NICE Systems

NICE Funding! CallVU Raises $3 Million

NICE Funding! CallVU Raises $3 Million
By David Penn Posted on
Categories: CallVU, Funding, Fundings, NICE Systems

CallVU_homepage_June2016

In a round led by Liberty Global Ventures and featuring the participation of fellow Finovate alum NICE Systems, CallVU has raised $3 million in new funding. The investment is the second major capital infusion for the digital engagement platform developer since its undisclosed seed round in 2012.

Joining the round were AfterDox Angel Investment Group and 2B Angels. Tuval Lava, CallVU’s president and chairman of the board, said the funds would help the company improve its technology and grow internationally. “The fact that such a distinguished group of leading international investors have made such a commitment to CallVU illustrates the potential they see in the field of mobile digital engagement in general and in CallVU in particular,” Lava said.

CallVU_stage_FS2016

Pictured (left to right): Amitai Ratzon, VP global sales, and Assaf Frenkel, VP, product & marketing, demonstrated the CallVU Mobile Digital Engagement platform at FinovateSpring 2015 in San Jose.

In partnering with NICE Systems, CallVU plans to develop a “joint go-to-market approach” that will help the company expand. The plan includes new offices around the world and hiring sales, product management, software development, and marketing talent. To this end, NICE Systems EVP for Corporate Development Eran Liron highlighted the multiple use-cases for CallVU’s technology. “CallVU Mobile Digital Engagement platform helps financial service organizations and telecom operators, as well as health, travel, and retail companies, advance their digital transformation and contact centers’ optimization strategies a step further,” Liron said.

Lead investor, Liberty Global Ventures, is the investment arm of global cable-giant Liberty Global. The fund invests in both early- and late-stage companies, typically committing $2 million to $20 million, and operates in 14 countries. Liberty Global Ventures’ portfolio features 29 startups (as of December 31, 2015) working in wireless HD video delivery, virtual video technology, and interactive commerce and merchandising, among other fields.

Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel, CallVu demoed its Mobile Digital Engagement solution at FinovateSpring 2016. The company was named a Cool Vendor in CRM Customer Service and Support in Gartner’s 2016 report. CallVU was featured in our look at fintech in Israel last week. Ori Faran is CEO.

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Finovate Alums Help Represent Fintech Innovation in Israel

Finovate Alums Help Represent Fintech Innovation in Israel
By David Penn Posted on
Categories: BioCatch, CallVU, Capitali.se, Earnix, NICE Systems, OurCrowd, Personetics, ThetaRay, TipRanks, Top Image Systems, VATBox, Versafe, Voitrax, Zooz

Israel_FlagPYMNTS.com published an interesting, metric-based post on the tech scene in Israel. The post emphasized that while the country has a well deserved reputation as a “cybersecurity hotspot,” it is also true that “Israel’s tech ambitions and prowess extend much further.”

The salient statistic for me: 430—the number of fintech startups headquartered in Israel—is highly impressive, considering only 90 fintech startups existed in 2009.

With that in mind, here’s a look at some recent Israel-based Finovate alums who are helping make the country one of the world’s key locations for fintech innovation.

Our 14 Israel-based Finovate alums have raised more than $164 million in funding. Two alums—NICE Systems and Top Image Systems—are publicly traded on the Nasdaq, and two more—Capitali.se and TipRanks—have won Best of Show awards.

TheFloor_Israelfintechhub

There’s no doubt the fintech in Israel is on the move. The country’s first fintech hub, The Floor, was launched in 2015, and as of March 2016 is now located at the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. Writing about why fintech innovation is thriving in Israel, VentureBeat’s Avi Zeevi of Carmel Ventures highlighted a few key features:

  • Mastery of relevant technologies such as real-time analytics, cybersecurity, and risk management
  • Legacy of success creating a “startup ecosystem (with) massive amounts of knowledge”
  • The country has learned from other key global financial centers
  • Global financial institutions have a presence and have been investing in Israel
  • Israeli FIs “have always been open to innovation”

“All of this had led to a dramatic rise in investments in Israel fintech companies,” Zeevi wrote. “By addressing the needs of both developed and emerging markets, Israeli fintech will only continue to grow.”

