Blackhawk Network

Finovate Alumni News

By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: Blackhawk Network, Bluescape, Expensify, Fenergo, Mint.com, OurCrowd, SafetyPay, SuiteBox, Temenos, Tradeshift, TSYS, Zopa

On Finovate.com

  • “Finovate Debuts: Bluescape Helps Banks Create Products from Napkin Sketches”
  • “Tradeshift Earns Undisclosed Investment from Santander”

Around the web

  • Fenergo rises 25 places in global Chartis Research’s RiskTech100 rankings.
  • Blackhawk Network partners with Apple to offer ApplePay rewards.
  • The Australian reports: OurCrowd goes on start-up funds-drive.
  • SafetyPay and VTEX sign a global agreement for electronic commerce.
  • Expensify selected as preferred expense-management solution by the AICPA and CPA.com.
  • Professional Planner quotes SuiteBox CEO Ian Dunbar in discussion on technology and millennials.
  • Top Egyptian retail FI, housing and development bank goes live with Temenos core banking solution.
  • Avanzia Bank and TSYS renew card-processing partnership.

This post will be updated throughout the day as news and developments emerge. Follow our alumni news headlines on the Finovate Twitter account.

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Blackhawk Network Acquires Grass Roots for $118 Million

Blackhawk Network Acquires Grass Roots for $118 Million
By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: Blackhawk Network, Mergers & Acquisitions

Screen Shot 2016-09-01 at 3.31.12 PM

Prepaid payments network Blackhawk Network scored big yesterday. The California-based company has agreed to acquire Grass Roots, an employee- and customer-engagement solutions company, for $118 million.

This is the company’s eighth acquisition and is expected to help Blackhawk broaden the incentives-and-engagement business it launched in 2014 called Blackhawk Engagement Solutions (BES). BES took shape after Blackhawk acquired incentives-and-rewards companies Parago, InteliSpend, Cardlab, and Incentec. Since then, Blackhawk has bolstered BES by acquiring Achievers, Giftcards.com, and Extrameasures.

Bill Tauscher, executive chairman for Blackhawk, said the acquisition “complements the existing client portfolio” of Blackhawk. Tausher says the company “will also offer new products and capabilities to Grass Roots’ clients.”

While the company has commercial operations in 25+ countries, this acquisition will expand Blackhawk’s geographical reach. U.K.-based Grass Roots has offices in Europe, the Americas, and Asia and will operate as a subsidiary of Blackhawk. The finalization of the transaction is subject to approval by Germany’s Federal Cartel Office.

Founded in 2001, Blackhawk went public in 2013 (NASDAQ: HAWK) and is one of 49 companies listed on the KBW Nasdaq Financial Technology Index. In July 2016, the company launched an ecommerce website for gift cards in Canada, and at FinovateFall 2012, Blackhawk debuted GoWallet, a direct-to-consumer platform that lets users manage all of their gift cards from a central dashboard. In February 2016, the company appointed Talbott Roche as CEO.

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Finovate Alumni News

By David Penn Posted on
Categories: Avoka, Blackhawk Network, Chain.com, FinanceIt, FutureAdvisor, Narrative Science, SmartyPig

On Finovate.com

  • Blackhawk Network Acquires Grass Roots for $118 Million
  • FutureAdvisor Brings RoboAdvisory to U.S. Bank Wealth Management

Around the web

  • Avoka reports record levels of orders for fiscal 2016. Join Avoka in New York for FinovateFall 2016 next week.
  • Financeit earns spot on the TechVibes’ Fintech Five.
  • Chain CEO Adam Ludwin warns against “blockchain hype” on Fortune.com.
  • Narrative Science teams up with Franklin Templeton Investments to bring Quill technology to their fund commentary process.
  • SmartyPig switches to Sallie Mae Bank to enable partial withdrawals, direct deposit, and to offer a higher interest rate.

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.

