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Yiren Digital’s Hexiang Insurance Brokers Launched Innovative Insurance Products for Low-Altitude Economy
Hexiang Insurance Brokers, the insurance brokerage arm of Yiren Digital, has successfully launched specialized insurance products targeting China’s rapidly expanding low-altitude economy. The company has signed multiple contracts with enterprise aviation operators through innovative insurance solutions developed in partnership with Ping An Insurance and PICC.
This strategic initiative represents a significant step in Hexiang’s expansion into China’s emerging low-altitude economy, positioning the company as a pioneer in providing comprehensive insurance coverage solution for this high-growth sector.
Key Achievements in 2025
- March 2025: In partnership with PICC, Hexiang sold its first low altitude aviation insurance policy to Xinjiang Tianying General Aviation. This policy covers the company’s commercial Robinson R44 helicopters and includes hull all-risks coverage, liability insurance, and errors & omissions extensions – all designed by Hexiang’s specialized insurance team.
- April 2025: Hexiang, in collaboration with Ping An Insurance, signed an insurance contract for Hexiang’s all-scenario helicopter insurance covering an Airbus R66. The product bundles aircraft hull coverage, crew liability, third-party liability, and passenger accident coverage, providing over RMB17 million in protection. The policy specially addresses the needs of low-altitude tourism operators and business commutes.
- June 2025: Hexiang is appointed as a Council Member of the Jiangsu Aviation Industry Association (JAIA), strengthening its position within the aviation industry ecosystem. The collaboration supports Hexiang’s strategy to deliver value-added insurance products that meet the evolving needs of new economy sectors particularly low-altitude aviation economy.
Leveraging JAIA’s aviation ecosystem, Hexiang aims to develop customized risk management products for civil aircraft operators, drone manufacturers, and general aviation companies – reinforcing its commitment to supporting industry growth through insurance innovation.
Low-altitude economy presents a substantial opportunity for insurance sector. Hexiang is strategically positioned to capitalize on this trend through continued product innovation and market expansion. The company plans to further develop its insurance portfolio with specialized offerings for urban air mobility (including eVTOLs and air taxis), commercial drone logistics, and AI-driven flight operations.
Through these strategic initiatives, Hexiang Insurance Brokers continues to demonstrate commitment to supporting China’s low-altitude economy development while establishing itself as the leading insurance provider in this sector.
Vyntra launched by NetGuardians and Intix to boost banking intelligence
NetGuardians, a Swiss FinTech specialising in AI-powered financial crime prevention, and Intix, a Belgian RegTech known for its transaction data visibility and analytics capabilities, have formed a strategic alliance to launch Vyntra, a next-generation financial crime intelligence platform.
The partnership aims to deliver a transformative solution for global financial institutions seeking robust tools for risk mitigation and regulatory compliance in a fast-evolving digital environment, according to FF News.
Vyntra is designed to provide real-time, end-to-end transaction observability that enhances operational resilience, improves compliance, and reduces exposure to financial crime.
NetGuardians brings its advanced artificial intelligence tools to detect and prevent financial crime, while Intix contributes its expertise in transaction data analysis and visibility.
By integrating these strengths, Vyntra enables banks and financial institutions to monitor transactions and payment flows in real time, ensuring anti-money laundering (AML) compliance and instant fraud detection.
The new platform already serves over 130 institutions across more than 60 countries. Its core clientele includes retail banks, private banks, institutional banks, Central Securities Depositories, digital-native banks, and FinTechs. Vyntra’s features include searchable message archives, SLA monitoring, proactive fraud detection, AML monitoring, insider risk detection, and access to shared community intelligence.
This launch comes in response to growing industry demand for a unified solution that ensures transparency, compliance, and security without hindering business operations. Vyntra’s real-time intelligence capabilities aim to redefine how banks and payment service providers detect and respond to financial crime at scale.
The backing of Summa Equity, which supported the merger between NetGuardians and Intix, has been instrumental in Vyntra’s creation.
Vyntra CEO Joël Winteregg said, “Vyntra represents a new chapter—not just for us, but for the financial institutions we serve. Whether it’s monitoring transactions and payment flows, ensuring anti-money laundering (AML) compliance, or detecting fraud as it happens, Vyntra unifies transaction observability and financial crime prevention under one roof. Our mission is simple: to help financial institutions navigate complexity with clarity and protect the integrity of every transaction.”
