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In order to accelerate innovation in private markets technology, Juniper Square announces a strategic investment from Nasdaq Ventures
Juniper Square, a leading fund operations partner supporting more than 2,000 private markets general partners (GPs), announced a strategic investment from Nasdaq Ventures aimed at accelerating innovation in private markets technology. Alongside the investment, Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) and Juniper Square will enter into a strategic partnership to explore opportunities that advance integrated data solutions and expand liquidity options for private fund managers. This announcement comes on the heels of Juniper Square’s $130 million Series D financing revealed in June, underscoring the company’s growing influence in transforming private markets infrastructure.
“For over ten years, Juniper Square has dedicated itself to helping general partners build firms that stand the test of time,” said Alex Robinson, CEO and Co-Founder of Juniper Square. Nasdaq is in agreement with our goal of private markets that are more accessible, transparent, and efficient. By pairing world-class financial data with purpose-built software, we can create the industry’s go-to platform for raising and managing private capital.”
With private market investment expanding at an unprecedented pace, GPs increasingly require advanced, next-generation data solutions to gain real-time visibility and supercharge their fundraising and capital deployment strategies. Through this collaboration, Juniper Square and Nasdaq will focus on new opportunities to equip GPs with critical tools for modern fund management while also working to improve secondary market liquidity, a growing area of innovation in private markets.
“Private markets are in the midst of a generational shift, where data-driven insights and technology-enabled operations are becoming essential to the way firms raise, allocate, and manage capital,” stated Gary Offner, Nasdaq Ventures’ head and senior vice president. “We are pleased to support Juniper Square’s vision and expansion, as they have developed a ground-breaking platform that streamlines fund operations for general practitioners.”
This investment and partnership mark a major step forward in Juniper Square’s mission to deliver AI-powered solutions, fully integrated services, and specialized infrastructure that redefine efficiency and transparency for private markets on a global scale.
Payroc and Cinfed Credit Union Join Forces to Deliver Advanced Payment Solutions
Payroc, a leading global payments company, is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Cinfed Credit Union, a trusted financial institution serving both businesses and consumers throughout Greater Cincinnati, Ohio. This collaboration, effective September 1, 2025, marks the beginning of a new chapter in delivering seamless and advanced payment processing solutions to Cinfed’s business clients.
Through this partnership, Payroc will provide a comprehensive suite of merchant services designed to help businesses operate efficiently and securely. These solutions will encompass smart point-of-sale systems, online payment options, electronic invoicing through both email and text messaging, as well as compliant cost-saving programs including cash discounting and surcharging. In addition, Payroc will offer mobile processing, digital invoicing, same-day funding capabilities, in-depth reporting and analytics, advanced risk monitoring, fraud management tools, and personalized white-glove support.
The initiative highlights the shared vision of Cinfed Credit Union and Payroc to empower merchants by providing tools and services that protect revenue, promote growth, and ensure long-term success. Both organizations are committed to delivering value through innovation while maintaining a personal, client-focused approach.
“Cinfed’s primary mission has always been to serve our members with customized, personal service,” said Milton Jones, Vice President of Card Services at Cinfed. “By partnering with Payroc, we are now able to provide world-class payment technology solutions to our business accounts, and we couldn’t be more excited about the opportunities this creates for our members.”
Chad Stephens, Vice President of Sales and Revenue Growth at Payroc, added, “This partnership extends beyond technology. It is about fostering stronger connections within the community. We are eager to collaborate closely with Cinfed in order to match our combined capabilities with their clients’ demands, paving the road for expansion, creativity, and sustained success.”
From small and midsized businesses to large enterprises, nonprofits, professional service providers, and municipalities, Cinfed’s clients will benefit from tailored payment solutions supported by local service and world-class infrastructure. Every merchant is guaranteed to receive affordable, dependable, and compliant services that change to meet their business needs thanks to this cooperative, high-touch approach.
AI-Powered Oculon Intelligence Aims to Redefine Market Intelligence for Equities and Options
TXSE Group Inc has announced the launch of Oculon Intelligence, an AI-native market intelligence software platform created to help market participants strengthen compliance, manage risk, and enhance performance while improving investor outcomes. Developed in close collaboration with leading financial institutions, the platform delivers an integrated suite of execution analytics, regulatory reporting, and cross-market surveillance designed to improve efficiency, protect investors, and support overall market quality.
With data protection and security embedded at its foundation, Oculon Intelligence is initially targeting equities and options markets. Its capabilities include high-frequency data ingestion and advanced analytics that allow firms to refine execution strategies and boost performance. Central to its design are agentic AI tools tailored to market structure and powered by multiple large language models, built specifically for highly regulated institutions.
The platform also addresses compliance with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Rule 605 execution quality reporting and Rule 606 order routing disclosure. These requirements are expanding significantly under new SEC rule changes, which will increase both the volume of data and the number of market participants obligated to report. By offering fast, reliable, AI-powered tools, Oculon Intelligence helps firms navigate these changes with confidence.
