Executive Group Management, said that “As a result of the new, joint offering from Innofis and CREALOGIX, we will remain a reliable partner for our clients and will support them in their digitization initiatives, with a broader set of innovative, ready-to-use solutions.”

Innofis presented at FinovateEurope 2016, where Moreno and the company’s CMO David Falk showcased the Innofis Omnichannel Predictive Banking solution. The solution leverages machine learning of bank data and contextual behavioral analysis to deliver more accurate and effective marketing messages.

CREALOGIX’s Marc Stähli, Head of Sales and CMO; and Eszter Vass, Sr. Product Strategy & Presales Consultant, demo Predictive Banking in Virtual Reality at FinovateEurope 2017 in London.

CREALOGIX most recently demoed at FinovateEurope 2017, where the company won Best of Show for Predictive Banking in Virtual Reality. In November of last year, the company expanded into Asia Pacific with new offices in Singapore. And in September, CREALOGIX acquired AI and machine learning technology from Koemei. The company said it plans to leverage Koemei’s technology that uses automated speech recognition (ASR) to convert audio, podcast, and video content into text data, which facilitates cross-media search capabilities.

Share this:

Send Post Twitter LinkedIn Facebook

Urban FT and Fortress Plus to Co-Market Digital Banking, Fraud Prevention to Community Banks

Urban FT and Fortress Plus to Co-Market Digital Banking, Fraud Prevention to Community Banks
By David Penn Posted on
Categories: Urban FT

If you are a community bank or credit union, the new partnership between Urban FT and Connecticut-based Fortress Plus means it just got a lot easier to add digital banking services and state-of-the-art fraud protection at the same time.

Fortress Plus’s Rampart Intelligence Platform uses big data and behavior-based adaptive analytics to monitor and identify fraud in different channels and among different payment types. Urban FT provides a mobile banking solution that enables community banks to leverage proprietary technology to display information from traditional websites into their mobile websites and banking apps. The decision to work together, in the words of Urban FT CEO Richard Steggall, represents a shared “dedication to strengthening America’s community financial institutions.”

“Our agreement pulls together two key elements of what today’s smaller FIs need to combat the challenge of big banks and nonbanks – an easily implementable, cost-effective mobile banking solution offering exceptional UX and best-in-breed fraud prevention solutions that protect FIs from fraudsters who prey on them,” Steggall said.

“By co-marketing, we bring our respective best-in-breed solutions to more financial institutions that need and deserve the advantages we offer,” Fortress Plus President Jeff Whelton added, “(that is) big bank-grade quality that’s accessible and affordable for financial institutions of any size.”

Founded in 2013, New York-based Urban FT demonstrated its Urban FT Workshop at FinovateFall 2016. The workshop is a real-time, multi-tier mobile app management platform that gives FIs and FSOs the ability to design, brand, and launch mobile banking apps without coding. Available as a managed service, SaaS, online or via API, Urban FT’s technology is used by 10% of those U.S.-based FIs with assets of more than $25 million. The company acquired mobile banking technology company iParse in July of last year. In April, Urban FT partnered with technology service provider T-Cetra to make it easier for customers to top-up prepaid wireless service.

Share this:

Send Post Twitter LinkedIn Facebook

Finovate Alumni News

By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: Alkami Technology, CREALOGIX, Featurespace, Innofis, NCR Corporation, Privakey, Urban FT

On Finovate.com

  • Urban FT and Fortress Plus to Co-Market Digital Banking, Fraud Prevention to Community Banks
  • Alkami Scores $70 Million in Series D Funding

Around the web

  • Privakey joins the FIDO Alliance.
  • Featurespace opens U.S. headquarters in Atlanta.
  • NCR wins four GOOD DESIGN awards.

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

Kyckr Lands Global Payment Provider Client

Kyckr Lands Global Payment Provider Client
By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: Kyckr

Regtech player Kyckr landed a new client today– a leading global payments provider.

Through the agreement, Kyckr will provide its Know Your Customer (KYC) onboarding services to the client, the name of which has not been disclosed “due to the critical services provided by Kyckr to [the] client for KYC on-boarding services.” Through the indefinite agreement, the client will pay an annual fee of $150k for Kyckr’s corporate customer validation and verification services, which help improve KYC compliance-related obligations.