Summa Equity partner Gisle Glück Evensen said, “The merger of NetGuardians and Intix was designed to support a safer and more transparent financial system. Now, as Vyntra, this vision becomes a reality. We’re proud to support the team as they lead the way in transaction observability and financial crime prevention.”
Vyntra chief strategy officer Raffael Maio added, “Our clients rely on Vyntra to deliver operational resilience, regulatory confidence, and superior customer experiences. This united front directly addresses some of the most urgent challenges in financial services today.”
MGAA and Insurance DataLab team up to boost MGA insights
The Managing General Agents’ Association (MGAA), which represents MGAs in the UK and Gibraltar, has entered a strategic partnership with market intelligence platform Insurance DataLab.
As part of the deal, Insurance DataLab joins the MGAA as a Supplier Member and offers exclusive benefits to MGAA members, including a 10% discount on new annual licences, according to FF News.
The platform provides deep insights into underwriting performance, claims, solvency, and customer satisfaction across insurers, MGAs, and brokers, helping members make smarter, more informed decisions.
Matt Scott, co-founder of Insurance DataLab, said, “MGAs are driving innovation across the insurance market, and we’re proud to partner with the MGAA to give their Members access to data that helps power better decisions. This is about helping MGAs thrive by putting real insight in their hands.”
Dan King, co-founder of Insurance DataLab, said, “We’ve built Insurance DataLab to deliver intelligence that’s not just interesting, but genuinely useful. This partnership with the MGAA allows us to reach more of the market and provide it with the tools it needs to succeed.”
PNC Bank Launches PNC Mobile Accept®, A New Pay-As-You-Go Payment Processing Solution for Micro Businesses
PNC Bank today announced the launch of PNC Mobile Accept®, a fully integrated payment solution that provides its micro business clients with the ability to accept in-person credit and debit card payments directly within the PNC Mobile app.
Designed for businesses processing less than $300,000 in credit and debit card transactions annually, PNC Mobile Accept is a self-service solution that gives business owners fast, secure access to accept funds directly from their phone or tablet with no monthly fee.
“Micro businesses are often left behind by traditional card payment solutions due to high fees, restrictive card programs and approval delays,” said Matt Evans, head of PNC Merchant Services for Small Businesses. “With PNC Mobile Accept, we’re meeting small businesses where they are, delivering enterprise-grade payments capabilities at micro business scale – fast, affordable, and accessible.”
PNC Mobile Accept enables card payments through manual entry or via a pocket-sized reader that supports tap, dip, or swipe transactions. The solution boasts enhanced features like tax-and-tip functionality, cardholder data encryption, and near real-time transaction tracking, bringing consumer-grade ease to business-grade payments. Additionally, business owners can accept card payments from all credit card providers and access funds from transactions typically within two business days. This solution is ideal for micro businesses that are always on the go, and until now, lacked an easy way to accept card payments.
PNC small business clients with an active PNC business checking account can apply for PNC Mobile Accept in all PNC Bank branches and online. To apply or for more information about PNC Mobile Accept, please visit http://www.pnc.com/en/small-business/payments-and-processing/mobile-accept.
The payment processing services through PNC Mobile Accept are provided by Tempus Technologies, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of PNC Bank, PNC Bank, National Association, is a member of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC). PNC is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management.
Wealthbox Secures $200 Million Investment from Sixth Street Growth to Accelerate Expansion and Innovation
Wealthbox, the #1-rated CRM software platform for financial advisors, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement for a $200 million strategic majority investment from Sixth Street Growth, the growth investing business of leading global investment firm Sixth Street. The partnership marks a major milestone in Wealthbox’s evolution and positions the company to further scale its operations, accelerate product development, and expand its footprint across the wealth management industry.
The investment from Sixth Street Growth reflects the firm’s strong conviction in Wealthbox’s management team, its modern and intuitive product, and a forward-looking roadmap that includes the development and rollout of innovative AI features designed to drive advisor productivity and firm-wide efficiency. The funding underscores the company’s strong position in the independent advisor market, its expanding opportunity in adjacent wealth-tech categories, and strategic trajectory upmarket to larger RIA firms and enterprise broker-dealers.
