FinovateFall 2009 / Bling Nation
Presenter Profile:
How they describe themselves: Bling Nation provides tap and go payments at the physical point of purchase. The company enables consumers to pay merchants by tapping their mobile phone at the point of sale instead of using a credit card or cash. Financial institutions sponsor the service in their respective markets. Bling Nation offers lower costs, increased efficiency, better marketing and rewards services and improved security compared to credit cards, debit cards, checks and cash.
What they think makes them better: Bling Nation was founded in 2007 by the team that created the largest microfinance institution in Brazil and the largest alternative payment network in Brazil. Bling Nation enables consumers to use any mobile phone to pay for purchases at the point of sale. In addition to consumer convenience and instant access to coupon redemptions, merchants reduce their acceptance and banks increase income.
Contacts:
Biz Dev: Dan Rogers, CFO, daniel.rogers@blingnation.com
Sales: Shannon Goldman, Head of Sales, shannon.goldman@blingnation.com
Press: Joy Harper, Account Agent and Elizabeth Salter McMillan, Account Supervisor, press@blingnation.com
Website: www.blingnation.com
HQ Location: Palo Alto, California
Company Founded: June 2007
Product Being Demoed: Mobile Payments at the point of sale
Product Launched: May 2009
Metrics: $13.2 million raised, 28 employees
- Key Executives
Wences Casares (co-CEO), Meyer Malka (co-CEO)
Key Stats
- Key Board Members
John Reed (Former Chairman & CEO of Citibank), Carl Pascarella (Former Chairman & CEO of Visa USA), Jeff Steifler (Former President of American Express and former Chairman & CEO of Digital Insights)
- Key Advisory Board Members
John Reed (Former Chairman & CEO of Citibank), Carl Pascarella (Former Chairman & CEO of Visa USA), Jeff Steifler (Former President of American Express and former Chairman & CEO of Digital Insights)
- Key Investors
Lightspeed Venture Partners, Camp Ventures, Meck Ltd
- Key Partnerships
Viaero Wireless, PhoneFactor, Integrated Bank Technology
- Key Customers
La Junta, Colo.-based The State Bank. La Junta Colo., a farming community and the epicenter of a mobile payments network.