$680 Million Raised by 29 Alums in Q1 2015

$680 Million Raised by 29 Alums in Q1 2015

cartoonmoneystackThe biggest surprise in our look at first-quarter funding is that the $677 million amassed by 29 Finovate alums was more than 20% of the $3.2 billion invested in the entire worldwide fintech sector.

The $677 million raised was $85 million (+14%) above the same quarter a year ago, and more than triple the first quarter of 2013.

Q1 2015 was also $133 million above the $544 million mark set in the fourth quarter of 2014.

It will be worth watching to see if this record-setting first quarter for Finovate alum fundraising will be a sign of more great things to come for capital-raising in 2015.

Top 10 Overall Investments

  1. Xero: $111 million in February
  2. Coinbase: $75 million in January
  3. Betterment: $60 million in February
  4. TransferWise: $58 million in January
  5. App Annie: $55 million in January
  6. Ayasdi: $55 million in March
  7. Motif Investing: $40 million in January
  8. Ripple Labs: $30 million in January
  9. Bill.com: $50 million in February
  10. Pindrop Security: $35 in February

Previous Quarterly Comparisons

  • Q1 2015: More than $676 million raised by 29 alums
  • Q4 2014: More than $544 million raised by 25 alums
  • Q1 2014: More than $600 million raised by 8 alums
  • Q1 2013: More than $155 million raised by 14 alums

January: More than $275 million raised by 14 alums

February: More than $264 million raised by 8 alums

March: More than $136 million raised by 7 alums

If you are an alum that raised money in the first quarter of 2015, and do not see your company listed, please drop us a note at research@finovate.com. We would love to share the good news! Funding received prior to becoming an alum not included.

Alumni News– February 19, 2015

  • Finovate-F-Logo.jpgAmerican Banker: Retail Banking Vet Deanna Oppenheimer Joins Tech Vendor Finsphere.
  • American Banker: Federal Payments Website Partners with PayPal, Dwolla.
  • Kantox Surpasses $1 Billion in Foreign Exchange Transfers.
  • Pindrop Security Raises $30 Million.
  • eToro launches its Popular Investment Programme to recognize and reward the network’s top traders.
  • Phroogal reviews Motif Investing.
  • MaxMyInterest brings consolidated tax reporting functionality to its cash optimization platform.
  • Encap Security CEO Thomas Boström Jörgensen and Ping Identity Managing Director EMEA Jason Goode weigh-in on Touch ID banking.
  • Digital Retail Apps featured in Toronto Star’s coverage of Canada’s first financial technology cluster.
  • Azimo launches its money transfer service in China.
  • Finsphere Lands $1.8 Million, Partners with Visa.
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.

Updated: Pindrop Security Raises $35 Million

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A major infusion of capital has put the total funding for Pindrop Security at more than $42 million.

The leader of the $35 million Series B round was described in the Atlanta Business Chronicle as a “new West Coast investor.” The Chronicle adds that the new investor has valued Pindrop at more than $200 million.

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The new capital will help Pindrop expand its operations. The Atlanta-based company says it will add 100 jobs in engineering, software development, and sales and marketing—as well as look for a new, larger workspace.
Pindrop Security specializes in combating phone fraud for enterprise call centers. Using acoustic fingerprinting, Pindrop’s technology isable to tell the difference between fraudulent and authentic callers. The company’s services include a database of more than 300,000 phone numbers associated with 40,000 phone-fraud “fingerprints,” a fraud-detection system to prevent call spoofing, and real-time call forwarding protection.
And because of the growing use of phones as part of a multifactor authentication process that requires an out-of-band component, Pindrop also sees its technology as a way to make sure that the phone is the strongest link.
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Presenter: Pindrop Security CEO Vijay Balasubramaniyan at FinovateFall 2012
Pindrop Security partnered in AGNOTiO in May to help call centers adapt to safety concerns from mobile customers. And in December, the company teamed up with Contact Solutions and IDology to develop technology to defend against IVR (interactive voice response) fraud.  Pindrop Security launched its combined voice biometric/phoneprinting fraud detection system last year, as well as its NCE mobile NFC payments solution.
Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia and founded in 2011, Pindrop Security demoed at FinovateFall 2012 in New York. Vijay Balasubramaniyan is CEO.

Alumni News– December 11, 2014

  • Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Finovate-F-Logo.jpgMalauzai Software announces launch of its SmartMarketing program to promote mobile banking.
  • Azimo extends £1 money transfer service to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
  • Information Week takes a look at mobile payment apps including Flint.
  • Mortgage Harmony rebrands as Rate Reset.
  • Contact Solutions, IDology, and Pindrop Security team up to Cut IVR Fraud.
  • Examiner.com: Dynamics‘ next-generation credit card features buttons to log-in PIN security code.
  • Lendio CEO explains how his company is fueling the American dream.
  • Prosper comments on Lending Club IPO, expects to top $9 billion in loans this year.
  • PayNearMe partners with Department of Health and Human Services to spread the word about healthcare.
  • Bluefin Payment Systems to provide its PCI-validated Point-to-Point Encryption (P2PE) Solution to Priority Payment clients.
  • Career Bliss lists PayPal, Intuit, and Google in the top 50 happiest companies in the U.S.
  • Lending Club launches IPO, shares rally 70% in early 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 News– May 14, 2014