“This partnership with Sixth Street is a defining moment for Wealthbox,” said John Rourke, CEO and Co-founder of Wealthbox. “We’ve spent years building a modern, elegant CRM that advisors truly enjoy using. With Sixth Street’s backing, the new funding will allow us to move faster than ever to extend our leadership in the market and deliver even more value to advisory firms of all sizes.”
This investment will enable a new chapter of growth. Wealthbox plans to accelerate product development, expand integrations across the advisor tech stack, and deepen its enterprise capabilities to meet the needs of increasingly complex advisory firms.
“Wealthbox’s platform combines user-friendly simplicity with powerful capabilities, underpinned by a deep commitment to customer satisfaction, and we believe that it offers a valuable, advisor-centric CRM solution for the wealth management channel,” said Michael McGinn, Partner at Sixth Street and Co-Head of Sixth Street Growth. “We are pleased to partner with Wealthbox to support its next phase of innovation.”
As part of the transaction, Michael McGinn, as well as Paul Dodd, Operating Partner, and Alex Goodman, Principal at Sixth Street Growth, will join Wealthbox’s Board of Directors.
Frontier Growth Wealthbox’s existing investor will retain its position in the company by rolling over a substantial portion of its equity into the recapitalization.
Wealthbox will continue to operate under its current leadership team, with management also reinvesting meaningfully, underscoring their long-term commitment to the business and its future trajectory.
NEC Specialty Inc. Adopts Expert Insured to Power Next-Gen Underwriting and Policy Management
NEC Specialty Inc. a leading managing general agency (MGA) serving brokers across the East Coast, has officially gone live on the Expert Insured Policy Management platform an advanced, AI-driven system built specifically for MGAs and wholesale distributors. This strategic move underscores NECS’s commitment to innovation and operational excellence.
NECS operates as an independent MGA, distinct from its former parent company, Northeast Coverages Inc., which was acquired by Acrisure, a global fintech leader, in 2023.
The adoption of Expert Insured reflects NECS’s dedication to staying ahead in a rapidly evolving insurance landscape. With this platform, the NECS team gains powerful tools to streamline submissions, reduce manual processing, and respond to brokers faster—without compromising underwriting discipline.
“We spent months evaluating nearly every platform on the market. Expert Insured was the only one that truly understood how MGAs operate and what we need to succeed,” said Robert Mangi, President of NECS. “We’re excited to be live on a system that reflects our vision for the future faster, smarter, and built for the way business really works.”
Expert Insured offers MGAs a fully integrated solution for policy management, workflow and task management, broker relationships / CRM, and accounting all in one system. For NECS, the platform allows for cleaner handoffs across teams, real-time visibility into submissions and quotes, and fewer delays in responding to agent partners.
“We’re thrilled to have NECS join the Expert Insured platform,” said Spencer McDonald, CEO of Expert Insured. “We’ve built a system for the next generation of MGAs designed to meet the speed and complexity of today’s market while supporting the unique workflows and needs of every team.”
The launch marks a new chapter for NECS as it continues to expand its footprint and product offerings. By adopting Expert Insured, the agency positions itself at the forefront of digital innovation in wholesale insurance, ensuring it can adapt and lead in an increasingly tech-driven environment.
Optalitix launches Model Monitoring to transform insurance pricing oversight
UK-based InsurTech firm Optalitix has launched Model Monitoring, a new feature for its flagship Optalitix Models platform, offering real-time tracking and analysis of insurance pricing models.
The tool allows insurers to monitor model usage, detect anomalies, and optimise performance, resulting in faster quote generation and more accurate pricing.
Model Monitoring supports all major modelling formats, including Excel, Python, and R, and will be available to clients on a self-service basis from July 2025.
The upgrade also delivers a 70% boost in model performance speed, powered by integration with Google Cloud’s system tracking technology.
Optalitix product manager Ricky Jayes said, “This change is groundbreaking for our clients, giving them far deeper insight and awareness of the performance of their entire model estate.”
Optalitix founding director Dani Katz said, “We believe the inclusion of a single source for model monitoring for insurers’ entire model estate, including their Excel, Python, and R models, is a world first. Optalitix is committed to providing groundbreaking technology to help insurers manage their advanced model estates.”
Tietoevry Banking partners with Finance Innovation to boost Norwegian FinTech innovation
Tietoevry Banking has officially joined NCE Finance Innovation, a key Norwegian FinTech cluster, in a move designed to drive innovation, collaboration and digital transformation across the financial sector.
The partnership aims to enhance knowledge-sharing among industry players.
Finance Innovation is a nationally recognised cluster supported by Innovation Norway and focuses on uniting finance and technology stakeholders across the country. The collaboration is expected to strengthen the national role of Finance Innovation as a hub for customer-led transformation, while also advancing the reputation of the financial sector as a dynamic and attractive career destination for tech professionals.
Tietoevry Banking acting managing director Mario Blazevic said, “We want to contribute to strengthening Finance Innovation’s role as a leading national arena for customer-driven innovation and transformation, helping the financial sector enhance its competitiveness and reputation as an attractive workplace for anyone passionate about technology.”
Finance Innovation CEO Rea Parashar welcomed the partnership, highlighting the strategic value that Tietoevry brings to the cluster. Rea Parashar said, “Tietoevry Banking is a valuable addition to the cluster ecosystem at Finance Innovation. With its broad expertise, extensive experience, and international network, this collaboration can unlock significant benefits for both society and the business community which aligns perfectly with our mission as an industry cluster.”
Tietoevry Banking employs around 3,400 FinTech experts globally, with 1,500 based in Norway across key cities including Bergen, Trondheim, Mo i Rana and Oslo. The company plays a central role in accelerating digital innovation in the region and sees this new partnership as a means to both contribute and learn.
Blazevic said, “The pace of digital innovation and transformation in Norway must increase, and the financial sector is a key catalyst in this effort. With our strong presence both in Norway and internationally, we at Tietoevry Banking are committed to sharing our expertise and experience to help Finance Innovation strengthen its national role, says Mario Blazevic, adding that the partnership will also be an important learning platform for employees.
“Those of us working in technology can never claim to be fully trained. We must continuously evolve, stay on top of trends, and find ways to convert them into lasting value for customers and society. The collaboration with Finance Innovation will be crucial for strengthening our regional presence
Client executive Sveinung André Gundersen underlined the importance of Tietoevry’s open, modular platform in enabling innovation within the FinTech ecosystem. Sveinung André Gundersen said, “Because our systems are based on open and modular solutions, this network will allow us to further strengthen the ecosystem of partners driving innovation and development. We believe and hope that this partnership with Finance Innovation will be a catalyst for further growth and innovation for Tietoevry Banking in the Bergen region — and that it will inspire innovation in other regions as well.”
Tietoevry Banking is a major provider of financial SaaS services across the Nordics and globally. Its suite of offerings spans digital banking, payments, card management, lending, wealth management and fraud prevention. With clients in over 60 countries, the company supports banks and financial institutions in adapting to market demands, complying with regulations, and enhancing customer experiences through secure, scalable technologies. It is part of the wider Tietoevry group, which generates annual revenues of around €3bn and is publicly listed in Helsinki, Stockholm and Oslo.
Timestamp Partners with BitGo to Power Innovative Capital Formation
Timestamp Financial, a regulated investment platform for startup investing, today announced a strategic partnership with BitGo, the leading infrastructure provider of digital asset solutions, through which BitGo will serve as Timestamp’s official custodian and escrow partner.
Timestamp’s integration of BitGo’s custody and escrow solutions is the first step towards their forward-looking strategy for startup capital formation. Soon after the initial phase of this integration, founders and investors will be able to participate in regulated investment offerings using bitcoin without compromising on security, trust, or regulatory integrity. The partnership marks a tangible step towards the responsible financialization of bitcoin.
“Partnering with BitGo sets the stage for the development of capital formation infrastructure aligned with the Bitcoin standard.” said Arman Meguerian, Founder and CEO of Timestamp. “Our mission is to give founders and investors a secure, compliant, and accessible path to raise and deploy capital in a rapidly evolving financial landscape. That requires regulatory clarity and institutional-grade systems, which BitGo delivers at the highest level.”
“We’re proud to partner with Timestamp to bring secure, regulated infrastructure to the frontier of startup investing,” said Mike Belshe, Co-founder and CEO of BitGo. “This collaboration represents a powerful step forward in aligning capital formation with the principles of sound money and digital asset security. Through the integration of BitGo’s institutional-grade custody and escrow services with Timestamp’s innovative platform, we aim to establish the financial infrastructure that will underpin a Bitcoin-native future.”
In the next phase of this partnership, Timestamp and BitGo plan to lay the groundwork for a new era of capital formation—one that is bitcoin-native, regulation-ready, and designed for a world operating on the bitcoin standard.
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“Mid-year setup is simple, seamless, and cost-effective with ezAccounting Business Software,” said Dr. Ge, Founder of Halfpricesoft.com.
ezAccounting is a powerful all-in-one solution built for accountants, agricultural businesses, and business owners—making it easy to track income and expenses, process payroll, print checks, generate detailed reports, and prepare tax forms with confidence.
ezAccounting offers both payroll and bookkeeping tools in one easy-to-use solution—ideal for small businesses and accounting professionals alike. Whether you’re new to accounting software or switching from QuickBooks, ezPaycheck, or another program, transitioning to ezAccounting is quick, intuitive, and stress-free.
Switching to new software mid-year might seem daunting, but it can offer significant advantages —especially when the current system is costly, inefficient, or lacking features.
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At Halfpricesoft.com, our goal is to empower Accountants, CPAs and SMBs with affordable, reliable, and easy-to-use software solutions that simplify payroll, streamline operations, and support efficient financial management. Trusted by thousands, we are committed to helping business owners save time and reduce costs through innovative online and desktop tools.
Enterprise WealthTech XFOLIO lands $2m seed funding
XFOLIO, a French and Lebanese-based FinTech company redefining institutional wealth management, has successfully closed a $2m seed funding round.
The investment was fully provided by Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP), and will enable XFOLIO to accelerate its product development, expand into new markets across MENA and Europe, and form strategic partnerships.
Founded in 2024 by serial entrepreneur Anis Rahal, who previously founded TreasuryXpress before it was acquired by Bottomline Technologies, XFOLIO offers a unified platform that merges portfolio management and treasury automation into a single cloud-based system.
The platform is designed to help financial institutions, family offices and wealth managers consolidate, automate and visualise both bankable and non-bankable assets. It leverages financial messaging standards to deliver a first-of-its-kind application that addresses growing demand for streamlined digital solutions.
The newly secured capital will support the company’s go-to-market strategy and fund the development of AI-powered recommendation tools and cross-bank trading features.
Middle East Venture Partners partner Jad El Boustani said, “We believe XFOLIO is building the future of enterprise WealthTech.
“Anis and the co-founders bring unmatched expertise in financial connectivity and portfolio management. Their solution addresses a critical gap in the market: modern, cost-effective tools for mid-sized wealth managers who have been left behind by legacy systems. It is an honor to be working again with Anis and his team.”
XFOLIO co-founder and CEO Anis Rahal said, “At XFOLIO, we believe that Treasury and Wealth Management should be unified into a single, seamless system. Both sectors depend on one critical success factor: real-time connectivity to market data providers. We find the current pricing in the market to be excessive, largely due to legacy systems that fail to leverage modern, cutting-edge technologies. XFOLIO is here to change that. We’re introducing fair, transparent pricing – and our mission is to democratize access to both Treasury and Wealth Management solutions.”
Whalet and TerraPay team up to boost SME global payments
Whalet has announced a strategic partnership with global money movement firm TerraPay to deliver seamless cross-border payout solutions aimed at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The collaboration will focus on simplifying international transactions for Whalet’s core customers — cross-border sellers from the Asia-Pacific region — while improving overall payment efficiency.
TerraPay vice president – IMT (APAC) Sukesh Malliah said, “This partnership enhances global payouts, ensuring businesses can move funds effortlessly. By working with Whalet, we’re enabling a more accessible and efficient payout experience for SMEs and marketplace sellers, empowering businesses to operate seamlessly across multiple regions.”
Whalet founder and CEO Nicholas Liao added, “Partnering with TerraPay strengthens our ability to offer reliable payouts for cross-border trade enterprises and e-commerce marketplace sellers. This collaboration ensures our customers can efficiently manage transactions while optimizing financial processes worldwide.”
