Xero

Finovate Alumni News

By David Penn Posted on
Categories: Betterment, Encap, Loop, mShift, PayPal, Realty Mogul, SocietyOne, ThreatMetrix, Xero

On Finovate.com

  • “LoopPay-powered Samsung Pay Launches“

Around the web

  • MSN Money interviews Betterment CEO Jon Stein on the relationship between Baby Boomers and robo-advisors.
  • Xero announces plan to help SMEs get bank loans.
  • Jessica Ellerm talks with Mitchel Harad, SocietyOne CMO.
  • Discussion on multifactor authentication features insights from Thomas Bostrom Jorgensen, CEO of Encap Security.
  • Fox News looks at Realty Mogul in a feature on real estate investing for non-millionaires.
  • Blackberry selects PayPal for its P2P Payments provider.
  • ThreatMetrix appoints Armen Najarian as chief marketing officer.
  • Team One Credit Union and Mshift expand pilot tests of MShift’s AnyWhereMobile by bringing more merchants on board.

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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Xero Launches its New Android Touch App

Xero Launches its New Android Touch App
By David Penn Posted on
Categories: Xero

Xero_homepage_Aug15

Xero calls the new look of its Android Touch app “the biggest release since the native version.” In an announcement at the Xero blog, we learn that the new app adheres to Google’s design guidelines: “Every pixel of the dated Android 4.x ‘Holo’ look is gone!” Xero Project Manager Luke Gumbley writes: “We’ve revisited every single screen with an eye on consistency and beautiful design.”

What’s new in the update? For one, the receipt entry process is now optimized for single line items. Also the new app has moved less frequently used fields into an overflow menu. Invoicing has been simplified, and the interface has been redesigned to be more straightforward and less crowded.

Download the free app here.

XeroAndroidTouch_500

Xero’s Android Touch app lets business owners manage many of their business affairs on the go. The app provides automatic bank reconciliation, the ability to generate and send invoices, track expenses and more – all from your mobile device. The app features a “Try It For Free” option that lets new users try the app without having a Xero account.

Xero has had a busy summer. The company updated its Tracked Inventory feature last month; announced the availability of its Payroll in Xero service in Nevada and Illinois; and partnered with Midpoint Holdings to make it easier for small businesses doing business internationally. Xero reached the 500,000 customer milestone in June, the same month Expensify announced it had upgraded its integration with Xero’s platform. Forbes ranked Xero #1 in its list of the 100 most innovative growth companies for 2015 in May.

Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand, Xero is a veteran of both Finovate and FinDEVr conferences. The company demoed its Business Identification technology at FinovateSpring 2011, and discussed how Xero is building an API-driven ecosystem for small businesses at FinDEVr 2014 San Francisco.

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Finovate Alumni News

By David Penn Posted on
Categories: ACI Worldwide, Azimo, blooom, CashStar, Currency Cloud, CurrencyFair, Dragon Wealth, FinanceIt, Lending Club, LendUp, peerTransfer, Ripple, TransferWise, Twilio, Xero, Yodlee

On Finovate.com

  • “Xero Launches its New Android Touch App”
  • “Lending Club Reports Growth in Revenues, Originations for Q2 2015″
  • “CashStar Raises Captal: New Investment Boosts Total to $50 Million”

Around the web

  • Star Tribune column on robo-advisors features blooom.
  • ACI Worldwide and Computop partner to provide payments and anti-fraud solution.
  • Yodlee adds four companies to its International Acceleration Program. Join Yodlee at FinDEVr 2015 in San Francisco in October.
  • BankNXT’s look at fintech in Singapore features Dragon Wealth.
  • Let’s Talk Payments highlights Azimo, Currency Cloud, peerTransfer, TransferWise, and Ripple in its list of “remittance startups to watch for.”
  • CurrencyFair signs on with global payment network, Earthport.
  • LendUp deploys TaskRouter from Twilio to improve its call-center customer service. See Twilio at FinDEVr 2015 in San Francisco.
  • The Globe and Mail highlights Financeit in a look at financing options for small businesses.