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Finovate Alumni News

By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: Backbase, Betterment, Blackhawk Network, Check Point, Featurespace, Fidor Bank, Green Address IT, Hedgeable, Kantox, Kasasa, Payment Data Systems, Personetics, SpeechPro, Tango Card, Venmo

On Finovate.com

  • Kantox Marks $100 Million Processed Since Launching API in Beta
  • France’s Groupe BPCE Acquires Munich-based Fidor Bank

On FinDEVr.com

Around the web

  • Check Point Launches Australia and New Zealand Technical Assistance Centre and Incident Response Services.
  • Kyte Consultants partners with Featurespace.
  • USE Federal Credit Union selects Kasasa.
  • Blackhawk Network Launches eCommerce Website for Gift Cards in Canada.
  • Venmo named a Breakthrough Brand on Interbrand’s 2016 report.
  • Betterment for Business Surpasses 200 Plan Sponsors.
  • Payment Data Systems launches iOS payment processing SDK.

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.

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A Look at the First Week of Nasdaq’s Fintech Index

A Look at the First Week of Nasdaq’s Fintech Index
By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: ACI Worldwide, American Express, Blackhawk Network, Envestnet, Equifax, Fair Isaac FICO, Fidelity National Information Services, Fiserv, Green Dot, Jack Henry, Lending Club, Markit, MasterCard, PayPal, Thomson Reuters, Vantiv, VISA

While many of you were busy catching Pikachu last week, you may have missed that Nasdaq, in collaboration with KBW, launched an index to track financial technology. Officially named KBW Nasdaq Financial Technology Index (KFTX), the fund tracks 49 fintech companies, including 17 Finovate and FinDEVr alums.

On Monday, 18 July, the index opened at 1,000 points and closed at almost 1,014 points on Friday, 22 July.

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Finovate and FinDEVr alums listed in the index include:

According to Nasdaq’s press release, the companies in the index “represent roughly one-fifth (18%) of the investable domestic financial universe and nearly 4% of the investable domestic equity universe to account for approximately $785 billion in total market cap.”

It’s worth noting that the index, which will be rebalanced quarterly, does not consider activity from private companies, startups, or banks. Large, public companies may not be as sprightly as two guys in a garage, but they create their fair share of cutting-edge products and services. When creating the index, KBW and Nasdaq adhered to three guidelines:

  1. The companies mainly sell financial services
  2. Not primarily brick-and-mortar operated
  3. Income is generated from fees, rather than interest

Other companies in the index include (each company in the index is weighted equally):

Alliance Data Systems Corp. (ADS); Bankrate Inc. (RATE); Black Knight Financial Services Inc. (BKFS); BofI Holding Inc. (BOFI); Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc. (BR); Cardtronics Inc. (CATM); CBOE Holdings Inc. (CBOE); CME Group Inc. (CME); CoreLogic Inc. (CLGX); Dun & Bradstreet Corp. (DNB); Euronet Worldwide Inc. (EEFT); EverBank Financial Corp. (EVER); EVERTEC Inc. (EVTC); FactSet Research Systems Inc. (FDS); First Data Corp. (FDC); FleetCor Technologies Inc. (FLT); Global Payments Inc. (GPN); Intercontinental Exchange Inc. (ICE); MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (MKTX); Moody’s Corp. (MCO); MSCI Inc. (MSCI); Nasdaq Inc. (NDAQ); S&P Global Inc. (SPGI); SEI Investments Co. (SEIC); Square Inc. (SQ); SS&C Technologies Holdings Inc. (SSNC); Total System Services (TSS); The Western Union Co. (WU); VeriFone Systems Inc. (PAY); Verisk Analytics Inc. (VRSK); Virtu Financial Inc. (VIRT); and WEX Inc. (WEX).

