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Date – 20-Aug-2024 Ascent streamlines the process of completing digital applications and forms, easing the workload for both members and associates. The Cooperative Credit Union Association (CCUA) is excited to announce a strategic partnership with Ascent Platform, a leading fintech CUSO specializing in digital experience solutions for credit unions. This collaboration aims to enhance digital engagement and delivery for CCUA members. Traditionally, credit unions have had to implement complex, full-stack solutions for each digital experience challenge. These solutions, while improving experiences, are often costly, intricate, and time-consuming to deploy. They can disrupt existing processes, increase compliance and vendor management costs, and lead to fragmented user interfaces and siloed data. Ascent addresses these issues by providing a unified platform that delivers consistent and seamless digital experiences across all touchpoints within a credit union. Ascent simplifies product applications and forms without interfering with current systems and processes. The platform replaces disjointed product applications, static online forms, and PDFs with smart forms that feature pre-filled data, customizable rules and logic, and collaborative document collection. Importantly, Ascent learns from each interaction to make future experiences more intuitive, reducing the number of questions for members and minimizing the workload for associates. Arjun Sahgal, co-founder and CEO of Ascent, stated, “CCUA is a prominent leader in the credit union industry, and we are thrilled to partner with them to better serve their members. Our collaboration with Melissa Pomeroy and the CCUA team has been incredibly rewarding, and we look forward to building on this positive momentum.” Melissa Pomeroy, EVP and Chief Operating Officer at CCUA, added, “Our partnership with Ascent allows us to offer a state-of-the-art digital experience that enhances member satisfaction and operational efficiency. This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission to advance credit unions through collaborative innovation.”

Date – 20-Aug-2024 LoanPro, a cutting-edge API-first lending and credit platform, has announced the appointment of Jeri Larsen as its new Chief Customer Officer. Jeri Larsen brings a wealth of experience in customer relationship management, sales, and consulting, with a notable history of success in the tech sector. Most recently, she served as Chief Operating Officer at YouScience. Before that, she was the Senior Vice President of Sales Operations and Development at MX, where she optimized sales processes and achieved the company’s highest employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS). Her return to the fintech industry as CCO will see her play a crucial role in guiding teams to deliver outstanding customer experiences and forge long-lasting relationships. Over the past year, LoanPro has seen significant growth, driven by financial institutions seeking to modernize their infrastructure and the introduction of transaction-level credit within their platform. New major clients include SoFi, Mascoma Bank, Scratch Financial, OppFi, Borrowell, and others. To support this expansion, LoanPro has brought Jeri on board to ensure exceptional support and customer satisfaction. Rhett Roberts, CEO of LoanPro, remarked, “Our dedication to delighting customers at every interaction is unwavering. This commitment extends from initial contact through to post-sales support. We’re thrilled to have someone of Jeri’s caliber joining us to help achieve this goal.” Jeri Larsen added, “In any SaaS organization, having a strong product and revenue engine is crucial, but so is having dedicated advocates for the customers. LoanPro’s flexibility and adaptability allow us to meet our customers’ evolving needs. I’m eager to collaborate with the team to enhance our capabilities, champion our customers, and build meaningful, trusting relationships.”