David Cassidy, Kyckr managing director said, “Our services demonstrate the relevance of our capabilities in multiple sectors, helping improve customer on-boarding, bringing about operational efficiencies and improved KYC compliance.”

Kyckr offers traditional APIs that provide direct access to over 150 business registries which, when combined with blockchain technologies, give immutable proof of a company’s information at the time of any transaction. The API helps establish a complete KYC decision by enabling companies to perform company searches, access company profiles and filings, cross-reference searches on directors, shareholders and others.

Above: Kyckr’s Ben Cronin, Joint CEO and Director and Cian Foley, Sr. Software Engineer, presenting at FinDEVr Silicon Valley 2016

Founded in 2007, Kyckr’s Ben Cronin, Joint CEO and Director, and Cian Foley, Sr. Software Engineer, gave a presentation titled Corporate Identity on the Blockchain to an audience of developers at FinDEVr Silicon Valley 2016. Last November, Prudential Singapore selected Kyckr as one of three fintechs for its PRU Fintegrate partnership program. Earlier that month, the company was named a Hackcelerator Finalist at the Singapore FinTech Festival.

Share this:

Send Post Twitter LinkedIn Facebook

Dynamics Leverages Sprint’s Wireless Network for New IoT Connected Card

Dynamics Leverages Sprint’s Wireless Network for New IoT Connected Card
By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: Dynamics

Next-generation payment card company Dynamics announced this week it has teamed up with Sprint, a subsidiary of SoftBank, to launch the Wallet Card, a battery-powered, connected payment card.

The Wallet Card, Dynamics’ first IoT-powered card, will leverage Sprint’s network for wireless data transfers. The card, which is around the same size and shape as a normal credit card, contains almost 200 internal components. Users can access debit, credit, pre-paid, multi-currency, one-time use, and loyalty cards from a single card.

Sprint, which is powering the IoT technology behind the card, is helping Dynamics differentiate this card from the company’s previous offerings. Specifically, the new Wallet Card contains:

  • Cell phone chip and cell phone antenna for data transfer
  • Battery and recharging chip– the card charges itself through normal operation.
  • Re-writable magnetic stripe, EMV chip, and contactless chip that allows users to download new card information to the card.
  • 65,000 pixel display and UI that enables cardholders to select different cards and informational screens.

With these new capabilities, card issuers can immediately rescind compromised card numbers and re-issue a new card number in real time.

The Wallet Card, which was debuted at the CES tradeshow in Las Vegas, received four CES Innovation awards, including the Best of Innovation Award for Security Technologies. It was an honoree for Computers, Embedded Technologies and Technologies for a Better World. “This is just the beginning,” said Jeff Mullen, CEO of Dynamics,”Wallet Card is poised to redefine the way consumers and businesses think of credit cards and enable a close, more secure connection.”

Jan Geldmacher, president of Sprint Business said that the Wallet Card is an example of “how important converged networks and advanced integrated technology will be for the lives of everyday people across the globe.”

Also today, Dynamics announced it has teamed with India-based IndusInd Bank who will bring Dynamics’ multi-account, powered card– a product the company debuted in 2010– to the Indian market.

Founded in 2007, Dynamics most recently presented at FinovateFall 2017. The company, which has raised over $110 million in funding from investors including Mastercard, CIBC, Adams Capital Management, and Bain Capital Ventures, is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with office locations in Singapore, Sao Paulo, and New York.

Share this:

Send Post Twitter LinkedIn Facebook

Finovate Alumni News

By David Penn Posted on
Categories: ACI Worldwide, Baker Hill, Dynamics, eToro, Kapitall, Klarna, Kyckr, Motif Investing, Narrative Science, Taulia

On Finovate.com

  • Dynamics Leverages Sprint’s Wireless Network for New IoT Connected Card.
  • Kyckr Lands Global Payment Provider Client.

Around the web

  • Taulia announces milestone, accelerating $1 billion in invoices in a single day.
  • Klarna extends partnership with ACI Worldwide, now reaching 10 major markets including the U.S. and U.K.
  • Marquette Bank ($1.6 billion in assets) builds on existing relationship with Baker Hill by adding risk management, loan origination and other solutions.
  • Datanami highlights Narrative Science’s natural language processing tech.
  • Disruptor Daily names eToro, Motif, Kapitall among 9 companies to watch in 2018.

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