Finovate Alumni News– May 24, 2013

  • Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Finovate-F-Logo.jpgMainStreet features “stock tip truth-o-meter” and FinovateSpring 2013 Best of Show winner TipRanks.
  • GMC Software Technology enters partnership with PostConnect to deploy Inspire technology.
  • AppScout takes a look at Flint’s mobile app for iPad and iPhone.
  • Yandex.Money integrates with Еuropean payment provider Skrill.
  • Banking Business Review reports: Handpoint introduces Chip and PIN MPOS systems.
  • Newfination visits the Personal Capital offices, interviews Head Of Advisory Services, Kyle Ryan.
  • American Banker mentions how Lendio and Lighter Capital are changing the face of small business lending.
  • Internet Retailer reports: ThreatMetrix helps EMerchantPay reduce its clients’ chargeback rates.
  • Klarna named “most innovative company” at annual Media Momentum Awards arranged by GP Bullhound.
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.

Handpoint Launches Hybrid Dongle Solution That Reads Both Payment Chips and Magstripes

Thumbnail image for HandpointLogo.jpgNext, Handpoint showed how its hybrid dongle can work both as a magstripe and chip & PIN reader:

“The U.S. is moving to EMV (Chip & PIN) no later than 2015 with a push from VISA and MasterCard, meaning the biggest overhaul of payment infrastructure since the introduction of the plastic card.
Handpoint is presenting a mobile payments platform for developers. It is simple and secure and allows developers to easily add EMV payments to their applications and even get paid for transactions made through their apps. The platform can also be white labeled to larger partners, for example, acquirers and MNOs, so they can offer mobile POS solutions under their brand.
The platform erases all PCI issues, even for the largest merchants, by using state of the art security measures including point-to-point encryption.”
Product Launched: September 2012
HQ Location: Cambridge, United Kingdom
Company Founded: September 1999
Website: handpoint.com
Twitter: @HandpointLtd
Finovate demo videofinovate.com/fall12vid/ (demo video will be posted next week)
Introducing David Gudjonsson (CEO & Co-Founder) and Thordur Thorarinsson (CFO & Co-Founder)
IMG_0118.JPG
IMG_0115.JPG

FinovateFall 2012 Sneak Peek: Part 2

Thumbnail image for FF12IMG.jpg

Here’s part 2 of the sneak peek of the companies that will demoing at FinovateFall on September 12 and 13 in NYC. Each company provided a short summary of the innovation they will debut on stage. We published 20 last week and we will complete the preview next week.

Don’t miss the opportunity to experience the hottest innovations in financial technology. Get your FinovateFall ticket here

——————————————————————————————————-

Stock Panorama brings what matters to an investor’s portfolio – combination of 
Thumbnail image for aSparkLogo.jpg“relevant and key” market data, analyst sentiment and social intelligence to your mobile device. Today, you seek this information. Stock Panorama reduces the homework and brings it to you when it matters so that you are never surprised!
The app “follows” key events and information for your stocks and integrates them into your personal calendar – so you can see what’s ahead for your investments. You get the right information anywhere, anytime.
Innovation type: Mobile, PFM, sales


BackbaseThumbnail image for BackbaseLogo.jpg

Backbase Launchpad is a new and unique banking experience, based on Backbase Portal technology. 
Launchpad offers the latest innovations and best practices in user experience design and cross-device customer journeys. The goal of Launchpad is to drastically bring down time-to-market for online and mobile projects.
Launchpad is immediately optimized for use on regular browsers, tablets and smartphones and is entirely manageable by the e-business and digital teams using the Backbase Portal Manager. Launchpad is seamlessly integrated with the Backbase App Center and includes apps such as: Accounts Overview, Payments, PFM, Stock Portfolio Manager, Message Center etc.
Innovation type: Communications, marketing, mobile, online

BolstrLogo.jpg

Bolstr is the first crowdfunding platform focused exclusively on main street small businesses and the only platform able to legally operate pre-JOBS Act. 
Bolstr’s innovative platform empowers communities to invest in local, small businesses. We believe that local investment is the key to economic growth. Through Bolstr, we have created a marketplace where individuals can invest in and support the local small businesses that make their communities home.
Innovation type: Small business

Thumbnail image for CachetLogo.jpg

Cachet’s patent-pending CheckReview helps financial institutions identify potential check fraud with the ability to view and validate the check image in real time. In the past, financial institutions could only view a check image after it had been cleared for deposit. By allowing access to the images before clearing, Cachet gives clients greater control in mitigating check fraud.
Innovation type: Back office

CompassPlusLogo.jpg

Previously, when offering new financial products and services, the only two options available were to buy or build. You’ve tried buy, but now your business structure can’t sustain innovation and integration is an absolute nightmare. You’ve tried build, but the industry moves quickly and you can no longer keep up. Both options cost a fortune in maintenance. Now there is a third option. 
Open Development Banking Platforms are the new kid on the block and are promising to be transformational for the financial services industry. Let us show you why.
Innovation type: Back office, cards, payments

