CallVU Boosts Mobile Banking in Romania; Fintech Adoption in Colombia Surges

As Finovate goes increasingly global, so does our coverage of financial technology. Finovate Global: Fintech News from Around the World is our weekly look at fintech innovation in developing economies in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and Central and Eastern Europe.

Asia-Pacific

  • CIMB Niaga and Liquid Group forge strategic partnership to drive cross-border QR payments between Singapore and Indonesia.
  • Active.Ai, developers of a conversational AI platform for financial services companies, raises $3 million in Series A funding.
  • Dianrong, a Chinese P2P lender, completes its latest funding round. The amount raised was not disclosed.

Sub-Saharan Africa

  • Nigerian lender Kudimoney rebrands as Kuda; picks up banking license from the country’s central bank.
  • Virgin Money South Africa to launch zero monthly fee bank account and low-cost cross border payments via its app.
  • Sixteen companies, fully one-third, in the Inclusive Fintech 50 of early-stage startups working on solutions to advance financial inclusion, hail from sub-Saharan Africa.

Central and Eastern Europe

  • CallVU teams up with Banca Transilvania to boost mobile banking.
  • Romanian consumer app Beez picks up more than $284,000 (€250,000) in new funding.
  • Russia’s Sberbank acquires stake in Islamic charity platform, PayZakat.

Middle East and Northern Africa

  • Egyptian fintech startup Paynas wins Visa’s FinTech pitch-off competition at the Seamless North Africa 2019 conference, taking home a prize of $50,000.
  • Libya’s Yaqeen Bank partners with Oracle FSS to deploy its core platform and digital banking experience.
  • What is the future of the bank branch in MENA? Khaleej Times takes a look.

Central and Southern Asia

  • National Bank of Pakistan partners with financial systems supplier Autosoft Dynamics to automate the branch’s operations in Bahrain.
  • India’s central bank to revisit regulations on the storage of payments data.
  • Could the success of Kenya’s M-Pesa show the way to higher fintech adoption in India?

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Brazil launches regulatory sandbox for fintech and blockchain-related projects.
  • Colombian consumers are adopting fintech solutions at a faster rate than consumers in any other Latin American country according to the latest survey from EY Global.
  • Celcoin, a Brazilizian fintech that enables users to their smartphone into a hub for reselling mobile phone recharges, earns a spot in the Inclusive 50 list.

Top image designed by Freepik

CallVU Teams Up with Banca Transilvania to Boost Mobile Banking

CallVU Teams Up with Banca Transilvania to Boost Mobile Banking

One of the biggest banks in Romania, Banca Transilvania, is teaming up with Israel-based CallVU to support the launch of its new digital customer experience: BT Visual Help. The solution will drive mobile self-banking, and empower customers with features like card controls to block transactions or modify transaction limits.

The technology has successfully emerged from a beta phase involving more than 10,000 actions in two months from bank customers using the solution. Gabriela Nistor, Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Retail Banking at BT told Romania-Insider that CallVU was the ideal answer to the challenge of using new digital technologies to bring positive experiences to customers. “CallVU suited our needs extremely well and came with what we wanted,” Nistor said.

Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel, CallVU demonstrated its Digital Engagement and BOT Platform at FinovateSpring 2017. The solution automates business processes and maximizes digital assets in order to create consistent, cross-channel customer journeys. The platform helps steer queries to digital self-service, improves first contact resolution, and supports digital transformation.

Banca Transilvania offers retail, small business, and corporate banking services, and was voted The Most Trusted Brand in 2014 by the Romanian public. Founded in 1993, the bank has assets of $12 billion as of 2016 (RON 51.76 billion), more than 1.7 million customers, 550 locations, and more than 7,000 employees. Banca Transilvania is headquartered in Cluj-Napoca, Romania and, with Omer Tetik as CEO, is led by one of the youngest bank CEOs in the country.

CallVU’s partnership with Banca Transilvania is the most recent headline for the company. It began the year with news of a partnership with interactive voice and customer experience solutions provider Blueworx that added its visual-IVR solutions to Blueworx’s CX portfolio. In March, CallVU collaborated with NICE Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to offer organizations enriched IVR and digital customer engagement for the front end, with smart automation for complex back end processes.