Are you an Israel-based Finovate or FinDEVr alum that we overlooked? Send us an email at research@finovate.com and we’ll update our roster.

 

 

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Finovate Alumni News

By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: eToro, Featurespace, Micronotes, Narrative Science, NICE Systems, Personal Capital, Socure, Student Loan Genius, Temenos, TIBCO Software, Tink, TSYS, Tuition.io, Valuto, Zopa

On Finovate.com

  • “Tink Pulls in $10 Million to Launch Virtual Bank”
  • “TSYS to Leverage Featurespace’s Machine Learning Fraud Capabilities”
  • “Narrative Science Teams Up with Vermilion, Bringing Advanced NLG to Portfolio Commentary”
  • “New Investment for Personal Capital Takes Valuation to $500 Million”
  • “Zopa to Offer Auto Loan Refinancing”

Around the web

  • TIBCO introduces integration-software solution, Project Flogo and translytical database for big data, TIBCO Graph Database.
  • InFakt accounting system integrates with Valuto open API.
  • Micronotes launches downloadable trial version of Micronotes Cross-Sell Basic.
  • eToro appoints Robert Brown as new non-executive director in the U.K.
  • Socure expands coverage for global watchlist filtering and sanctions compliance.
  • Philippine-based credit union groups to build payments and banking platform based on technology from Temenos.
  • Robotic automation technology from NICE Systems helps prevent credit card fraud at Italian bank, Banca Popolare di Sondrio.
  • Finovate newcomer Student Loan Genius adds Honest Dollar co-founder Henry Yoshida as vice president of partnerships and product strategy.

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.

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NICE Systems Acquires inContact for $940 Million

NICE Systems Acquires inContact for $940 Million
By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: NICE Systems

NICEhomepage2

Israel-based NICE Systems, a company that uses data to improve customer experience, has agreed to acquire inContact, a provider of contact center optimization tools.

The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2016 for $940 million. inContact stockholders will receive $14 per share  in cash. This represents a 55% premium from inContact’s closing price on May 17 and a 49% premium to the 30-day volume-weighted average price.

NICE is funding the deal with a combination of cash on hand and debt financing of up to $475 million from JPMorgan Chase and Royal Bank of Canada.

inContactPage

NICE—known for its solutions that improve customer experience by guiding customers to the next best action—will combine its Workforce Optimization and Analytics offerings with inContact’s cloud-based services, offering a fully integrated cloud-contact-center solution.

NICE’s CEO Barak Eilam says the integration “creates the deepest and most talented R&D, services and support organization in our industry, allowing us to accelerate our roadmaps and deliver even greater value to our customers.”

NICE demoed its Real Time Authentication solution at FinovateEurope 2015 in London. Real Time Authentication uses voice biometrics to authenticate consumers in a natural conversation with an agent with minimal disruption to the customer experience.

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Finovate Alumni News

By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: Backbase, Capriza, Credit Karma, CSI globalVCard, CurrencyFair, Fastacash, FIS, Fiserv, Hip Money, NICE Systems, PayNearMe, PayPal, Scalable Capital, TIO Networks

On Finovate.com

  • “TIO Networks Rebrands Consumer-Facing Billpay Site Chargesmart.com to TIO.com”
  • Check out today’s FinDEVr APIntelligence.
  • “Hip Money Launches Kickstarter Campaign”
  • “Finovate Debuts: Scalable Capital Brings Advanced Risk Management to Robo-Advisory.