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Finovate Alumni News

By David Penn Posted on
Categories: Blackhawk Network, Corezoid, ebankIT, Fiserv, FutureAdvisor, HelloWallet, INETCO Systems, Kasasa, Markit, MasterCard, OPENTECH, RaceData, Shoeboxed, Xero

On Finovate.com

  • “Shoeboxed Partners with ScanSnap Cloud for Receipt Scanning”
  • “Finovate Debuts: Race Data Helps Community Banks Turn Customer Data into Market Intelligence”
  • “Opentech Teams Up with MasterCard, Swiss Bankers to Launch Card Management App”
  • “HelloWallet Launches Savings and Debt Guidance Tool”
  • “Kasasa Reaches One Millionth Account”
  • Check out this week’s FinDEVr APIntelligence

Around the web

  • Fiserv announces its new biometric authentication solution, Verifast: Palm Authentication.
  • Markit to provide fixed income pricing data and liquidity metrics for the European Commission.
  • INETCO to power real-time transaction monitoring for Turkey’s Central Processor for Bank Payment Cards, Bankalararasi Kart Merkezi (BKM).
  • ThinkAdvisor looks at how Blackrock is taking on Schwab and Vanguard with FutureAdvisor.
  • ebankIT expands its headquarters facilities in Porto to grow R&D team.
  • Corezoid moves platform-as-a-service core banking engine to AWS.
  • Blackhawk Network Appoints Sachin Dhawan as CTO and SVP.
  • PCWorld votes Xero as its top-choice accounting software in 2016.

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.

 

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Finovate Alumni News

By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: Arroweye Solutions, Avoka, Blackhawk Network, Braintree, FIS, Fiserv, Malauzai, Markit, PayPal, Simple, ValidSoft, Wealthfront

On Finovate.com

  • “Malauzai Launches New Version of Banking Software”

Around the web

  • Aurionpro integrates ValidSoft voice biometrics as an authentication layer.
  • Arroweye Solutions to provide digital on-demand prepaid cards for Marqeta.
  • Blackhawk Network acquires Extrameasures, a prepaid consumer promotions and incentives company.
  • PayPal’s Braintree Authorization launches to bring its payments platform to more merchants, service providers.
  • The Financial Brand looks at the breakdown of Simple’s customer numbers.
  • Avoka and eSignLive partner to enable 100% digital customer acquisition.
  • Wealthfront 3.0 features a new dashboard; software and API integrations with Coinbase, Venmo, and Lending Club.
  • Texas Dow Employees CU, Thrivent FCU, and Neighbors FCU go live with core processing platform from Fiserv.
  • FIS gains accreditation to provide access to faster payments.
  • Markit unveils new Common Reporting Standard (CRS) solution for tax residency identification and due diligence.

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.

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Finovate Alumni News

By David Penn Posted on
Categories: Blackhawk Network, eWise, Feedzai, Finicity, Fiserv, Intuit Developer Group, InvestGlass, Jumio, Kony, Markit, PayPal, Quantopian, Qumram, Ripple, StreetShares, Trustly, ZeroDB

On Finovate.com

  • “Finovate Debuts: InvestGlass Built a Robo-Adviser for Advisers”
  • “Intuit Developer Group Drops Financial Data APIs; Partners with Finicity to Ease Transition”
  • “Qumram Raises $2.5 Million to Bring Website Recording to North America & U.K.”

Around the web

  • Ripple opens new office in London.
  • Markit and IHS announce $13 billion merger agreement.
  • Quantopian to launch in Australia.
  • Vibrant Credit Union converts to DNA account-processing platform from Fiserv.
  • Finextra interviews James Redfern, eWise’s global head of sales.
  • PayPal’s Dan Schulman travels to Cuba to see how it can work with the country’s small businesses.
  • Kony updates Kony Visualizer 7.0, releases free starter edition.
  • StreetShares announces SEC approval for Regulation A+ deal.
  • The Evening Show with Simon Rose interviews Trustly’s Chief Commercial Officer.
  • Blackhawk Network’s CEO Talbott Roche receives PYMNTS Innovator Award for “Women Driving Innovation in Payments.”
  • VICE’s Motherboard features ZeroDB. See them live at FinDEVr 2016 on March 29 and 30.
  • Jumio sells assets to Facebook co-founder and early backer, Eduardo Saverin.
  • The Paypers interviews Nuno Sebastiao of Feedzai.

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.