Date – 20-Aug-2024 TerraPay Launches Wallet Interoperability Council with Leading Digital Wallet Operators TerraPay, a global leader in money movement solutions, has announced the formation of the “Wallet Interoperability Council” in collaboration with five prominent digital wallet operators. This council aims to leverage TerraPay’s technology to enhance interconnection and interoperability in cross-border transactions. The founding members of this council include Airtel, bKash, MPESA, Nequi, and Sama Money, collectively serving millions of wallet users across regions such as Bangladesh, Colombia, Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda. The council’s goal is to streamline merchant payments, international remittances, and other cross-border transactions by interconnecting their diverse platforms and advancing global wallet interoperability. “Being part of the Wallet Interoperability Council is a significant step forward for Safaricom. This collaboration with TerraPay is pioneering global wallet payment interoperability and will drive greater value for our users in international money movement,” said Esther Masese Waititu, Chief Financial Services Officer at Safaricom PLC. The council aims to develop secure, efficient, and cost-effective solutions for cross-border wallet transactions by combining the expertise and resources of its members. TerraPay will provide the necessary technology infrastructure and manage clearing and settlement processes. María del Pilar, Chief Product Officer at Nequi, commented, “Partnering with TerraPay and other council members is a strategic move that will accelerate the global adoption of digital wallets and improve the cross-border payment experience. This collaboration allows us to share and enhance our capabilities together.” Ian Ferrao, CEO of Airtel Money, added, “This initiative will bring tangible benefits to our customers and shareholders by facilitating international wallet usage more efficiently than through individual bilateral agreements.” As digital wallets are expected to handle over $16 trillion in transactions by 2028, this council aims to address the demand for cross-border payment solutions and support the growth of multi-rail wallets in both e-commerce and in-person transactions. Ali Ahmmed, Chief Commercial Officer at bKash, said, “Our collaboration will enhance consumer experiences and add significant utility for cross-border merchant payments. This council will benefit all participants, especially our wallet users.” Sekou Kane Diallo, Deputy CEO and IT Manager at Sama Money, noted, “This initiative addresses key market challenges and will transform perceptions of wallet usage in cross-border commerce, making interoperability within the council’s participants more accessible.” Ambar Sur, CEO of TerraPay, concluded, “With our extensive network connecting over 100 digital wallets, the formation of this council is a major milestone in our mission to provide inclusive financial solutions. We are committed to driving the next wave of wallet evolution and expanding local user experiences to a global scale.”

Date – 20-Aug-2024 TradePMR Expands Team with Four Industry Veterans to Accelerate Fusion Platform Evolution TradePMR, a leading technology and custodial services provider for registered investment advisors (RIAs), is excited to announce the addition of four industry veterans to its technology team. These strategic hires are set to enhance the development and expansion of TradePMR’s Fusion technology and integration platform. Joining the team of nearly 100 professionals are: “With the increasing demand for technology solutions that support the growth and success of independent advisors, it’s crucial that we scale our technology thoughtfully,” said R. Scott Victoria, CFP®, Chief Operating Officer at TradePMR. “These new team members bring invaluable expertise and insights that will drive our ongoing growth and innovation. Their combined knowledge will enhance our operational excellence and strengthen our position as a leader in advisor technology.” These new hires follow the recent appointment of Jon Patullo as Chief Product Officer, reflecting TradePMR’s strategic focus on enhancing its talent pool with experts who have extensive experience in custody platforms and advisor-focused technology. Each new team member brings a wealth of experience from senior roles in technology at custodial firms, aligning perfectly with TradePMR’s commitment to streamlined processes and operational efficiency. Reporting directly to Victoria, the new hires will play crucial roles in advancing the Fusion platform, which serves as a cornerstone of advisor technology. Fusion integrates a comprehensive suite of tools, including streamlined account opening, efficient account management, advanced trading capabilities, fee calculation tools, and robust client relationship management features. The platform continues to evolve based on advisor feedback, including the recent introduction of the Fusion Message Center—a secure, user-friendly communication and collaboration channel. Rated as a top advisor platform in the 2024 T3 survey, Fusion has been refined over more than a decade, benefiting from user feedback and the needs of thousands of independent RIAs. “The momentum of the Fusion platform highlights our dedication to meeting the specific needs of our advisors,” added Victoria. “As we expand our capabilities based on their input, having the right talent in place is essential. We are excited to welcome these new team members and are confident they will significantly contribute to our culture of continuous improvement and innovation at TradePMR.”

Date – 20-Aug-2024 PayPal Holdings Strengthens Global Partnership with Adyen to Introduce Fastlane in the U.S. PayPal Holdings has announced an expansion of its global strategic partnership with Adyen, a leading financial technology platform for top businesses. As part of this enhanced collaboration, Adyen will introduce Fastlane by PayPal to streamline guest checkout processes for its enterprise and marketplace clients in the U.S., with plans for a global rollout in the future. This initiative aims to improve consumer shopping experiences and boost conversion rates for businesses using Adyen’s platform. Fastlane by PayPal offers a new guest checkout experience designed to convert over 80% of transactions and reduce checkout time by 32% compared to traditional methods. Shoppers can save their card and shipping information during their first purchase with a participating merchant, allowing for automatic pre-filling of these details on future transactions wherever Fastlane by PayPal is accepted. “Adyen’s extensive customer base and relationships with enterprises make them the ideal partner for launching Fastlane,” said Alex Chriss, President and CEO of PayPal. “This expanded partnership supports our goal of making PayPal available everywhere customers shop globally. We are committed to providing seamless and connected commerce experiences for the world’s leading brands, technology companies, and payment processors.” Pieter van der Does, co-founder and co-CEO of Adyen, added, “Our expanded partnership with PayPal enhances our ability to offer global enterprises seamless payment flows and exceptional guest shopping experiences. PayPal’s trusted payment brand, combined with our expertise, will elevate the shopping experience for our customers.” Adyen and PayPal have a long-standing partnership, allowing Adyen’s customers to offer PayPal’s suite of payment solutions globally, including PayPal, Venmo, and PayPal’s Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services. Beyond the launch of Fastlane by PayPal, the two companies will continue to explore additional solutions to enhance consumer journeys and deliver value for enterprise clients.

Date – 20-Aug-2024 Simpro and D-Tools are excited to announce a strategic partnership aimed at transforming trade service tools and operations. This collaboration represents a significant milestone in the industry, fueled by a shared dedication to driving customer success through innovation and teamwork. The partnership unites Simpro, the leading field service management software for trade and field services businesses, with D-Tools, a leading provider of core business management software for the electronic systems integration market. Together, they aim to enhance product capabilities, expand market reach, and develop new distribution channels by leveraging their combined strengths. “We are thrilled to partner with D-Tools,” said Ryan Murden, SVP of Partnerships at Simpro. “Many of our customers already use our tools in tandem, and this collaboration will further boost operational efficiency and enable us to deliver exceptional customer service. By joining forces, we are committed to offering a comprehensive solution that meets the evolving needs of our clients and drives their success.” Simpro’s focus on adding value for existing customers aligns seamlessly with D-Tools’ expertise in extending functionality beyond estimating, proposals, and system design into robust job and asset management solutions. Through this partnership, users of D-Tools’ System Integrator (SI) software and Simpro’s job management solution will benefit from an integration that allows D-Tools project details to flow seamlessly into Simpro, creating a fully integrated project workflow. “We rely on both D-Tools and Simpro to provide a seamless, end-to-end solution for our business,” said Sergey Rekutin, President of Cravtsman, a commercial and residential audio-visual company. “D-Tools SI allows us to efficiently handle proposal design and estimating with precision, while Simpro takes over for job management, job costing, and invoicing to streamline payments.” “Partnering with Simpro enables us to offer our joint customers another powerful option for managing their business processes, delivering a comprehensive, best-in-class experience on a global scale,” said Randy Stearns, CEO of D-Tools. “Together, we are better positioned to meet the evolving needs of the low voltage industries and beyond.” Simpro and D-Tools are committed to continuous innovation and collaboration, ensuring that their combined solutions remain at the forefront of the industry. Through this partnership, they will set new standards of excellence for trade service companies, empowering businesses to achieve their full potential.

Date – 16-Aug-2024 Boom Technologies Secures $500M in Growth Capital and Launches Crypto-Friendly Equity Investment Opportunity Boom Technologies, a leading DeFi unicorn and e-commerce provider aimed at the unbanked, has announced a significant milestone with the acquisition of $500 million in growth capital from a prominent family office based in Dubai. This investment fuels Boom’s innovative DeFi ecosystem and includes a unique opportunity for both retail and institutional investors to purchase equity using cryptocurrency or cash. Boom Technologies is revolutionizing financial inclusion by bridging the divide between traditional fiat economies and the global digital marketplace. This initiative offers secure and seamless access to financial services for billions of unbanked individuals, enabling them to store, transfer, exchange, and spend cash online while maintaining full control over their funds. The company’s new equity offering aims to raise $47 million and underscores its commitment to broadening access to financial investment. Key Investment Details: Peter Alfred-Adekeye, Founder and CEO of Boom Technologies, stated, “We are proud to democratize access to equity investments by enabling both retail and institutional investors to acquire shares using crypto or cash. This move aligns with our mission to promote financial inclusion and allow a diverse range of investors to benefit from the value we are creating.” Boom Technologies’ DeFi ecosystem, supported by partnerships with industry leaders such as Fireblocks and collaborations with the Bank for International Settlements, continues to set new benchmarks for financial innovation. With over 100,000 app downloads in just two weeks and a rapidly expanding user base, Boom is poised to redefine global e-commerce for the unbanked.

