Finovate Alumni News– June 22, 2012

  • Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Finovate-F-Logo.jpgBusiness Insider reports on Expensify’s growth.
  • Financial Post covers FutureAdvisor.
  • Commerce Bank partners with Affinity Solutions & Affinion loyalty group.
  • eArticles names eToro the leading broker in Australian forex trading.
  • WSJ Live reports LearnVest plans to use web tech & phone consults to help users develop financial plans.
  • Mobile Apps Showdown profiles Personal Capital.
  • Volly selects ProfitStars for online payments.
  • Monitise chosen to launch new mobile banking service for Co-operative Bank.
  • Business Insider names Mint and Personal Capital 2 finance apps you can’t live without.
  • BancBox launches payment platform to public.
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– June 19, 2012

  • Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Finovate-F-Logo.jpgThis is Money Blog compares Zopa with RateSetter and Funding Circle.
  • Geosho brings location-based visualization to Tradeshift.
  • TechCrunch lists reasons why its okay to trust FutureAdvisor to manage your money.
  • Credit Union Journal reports Star One CU Launches Tyfone’s Mobile Banking.
  • American Banker reports Andera’s oFlows supports paperless account opening.
  • Kony and Wipro form partnership to speed up mobile app development.
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– June 14, 2012

  • Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Finovate-F-Logo.jpgAlbany Times Union reports CSI’s globalVCard leads execs out of ID theft and into mobile payments.
  • $3.7 bil Patelco CU commits to ThreatMetrix’s malware defense software.
  • Backbase powering online banking platform for Absa Group, a subsidiary of Barclays.
  • American Banker reports Firethorn Mobile to power Burger King’s mobile app.
  • GlobalCollect offers BOKU as Mobile Payment Checkout to its Merchant Network.
  • Financial Services and Big-Data Executive Mary Anne Keegan joins BillGuard as CMO.
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– June 11, 2012

  • Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Finovate-F-Logo.jpgTagit wins coveted Emerging Enterprise Award 2012.
  • BlogTalkRadio talks to Kathryn Petralia, COO & Co-founder of Kabbage.
  • Offermatic alters business model, no longer pursuing card-linked offers.
  • Chicago Tribune looks at Future Advisor and Betterment as two inexpensive investing platforms.
  • BBC news reports Zopa has lent more than £200m since it started in 2005.
  • Credit Sesame Scores $12 Million in Series C Funding.
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– June 6, 2012

  • Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Finovate-F-Logo.jpg2 Minute Finance covers Concur’s FinovateSpring 2012 demo.
  • Quid puts FinovateSpring companies through its Big Data algorithm.
  • Netbanker reports Doxo Provides the Missing Login at Small Billers.
  • TIO Networks named to PROFIT Mag’s list of Fastest-Growing Companies in Canada.
  • GigaOM reports Wonga readies $1.5 billion IPO.
  • Wall Street Journal reviews FutureAdvisor.
  • ThreeThriftyGuys.com reviews SaveUp.com.
  • American Banker reports Computer Services Inc. (CSI) adds Geezeo’s PFM tools to its online banking suite.
  • Business Insider recommends using Credit Karma and ReadyForZero to get out of debt and raise your credit score.
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– June 4, 2012

  • Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Finovate-F-Logo.jpgO’Reilly Radar takes an in-depth look at FutureAdvisor, interviews CEO Bo Lu.
  • Business Insider recommends Mint & BillGuard as worthy personal finance apps to help you control your finances.
  • Strands Finance, selected as tech partner of PostFinance, a Swiss FI & payment transactions provider.
  • HIT Consultant features Diversinet CEO on Newest Podcast.
  • Security Service FCU selects Tyfone to deliver next gen mobile services.
  • PaySimple named to JMP Securities Hot 100 Software Companies 2012.
  • Austin’s Statesman.com asks: Can Bazaarvoice IPO be catalyst for new wave of startups?
  • Altoona’s Hearld-Index profiles T8 Webare.
  • Barron’s looks at SigFig as A Take-Charge Portfolio Manager.
  • InComm & Absolute Software form partnership.
  • The Examiner looks at how Virtual Piggy is protecting kids online & interviews Founder & CEO, Dr. Jo Webber.
  • Check out the latest founder interview: Laura Mather of Silver Tail Systems.
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– May 24, 2012

  • Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Finovate-F-Logo.jpgBank Technology News reports WattzOn Helps Banks Help Customers Save on Energy Bills.
  • Fast Company reports Personal Capital’s beautiful app convinces the wealthy to trust their money to strangers.
  • TechCrunch reports that Mint.com updated its app to allow users to split transactions.
  • Crain’sNewYorkBusiness.com describes how BillGuard fits into the Big Data scene.
  • How DCisions, Personal Capital, SigFig, FutureAdvisor, and Jemstep Are Shaking Up Wealth Management.
  • Klarna adds Nigel Morris, co-founder of Capital One, and Anton Levy, MD of General Atlantic, to its board of directors.
  • Westmoreland Community FCU chooses Geezeo for PFM.
  • StockTwits debuts new social signals features.
  • Kony Solutions announces $15 million series C financing.
  • Mitek enables $10 billion worth of mobile deposits.
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.

How DCisions, Personal Capital, SigFig, FutureAdvisor, and Jemstep Are Shaking Up Wealth Management

The wealth management industry has seen increased press coverage lately. Take, for example, The Economist’s recent piece discussing how increased competition from startups has tempted clients into moving assets to lower-cost alternatives.