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Finovate Alumni News

By David Penn Posted on
Categories: Algomi, App Annie, Blackhawk Network, Dealflow, Misys, Prosper, Temenos, Top Image Systems

On Finovate.com

  • “DealFlow Closes Million Dollar Convertible Note”
  • “Algomi Gains Investment, Strategic Advisory from Tom Glocer, former Thomson Reuters’ CEO”
  • “Prosper Marketplace Teams Up with HomeAdvisor to Improve Access to Home Improvement Financing”

Around the web

  • Misys FusionBanking Loan IQ goes live at Virtus Partners.
  • Top Image Systems launches its next-generation accounts-payable automation solution, eFLOW AP.
  • Blackhawk Network names Anil D. Aggarwal to its board of directors.
  • App Annie acquires app marketing data company, AppScotch.
  • Temenos again recognized by IBS Intelligence as best-selling core banking software provider.

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.

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Blackhawk Network Names Talbott Roche New CEO

Blackhawk Network Names Talbott Roche New CEO
By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: Blackhawk Network

Screen Shot 2016-02-23 at 1.27.05 PM

TalbottPrepaid card and digital commerce company Blackhawk Network has named a new CEO. The company’s Board of Directors appointed Talbott Roche, pictured at right, who succeeds William Tauscher as the company’s chief executive.

Tauscher, who served as CEO since 2010, will continue to serve as chairman on the company’s board of directors. Regarding the transition, Tauscher states, “It has long been my intention for Talbott to one day lead the company as president and CEO, and I have supreme confidence in her abilities and leadership to carry this great organization forward.”

Roche has served as SVP of Blackhawk for five years and will continue to serve as the company’s president. She is a graduate of Stanford University.

Blackhawk went public in 2013 and has since completed nine acquisitions. The company employs 2,500 people in 24 countries.

BlackhawkDemo

Tomas Campos and Sheila Andres presented GoWallet at FinovateFall 2012 in New York.

At FinovateFall 2012, Blackhawk debuted GoWallet, a direct-to-consumer mobile app that helps users manage all of their prepaid cards in a single place. The app also enables customers to purchase and personalize gift cards, and offers access to special coupons and offers.

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Finovate Alumni News

By David Penn Posted on
Categories: Blackhawk Network, Bluefin Payment Systems, Cachet Financial Solutions, Check, Coinbase, Dream Payments, Fiserv, Guardian Analytics, Insuritas, iSignthis, Klarna, Motif Investing, PayPal, Pindrop Security, Qapital, Roostify, SecondMarket

On Finovate.com

  • Dream Payments Unveils Mobile Merchant Platform for Banks and Acquirers.
  • Blackhawk Network Names Talbott Roche New CEO.
  • Coinbase and Motif Investing Earn Spots on Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2016 List.

Around the web

  • Fiserv named to Fortune magazine’s list of the World’s Most Admired Companies in 2016.
  • Pindrop launches its comprehensive call center fraud-prevention platform, IVR Anti-Fraud.
  • Sussex County FCU picks Insuritas to deploy new insurance agency solution.
  • iSignthis‘ paydentity KYC service is suitable for use by businesses in the regulated sector of the Isle of Man, a global financial hub.
  • Inc. profiles Sweden’s Klarna and its plans for U.S. expansion.
  • Co-founded by former Check CMO Daniel Kjellen, MovoCash announces $700,000 seed investment.
  • Ingo Money partners with PayPal, adds instant check-splitting.
  • Roostify to integrate with zipLogix to facilitate communication between lenders and realtors.
  • American Banker features SecondMarket.
  • Bluefin Payment Systems and Worldnet partner for PCI-validated P2PE on Worldnet’s payment platform.
  • Cachet appoints new Chief Financial Officer Bryan Meier.

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.

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Finovate Alumni News

By David Penn Posted on
Categories: Blackhawk Network, VISA, wipro

Around the web:

  • Blackhawk Network acquires NimbleCommerce, a digital commerce platform and network.
  • Wipro wins seven-year, IT-infrastructure contract with international insurer RSA.
  • Visa unveils its new Visa Developer Program, giving developers API-based access to many of Visa’s payment technologies.

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.

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