CallVU has raised $8 million in funding. The company includes Liberty Global Ventures and Global Fintech Solutions among its investors.

Finovate Alumni News

On Finovate.com

  • CallVU Teams Up with Banca Transilvania to Boost Mobile Banking.
  • Finovate Global: Fintechs Merge and Rebrand in Vietnam; Tinkoff Launches New Voice Assistant Oleg.
  • Hi Oleg! Tinkoff Launches Virtual Assistant.

Around the web

  • Jscrambler introduces self-healing JavaScript to fight code tampering.
  • AlphaPoint sets up shop in Switzerland to access the growing market for tokenization in the country.
  • BlueRush announces that its Best of Show winning IndiVideo platform has topped $100,000 in committed monthly recurring revenue.
  • AiThority interviews founder and CEO of Arkose Labs, Kevin Gosschalk.
  • Global alternative asset manager EJF Capital joins the Artivest platform.
  • INTELid Digital ID blockchain platform integrates ValidSoft’s voice recognition technology.
  • Choosemycompany.com recognizes YSEOP on itsAtWork and HappyIndex.
  • Ayondo’s COO and CFO resign.
  • NDGIT receives Finance IT Innovation Award 2019.
  • Fenergo enters the Taiwanese market through a partnership with TUNG-I Information Services (TUNG-I).

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

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.

Finovate Alumni News

On Finovate.com

  • Finablr Takes Majority Stake in Digital Gifting Innovator Swych.
  • Simple Appoints Former Amazon Exec as CEO.

Around the web

  • Analyst Ian McKenna highlights six Finovate alums – Access Softek, Bucket Technologies, Systelos, BlueRush, Tinkoff, and Golden – in his roundup of “fintech innovators making waves.”
  • Marketing Technology Insights interviews CallVU CEO Ori Faran.
  • Hydrogen, iProov, Ocrolus, and James Finance are among 20 startups competing for top honors at the India FinTech Awards 2018.
  • The Constant Investor’s Crypto Watch interviews Identitii CEO Nick Armstrong on the role of blockchain technology in fighting cybercrime.
  • Tinkoff Mobile extends service to seven additional areas of Russia including Smolensk and the Republic of Mordovia.
  • Kofax pays $400 million in cash to buy Nuance’s imaging division.
  • Walmart’s in-store Direct2Cash service gives PayActiv users instant cash access to earned wages.
  • Kony enhances Kony AppPlatform to support progressive web apps.
  • CEO Review magazine features AdviceRobo CEO Diederick Van Thiel.
  • BehavioSec launches new features for version 5 of its behavioral biometrics platform.

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

On Finovate.com

Around the web

  • iSignthis announces its Tier 1 JCB card acquiring service is now live in the EU/EEA.
  • CallVU to provide advanced biometric authentication technology to international credit card provider.
  • Jumio reports sales growth of 130% year over year for the first three quarters of 2018.
  • Capsilon teams up with Home Point Financial to streamline loan process.
  • The latest upgrade of SecureSafe features desktop encryption. In German.
  • NICE Actimize launches X-Sight, a financial crime risk management platform-as-a-service solution.
  • Alloy and Socure partner to automate digital identity verification and onboarding for financial institutions.
  • PayStand expands operations to Mexico, forms regional partnership with StartupGDL.
  • Tinkoff Bank adds 26 new currencies for its Black Card customers.
  • Identitii launches Overlay+ to enable Know Your Transaction. 
  • Jack Henry & Associates acquires BOLTS Technologies for its digital account opening solution.

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

On Finovate.com

  • DefenseStorm Forges Strategic Partnership with Alogent.
  • FinovateFall 2018: Be There … In Times Square.