Thumbnail image for CreditSesameLogo.jpg

Personal finance cannot be properly assessed in a vacuum. Credit Sesame will introduce its new financial fitness indicators, designed to help a user fully understand and optimize their individual financial situation. 
Users can take advantage of current market trends and identify financial successes of their peers to better their financial future, preventing consumers from leaving money on the table by identifying ways to grow their wealth.
Innovation type: Identity, lending, PFM

Thumbnail image for DashlaneLogo.jpg

Dashlane’s mobile apps enable instant checkouts, registrations, and logins universally across the web without any merchant-side integration. This is powered by proprietary real-time semantic analysis of webpages and a super-secure, locally-encrypted personal data vault. 
Its disruptive apps allow consumers
to conduct keyboard-less transactions on any website from their mobile devices – a critical game-changer on a device that lacks a keyboard. Mobile shopping cart abandonment is over 90% today. Its goal is to slash that down and unlock mobile commerce at scale with a product that is simple, secure, and universal.
Innovation type: Marketing, mobile, payments

Thumbnail image for DeluxeLogo.jpg

Customers are becoming increasingly integrated with their financial institutions. ACH payments are up about 5% each year. Online and mobile banking continues to rise and nearly two-thirds of online customers are using bill pay. Yet, this integration leaves consumers feeling trapped. 
In a recent Consumer Reports survey, 63% of respondents said concerns about transferring automatic payment and deposits were keeping them from switching banks. Are you prepared to reach this highly integrated customer base? The Switch Is On!
Innovation type: Online, payments, sales

Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for EmidaLogo.jpg

Emida’s Mobile Wallet (CAT) allows consumers to apply cash to their virtual mobile account without requiring an existing bank account or credit card collateral. Account holders can load value to their Cash and Transact account and then transfer cash or pay for goods and services with anyone, anytime, from anywhere. The Cash and Transact vision is to create a borderless community connected by transactions via the Cash and Transact mobile wallet.
Innovation type: Mobile, payments, PFM

Thumbnail image for HandpointLogo.jpg

The U.S. is moving to EMV (Chip & PIN) no later than 2015 meaning the biggest overhaul of payment infrastructure since the introduction of the plastic card.
Handpoint presents a mobile payments platform for developers. It´s simple and secure and allows developers to easily add EMV payments to their applications and get paid for transactions made through their apps. The platform can be white labeled to larger partners, e.g. acquirers and MNOs so they can offer branded mobile POS solutions.
The platform erases all PCI issues, even for large merchants, by using state of the art security measures including Point-to-Point encryption.
Innovation type: Mobile, payments, security

Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for IgniteSalesLogoSm.jpg

Ignite Sales is launching the world’s first Bank Product Concierge which will change the way retail banks are able to sell financial products consistently to consumers and to manage their branch network. The solution is turning bank branches, call centers and websites into account opening machines, helping them easily and cost effectively reach their customers to upsell and cross-sell products consistently across channels. 
The Concierge Analytics Dashboard, the first in the industry, provides the only way for bank executives to determine what products should be sold based on eligibility data.
Innovation type: Marketing, online, sales

Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for INDGroupLogo.jpg

Story of My Finances is a completely new approach in digital financial customer service. It takes online banking and PFM to the next level of mass retail financial planning and advice. 
Stories are customer-driven financial life processes, such as “How to spend less”, “Prepare for a rainy day”, “Buy a home” or “Retirement planning”. Stories help end-customers to get financially fit and to have a peace of mind. Stories are the missing link between everyday people and financial products. We believe that we can improve people’s financial life by licensing our white-label technology to financial institutions.
Innovation type: Online, PFM, sales

MortgageHarmonyLogo.jpg

Remember the last time you refinanced your mortgage? Or was it so painful, time consuming and costly you’d like to forget it? Imagine if your FI let you click a button on a website and lower your rate with no appraisal, credit or income check, $0 fees added back to your loan and not starting over with a new 30 year term. 
Mortgage Harmony Corp., a financial services company, will demo web-based software which FIs can use to offer a consumer-initiated rate, resetting mortgage with a patented compensation model for their originators. (It’s actually more advantageous for them, too.)
Innovation type: Back office, lending, PFM

PayfoneLogo.jpg

Payfone is the remote mobile commerce company that solves mCommerce checkout by linking mobile identity with the payment process to provide merchants with the easiest, fastest and most secure mobile checkout possible. 
Because it authenticate
s through the bank and carrier network, Payfone mCommerce Service requires no changes to backend systems, no new payment mark and nothing for consumers to download or install.
Innovation type: Identity, mobile, payments

PreCashLogo.jpg

Today, the people with the least amount of money are charged the most to pay bills and get checks. Plus, they have to jump through more hoops. PreCash Flips that model with mobile. 
Come learn about Flip Money, the first viable mobile app for underbanked consumers with immediate check deposit and free bill pay transactions.
Innovation type: Mobile, payments, PFM

Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for SecureKeyLogo.jpg

Imagine a world where, as a consumer, you can use things you already have to enhance your online and mobile experience (your smart phone, bank card, tablet or PC). Imagine a world where, as a bank card issuer, you can minimize card-not-present fraud and provide value-added services based on strong authentication, to your consumers and commercial partners. 
Imagine a world where, as a merchant, you can sell to your clients through extended channels, securely, and with little risk of card-not-present fraud. And imagine a world where online service providers such as governments can actually transact with their constituents after ascertaining their identity, while still transacting anonymously.
Innovation type: Identity, payments, Security