Date – 16-Aug-2024 Adyen, the global payment platform favored by leading companies worldwide, has announced its expansion into India. This move comes with authorization from the Reserve Bank of India to operate as an Online Payment Aggregator, supporting both domestic and cross-border transactions. As part of this expansion, Adyen will establish a new technology hub in Bengaluru (Bangalore) and introduce local payment processing capabilities. This expansion is central to Adyen’s all-in-one payment platform, enabling Indian merchants to optimize transactions with local processing. “The drive towards a Cashless India opens new avenues for businesses to enhance customer experiences in one of the fastest-growing e-commerce markets,” said Ingo Uytdehaage, Co-CEO of Adyen. “We aim to transform digital payments in India with our global solution and local processing, helping merchants scale effectively.” Aditya Khullar, Country Manager for India, added, “Our new technology hub in Bengaluru will provide valuable technical resources and leverage India’s strong tech talent to support both local and global payment innovations. We are dedicated to supporting our merchants’ long-term growth as we expand our presence in India.” Adyen’s comprehensive payment solution covers the entire payment flow, including gateway services, risk management, and acquiring, which facilitates global expansion and optimized payment processes. The platform offers insights into local payment methods and schemes, with direct acquiring connections to major card schemes like Visa, Mastercard, Rupay, and local payments such as UPI. This allows merchants to utilize Adyen’s unified platform to accommodate preferred payment methods, including credit and debit cards and relevant local options.

Date – 16-Aug-2024 Ironbeam, a CME Group clearing member, is excited to unveil a new WebSocket streaming feature within its REST API, aimed at revolutionizing futures trading with real-time data access. This enhancement is set to significantly boost trading speed and efficiency. Known for its leadership in futures brokerage and technology, Ironbeam continues to integrate cutting-edge solutions to meet traders’ evolving needs. The updated API allows users to receive live data effortlessly through an intuitive REST interface, eliminating the need for repetitive server polling. This advancement ensures quicker and more reliable market access, empowering traders to make faster, well-informed decisions. “The launch of WebSocket streaming in our API underscores our commitment to delivering the most advanced trading tools available,” said Omid Farr, CEO of Ironbeam. “This technology not only enhances user experience with instant data access but also supports our mission to create a more dynamic trading environment.” Key benefits of the new WebSocket streaming feature include: The Ironbeam API with WebSocket functionality is now available, setting a new benchmark for responsiveness and performance in the futures trading industry.

Date – 16-Aug-2024 Tesorio Introduces AI-Driven AR Invoicing Automation for QuickBooks Online Tesorio, the pioneering Connected Finance Operations platform, has unveiled its new AI-powered AR Invoicing Automation solution. This innovative tool is designed to revolutionize the Order to Cash process by automating invoice generation from sales orders with unmatched speed and precision. The Spark Behind the Innovation Carlos Vega, CEO of Tesorio, highlights the role of Max Dame, Tesorio’s VP of Finance & Operations, in driving this innovation. “Max’s vision to extend beyond collections and cash forecasting led to the development of an internal tool that automates processing PDF order forms, creating customer records, and sending invoices. This low-code tool has redefined our operational efficiency.” Transforming the Order to Cash Process “In the Order to Cash cycle, 50-70% of payment delays stem from preventable invoicing errors,” said Vega. “Tesorio’s AR Invoicing Automation leverages AI to fully automate the workflow from order import to invoice creation, minimizing missed fields and manual mistakes.” This new solution smooths out the invoicing process, accelerating cash inflows for businesses. Import a signed order and issue a precise invoice to your customer faster than making your morning coffee. With seamless integration into QuickBooks Online, all financial data remains synchronized, accurate, and current. Tesorio’s AR Automation and Cash Flow Management solutions comprehensively support the Order to Cash process, ensuring real-time updates to cash flow forecasts based on actions taken in AR Automation, such as large invoice collections or payment promises. This connected data ecosystem allows AI to deliver actionable insights, enabling businesses to make informed, strategic decisions that enhance cash flow and minimize inefficiencies.