Finovate Alumni News– November 12, 2012

  • Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Finovate-F-Logo.jpgTechCrunch reports Concur launches $150 mil “Perfect Trip Fund” to invest in travel startups; invests $2 mil in Evature’s Virtual Travel Agent.
  • Investment News examines how Boulevard R is involving advisors in 401(k) discussions.
  • Techgoondu lists 3 fintech startups from FinovateAsia to watch.
  • The Digital Insurer reports Finovate Singapore – A very impressive conference for financial services technology.
  • GigaOm reports: More startups let employees sell shares on SecondMarket amid IPO uncertainty.
  • Tech in Asia says TradeHero is probably one of the best startup ideas in Singapore.
  • Forbes considers the perspective of Ben Milne, Dwolla CEO on the future of money. 
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.

Finovate Alumni News– November 9, 2012

  • Billcom adds open APIs to banking platform.
  • Blackhawk Network Announces New Financial Service Products in Canada.
  • Startup Central looks at Heckyl, Clari5 and BankBazaar at FinovateAsia.
  • VentureBeat considers SecondMarket’s partnership with Angellist.
  • M.O. interviews Constancio Larguia, CEO & founder of Weemba.
  • SiliconBeat looks at Personal Capital’s 401(k) product.
  • Kabbage Becomes Exclusive Funding Provider for Bonanza Sellers.
  • American Banker reports: Bill.com Ties Cash-Flow Tools to Banks’ Small Business Software.
  • Finextra reports UBank gathers transaction data for spending comparison site.
  • ShopKeep POS announces entry into the quick serve market with full kitchen printing capabilities.
  • Mashable lists SimpleTuition, ReadyForZero, and Tuition.io as tools to help minimize student loan debt.
  • Capital Access Network moves Headquarters to NYC.
  • Crowdfund Insider reports SoMoLend Announces New York Expansion.
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.

Finovate Alumni News– November 8, 2012

  • Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Finovate-F-Logo.jpgBill Dwight, CEO of FamZoo, interviewed by Unlock Your Wealth Radio.
  • TechCrunch reports BillGuard Teams Up With Lemon’s Mobile Wallet, Will Alert Users To Fraudulent Charges.
  • MyBankTracker reviews Betterment’s gift registry feature.
  • Tech in Asia describes why Striata caught its eye at FinovateAsia.
  • Personal Loan Finder looks at SocietyOne.
  • BetaKit reports ShopKeep adds employee time tracking feature to iPad POS system.
  • SecureKey launches Online Authentication Service for Government of Canada.
  • TechCrunch reports Lending Club Surpasses $1B In Personal Loans, Hits Profitability.
  • PaySimple Launches ReceivablesPro Turnkey Private-Label Solution.
  • Campaign Asia reports London-based Innovation Agency launches in Singapore.
  • At FinovateAsia, Barclays announces the launch of PFM powered by Strands.
  • SG Entrepreneurs covers Perfectsen’s launch of The Hook at FinovateAsia.
  • Des Moines Register covers Dwolla’s MassPay.
  • e27 lists 3 finance startups that caught their eye at FinovateAsia 2012.
  • Pando Daily reports Bazaarvoice replaces its CEO and acquires Longboard Media.
  • Finextra reports Authentify opens Japanese subsidiary.
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.

FinovateAsia 2012 Best of Show Winners: CurrencyFair, Finantix, SocietyOne and Ubank

Our first FinovateAsia wrapped up a few hours ago. At the end of the packed day, the Singapore audience voted for their favorite three demos from among the 35 contenders. The top four overall were named Best of Show (see notes).image

The winners (in alphabetic order):

  • CurrencyFair showed off its new Marketplace for peer-to-peer international transfers
  • imageFinantix launched Sharp digital banking platform to improve sales and service interaction
  • imageSocietyOne debuted its ClearMatch technology used to streamline the loan application process 
  • Ubank, a unit of National Australian Bank (NAB), launched imageits  peer-spending comparison tool, People like U

We’ll have videos of all 35 demos posted at Finovate.com within two weeks.

Thanks to everyone who presented, attended, tweeted, networked, blogged, and helped push fintech forward in Asia and beyond. You were a great audience!

———-

Notes on methodology
1. Only audience members NOT associated with demoing companies were eligible to vote. Finovate employees did not vote.    
2. Attendees were encouraged to note their favorites during the day. At the end of the last demo, they chose their their favorites.   
3. The exact written instructions given to attendees: “Please rate (the companies) on the basis of demo quality and potential impact of the innovation demoed.” 
4. The four companies appearing on the highest percentage of submitted ballots were named Best of Show. 
5. Go here for a list of previous Best of Show winners.

FinovateAsia 2012 Best of Show Winners: CurrencyFair, Finantix, SocietyOne and Ubank

Our first FinovateAsia wrapped up a few hours ago. At the end of the packed day, the Singapore audience voted for their favorite three demos from among the 35 contenders. The top four overall were named Best of Show (see notes).image

The winners (in alphabetic order):

  • CurrencyFair showed off its new Marketplace for peer-to-peer international transfers
  • imageFinantix launched Sharp digital banking platform to improve sales and service interaction
  • imageSocietyOne debuted its ClearMatch technology used to streamline the loan application process 
  • Ubank, a unit of National Australian Bank (NAB), launched imageits  peer-spending comparison tool, People like U

We’ll have videos of all 35 demos posted at Finovate.com within two weeks.

Thanks to everyone who presented, attended, tweeted, networked, blogged, and helped push fintech forward in Asia and beyond. You were a great audience!

———-

Notes on methodology
1. Only audience members NOT associated with demoing companies were eligible to vote. Finovate employees did not vote.    
2. Attendees were encouraged to note their favorites during the day. At the end of the last demo, they chose their their favorites.   
3. The exact written instructions given to attendees: “Please rate (the companies) on the basis of demo quality and potential impact of the innovation demoed.” 
4. The four companies appearing on the highest percentage of submitted ballots were named Best of Show. 
5. Go here for a list of previous Best of Show winners.

Finantix Debuts Finantix Sharp Digital Banking Platform

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Concluding FinovateAsia 2012, Finantix launched Finantix Sharp:

“Finantix Sharp is a multi-channel platform for digital banking that introduces a new and exciting approach to customer interactions. Sales and service processes are made engaging, effective and paperless by applying user-friendly interfaces, gameful simulators, social and multimedia content, and natural language commands. Special focus is devoted to smooth collaboration of customers, banks and third parties in helping customers address their financial needs and reach their goals.” 

Product Launch: November 2012
HQ location: Venice, Italy
Founded: 1994
Website: finantix.com
Twitter@Finantix
Finovate demo video: Demo videos will be posted next week
Introducing Alessandro Tonchia (Director & Founder) and Jakub Downar (Pre-Sales Manager)

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CustomerXPs’ Clari5 Empowers Relationship Managers to Provide More Personalized Services

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Then, CustomerXPs launched Clari5:

“Clari5 iRM brings extreme real-time intelligence to Relationship Managers (RMs) on the move. Typical RM apps are the extensions of CRM screens on the RM’s tablet or phone. As these are not connected in real-time to the underlying core systems, RMs are the last ones to know when a significant moment of truth event happens. Clari5 iRM is a next generation product that interprets customers’ structured/unstructured events in real-time and provides an inference instantly empowering RMs to provide more personalized services. 

Clari5 iRM also leverages the full power of the mobile/tablet by using its real-time push, GPS, voice recognition, video, and screen sharing capabilities. Through Clari5 iRM, RM would not only be the first person to know of a potential fraud or Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF) situation, but also would be able to modify/stop the transaction.”

Product Launch: November 2012
HQ: Bangalore, India
Founded: December 2006
Metrics: 5+ year-old Enterprise Product company; $4M Series A from JAFCO; Gartner Cool Vendor 2012; Red Herring Asia 100, 2012 winner; Markets: Japan, Southeast Asia, Middle East & India
Twitter@customerxps
Finovate demo video: Demo videos will be posted next week
Introducing Rivi Varghese (CEO) and Madhavi Natukula (Marketing Manager)

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Pandai Brings P2P Lending to China