Oculon Intelligence is led by seasoned industry professionals with decades of experience in equity market structure, order routing, regulation, and financial technology. President Ovi Montemayor brings more than 20 years of leadership from firms such as Charles Schwab, where he oversaw market structure advocacy, trading operations, and order routing functions. He also played a central role in various industry committees and regulatory initiatives. Montemayor emphasized that Oculon Intelligence provides the infrastructure firms need to transform compliance into a competitive advantage while fostering trust, transparency, and fairness across U.S. markets.
Senior Vice President David Saltiel, a former top SEC official, provides support to the executive team. Before this, Saltiel served as acting director and deputy director of the Division of Trading and Markets and as head of the SEC’s Office of Analytics and Research. With a key role in the development of amendments to Rules 605 and 606, he brings deep expertise in regulation and quantitative analysis. He noted that the rapidly evolving competitive and regulatory environment requires flexible tools with uncompromising data protection, and Oculon Intelligence is built to deliver exactly that.
Headquartered in Dallas, a growing hub for AI, technology, and financial markets, Oculon Intelligence operates as an independent division of TXSE Group Inc.
A strategic partnership between Swiss-based YouHodler and the Torino Football Club is extended
The partnership between YouHodler, a Swiss Web3 platform that links traditional and digital banking, and Torino Football Club, an Italian Serie A side, has been renewed. The collaboration, which began in 2022, now enters its fourth season, highlighting a shared commitment to resilience, tradition, and innovation at the intersection of sports and fintech.
Since its inception, the partnership has aimed to connect fintech innovation with one of Italy’s most historic football clubs. Together, YouHodler and Torino FC have increased awareness of Web3 services in Italy, while providing fans with interactive experiences that combine the excitement of football with next-generation financial tools. The collaboration has included events at Torino Stadium, such as the annual Crypto Summit, offering fans the chance to engage with players and participate in social activities.
“Many crypto-sports partnerships are short-lived, but our relationship with Torino FC has continued to strengthen,” said Ilya Volkov, CEO and co-founder of YouHodler. “Torino’s history of resilience inspires us. Just as the club has endured challenges and remained loyal to its supporters, we are building a financial platform rooted in trust, reliability, and long-term vision. A journey rather than a season is the focus of this cooperation.”
The alliance reflects a deep, long-lasting Italian-Swiss relationship, built on mutual respect for tradition and innovation. Matteo De Angelis, YouHodler’s Italy country manager, noted that fans increasingly recognize and engage with the brand, feeling part of Torino’s extended family. He emphasized the alignment between the two organizations, with YouHodler combining digital asset innovation and traditional financial expertise, mirroring Torino’s ability to innovate while honoring its historic roots.
This season, fans will notice expanded YouHodler branding throughout Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino, alongside activations that enhance engagement through contests, rewards, and digital experiences. The partnership renewal coincides with Torino’s Serie A Day 2 home match against Fiorentina on August 31, offering supporters an early glimpse of the collaboration in action.
Lorenzo Barale, Commercial Director at Torino FC, stated, “This is more than a sponsorship; it’s a growing bond that blends our tradition with YouHodler’s innovative spirit, delivering real value to fans on and off the pitch.”
The renewal also reflects YouHodler’s broader commitment to Europe’s blockchain and fintech ecosystem, with upcoming participation in events like CV Summit, Plan B Lugano, and Vienna Blockchain Week, further advancing the adoption of Web3 solutions in accessible and meaningful ways.
Torino FC, founded in 1906, is a historic club in Italy with seven Serie A titles and five Coppa Italia trophies. YouHodler offers a comprehensive, regulated platform providing crypto-backed loans, crypto reward accounts, and universal currency exchange, bridging fiat and digital finance with simplicity, efficiency, and transparency.
To provide freight forwarders with a complete invoicing automation solution, BravoTran acquires Keystroke.io
The purchase of Keystroke.io, a specialist platform devoted to accounts receivable (AR) automation, has been announced by BravoTran, a prominent supplier of payables automation technology for international freight forwarders. This acquisition represents an industry first, as it allows BravoTran to integrate both payables and receivables automation into a single unified solution tailored for freight forwarders.
Managing receivables has long been a challenge for the industry. Inefficient AR processes often lead to delayed or short-paid invoices, creating ongoing cash flow problems for forwarders. Many companies struggle to comply with unique customer billing requirements, which results in frequent payment delays. At the same time, visibility into outstanding invoices is often limited, and setting up electronic data interchange (EDI) connections to meet customer mandates can be costly and time-consuming.
Keystroke.io was designed to address these challenges directly. Its pre-audit system provides a centralized dashboard that gives forwarders a clear, real-time view of invoice status across every channel. By managing customer billing EDI connections through a single, streamlined interface, Keystroke.io simplifies a process that has historically been fragmented and inefficient.
Tom Durrenberger, CEO of BravoTran, stated that Keystroke “resolves a recognized customer pain point.” “We’re rolling out this capability across our customer base to deliver an end-to-end financial automation platform that unifies payables and receivables. This will help our clients save significant time and money while reinforcing BravoTran’s position as the go-to provider of payables automation in freight forwarding. As of right now, the market has no alternative competing solution.