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: App Annie, Avalara, Cachet Financial Solutions, Coinbase, Insuritas, itBit, Nearex, Tradeshift, Vouch, Xero

On Finovate.com

  • “Nearex Closes Series B Funding”
  • “Avalara Integrates Automated Sales Tax Solution with Stripe”
  • “Finovate Debuts: itBit’s Regulated Bitcoin Trading Platform”

Around the web

  • American Banker article notes Vouch is bringing social connections back into lending in the 21st century.
  • Xero updates Tracked Inventory feature.
  • Cachet Financial Solutions partners with risk-management software company Advanced Fraud Solutions.
  • Kansas City Business Journal considers how Tradeshift is igniting renewed interest in its new partner, C2FO.
  • TechCrunch: “App Annie Integrates with Google Analytics, Launches Free In-App Analytics for Developers”
  • Insuritas to power multistate insurance agency solution for Enterprise Bank.

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: BillGuard, Cardlytics, Karmic Labs, ThreatMetrix, Xero

On Finovate.com

  • “12 New FinDEVr 2015 Presenters Announced“
  • “A Dash of Good Karma: Karmic Labs Raises $5 Million”

Around the web

  • Cardlytics wins 2 Silver Stevies at 2015 American Business Awards.
  • Xero adds payroll availability in Nevada and Illinois.
  • ThreatMetrix wins Gold, Silver and Bronze awards in three categories at Network Products Guide 2015 Hot Companies and Best Products 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.

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Finovate Alumni News

By David Penn Posted on
Categories: Azimo, Better ATM Services, BillGuard, Bitbond, blooom, Credit Karma, Credit Sesame, Currency Cloud, Dwolla, FamZoo, Global Debt Registry, Hedgeable, Hip Pocket, Lighter Capital, Loop, Monitise, PayPal, PsychSignal, Realty Mogul, Top Image Systems, Xero, Zopa

On Finovate.com

  • “PayPal’s Early Valuation Tops $44 Billion”
  • “Monitise to Emphasize API, On-Site Solutions in Strategy Shift”

Around the web

  • Xero to offer foreign invoice payments via new partnership with Midpoint Holdings.
  • Loop featured in profile of Samsung Pay.
  • PYMNTS.com takes a look at PayPal CEO Dan Schulman’s conversation with the Financial Times.
  • Gulf News Banking highlights Zopa in its review of the rise of P2P business lending.
  • Ferratum Group selects Mambu to Power SME Lending.
  • Top Image Systems to deploy an automated multichannel and mobile data-capture project for online financing company that provides funds to India-based SMBs.
  • Lighter Capital closes 100 deals.
  • CDApress recommends FamZoo to help kids understand personal finance skills.
  • Credit.com blog lists Global Debt Registry as a tool to help get rid of an old debt.
  • Better ATM Services CEO Todd Nuttall quoted in Australian Times column on how technology delivers a growing share of bank services.
  • The Bitcoin News interviews the new online marketing manager for Bitbond, Chris Grundy.
  • Wall Street Journal features PsychSignal in a review of stock market sentiment and social media.
  • Inc. feature on Silicon Prairie highlights Blooom, Hip Pocket, and Dwolla.
  • Rise in tech investment in the United Kingdom credited to companies like Azimo and Currency Cloud in London’s fintech sector.
  • Forbes column on investing for millennials features Hedgeable.
  • Realty Mogul adds two new vice presidents of commercial real estate.

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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The FinDEVr APIntelligence

The FinDEVr APIntelligence
By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: Backbase, BehavioSec, Braintree, FinDEVr APIntelligence, Kabbage, MasterCard, On Deck Capital, PayNearMe, PayPal, Personal Capital, Plaid, SimplyTapp, Slice, SnoopWall, Spreedly, Trulioo, VISA, Xero

Are you building new financial technology? Be sure to register now for the only event exclusively for fintech developers, FinDEVr 2015, Oct 6-7 in San Francisco.