The article mentions DCisions, a startup tackling the big data around client portfolios. It also highlights Personal Capital, which launched at FinovateFall. The Economist states that the startup’s online platform:

DCisionsLogo.jpgThumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for PersonalCapitalLogo.jpg

“… tries to straddle the world between cheap online wealth management and the old world of private banking”

Aside from the cost, one of the largest benefits of moving your 
millions into a startup like Personal Capital is that the investment advice is unbiased. This is a topic that Business Insider covered last week, voicing concerns that clients’ brokers are “royally screwing them over.”

The article states:

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“With no other fees to compare your own to, you could wind up paying for far more than you should – especially if your broker’s working on commission.”

To ease this concern, the article recommends using
DIY tools such as SigFig, FutureAdvisor, or Jemstep. These tools help you see how your funds are performing and how much you’re paying in fees.

To learn more about these companies, watch DCisions’ FinovateEurope 2012 demo, Personal Capital’s FinovateFall 2011 demo, SigFig’s FinovateFall 2011 demo, FutureAdvisor’s FinovateSpring 2012 demo (coming soon), or Jemstep’s FinovateSpring 2010 demo

Finovate Alumni News– May 18, 2012

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  • Business Insider examines how SigFig, JemStep, and FutureAdvisor can help manage your investments.
  • Work Goes Strong recommends using Planwise to help get out of debt.
  • Huffington Post interviews Bill Harris, Personal Capital CEO.
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.

FutureAdvisor Announces its Premium Beta

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Kicking off the final afternoon session, FutureAdvisor showed how its new platform gives actionable investment advice:
“FutureAdvisor is demoing FutureAdvisor 401(k) Advice, which supports more than 100 of the largest 401(k) plans in the country. With company-specific data about which 401(k) Plans have which specific investment options, FutureAdvisor is able to algorithmically give step-by-step investment advice to investors that takes into account their investment goals, their existing investments elsewhere, and their 401(k)’s limited plan options. 
Though other companies have tried to tackle the problem of advising users on their IRA or taxable accounts, no free web service has been available to give specific, actionable advice on investors’ 401(k) accounts because of the complexity involved, until now. 
With FutureAdvisor’s step-by-step advice that takes an investor’s 401(k) and other accounts holistically into consideration, investors will be able to save on hidden fund fees, better diversify, and improve their tax efficiency.”
Product Launched: May 2012

HQ Location: Seattle, WA
Company Founded: May 2010
Metrics: Team of eight CFAs, Math PhDs, and Engineers
Introducing Bo Lu (Co-Founder)

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Finovate Alumni News– May 3, 2012

  • Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Finovate-F-Logo.jpgCNBC covers how SecondMarket is looking to move from trading Facebook to Pinterest.
  • TechCrunch reports Boku launched billing partnership with Sprint, giving it partnerships with all 4 major U.S. carriers.
  • Meniga’s PFM solution powers Sweden’s first Smartbank, launched by Skandia.
  • SecureKey adds 40 staff in past six months, reaches business and recognition milestones.
  • Lendio sees nearly 500% increase in matching businesses with small business loans.
  • Check Point launches free ZoneAlarm anti-virus/firewall combo.
  • Forbes features article by Mike Alfred, CEO of BrightScope, discussing the differing opinions he, Personal Capital and FutureAdvisor have on the role of financial advisors.
  • Fiserv to offer global ACH payments through partnership with Earthport.
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 Alums Take the Stage at the Future of Money Conference 2012

Earlier this week, we attended the Future of Money conference in San Francisco. Over 20 Finovate Alumni companies were represented in the audience, and many of them presented or were included on panels.

During the conference, we gathered tidbits from some of the companies. Here are a few highlights:

Personal Capital

Bill Harris, CEO, (pictured below) spoke about how wealth management needs to be more virtual, secure, and personal. He provided some stats 

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about the wealth-management platform:
    • Average account size nearly $500,000
    • Operates on a freemium model with $100,000 minimum account size
Mike Alfred, Co-founder and CEO, (pictured right) commented on BrightScope’s role in the advisor business:
    • Seeks to bring transparency to the market
    • Helps consumers steer away from “funds that suck”

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Bo Lu, Co-founder and CEO, (pictured right) commented on FutureAdvisor’s platform:
    • Makes the advisor process more convenient than traditional advisors
    • Scales the advisor process to take less of a percentage than traditional advisors
Bertram Meyer, CEO, (pictured below) discussed how Taulia helps small businesses 
get paid faster:
    • The platform is free for suppliersIMG_1093.JPG
    • Charges corporations (buyers) for either:
      1. A license subscription
      2. A gain share from the additional discounts earned against the target rate

Tradeshift

Christian Lanng, CEO and Founder, (pictured right) described Tradeshift’s platform:
    • It differs from banks because it has the ability to sift through the data that backs both the buyers and suppliers
    • The platform is free for suppliers
    • It sells connectivity to buyers as a SAAS platform to connect with supply chain

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Priya Haji, CEO and Co-founder spoke about SaveUp’s user base:

    • Skews towards users in their 20s and 30s
    • Half male, half female
    • Middle to upper-middle class
    • Average income ranges from $75,000 to $125,000
    • 30% of users are on the site every day
    • 60% of users are on the site every week
To learn more about these companies check out their demos: