Finovate Alumni News– January 27, 2012

  • Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Finovate-F-Logo.jpgHelloWallet receives $12 million in funding.
  • MercuryNews reviews Jemstep’s online investment advisor.
  • CBS Money Watch hosts Jeff Mullen, CEO of Dynamics, to discuss the increased security of Card 2.0.
  • Know Your Mobile focuses on eToro’s mobile trading app for Android. Come see eToro at FinovateEurope Feb 7.
  • Finextra reports Bank of Georgia implements ProfitStars social media compliance tool.
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.

FX Empire Crowns eToro With Best Social Trading Platform Award

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eToro announced yesterday that it was selected best social trading platform by FX Empire, a financial information website:

“The committee of FX Empire, comprised of journalists, analysts and traders, decided in favour of eToro’s trading platform due to its ability to provide eToro customers with full transparency and control over their investment portfolio.”

The startup was chosen out of a large group by brokers who nominated eToro for the award.

To learn more about eToro, watch its FinovateFall 2011 demo.

Finovate Alumni News– January 13, 2012

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  • AOL’s Daily Finance lists LearnVest and ReadyForZero as resources to take control of your finances.
  • Entrepreneur test drives MyCyberTwin’s customer service bot.
  • FiPath unveils its Express Rollover Center.
  • cbanc Network’s FI user base grew seven-fold in 2011.
  • FX Empire crowns @eToro with Best Social Trading Platform Award.
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– January 3, 2012

  • Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Finovate-F-Logo.jpgRobotDough leaves GoDaddy due to SOPA support conflict.
  • Philly.com describes the Jemstep signup process.
  • Providence Business News reports Andera moves to a new office building.
  • eToro blog launches new column dedicated to analyzing the weekly activity on eToro OpenBook.
  • Forbes looks at Dwolla’s payment revolution.
  • Ping Identity announces PingFederate is now available as an Amazon Machine Image on the Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud.
  • Credit Karma launches free credit monitoring service.
  • The Receivables Exchange announces strategic alliance with Insperity Investment.
  • Lending Club removes service fee on large loans.
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.

2011 Funding for Finovate Alumni– Over $423 Million Raised

Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Finovate-F-Logo.jpgTo wrap up 2011, we’ve compiled a list of all of the funding Finovate alumni received over the course of the year. 

The results were impressive:
  • A total of 34 companies received funding, some more than once
  • The companies collectively raised over $423 million dollars
  • The months with the highest number of companies receiving funding were June August, both with 8 companies
  • The highest amount of funding came in the month of June, when the alumni brought in over $124.4 million
Here is a month-by-month breakdown of funding received:
January — $40.8 million raised by 3 companies
February — $10.3+ million raised by 3 companies
March — $20.4 million raised by 4 companies
June — $124.4 million raised by 8 companies
July — $1.1 million raised by 1 company
August — $103.4 million raised by 8 companies
September — $33 million raised by 1 company
October– $22 million raised by 2 companies
November — $16.3+ million raised by 3 companies
December — $52.2 million raised by 5 companies
Note: Funding that companies received before they demonstrated at Finovate was not counted. If you see any funding that is not on this list, please send the name of the company along with a link to the funding information to julie@netbanker.com and I will add it.

FinovateEurope 2012 Sneak Peek: Part 2

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As promised last week, here is our second “sneak peak” into the hot young startups and established leading companies that will demo their latest fintech innovations at the second annual FinovateEurope next February 7th in London.
As we mentioned in the first sneak peak, we asked each handpicked company to “whet your appetite” by providing a short summary in their own words of the innovation that they will be debuting on stage. We’ve compiled them below.
Don’t miss your chance to see fast-paced demos of the newest ideas from each company and meet the execs responsible for the cutting edge of innovation in financial and banking technology. Plus get your FinovateEurope ticket before December 23rd and you’ll lock in the early-bird price!
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BackbaseLogo.jpg

Backbase will be presenting major new features in its Bank 2.0 Portal Manager, focusing on the following key points:
  • Improved editor for page composition on regular browsers and mobile devices
  • Advanced segmentation and targeting for different customer groups
  • Fully integrated forms editor for enrollment and BPM
  • Advanced analytical and performance tools
Innovation type: Marketing, mobile and tablet UI, online UI


CardlyticsLogo.jpg

Aimia’s unique advertising platform, powered by Cardlytics, enables banks to deliver rich, relevant rewards to their customers. The platform uses customers’ unique purchasing history to deliver rewards that strengthen retention rates, increase card usage and improve customer relationships. The Cardlytics platform does all this without the need for any personally identifiable customer data.   
Critical to the success of the programme is merchant engagement. Aimia and Cardlytics will be demonstrating the portal which is used by merchants to track offers and report on revenue. The suite of merchant management tools allows merchants to deliver targeted strategies that deliver measurable results. 
Innovation type: Cards, marketing, rewards
eToroLogo.jpg

eToro provides you with immediate access to the largest investment network in the world giving you the ability to quickly find and easily build your own people-based portfolio of top performing traders. Automatically copy every trade your personal dream-team makes into your own investment account and start copying the success of the most successful traders. 
eToro reinvents the way people invest their money by propelling them into the fast growing world of social investing. Take advantage of the wisdom of the crowds and make smarter investment decisions with full transparency and control over your invested funds at any given time.
Innovation type: Investing, online UI, PFM
FenergoLogo.jpg