Around the web

  • PYMNTS breaks down its discussion with PayPal CEO Dan Schulman.
  • Dallas Area Rapid Transit partners with PayNearMe to reduce cash handling by transit operators.
  • CSI globalVCard partners with MacNair Travel Management to bring virtual card payment solution to travel managers and procurement professionals.
  • Bangkok Bank’s mobile P2P service is powered by Mobiliti Edge from Fiserv.
  • FIS earns top honors at 2016 PYMNTS Innovator Awards and 2016 Pay Awards.
  • Credit Karma to deploy Anodot’s automated analytics and anomaly-detection technology.
  • Capriza names Lance Walter as its new chief marketing officer.
  • Payments Journal features Jorgen Nordin, CIO of Fastacash.
  • The Maven’s SME column interviews Ben Geoghegan, Currency Fair co-founder.

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.

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Finovate Alumni News

By David Penn Posted on
Categories: Ixaris, Klarna, Misys, Modo Payments, NICE Systems, Scalable Capital, TSYS, Urban FT, Xero

On Finovate.com

  • “Scalable Capital Scores $7.9 Million”
  • Check out this week’s FinDEVr APIntelligence.
  • “Finovate Alums Dominate The FinTech50’s Inaugural Hall of Fame”

Around the web

  • New strategic partnership connects Klarna’s checkout solution with Modo’s digital payments hub.
  • NICE Actimize unveils its Actimize AML Essentials, AML cloud solution.
  • Ixaris spins off its payment technology division, Ixaris Technologies.
  • European payment providers partnered with TSYS to get access to alerts service.
  • Misys teams up with Dorsum to enable FusionBanking Essence customers to trade directly from their accounts.
  • Payroll in Xero now available in Georgia, reaching 21 states.
  • Richard Steggall, co-founder and CEO of Urban FT, chats with PYMNTS.

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.

 

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Finovate Alumni News

By David Penn Posted on
Categories: BBVA, Geezeo, Gro Solutions, NICE Systems, Open Bank Project, Ping Identity, Signifyd, Stockpile, Top Image Systems, Trusted Knight

On Finovate.com

  • “Signifyd Raises $20 Million in Series B Led by Menlo Ventures”
  • “Ping Identity Launches New Features, Multi-Factor Authentication API”
  • “Trusted Knight Lands Series B Funding, Acquires Sentrix Web Technologies Assets”
  • “Live from London: FinovateEurope 2016 Demo Videos Now Available“

Around the web

  • Minnesota-based Wings Financial Credit Union to deploy account opening technology from Gro Solutions.
  • NICE Systems announces strategic partnership with The Boston Consulting Group (BCG).
  • Cisco to serve as the “priority technology partner” to BBVA in new strategic alliance.
  • NYMBUS teams up with Geezeo, adding white label PFM technology to its full-stack, core banking platform.
  • Xerox enters into global reseller agreement with Top Image Systems.
  • Emirates NBD Group and the Open Bank Project launch a global competition for fintech startups.

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.

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Finovate Alumni News

By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: ACI Worldwide, AdviceRobo, Billhighway, eWise, Fiserv, Lending Club, NICE Systems, planwise, Prosper, SafetyPay, Temenos, wipro

On Finovate.com

Around the web

  • AdviceRobo nominated to European Fintech 100 rankings.
  • KeyBank selects NICE Actimize for Enterprise Fraud Solutions.
  • ACI Worldwide announces joining real-time payment initiative launched by The Clearing House.
  • Temenos reports 23% profit gain in FY 2015; says developed markets driving growth.
  • Wipro buys U.S.-based HealthPlan Services for $460 million.
  • ProgrammableWeb features Planwise in its Daily API RoundUP.
  • Prosper raises rates on loans.
  • SafetyPay reports 2015 growth: opened offices in Chile and Ecuador, now operates in 19 countries.
  • Lending Club now offers TurboTax integration for Form 1099s.

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.