FinDEVr2015-SF-Logo-Stackedwdate

The latest from FinDEVr 2015 presenters

  • Pinterest turns to Braintree to power PayPal payment option for browsing consumers.
  • FinDEVr 2015: First Round of Presenting Companies Revealed.
  • Backbase set to launch its first hackathon, 19/20 June 2015.
  • Spreedly now supports third-party tokens to help merchants continue to process transactions using their existing gateway-specific tokens from within Spreedly.
  • Thinking Capital announces new name, visual identity and tagline.
  • SandHill mentions SnoopWall as 1 of 5 Cool, Pre-VC, Cybersecurity Startups.
  • Avalara acquires Belgium-based VAT Applications.
  • UPS Capital Partners integrates with Kabbage to offer more SMBs access to a loan through UPS.

Alumni updates

  • Xero developed business apps that Apple is using to help market the iPad’s use in business.
  • Tech.co looks at how Trulioo’s API defends startups against credit-card fraud.
  • Xero reaches 500,000 customers for its cloud accounting service, sets sights on 1 million customer milestone.
  • Verizon Ventures welcomes SimplyTapp to its portfolio of investments.
  • Dunkin’ Donuts, Fandango, Sundance Catalog and Williams-Sonoma have all integrated Visa Checkout into their apps.
  • NerdWallet turns to Trulioo CEO Stepehn Ufford who offers 5 steps to protect against cyberthreats.

Stay up to date on daily developments by following FinDEVr on Twitter.

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Finovate Alumni News

By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: Betterment, Braintree, EyeVerify, Flint Mobile, FutureAdvisor, Hedgeable, Lending Club, LendingRobot, LendUp, Market Prophit, Motif Investing, PayPal, Plaid, planwise, Prosper, Qapital, Top Image Systems, TradeHero, TransferWise, TrueAccord, Trulioo, TSYS, Venmo, Wealthfront, WePay, Xero

On Finovate.com

  • “PayPal’s Braintree Tapped to Turn Pinterest Browsers into Consumers”
  • “EyeVerify’s Partnership with Turkish Reseller Yields Vodafone Contract”
  • “U.K.-based TransferWise: Growth and Metrics Updates“

Around the web

  • TradeHero updates mobile iOS app.
  • WSJ features how Venmo helps users instantly move money more cheaply.
  • Apple lists Xero among group of business apps Apple is using to market the iPad for use in business.
  • Indianapolis Business Journal looks at the rise of robo-advisors Betterment, Wealthfront, Hedgeable, and Motif Investing.
  • TSYS launches its Chip Card on Demand to help issuers make the transition through the October chip-liability shift.
  • Top Image Systems unveils its new mobile account opening and onboarding app, MobiENROLL.
  • Benzinga interviews Igor Gonta, CEO of Market Prophit, on the launch of his Twitter-based, social media, smart beta index.
  • Fox Business features Planwise, LendUp, Trulioo, Plaid, Wealthfront, TrueAccord, WePay, Flint, Lending Club, Prosper, LendingRobot, and FutureAdvisor in its roundup of “30 Hot Fintech Startups to Watch.”
  • New York Business Journal reviews its gamification strategy of PFM solution, Qapital.
  • Financial Times profiles LendUp and the “grubby end of U.S. debt.”

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: Arxan Technologies, Dwolla, EyeVerify, Finaeos, Insuritas, Klarna, Lending Club, LendingTree, MiiCard, Mitek, Payoneer, Prosper, Temenos, TransferWise, Xero

On Finovate.com

  • “Ask Finovate: Who’s Who in Voice Banking Technology?”

Around the web

  • American Banker talks with miiCard CEO James Varga on how miiCard creates “digital passports” for consumers to prove their identities without oversharing information.
  • Pymnts considers Mitek’s latest acquisition.
  • Canandaigua National Bank & Trust hires Insuritas  to expand the bank’s existing insurance agency with its omni-channel, insurance-agency platform.
  • Payoneer expands presence in India.
  • LendingTree adds Ascend Consumer Finances to its personal loan-lender network.
  • EyeVerify partners with Olcsan CAD Technology to bring eye-vein biometric technology to Turkey.
  • StrategyEye interviews Jens Saltin, Klarna’s head of expansion.
  • The Telegraph’s column on the high cost of bank transfer fees highlights TransferWise.
  • T24 Islamic core banking solution from Temenos now available as cloud-based service.
  • Dwolla ditches the quarter, stops charging 25-cent transaction fee.
  • Arxan extends its application-protection platform to support apps built on Android on Intel Architecture.
  • Xero reaches 500,000 customers for its cloud accounting service, sets sights on 1-million-customers milestone.
  • VentureBeat names Prosper, Lending Club, and TransferWise in list of billion-dollar companies.
  • Finaeos forges partnership with Tata Consulting to help SMBs take advantage of Regulation A+ of the JOBS Act.