KYC compliance is a hot topic for financial services and Fenergo will introduce its Deal Manager application for client on-boarding, KYC compliance and account opening.
Fenergo will demonstrate how banks and financial institutions can reduce the burden and cost of KYC compliance with its straightforward application which manages all of the complex KYC data gathering and document processes and ensures full compliance with industry regulations. 
The best bit is that its Deal Manager application also supports credit processes and legal document execution, so processing new client applications has never been so straightforward. 
Innovation type: Back office, sales
FigloLogo.jpg

An onboarding tool that increases customer engagement at the same time? Figlo offers you a complete solution to gain insight in financial matters on a consumer level. Financial planning is now accessible for everyone on any device. 
Curious? Figlo’s 7 minute demo will reveal the power of financial insight.
Innovation type: Mobile and tablet UI, sales

HandpointLogo.jpg

Handpoint will be demonstrating the first totally secure mobile Chip & PIN payment solution for tablets and smartphones. The solution supports all card payments; magstripe (MSR), Chip & PIN, Chip & signature and contactless NFC Payments (2012).
With Handpoint’s Platform-as-a-Service acquiring, banks and MNOs can offer small/micro merchants card payments, tablets, and smartphones under their own brand name.
Innovation type: Payments, mobile and tablet UI
HolviLogo.jpg

Holvi replaces the plain old bank account with a current account built from the ground up for group activities. It helps customers collect more money, better understand their finances, and save time for their core activities. Customers include event organisers, sports clubs, and student associations and they can do all their banking with Holvi, without needing another bank account. 
Holvi is regulated as a payment services provider by the Finnish Financial Supervisory Authority (FIN-FSA), and it has the necessary banking partnerships in place to operate payment accounts for customers on a pan-European basis.
Innovation type: Banking, online UI, payments

PingIdentityLogo.jpg

Facebook logins are crucially important. Online banking logins are severely difficult to remember. Can something be done about this and still meet the highest standards of identity security? 
Ping Identity will show you how to deliver the best login experience to your prospects and customers. Don’t turn them away with form filling and repetitive password requirements. Give them access to your financial networks and partners. Build trust and relationships with your customers.
Innovation type: Identity, marketing, security
MenigaLogo.jpg

Meniga is expanding its PFM solution to add a new, highly user-centric layer on top of traditional online/mobile banks. 
The interface de-emphasizes real accounts and actual balances and instead shows “uncommitted balance” and virtual accounts. It also allows users to automate routine tasks and includes an alert framework designed to bring peace of mind by alerting users before bills go unpaid or before any account’s balance becomes too low to meet commitments and forecasted expenses.
Innovation type: Online UI, Payments, PFM
NutmegLogo.jpg

Investing is scary. I can invest, but I forget to buy or sell or rebalance. My financial advice has been useless. I want to be in control of my finances. I know I should be doing more with my money. 
Nutmeg knows that investing is about more than money. It’s a passport to the life you want. That opportunity shouldn’t be reserved just for the wealthy, or just for those in-the-know.
Nutmeg asks, what if investing were simple and beautiful? And what if everyone could do it?
Innovation type: Investing, online UI, PFM
SeversideGroupLogo.jpg

Banks around the globe have really struggled to understand how they can leverage the power of Facebook. 
Serverside has developed a new and unique way to leverage Facebook in an exciting and engaging manner that drives real brand value, loyalty and engagement from your customers.
Innovation type: Cards, marketing

StriataLogo.jpg

Going paperless saves money and improves customer service. However, most customers are not switching off paper because the registration process is inconvenient, complicated and results in having to remember another username and password and to fetch the document every month.
Striata’s eConsent puts you in control of the paperless conversion process. Its clients are exceeding their paperless objectives and achieving a positive ROI in a matter of months.
Innovation type: Back office, communications, marketing

TradeshiftLogo.jpg

What would make the biggest impact on the way you manage cash flow and financing? Improved processes? Streamlined operations? Or maybe more flexibility in the way you manage payment terms with suppliers?
Things change. Shift happens. Tradeshift has already transformed invoicing, now its doing the same with supply chain finance. 
Innovation type: Back office, payments, small business

Finovate Alumni News– December 5, 2011

  • Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Finovate-F-Logo.jpgFox Business News recommends banking with Simple as a way to counter bank fees.
  • The Sacramento Bee reports SafetyPay expands to U.S. marketplace in the airline & travel payments industries.
  • GeekWire reports Lighter Capital awards undisclosed amount of cash to HireAHelper.
  • Barganeering looks at what sets Personal Capital apart from Mint.com.
  • Business Insider explores the differences between SecondMarket and SharesPost.
  • Sun Life partners with Kony on claims mobile app.
  • Weemba adds 3 financial institutions to its network of lenders.
  • Two credit unions deploy Credit Karma’s tools on their online banking platforms.
  • GoalMine to launch holiday gift card trade-in service.
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.

eToro Adds Live Discussion Feed

eToroLogo.jpg

Investment network eToro announced yesterday that it has added a live discussion feed to provide users a method to communicate outside of each others’ profiles:

“OpenBook is enabling traders to follow the general buzz on the network through a live discussion feed that brings all current discussions to the user’s attention.”

