The Fintech Times Bi-Weekly News Roundup brings you the latest fintech news from around the world on Thursday 14 April 2022.
Job moves
Upvest, the Berlin based infrastructure fintech, appoints Markus Maier as its new chief operating officer. Maier has previously worked at UBS and Deutsche Bank. In his new role, he will mainly focus on building automated operations processes ensuring scalability of Upvest’s platform. Upvest also recently received BaFin licenses for securities and crypto brokerage and custody.
Prime Trust, a provider of financial infrastructure for fintechs, has hired Jeremy Sheridan as vice president of regulatory affairs. His responsibilities will be to oversee Prime Trust’s regulatory strategies, as well as engage with federal and state agencies. He also will act as a regulatory thought leader for the fintech and crypto industries.
Meanwhile, payments platform PayEngine has named software veteran Rashid Kamran as its chief technology officer. Kamran will primarily focus on building and scaling the company’s technology stack with an eye on growth. Prior to his new role at PayEngine, Kamran served as vice president for application development at MUFG Union Bank.
More job appointments
Plinqit announces Diane Hicks as its director of marketing. She will drive Plinqit’s sales pipeline and strengthen the company’s position within the industry. Prior to joining Plinqit, Hicks spent over 16 years with Maryland-based Community Bank of the Chesapeake.
Forter, the trust platform for digital commerce, has appointed two new board members, Sharda Caro Del Castillo and Scott Schenkel. Caro Del Castillo and Schenkel bring digital commerce, financial, operational, legal and compliance expertise to the company. In the past two years, Forter has completed series F funding to raise $525million.
Jumio, a provider of orchestrated end-to-end identity proofing, eKYC and AML solutions, appoints Stuart Wells as chief technology officer. Wells joins Jumio’s executive team after nearly a decade at FICO. He will lead Jumio’s IT, AI, machine learning and engineering teams. In addition, Jumio has unveiled its new Innovation Lab in San Diego, which Wells will oversee.
Funding news
Nylas, a provider of communications APIs, has unveiled the Nylas Alumni Fund. The fund supports both current and former Nylas employee entrepreneurs to launch their early-stage startups. Nylas will contribute up to $20,000 towards a seed round of funding in support of transformative startups and entrepreneurs.
HundredX, Inc., a real-time market share strategy platform, has completed a financing round bringing its total funding to more than $80million. Proceeds will be used to grow HundredX’s ethically-sourced customer experience database as well as to accelerate client acquisition and product development.
Biller Genie, the cloud-based accounts receivable platform, has completed an extension round of $1million. This additional investment comes less than six months after the company announced the closing of its $3.5million seed, bringing the company’s total external funding to $4.5million.
SaaS company Fluid.work has secured £2million investment from Manchester-based venture capital investor Praetura Ventures. The investment will allow Fluid.work to significantly grow its team, boost marketing activity and target global expansion.
Company updates
ADGM-based FinaMaze selected as part of the Fintech Saudi Regulatory Accelerator Program. The UAE asset management firm is set to extend its use of innovative financial solutions in the Saudi Fintech ecosystem to the benefit of investors.
Product launches
Sweatcoin, the London-based tech company, has launched SWEAT: the Token at the Paris Blockchain Week Summit this week. Sweatcoin’s ongoing mission is to launch a global currency based on the value of steps and movement.
Tranglo launches all-in-one business payment solution. Tranglo Business is developed for corporates of all sizes, specifically non-payment providers such as e-commerce traders, local vendors with regional suppliers and customers, cross-border travel agencies, global freelancing and outsourcing platforms, and giggers.
Partnerships
OwlTing Group, a blockchain technology enterprise, is the latest to leverage Napier’s AI-enhanced technology solutions to develop a financial crime compliance system. OwlPay aims to modernise B2B cross-border transactions by building a global blockchain and stablecoin network.
TIFIN, a fintech platform using AI and investment-driven personalisation to assist asset managers is partnering with Harbor Capital Advisors, a premier investment firm offering access to a range of investment solutions, to provide real-time digital solutions seeking to better engage with clients.
Meanwhile, HCL Technologies (HCL), the global technology company, has expanded its global partnership with Avaloq, a provider of digital banking solutions. Specifically, the pair will accelerate industry innovation through a lifecycle management centre and training and development investments.
Paysafe, the payments platform, has expanded its partnership with Betsson Group. Building on Paysafe’s longstanding payments support for Betsson globally, the company is now providing a range of traditional and alternative payment solutions to the new Betsafe online sportsbook Betsafe Sport App.
