Finovate Alumni News

On Finovate.com

  • “CoverHound Completes $33 Million Series C”
  • “Trading Ticket Picks Up $4 Million in Seed Funding from Citi, Valar Ventures”

Around the web

  • Engage Financial Technology, formerly OnBudget, powers BBVA’s new ClearSpend mobile budgeting app.
  • Eastern Bank to pilot Stratos partner program.
  • PYMNTS considers BlueVine’s approach to factoring.
  • CellTrust named a finalist for Arizona Technology Council’s 2015 Governor’s Celebration of Innovation Awards.
  • SecureKey brings its SecureKey Concierge authentication and ID verification service to the U.S.
  • Temenos executive James Redfern joins eWise as Global Head of Sales.
  • Geezeo unveils new API website with revised REST API and .NET SDK.
  • ShopKeep acquires Ambur, an mPOS software specialist.
  • TIO Networks forms TIO Telecom Solutions, a new division focused on the needs of network operators.
  • ThreatMetrix experiences 50% increase in mobile volume since Sep 2014.
  • Kanto X hits $2+ billion in currency-exchange transactions.
  • Check Point and AirWatch partner to secure the future of the mobile enterprise.
  • 7-Eleven and PayNearMe launch PayNearMe Bill Pay app, a full-service bill-payment center.

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.

$680 Million Raised by 29 Alums in Q1 2015

$680 Million Raised by 29 Alums in Q1 2015

cartoonmoneystackThe biggest surprise in our look at first-quarter funding is that the $677 million amassed by 29 Finovate alums was more than 20% of the $3.2 billion invested in the entire worldwide fintech sector.

The $677 million raised was $85 million (+14%) above the same quarter a year ago, and more than triple the first quarter of 2013.

Q1 2015 was also $133 million above the $544 million mark set in the fourth quarter of 2014.

It will be worth watching to see if this record-setting first quarter for Finovate alum fundraising will be a sign of more great things to come for capital-raising in 2015.

Top 10 Overall Investments

  1. Xero: $111 million in February
  2. Coinbase: $75 million in January
  3. Betterment: $60 million in February
  4. TransferWise: $58 million in January
  5. App Annie: $55 million in January
  6. Ayasdi: $55 million in March
  7. Motif Investing: $40 million in January
  8. Ripple Labs: $30 million in January
  9. Bill.com: $50 million in February
  10. Pindrop Security: $35 in February

Previous Quarterly Comparisons

  • Q1 2015: More than $676 million raised by 29 alums
  • Q4 2014: More than $544 million raised by 25 alums
  • Q1 2014: More than $600 million raised by 8 alums
  • Q1 2013: More than $155 million raised by 14 alums

January: More than $275 million raised by 14 alums

February: More than $264 million raised by 8 alums

March: More than $136 million raised by 7 alums

If you are an alum that raised money in the first quarter of 2015, and do not see your company listed, please drop us a note at [email protected]. We would love to share the good news! Funding received prior to becoming an alum not included.

Alumni News—February 18, 2015

  • Mitek launches Commercial Mobile Deposit Capture, bringing MDC technology to the enterprise.
  • Malauzai reports doubling revenues, growth of customer base to more than 300 community banks and credit unions.
  • D3Banking adds to leadership team with four new appointments.
  • Check out FinovateEurope 2015 in the press.
  • Bluefin Payment Systems to provide Decryptx point-to-point encryption (P2PE) solution to Heartland Payment Systems’ clients.
  • Temenos purchases Akcelerant to accelerate growth in North America.
  • Lending Club partners with BancAlliance, a national consortium of 200 community banks.
  • Fast Company lists BehavioSec, Ripple, Braintree, Expensify, NICE and BlueVine as top innovative companies in the money category
  • PYMNTS discusses retail’s adoption of mPOS with Bluefin Payment systems.
  • ayondo clients now receive free access to real time analysis tools from StockPulse.
  • Kantox uses Apply Financial’s API to enhance customer service and enable more integrated international payments.
  • TechFlash interviews Payfone CEO and co-founder Rodger Desai.
  • Stockhouse: TIO Networks poises to capture major portion of mobile payment market.
  • USA Today highlights Tuition.io for student debt management.
  • TransferWise launches in United States.
  • Code CU to use Insuritas for insurance agency solution.
  • Coinbase Android and iOS apps now available in 11 new languages.
  • Global Financial Private Capital selects HiddenLevers to help advisors grow their practice.
  • Tradier’s API takes 15 million production calls in Jan., a 33% increase in a single month.
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.

Alumni News– January 23, 2015

  • Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Finovate-F-Logo.jpgInternet Retailer looks at the relationship between product reviews and revenue courtesy of a new report from Baazarvoice.
  • Xero highlighted as “our best purchase of 2014” by Business Betties.
  • MakeMoneyYourWay profiles EZBOB and its new business loan promotion, the New Year’s Revolution.
  • Zee News’ Money Guru interviews Abhishek Dwivedi, vice president operations at BankBazaar.com.
  • Liverpool Echo features Toshl Finance in its list of must-have apps for busy moms.
  • Investopedia’s guide to choosing roboadvisors spotlights nine Finovate alums: Betterment, FutureAdvisor, Jemstep, LearnVest, Motif Investing, Personal Capital, SigFig, TradeKing, and Wealthfront.
  • Benzinga Fintech Awards publishes its video interview with Gary Zimmerman, CEO of MaxMyInterest.
  • American Banker covers OnDeck’s small business loan marketplace for institutional investors.
  • Pymnts interviews René Lacerte, CEO and Founder of Bill.com about how to simplify B2B payments.
  • Mifos welcomes new partners: SkooliLabs and iSystems
  • Google Cloud Platform releases beta of Google Container Registry for secure hosting, sharing, and management of private container repositories.
  • BlueVine Grabs $18.5 Million to Increase Small-Business Lending.
  • Encap Security CEO Thomas Bostrom Jorgensen asks if biometrics provide a “false sense of security” in a column for Bob’s Guide.
  • Akimbo Financial acquired by Payment Data Systems.
  • Kreditech Secures $200 Million Line of Credit.
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.