Around the web

  • Ripple reaches milestone as its RippleNet network is now live in more than 40 countries across six continents.
  • Bambu, Exate Technology, and Market IQ are among the seven startups selected for Plug and Play ADGM’s three-month accelerator program.
  • AlphaPoint appoints Moishe Gubin to its board of directors.
  • CallVU to provide an international credit company with biometric authentication via its digital engagement platform.
  • Enveil and Payfone earn spots on the 2018 SINET 16 Innovators roster.
  • Fifth Domain features Hacker One in a look at how white hat hackers could help improve voting machine security.

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.

FinovateSpring Sneak Peek: CallVU

FinovateSpring Sneak Peek: CallVU

Screen Shot 2017-04-17 at 3.35.17 PM

FS2017-Logo(rev)V1A look at the companies demoing live at FinovateSpring on April 26 & 27 in San Jose. Pick up your tickets today and save your spot.

CallVU offers an omni-channel hub, enabling customers to use their channel of choice – mobile, web, voice or messaging, with digital self-service and a branch-like experience when human touch is needed.

Features

  • Increase mobile adoption
  • Divert callers to digital
  • Offer a virtual branch

Why it’s great
Breaking the glass ceiling of mobile adoption, CallVU migrates callers into a digital, self-service experience.Screen Shot 2017-04-17 at 3.40.24 PM

Amitai Ratzon, VP Global Sales
Ratzon brings to CallVU over 15 years of financial services expertise, coupled with vast enterprise software sales experience. Previously, Amitai was VP Sales at Earnix.
LinkedIn

Screen Shot 2017-04-17 at 3.40.35 PMAssaf Frenkel, VP Product & Marketing
A pioneer of mobile engagement, Mr. Frenkel was the founder and manager of the Mobile Engagement business unit at NICE. Mr. Frenkel was co-founder and CEO of mybitat, an IoT analytics company.
LinkedIn

Finovate Alumni News

On Finovate.com

  • Finovate Debuts: unblu Delivers an In-Person Customer Experience Online.
  • Check out our latest Sneak Peeks of upcoming FinovateSpring demos from Newchip, IBM Trusteer, Divy, CallVU, Finicity, GoodData, & NCR Corporation.
  • Narrative Science Raises $11 Million Series E.

Around the web

  • MaxMyInterest members gain access to increased FDIC insurance and competitive yields on cash balances courtesy of new partnership with UFB Direct.
  • Bahrain-based Bank ABC goes live with omni-channel digital banking service using Backbase’s platform.
  • Revolut joins forces with UK online mortgage broker, Trussle, enabling prospective homebuyers to begin the application process on mobile phones.
  • PayPal teams with Android to launch a new way to pay.
  • Lending Club launches mobile app for investors.
  • Handpoint launches analytics dashboard.
  • ProfitStars and Tyfone partner to offer digital banking and billpay solution.

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.

FinovateSpring Sneak Peek: CallVU

FinovateSpring Sneak Peek: CallVU

Screen Shot 2017-04-03 at 1.18.49 PM

FS2017-Logo(rev)V1A look at the companies demoing live at FinovateSpring on April 26 & 27 in San Jose. Pick up your tickets today and save your spot.

CallVU’s Digital Engagement provides a single, self-service bot journey to customers in their channel of choice by delivering social and messaging channels and overlaying existing digital channels.

Features

  • Digital transformation drives customers to use digital web and mobile when they call
  • Improved First Call Resolution (FCR) rates and user experience
  • Omni-channel customer experience

Why it’s great
One platform, multiple ways to engage: bot, web, call.

Presenters

Assaf Frenkel, VP of Product & Marketing
A pioneer of Mobile Engagement, Frenkel was the founder and manager of the mobile engagement business unit at NICE. He has also served as CEO of mybitat and was an investment professional at Gemini Ventures

Amitai Ratzon, VP of Global Sales
Ratzon brings to CallVU over 15 years of financial services expertise, coupled with vast enterprise software sales experience. Previously, he was VP of sales at Earnix.

Finovate Alumni News

On Finovate.com

  • Check out sneak peeks from FinovateSpring demoing companies SpeechPRO, CallVU, ACH AlertnanoPay DefenseStorm, and SuperMoney.
  • InComm Partners with WeChat Pay Parent Tencent.