The discussion feed joins general feed, the top 100 feed, and the watch list feed on the OpenBook platform.

To learn more about eToro, watch its FinovateFall 2011 demo.

Finovate Alumni News– November 29, 2011

  • Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Finovate-F-Logo.jpgContra Costa Times describes how PayNearMe works for the underbanked.
  • The Motley Fool examines how Dwolla compares to credit card payment options.
  • Banking Technology interviews Jonathan Assia, eToro CEO.
  • Business Weekly reports Voice Commerce plans to expand with more staff and a larger office building.
  • The CBS Early Show recommends using BillShrink to help you calculate how  much RAM, storage, & data you need.
  • Cartera Commerce powers Navy FCU’s card-linked offer program.
  • cbanc Network partners with HEIT, a Computer Services company, to survey FI strategies.
  • eToro Partners reaches out for regional partnership applications.
  • My Peer-to-Peer Lending Site’s blog profiles LendingKarma.
  • Failsafe Payments adds SafetyPay to CertoConnect.
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.

eToro Launches iOS Mobile App for On-The-Go Trading

Thumbnail image for eToroLogo.jpg

eToro announced a non-native mobile app to trade currencies, commodities, and indices on their mobile devices: 

“The Mobile Trading application is based on HTML5 that runs the eToro OpenBook™ social trading platform and its award winning CopyTrader™ functionality and supports IOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod) and all Android mobile devices including tablets. eToro also provides a native Mobile Trader application for Android™ which was launched September of last year.”

Javier Paz, Senior Analyst at the Aite Group notes that the new app makes it easier for users to check their account performance, search for people to follow, and find a user to copy.

To learn more about eToro’s trading platform, watch its FinovateFall 2011 demo.

Finovate Alumni News– November 8, 2011

  • Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Finovate-F-Logo.jpgNetbanker: Credit Karma Launches “Hands Free” Account Aggregation.
  • Kony and CIBC deliver new mobile brokerage application.
  • Ixaris to introduce the Opn Payment Partner.
  • Backbase & Forrester Research to host free webinar Nov 9: ‘Banks Need to Become SUPER.’
  • Everything PR lists BillGuard in the Money category of 2011′s Top 100 Best Startups for PRs.
  • eToro launches mobile HTML 5 App for social trading on the go.
  • SecureKey Technologies Inc. to power the Government of Canada’s new online authentication service.
  • Malta Independent Online looks at Wesabe, Geezeo, and Budgettracker as key online money management tools.
  • BankSimple launches to the public, changes its name to Simple.
  • eToro launches iOS mobile app for on-the-go trading.
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 Website Traffic in September

Each month we survey the Web-traffic performance of Finovate alums using data from Web-analytics company Compete.
Out of 268 alumni, 80 had more than 10,000 unique U.S. visitors in September 2011 and are included in the tables below. Of those, 33 (41%) had more visitors in September than August. Year-over-year, 42 (52%) had traffic increases.
Private Companies
  • Seeking Alpha and Cortera had the highest traffic in September with 2.1 and 2.0 million unique visitors, respectively. Cortera also had the highest increase in number of unique year-over-year visits with over 1.5 more visits in 2011 than in 2010.
  • Kabbage had the highest percentage growth year-over-year, up 280x.
  • Weemba saw the highest monthly growth percentage with more than 7.5 times the number of unique visitors in September compared to August.
  • SmartCredit.com had the highest increase in number of unique year-over-year visitors, growing by 126,000.
PrivateWebTrafficSeptember2.jpg
Source: Compete.com retrieved the week of October 26, 2011
 
1) The previous month recorded was August 2011
2) Sears Credit Score is powered by CreditKarma.com
3) Truaxis was formerly BillShrink
4) Kasasa is powered by BancVue
Public companies
 
  • CheckFree had the highest percentage growth year-over-year, with over 7 times the number of visitors this year than last year.
  • Intuit had a notable increase in number of unique, year-over-year visitors, increasing by 300,000 visits.
  • Check Point had the highest month-over-month percent growth, with 41% more visitors in September than in August.
PublicWebTrafficSeptember2.jpgSource: Compete.com retrieved the week of October 26, 2011

1) The previous month recorded was July 2011.
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Notes:
1. We reviewed 268 Finovate alumni. Only those with at least 10,000 unique visitors in July are listed.
3. NM = not measurable
4. t= tie
5. Compete estimates online visitors based on the activity of a panel of more than 2 million U.S. Internet users. It is only an estimate of traffic and may undercount at-work usage.