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: Betterment, Blackhawk Network, blooom, CashStar, D3 Banking, eMoney Advisor, Expensify, FIS, FutureAdvisor, Jemstep, MaxMyInterest, mBank, Nomis Solutions, PayNearMe, PayPal, SimplyTapp, Sonavation, Temenos, Vanguard, Vantiv, Venmo, Wealthfront, Xero

Around the web

  • Glenbrook Partners’ whitepaper features PayNearMe.
  • mBank reports that six months after launching Light Branches, basic banking product sales have tripled in Light Branches compared to traditional branches.
  • PYMNTS features comments from Blackhawk Network, CashStar, FIS, SimplyTapp, and Vantiv on social commerce.
  • MasterCard partners with Premier Bank in expansion into Somalia.
  • Nomis Solutions launches upgrade of its price-optimization suite.
  • D3 Banking announces that its solution is now available in a hosted environment.
  • Blooom CEO and co-founder Chris Costello talks about his company’s relationship with Yodlee.
  • ThinkAdvisor features eMoney Advisor, Vanguard, Wealthfront, Betterment, FutureAdvisor, and Jemstep in a column on the changing environment for financial advisors.
  • Sonavation CTO Rainer Schmitt wins award from the IEEE Technical Committee on Communications Quality & Reliability.
  • TechCrunch features PayPal’s Venmo office.
  • Verizon Ventures welcomes SimplyTapp to its portfolio.
  • On the Money Radio’s Steve Pomeranz interviews MaxMyInterest CEO and founder Gary Zimmerman.

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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$680 Million Raised by 29 Alums in Q1 2015

$680 Million Raised by 29 Alums in Q1 2015
By David Penn Posted on
Categories: Advanced Merchant Payments, AdviceGames, Aire, App Annie, Ayasdi, Betterment, Bill.com, BlueVine, Bolstr, Coinbase, CoverHound, Finsphere, Funding, Fundings, Global Debt Registry, Kofax, LendingRobot, Lendio, Linkable Networks, Micronotes, Motif Investing, peerTransfer, Pindrop Security, Q2, Ripple, SimplyTapp, Spreedly, Taulia, TransferWise, TrueLink Financial, Xero

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.

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Finovate Alumni News

By David Penn Posted on
Categories: defi Solutions, Feedzai, Financial Guard, Google Cloud Platform, Lending Club, LikeFolio, Motif Investing, Novabase, Taulia, TransferWise, Vouch, Xero

On Finovate.com

  • Feedzai Announces More than $17 Million in New Funding
  • Friction is Good: Social Network for Credit Innovator, Vouch Raises $6 Million

Around the web

  • Financial Guard launches its enhanced, fee-transparency service.
  • defi SOLUTIONS acquires OpenRule Systems APM.
  • Benzinga interviews Andy Swan, LikeFolio co-founder.
  • Wizzio by Novabase featured at IBM World of Watson event.
  • CNBC talks about P2P currency transfer with TransferWise CEO Kristo Kaarmann.
  • Motif Investing earns spot on CNBC’s Disruptor list.
  • Xero ranked #1 Forbes Most Innovative Growth Company 2015.
  • Lending Club receives Entrepreneurial Company of the Year Award from Harvard Business School Association of Northern California.
  • Xero scoops Company of the Year at annual Hi-Tech Awards.
  • Payments Source looks at how Taulia speeds up payments for businesses.
  • Google drops cloud computing prices by up to 30%.

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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