Whalet focuses on providing SMEs with a wide suite of global payment services. Its offerings include one-click store setup, multi-currency global accounts, pay-ins, payouts, currency exchange, and card issuance. The firm holds payment licences in Singapore, the US, and Hong Kong SAR, ensuring its operations meet compliance standards across key international markets.
With international commerce rapidly evolving, both Whalet and TerraPay are focused on building a robust financial ecosystem that enables SMEs to pursue growth across borders. Their joint solution aims to provide reliable, frictionless payout networks that align with SMEs’ global expansion goals.
Whalet’s mission is to help SMEs approach global trade with confidence, offering secure and cost-effective cross-border solutions that cover a wide range of services from store setup to multi-currency management. The company currently supports transactions in 39 major currencies and partners with financial institutions worldwide to ensure businesses can scale efficiently while meeting regulatory demands.
European Fintech Paynt Acquires Canada-Based E-xact Transactions to Accelerate North American Expansion
Paynt, a leading European payment technology company, today announced its acquisition of Canadian firm E-xact Transactions, marking a major milestone in the company’s strategic expansion across North America.
Paynt currently processes payments across the European Economic Area and the United Kingdom, with regional offices in the UK, Ireland, the Baltic States, and the United States. The acquisition of E-xact, which processes over CAD 3.5 billion annually across more than 50 million transactions, will add a new operational hub in Vancouver, Canada.
To support this North American growth, Paynt has appointed payments industry veteran JohnPaul Golino to its board of directors. Golino will lead the integration of E-xact into Paynt’s platform and oversee regional go-to-market efforts.
“With a new established presence in Connecticut and Vancouver, we’re entering a new chapter in building Paynt’s North American footprint and reinforcing our global leadership in payment solutions,” said Sam Kohli, founder and Group CEO of Paynt.
Founded over 25 years ago, E-xact Transactions delivers lightning-fast, secure payment processing — with sub-one-second transaction times — and supports leading e-commerce platforms such as Shopify, Magento, and WooCommerce.
“This acquisition not only expands our reach but enhances the solutions we bring to merchants and partners across Canada,” said JohnPaul Golino. “We thank MAPP Advisors for their guidance in connecting us with E-xact — this is the beginning of a powerful new phase.”
Paynt is also actively evaluating additional acquisition targets in the United States, with plans to finalize another deal by the end of 2025.
Saphyre Launches AI Agent for Onboarding, Enabling Fund Launch by Email
Saphyre, the leading fintech platform for pre-trade and post-trade intelligent automation, today announced the launch of its AI Agent for Onboarding, a game-changing capability that allows brokers and clients to initiate full fund onboarding simply by sending an email.
With no portals, forms, or extra tools required, the AI Agent for Onboarding enables firms to meet their clients exactly where they are in their inbox. Clients of brokers can submit onboarding requests by emailing their required data points and documents. From there, Saphyre’s AI reads the message and attachments, intelligently parses the data, and automatically starts the onboarding process.
“The same emails your clients send today can now kick off a complete onboarding without any back-and-forth and manual rekeying or specialized formatting” said Stephen Roche, President and Co-Founder of Saphyre. “This is real operational efficiency, at scale.”
If any required data or documents are missing, Saphyre’s AI Agent for Onboarding follows up with a clean, automated request — asking only for what is needed. Once all information is collected, the system passes the request to the broker operations team for final review and approval. The onboarding is then seamlessly processed through their internal systems, via API integrations.
“We’ve eliminated the tedious steps that slow teams down,” Roche added. “Instead of chasing clients for missing information or copying data from emails into static forms, brokers can now focus on higher-value tasks — and get their clients to market faster.”
“This isn’t a chatbot or assistant. It’s a fully integrated AI capability designed to reduce onboarding timelines, eliminate inefficiencies, and improve client experience,” said Gabino Roche, CEO and Founder of Saphyre. “With our AI Agent for Onboarding, firms can operate smarter, move faster, and scale without sacrificing control.”
The AI Agent for Onboarding reflects Saphyre’s continued commitment to transforming operational processes through intelligent automation helping firms thrive in an increasingly fast-paced and regulated market.
BACKLIT CAPITAL SOLUTIONS LAUNCHES PREMIER LEGAL FINANCE CONSULTANCY
Backlit Capital Solutions today announced the launch of its full-service legal finance consultancy helping claimants, law firms, lenders and investors navigate the legal finance and contingent risk insurance market. Backlit provides capital access and strategic advisory services to claimants and law firms, as well as targeted deployment strategies, portfolio management guidance, risk mitigation, and asset remediation solutions for lenders and investors.