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After, Pandai showcased its P2P lending platform for the Chinese market:
“Peer-to-peer lending platform that connects borrowers with lenders through a robust credit risk management system that understands different customer demographics within China. 
For our lenders:
    • High fixed-income returns (12-15% p.a.) for lenders through investing as little as 100 RMB
    • High liquidity through loan transfers on a homogenous platform
    • Platform and borrower transparency through our convenient web platform 

For our borrowers:

    • Fair-priced products based on borrower demographics risk profile
    • Build credit over the long term, garnering lower-priced loans
    • Convenient online platform for application and payment
Moreover, with our robust credit management system and customized loan product design, Pandai.cn also is a platform for trying and testing alternative credit models.”
Product Launch: March 2012
HQ: Beijing, China
Founded: July 2011
Metrics: 15-20 employees
Website: pandai.cn
Finovate demo video: Demo videos will be posted next week
Introducing Roger Ying (CEO)

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Vermilian’s Bancapp Provides a Single Mobile Marketing Channel

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Next, Vermilian took the stage with bancapp:
“bancapp seamlessly delivers mobile banking together with sales, marketing, and communications providing an all-in-one mobile banking and marketing channel. Available as iOS and Android native apps as well as a supporting dedicated mobile website, bancapp integrates with numerous banking and marketing systems to provide individual banking services and personalised marketing communications. 
bancapp provides a unique communications capability that allows financial institutions to keep in touch with customers through the expanding mobile channel. The product presents financial institutions with a solution to challenges being faced by the changing nature of retail banking, as consumer demand for on-the-go banking increases.”
Product Launch: August 2012
HQ: Sydney, Australia
Founded: 2001
Website: vermilian.com
Finovate demo video: Demo videos will be posted next week
Introducing Anthony Voigt (Director) and John Kean (Director) 

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TradeHero’s Virtual Trading Community Leverages Social Elements and Gamification

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Then, TradeHero showcased its interactive, virtual trading community:
“TradeHero leverages mobile real-time push notifications, mobile-optimized and deep social-network integration with creative and addictive game-play elements, and we operate across the breath of the mobile space from Android through to iOS and HTML5. Key USPs include the core concept of our platform as an information-brokerage: no trade execution, no regulatory constraints; professional-grade trade modeling and verification; and access to global equities markets through our partnerships with multiple market data providers.
Unlike our competitors, our proprietary trade-validation algorithms guarantee meaningful user-generated trade content. Taken together, these unique advantages form the key components of our intellectual property and are subject to ongoing proceedings to establish legal protection across the largest possible range of key territories.”
Product Launch: Coming Soon
HQ: Singapore
Founded: August 2012
Metrics: 5 employees, pre-launch, alpha-test phase
Finovate demo video: Demo videos will be posted next week
Introducing Dominic Morris (CTO) and Dinesh Bhatia (CEO)

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BankFiling by Luminous Automates the Collection of Financial Information for FIs

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Third, Luminous took the stage with BankFiling:

“BankFiling is an innovative solution that saves banks millions by automating the timely collection of financial information from business customers with credit exposure to the bank.”

Product Launch: September 2012
HQ: Johannesburg, South Africa
Founded: 2007
Metrics:  Luminous was the first to release a ground breaking solution to deliver in-depth, financial management reports for both the banks and their customers. 
Finovate demo video: Demo videos will be posted next week
Introducing Andrew Buchanan (Global Head of Sales) and Andrew Teversham (CTO)

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Sandstone Launches SmartBank, A Next-Generation Consumer Banking Solution

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Second, Sandstone launched its SmartBank:

“Sandstone is showcasing its ‘next generation’ consumer banking solution combining internet and mobile banking, personal financial management, and loan origination capabilities to form a powerful end-to-end customer acquisition and retention tool. 

Building on the “anytime, anywhere” capabilities of emerging tablet and smartphone platforms, we will show how consumers can interact with their bank for a range of integrated banking services.”

Product Launch: November 2012
HQ: Sydney, Australia
Founded: June 1996
Metrics: Sandstone is a rapidly growing privately owned company with offices in Australia, Asia, and Europe. The company has grown from 40 employees in 2007 to over 230 employees in 2012.
Twitter@sandstonetech
Finovate demo video: Demo videos will be posted next week
Introducing Ray Yap (Product Manager) and Adrian Leow (Product Manager)

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