Thumbnail image for SegmintLogo9.11.jpg

Segmint’s breakthrough analytics anticipate real-time consumer spending patterns and help FIs deliver a personalized mix of cross-sell and up-sell offers on their public and private websites. 
Segmint’s new and highly-advanced One Button application allows FIs to create customized online product and service campaigns in under a minute – automatically targeting the offer, creating a banner and assigning website delivery locations. With analytics that refresh daily, this One Button application empowers FI marketers to achieve unprecedented speed-to-market and deliver highly targeted cross-sell and up-sell campaigns while increasing campaign ROI.
Innovation type: Banking products, marketing, online

Thumbnail image for ThomsonReutersLogo.jpg

Thomson Reuters is pleased to introduce their new App Store solution that enables access to the latest innovative capabilities and tools for use across the digital enterprise. 
The Thomson Reuters solution enables financial institutions and third party developers to effortlessly create pioneering market monitoring and investing apps. By seamlessly integrating the combination of Thomson Reuters content assets with a firm’s customer account data and other data sources, Thomson Reuters is helping institutions leverage the providers of financial insight to deliver a differentiated experience for their customers while lowering both development costs and time to market.
Innovation type: Investing, mobile, online, PFM

Thumbnail image for TruaxisLogo9.11.jpg

Truaxis understands that Big Data is a profitability gold mine for banks if properly gathered, interpreted and acted upon. With its Profitability Analytics module, StatementRewards lets banks easily reach their most profitable customers and create campaigns to further improve customer value and loyalty.
Innovation type: Cards, rewards

Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for yodlee.jpg

Data is power. Whether you’re managing personal finances or running a business, the right data and tools enable the right decisions. Good data informs, educates, projects, and even anticipates future actions. Who doesn’t want a crystal ball? Yodlee brings data to life. 
At Finovate, you’ll see what that means for Pete, a small business owner running a successful exotic automotive parts business. Parts is parts? Not in our world! Do you have the (data) power? Come find it at Finovate! Yodlee. 
Innovation type: Online, PFM, small business
Stay tuned next week for another sneak peek of FinovateFall 2012 presenting companies. 

Handpoint Headstart Wins 2012 Channel Awards

Thumbnail image for HandpointLogo.jpgMerchant payment company Handpoint announced today that the Headstart Mobile Chip & PIN solution won the 2012 Channel Awards at the Merchant Payment Ecosystem conference in Berlin.

The jury viewed Handpoint’s technology as the European response to Square and selected it for the innovative use of mobile technology with bluetooth communication. 
Thumbnail image for HandpointMobile.jpg
To learn more about Handpoint, watch its FinovateEurope 2011 demo, coming soon to the Finovate website.

Finovate Alumni News– February 29, 2012

  • Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Finovate-F-Logo.jpgBank Technology News reports HomeDepot now accepts PayPal payments at all 2,000 retail stores.
  • Des Moines Register interviews Jordan Lampe, Dwolla’s director of communications.
  • BancVue completes sale of $120 million credit card portfolio to First Arkansas Bank & Trust.
  • ThreatMetrix launches program to report malware capabilities.
  • Accounting Today selects Bill.com Receivables for its Top New Products of 2012.
  • Diversinet names Dr. Hon Pak as CEO.
  • Sallie Mae & peerTransfer partner to facilitate international tuition payments.
  • Reuters looks at FINRA and Brightscope to give more information on financial advisors.
  • Omaha.com looks at how Dwolla survived the downturn.
  • Weemba celebrates 6 months of operation, unveils operating stats.
  • Handpoint Headstart wins 2012 Channel Awards.
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.

Handpoint Launches Secure Payment Solution for Tablets and Smartphones

Thumbnail image for HandpointLogo.jpg

Afterwards, Handpoint launched its Headstart Technology:

“Handpoint Headstart is the first totally secure mobile Chip & PIN payment solution for tablets and smartphones. With our Platform-as-a-Service solution, acquiring banks and MNOs can offer small/micro merchants card payments on smartphones and tablets under their own brand name. The Handpoint Headstart solution supports magstripe (MSR), Chip & PIN, Chip & signature, and contactless NFC payments (2012).

Handpoint Headstart payment solution is not only a mobile solution, it is also a Full-Commerce solution meaning that it works on many different devices, for example smartphones, tablets, mobile terminals, and PCs (tills) in an online and an offline world.”

Product Launched: February 2012

HQ Location: Cambourne, Cambridge, UK
Company Founded: 1999
Metrics: $2 million raised, 35 employees
Website: handpoint.com
Presenting David Gudjonsson (CEO) & Thordur Thorarinsson (CFO)
IMG_1344.JPG
IMG_1347.JPG

FinovateEurope 2012 Sneak Peek: Part 2

Thumbnail image for FEU2012LogoHigh.jpg

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!
_______________________________________________________

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