Around the web

  • PYMNTS.com looks at Payoneer and escrow service as a way to support B2B payments.
  • SelfScore launches Achieve Card to provide international students with access to credit.
  • New service from Azimo enables money transfers with just a phone number.
  • PYMNTS profiles LendUp’s target market focus.
  • Loan validation firm Global Debt Registry Adds Prosper to Network.
  • DemystData celebrates its one-year anniversary in Singapore by expanding its offices.
  • EyeLock receives patent for sequentially linking iris matching with facial imaging.
  • Wired gets into the algorithmic brains of Quantopian.

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.

Spring Forward: FinovateSpring 2016 Alums Top $200 Million in Funding

Spring Forward: FinovateSpring 2016 Alums Top $200 Million in Funding

FinovateSpring2016_scene

With FinovateSpring 2017 coming next month, we thought we’d take a look back at how the alums from our last spring conference a year ago have fared on the fundraising front.

And after a quick review, it seems that investors continue to be interested in the innovations of Finovate alumni. In fact, even without the $1.8 billion Golden Gate Capital spent on its acquisition of Neustar late last year ($2.9 million with debt included), the alums from FinovateSpring 2016 have had an impressive year of fundraising. While the specific funding amounts for a number of alums were not officially disclosed, our review shows more than $200 million raised by 20 FinovateSpring 2016 alums over the past year alone.

Among the bigger deals of the past year, the $72 million raised by OurCrowd stands out. OurCrowd, a crowd investing platform for venture capital, was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Jerusalem, Israel. With a growing network of more than 17,000 investors, OurCrowd has raised $400 million on its platform, providing funding for 110 companies. Also noteworthy was the $29 million raised by FinDEVr/Finovate alum NYMBUS in two separate fundings in August and February. NYMBUS is an innovator in developing advanced, cloud-based core banking systems. Known as a “bank in a box” NYMBUS technology gives smaller banks and credit unions the ability to compete with larger FIs when it comes to providing customers with the latest digital banking services.

So to help get you ready for FinovateSpring 2017, here’s a list of the investments scored by alums from last year’s conference. And remember you can see live demos from all 20 of our fundraising FinovateSpring 2016 alums in our Video Archives.

February 2017

  • FinDEVr New York Alum NYMBUS Announces $16 Million in New Funding
  • Qumram’s Regtech Offering Lands $1.49 Million
  • Empyr Raises $3 Million in Funding

January 2017

  • ForwardLane Raises $1.1 Million in New Funding
  • Earnix Receives $13.5 Million in Growth Capital from New and Existing Investors

December 2016

  • Cyberfend Acquired by Akamai Technologies for Undisclosed Amount

November 2016

  • Sezzle Raises Seed Funding Ahead of Shopify Debut ($1.85 million)
  • Neustar Acquired by Golden Gate Capital for $1.8 Billion (including debt $2.9B)

October 2016

  • ThreatMetrix Picks Up $30 Million in Growth Capital from Silicon Valley Bank (debt financing)

September 2016

  • OurCrowd Pulls In $72 Million
  • WealthForge to Raise $2.5 Million in New Convertible Note Offering
  • OneVisage Earns Seed Funding in Round Led by Polytech Ecosystem Ventures (amount undisclosed)

August 2016

  • CUneXus Closes $5 Million Series A
  • Automobile Title Lending Platform Finova Financial Raises $52.5 Million
  • NYMBUS Raises $12 Million in Round Led by Vensure Enterprises

July 2016

  • Linqto Announces New Venture Funding from Keiretsu Capital (amount undisclosed)

June 2016

  • NICE Funding! CallVU Raises $3 Million
  • Civic Announces New Debt Financing from Blockchain Capital (amount undisclosed)
  • savedroid AG Completes €1 ($1.1 USD) Million Seed Round; Announces Beta Launch
  • Cyberfend Earns Undisclosed Non-Equity Assistance from MasterCard Start Path Global Program.
  • BanQu Secures $100,000 in Financing (convertible note)

Are you a FinovateSpring 2016 alums whose funding we missed? Send us an email research@finovate.com and we’ll be happy to make the update.