Backlit was founded by Ken Epstein and Matt Leland, who combine more than forty-five years of experience in litigation finance, credit analysis and remediation, and both in-house and law firm legal services. Backlit’s principals have managed large, varied portfolios with hundreds of millions of dollars in claims across dozens of litigation investments.
Epstein, Backlit Principal and Co-founder, said, “Litigation funding is undergoing a period of growth and transformation, providing new opportunities and risks for claimants and investors. As the landscape becomes more complex, participants on all sides of these transactions require experienced, individualized and directed advice to protect their interests. Backlit Capital Solutions was purpose-built to deliver independent, trusted counsel focused on problem-solving and fully responsive to the unique short- and long-term needs of each client in this dynamic market.”
Backlit Capital Solutions provides a full suite of services for entities looking to raise, lend and invest capital:
For Law Firms and Claimants:
- Seamless Fundraising Support: Offering practical advice rooted in deep industry knowledge and proven strategies to ensure a smooth and successful fundraising process.
- End-to-End Transaction Management: Minimizing burdens on attorneys by managing transactions from inception through completion. Backlit organizes, optimizes, and presents key case information to engage the most appropriate capital sources, negotiate favorable economic and non-economic terms, and ensure fiduciary obligations to the funding recipient are satisfied.
- Financial Modeling and Scenario Analysis: Helping clients assess the economic impact of alternative deal structures and financial terms through financial modeling and scenario analysis to ensure well-informed decision-making.
For Lenders and Investors:
- Deal Sourcing and Evaluation: Assisting in finding, evaluating, pricing, and closing legal finance opportunities delivering superior risk-adjusted returns in both primary and secondary markets.
- Contingent Risk Insurance Solutions: Exploring the availability and potential financial benefit of insurance products to protect investor principal.
- Asset Recovery and Liquidity Solutions: Crafting tailored strategies to preserve value in non-performing legal assets, as well as facilitating access to secondary markets for monetization, exit, or redeployment into new opportunities.
- Expert Opinions and Testimony: Delivering formal opinions on legal finance industry practices and market standards, and providing expert testimony in proceedings involving the valuation, treatment, and structure of legal assets.
Leland, Backlit Principal and Co-founder, said, “Litigation finance is at a crossroads. While its use spreads rapidly among claimants and law firms, the competition for funding grows, driving meaningful economic opportunities, as well as risks. Backlit’s deep experience with litigation finance, business, and complex commercial litigation provides unmatched expertise and unique end-to-end support for those pursuing litigation resources in an increasingly challenging market.”
Kiwi secures $7.8m to grow AI-powered credit platform for Latinos
Kiwi, a FinTech company focused on building AI-driven credit and financial tools for underbanked Latino communities in the US, has closed a $7.8m Series A funding round.
The round was co-led by LIP Ventures and Advent-Morro Equity Partners, with further backing from Morro Ventures, Independent Capital, Neer Venture Partners, Invariantes Fund, and others. This latest funding brings Kiwi’s total equity investment to over $15m.
Founded in 2020 by Dominican Republic natives Mariano Sanz and Alexander Schachter, Kiwi was launched with a mission to address the lack of credit access among Latinos in the U.S. Its technology has since helped more than 100,000 users build credit histories and connect with formal financial services.
Kiwi offers a suite of AI-powered products that cover the entire credit lifecycle—from underwriting and fraud detection to compliance and servicing. The platform has been tailored specifically to how Latino immigrants and US-born Latinos manage their finances, providing access to tools that support spending, saving, borrowing, and staying financially connected.
With over 300% revenue growth in 2024 and ongoing profitability, the company now plans to use the new capital to accelerate its nationwide rollout, advance its AI capabilities, and develop new financial products aligned with the day-to-day needs of its users.
Kiwi CEO Mariano Sanz said, “Access to credit is often the biggest barrier for our customers. When you solve that first, you earn the long-term relationship. Our customers don’t want just another app. They want someone who sees them, understands them, and helps them thrive in a market where they’ve been historically overlooked. That’s what we’re building.”