BlueVine Grabs $18.5 Million to Increase Small-Business Lending

BlueVineLogo2.jpg

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.

BlueVineHomepage2015.jpg

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.

Alumni News– November 24, 2014

  • Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Finovate-F-Logo.jpgGoldman Sachs announces investment in Kensho, becomes platform’s largest strategic investor.
  • Acculynk launches strategic partnership with PayPlum, announces acquisition of company’s intellectual property.
  • The Economist cites Comarch in its review of Polish companies succeeding internationally.
  • Leaf CEO Sarah McCrary talks mobile payments in panel discussion on Foodable WebTV.
  • Invests.com features Azimo in column on online money transfer companies.
  • Finovate Debuts: BlueVine.
  • Nasdaq.com examines PayPal’s place in the mobile payments wave.
  • Forbes looks at how PayNearMe helps the underbanked.
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 Debuts: BlueVine

The Finovate Debuts series introduces new Finovate alums. Today’s feature is BlueVine, which demonstrated its credit line for small businesses at FinovateFall 2014.

BlueVineLogo2.jpg

BlueVine provides small businesses (SMBs), who often have uneven cashflow, with financing to manage operations. By automatically connecting with the SMB’s accounting software, BlueVine furnishes cash for business’ unpaid invoices in as quickly as a day.

Stats

    • 17 employees
    • $5.5 million in funding
    • Founded July 2013

Top 3 benefits

1) Fast funding
To minimize manual input, BlueVine connects to the small business’ accounting software to access unpaid invoices.

The screenshot below shows the user dashboard, which lists all invoices available for instant financing, indicated by the Get paid now button on the right.

BlueVineInvoices.jpg

The first time the SMB requests funds, they indicate where to send the money, which can arrive as quickly as 24 hours. Subsequent funding requests take only minutes.

2) Simple and transparent
BlueVine’s payment calculator is an example of its simplicity. It requires only two inputs, the amount of the invoice and the due date.

It also shows the advance payment, which equals 85% of the invoice, and is the maximum amount they can receive upfront, alongside the rebate, the amount the SMB receives once the invoice is paid.

BlueVinesliders.jpg

BlueVine has no set up or subscription dues, and is transparent about its fees. The Funded section of the dashboard details the cash advance, repayment history, and total fees.

BlueVineInvoiceFees.jpg

3) 100% online; no paperwork
The BlueVine application process requires two forms, one for business details (see below) and another with personal information.

BlueVineBusinessform.jpgSMBs upload additional information, such as bank statements, online.

BlueVine demonstrated at FinovateFall 2014, check out the video here.

BlueVine Helps Companies with Lumpy Cash Flow

BlueVine Helps Companies with Lumpy Cash Flow
BlueVineLogo2

This post is part of our live coverage of FinovateFall 2014.

BlueVine showed how it can provide funds for small businesses quickly to solve cash flow issues:
“BlueVine gives small businesses an advance on their invoices that they can use to cover expenses or grow their business. We integrate with the most popular cloud accounting software so SMBs can request funds with a click of a button. There is no cost to sign up, no minimum volume requirements, and no termination fees. We offer businesses both discretion over their customer relationships, and control over their financing needs.
BlueVine works with B2B companies with invoice terms of 15 to 90 days and funds invoices with a face value of $500 or more. Customer credit lines typically start between $5,000 and $15,000 and can go up $50,000. Funds can be available as fast as 24 hours, and sooner for returning customers.”
Presenting: Eyal Lifshitz, CEO and Edward Castaño, VP Operations
BlueVineHomepage
Product Launch: March 2014
Metrics: $5.5M raised, 15 employees
Product distribution strategy: Direct to Business (B2B)
HQ: Palo Alto, CA
Founded: July 2013
Website: bluevine.com 
Twitter: @BlueVineCapital

Alumni News, 22 August 2014

  • Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Finovate-F-Logo.jpgEyeVerify raises $6 million in Series A round, joins Wells Fargo Startup Accelerator.
  • Continuity Control announces $10 million investment.
  • Zumigo earns a spot in, and an investment from, Wells Fargo Startup Accelerator.
  • BlueVine brings in $1.5 million in funding. Check out BlueVine’s live demo at FinovateFall.
  • Four notable website upgrades on Bankbazaar.com.
  • Houston Chronicle features Lending Club success story.
  • Check Point Software Technology positioned as a Leader in the 2014 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Unified Threat Management.
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.

BlueVine Brings in $1.5 Million in Funding

BlueVine Brings in $1.5 Million in Funding
BlueVineLogo2

Last week, in an extension of its latest seed round, BlueVine raised an additional $1.5 million. This, along with the $4 million round in March, brings its total funding to $5.5 million.

While the specific investor was not stated, investors in previous installments include:

    • Greylock Partners Israel
    • Lightspeed Venture Partners
    • Kreos Capital
    • Correlation Ventures
    • Kima Ventures
BlueVineHomepage

BlueVine’s platform frees up cash flow for small businesses by providing expedited payment to bridge the gap between outstanding invoice payments and working capital for business operations. After the small business connects their invoicing software to BlueVine, here’s what happens:

    • They select the invoices for which they want immediate funding
    • BlueVine funds 85% of the invoice amount up front
    • When the invoice is due, the customer pays and the small business receives a rebate

BlueVine will demo live on stage at FinovateFall this September 23 and 24 in NYC.