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Finovate Alumni News

By David Penn Posted on
Categories: Alkami Technology, Avoka, Clover Network, Coinbase, Encap, Envestnet, eWise, ING Bank, investUP, Kasasa, Kashoo, Larky, Meniga, NICE Systems, OutsideIQ, Revolut, Strands, Uselab

On Finovate.com

  • Larky Launches at Three New Credit Unions.
  • London’s Revolut Unveils Version 2.0 of its Personal Money Cloud

Around the web

  • Fifth Third Bancorp to deploy AML solutions from NICE Systems’ Actimize.
  • PYMNTS.com interviews Kashoo Communications lead Dave Clarke on cloud accounting.
  • Baxter Credit Union ($2.4 billion) chooses ORB platform from Alkami Technology.
  • Roundup of Australia fintech startups features Avoka. See Avoka at FinovateEurope 2016 in London.
  • Encap releases version 3.1 of its mobile authentication and security platform.
  • First Data’s Clover launches Clover Go mobile POS dongle.
  • Coinbase introduces price alert push notifications on iOS and Android.
  • In 2015, Kasasa sees 45% growth in clients, now counts 779 signed community FIs.

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.

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Finovate Alumni News

By David Penn Posted on
Categories: blooom, Emailage, Ethoca, EyeVerify, Fenergo, FutureAdvisor, Innofis, Jack Henry, Kashoo, Lexmark, Markit, NICE Systems, Nostrum Group, Prairie Cloudware

On Finovate.com

  • “Finovate Debuts: Alerts from Ethoca Foils Fraudsters”
  • “BBVA Compass to Leverage BlackRock-owned FutureAdvisor”

Around the web

  • Fenergo forges strategic partnership with Markit and kyc.com, bringing its client lifecycle management solution to FIs.
  • Union Bank & Trust to leverage Digital Payments Guardian from Prairie Cloudware to power its new bank-branded mobile wallet.
  • SunTrust Bank selects the Enterprise Risk Case Management (ERCM) solution from NICE Actimize.
  • Former FDIC chair Sheila Bair gives Blooom a “ringing endorsement” during a recent visit.
  • Jack Henry & Associates promotes former president David Foss to CEO; Jack Prim transitions to executive chairman of the board.
  • Emailage and Quatrro Processing team up to provide end-to-end, anti-fraud and chargeback-management solutions to merchants.
  • Pymnts talks to Kashoo about connecting with SMEs that procure through Amazon Business.

This post will be updated throughout the day as news and developments emerge. You can also follow alumni news headlines on the Finovate Twitter account.

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Finovate Alumni News

By David Penn Posted on
Categories: BancVue, Meniga, NICE Systems, Radius, TradeHero, wipro, Xero, Zopa

Around the web

  • Financial Times talks with Zopa CEO Giles Andrews and his plan to disrupt banks.
  • Wipro acquires Cellent in 73 million euro deal.
  • Actimize from NICE Systems reaches 150 million customer milestone with its anti-fraud, cybercrime protections.
  • Radius launches improvements to its Global Payroll tool by introducing a way for employers to consolidate payroll across jurisdictions.
  • Xero introduces podcast series for small business.
  • Tech in Asia names Tradehero one of five interesting startups from Singapore.
  • Meniga partners with Bankdata to provide personal finance management to 11 banks in Denmark.
  • First Castle Federal Credit Union partners with BancVue.

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.

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Finovate Alumni News

By David Penn Posted on
Categories: CashStar, Digital Retail Apps, EyeVerify, Fenergo, Kensho, Misys, NICE Systems, Personal Capital, Yodlee

On Finovate.com

  • “Holy Yodlee! Envestnet to Buy Yodlee for $660 Million”
  • “Artificial Intelligence Innovator Kensho Locks in $48 million Series B Round”
  • “Digital Retail Apps Raises C$1 Milllion in Round Led by Texas Ventures”

Around the web

  • Misys shortlisted in three different categories in the CIR 2015 Risk Management Awards.
  • Bloomberg TV looks at Fenergo in a discussion on investment in startups.
  • NICE Systems wins “8-figure contract” to bring call recording and incident-management technology to NYC’s Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT).
  • Personal Capital CEO Bill Harris writes about the rise of robo-advisors in a column for Investment News.
  • CashStar to power digital gift card offerings from Maritz Motivation Solutions.
  • KCUR 89.3 FM interviews EyeVerify CEO Toby Rush.

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.

 

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