  • Finovate-F-Logo.jpgTIO Networks partners with New Jersey’s Public Service Electric and Gas Company to set up bill payment kiosks.
  • Pindrop Security and AGNITiO partner to protect call centers as they adapt to an increasingly mobile customer base.
  • Bolstr explains the basics of crowdfunding on NBC Chicago.
  • Loop Wallet app now available on Android.
  • Maps Credit Union chooses ACI Worldwide’s online banking platform.
  • Javelin Strategy takes a look at bill pay alternatives to Manilla, including Finovera.
  • BodeTree brings in $2 million in Series A round.
  • SavedPlus, LikeFolio, Wallaby, FutureAdvisor, Simple and Wealthfront earn spots on CNN Money’s list of the 15 best financial websites and apps.
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– April 18, 2014

  • Finovate-F-Logo.jpgTuition.io brings in funding, surpasses $1 billion in loans under management.
  • eWeek talks to Pindrop Security about scams during tax season.
  • PYMNTS.com chats with miiCard CEO James Varga about identity theft.
  • Financial Samurai interviews FutureAdvisor CEO, Bo Lu.
  • Lending Club raises $115 million in debt and equity; acquires Springstone Financial.
  • Kabbage blog features Expensify in its list of the 10 best mobile apps for small businesses.
  • MasterCard to acquire APAC-region loyalty and rewards provider, Pinpoint.
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– April 2, 2014

  • Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for Finovate-F-Logo.jpgBottomline Technologies buys Andera for $48 million.
  • Marketing Land takes a look at Narrative Science’s free, Google Analytics app, Quill Engage.
  • Saudi Arabian Bank Albilad to deploy FIS’ card management system and switching platform.
  • TradeKing promotes Kevin Delo to Chief Information Officer.
  • Startups.co.uk interviews Tradeshift CEO, Christian Lanng.
  • Atlanta Business Chronicle looks at Pindrop Security’s growth: doubling its workforce and has quadrupled its workspace.
  • Check Point Software Technologies launches new ZoneAlarm 2015 security product line.
  • Finovate alums raise $600 million in first quarter of 2014.
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– February 28, 2014

  • Finovate-F-Logo.jpgPindrop Security launches Industry’s First Combined Voice Biometric and Phoneprinting Fraud Detection System.
  • Tyfone launches mobile banking platform for small and medium FIs.
  • Taulia launches Taulia Enhanced Discounting which gives organizations the choice of using cash or the capital of a third-party FI to pay early.
  • FreeAgent launches its first dedicated division giving direct support to UK accountants and their clients.
  • ShopKeep POS reaches 10,000 customers, announces expansion in Ireland and western U.S.
  • PrivatBank launches HCE mobile NFC payments solution.
  • Housing Wire lists Realty Mogul among its 100 most innovative technology companies for 2014.
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– February 4, 2014

  • Finovate-F-Logo.jpgNous makes it to the finals of UK’s Million Pound Startup competition. Check them out at FinovateEurope in London.
  • Luminous partners with Jack Henry & Associates. Come see them both at FinovateEurope next week.
  • Pindrop Security achieves record growth in 2013 fueled by rising phone-based fraud.
  • Sun Hearlad features Finovera as a new site to help manage personal finances.
  • In yet another partnership, Refundo partners with Stripe to process payments for tax preparers.
  • CNB Texas launches responsive design website from Banno for greater cross-sell potential.
  • Top-Five U.S. Bank makes million dollar investment in software licenses for Kofax’s Mobile Capture. Come see Kofax’s live demo at FinovateEurope.
  • VentureBeat lists TransferWise among London’s hottest 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.

Finovate Alumni News– June 21, 2013

  • Finovate-F-Logo.jpgBraintree opening office in Sydney, Australia, that will cater to developers and startups.
  • Monitise named winner in the Inspire Wales Awards.
  • Pindrop Security raises $11 million led by Andreessen Horowitz and Citi Ventures.
  • Metaforic wins American Technology Award for Cyber Security.
  • New Business interviews CurrencyFair founders on saving money when making foreign currency transactions.
  • Biz Report’s Mobile Marketing column features 3 tips to improve location-based campaigns in an interview with Locaid CEO, Rip Gerber.
  • INTJ Capital takes a look at QuantConnect’s announcement that it has added historical FX and US equity tick data.
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.

Pindrop Security Raises $11 Million Led by Andreessen Horowitz and Citi Ventures

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Pindrop Security, a startup that aims to stop caller ID fraud, announced today that it has received $11 million from Andreessen Horowitz and Citi Ventures.

Other investors contributing to Pindrop’s Series A round include:

The Atlanta-based company plans on using the funds to add resources in engineering, operations, and sales and marketing in the U.S., Canada and Europe in order to better meet customer demand.

Scott Weiss, General Partner for Andreessen Horowitz, has joined Pindrop’s board.

To learn more about Pindrop Security, watch its FinovateFall 2012 demo.

Finovate Alumni News– March 8, 2013

  • Finovate-F-Logo.jpgTechCrunch reports: PayPal separates developer platform from X.commerce, launches Simpler mobile APIs.
  • Springwise considers the open source nature of TESOBE’s OpenBankProject.
  • Pindrop Security named the Best Rookie Security Company at the 2013 SC Awards.
  • Servant of Chaos reports: SocietyOne eyes off disruption in personal lending.
  • Intuit Small Business blog lists Mint and Expensify as 2 of 4 apps to help manage your small business.
  • UK Wired Magazine reports BehavioSec invents alternative to passwords using biometric fingerprints.
  • Edison Investment Research publishes report covering Virtual Piggy.
  • Founder and CEO of Fuze Network, Dave Wilkes, to speak at the 2013 BAI Payments Connect Conference & Expo.
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.