Co-founder David Haynes of Keystroke.io continued, “This acquisition demonstrates that our team has developed a cutting-edge solution. BravoTran’s emphasis on addressing the actual and urgent financial difficulties faced by forwarders made them the ideal acquisition. We are eagerly looking forward to grow the business together.
BravoTran has become the industry standard in payables automation, helping freight forwarders achieve tenfold improvements from day one through labor savings, faster cash flow, and stronger financial controls. Keystroke.io, with its specialized receivables automation technology, now adds a crucial layer that enhances accuracy, accelerates payments, and provides better visibility across complex invoicing relationships.
Cross-border payments to be scaled up through a partnership between MasterCard and Infosys
Infosys, a global leader in digital services and consulting, has announced a strategic collaboration with Mastercard to expand access to Mastercard Move, the company’s portfolio of money movement capabilities. This integration with Infosys Finacle, part of EdgeVerve Systems, will allow financial institutions to leverage cross-border payment services more efficiently, cutting down implementation timelines and reducing the heavy resource requirements typically associated with such projects.
Mastercard Move provides fast, reliable, and secure domestic and international money transfer solutions. Covering more than 200 countries and 150 currencies, and reaching over 95 percent of the world’s banked population, the service is designed to meet the increasing demand for seamless global transactions. Through the partnership with Infosys, Mastercard hopes to improve customer interactions with banks and other financial institutions by implementing next-generation digital payment systems.
Commenting on the collaboration, Pratik Khowala, EVP and Global Head of Transfer Solutions at Mastercard, emphasized that Mastercard Move enables individuals and organizations to move money quickly and securely across borders. He noted that partnering with Infosys will make these advanced capabilities more accessible to financial institutions, allowing them to deliver efficient cross-border payments while optimizing their own risk, operations, and liquidity management.
The rise in international remittances, especially in Asia, which accounted for nearly half of all inflows in 2024, was highlighted by Anouska Ladds, Executive Vice President for Commercial & New Payment Flows, Asia Pacific, at Mastercard. She explained that the partnership with Infosys aligns with Mastercard’s mission to invest in smarter money movement solutions and broaden access to remittance services worldwide.
Dennis Gada, EVP and Global Head of Banking and Financial Services at Infosys, says that payments are a crucial customer touchpoint and a way to increase loyalty. With customers seeking faster and more seamless digital transactions, the collaboration with Mastercard is expected to significantly improve cross-border experiences. Similarly, Sajit Vijayakumar, CEO of Infosys Finacle, added that bringing together Finacle’s composable banking platform with Mastercard’s global payment reach will help banks empower their customers with secure, near real-time cross-border transactions.
Mastercard, present in over 200 countries and territories, is known for enabling inclusive digital economies through secure and innovative payment solutions. Infosys, with more than four decades of experience in guiding enterprises through digital transformation, brings its AI-first and agile approach to this partnership. Together with Infosys Finacle’s leadership in digital banking solutions, the collaboration aims to redefine how financial institutions and their customers engage in global money movement.
Fintech Platform Atomic Lands $30M to Accelerate Global Regulatory Expansion
Atomic, the embedded investing platform enabling fintechs and financial institutions to integrate wealth management into their offerings, has secured an additional $30 million in growth capital. The round was led by Aquiline and Brewer Lane, with participation from Intuit, Nationwide Ventures, Erie Strategic Ventures, Samsung Next, and Appia Ventures, alongside existing backers QED Investors, Anthemis, and Y Combinator. The funding will fuel Atomic’s regulatory expansion and support the global scaling of its investing platform across banks, insurers, fintechs, and consumer brands.
The company is transforming wealth management by separating the client-facing distribution of investing services from the underlying brokerage infrastructure and regulatory requirements. This model allows financial and non-financial companies to embed investing capabilities directly into their products within weeks, offering customers the same access as incumbent brokerage firms without the need for businesses to build brokerage operations in-house.
With wealth management representing a $100 trillion global market, Atomic is broadening access by enabling institutions with existing customer relationships to act as gateways to investing. The need for this strategy is evident in the company’s explosive growth: Atomic has grown end-investor accounts 52 times in the last year and currently handles over $20 billion in annualized trading activity. Its technology powers products for a wide array of partners, including NerdWallet in consumer finance, Yieldstreet in private markets, and Bluevine in business banking.
David Dindi, CEO of Atomic, said the company’s mission is to democratize access to compounding and wealth creation. We’re constructing a future where everyone may use compound interest to attain financial success in collaboration with our global partners. We’re excited to welcome investors who share our vision for transforming how wealth is built and delivered,” he stated.
Max Chee, Co-head of Aquiline’s venture strategy, noted Atomic’s disruptive impact on the industry. “Atomic is redefining wealth management by making it much easier for any financial institution to embed investing into their customer experience. Through cost reduction and access expansion, their platform is enabling new ideas among fintechs and incumbents,” he said.
The new capital will enable Atomic to expand its regulatory footprint, enrich its product suite, and strengthen collaboration with fintechs, traditional banks, insurers, and brokerages. By decoupling infrastructure from distribution, the company is embedding investing into everyday apps and services, bringing wealth-building opportunities to a broader global audience.
Founded in 2020, Atomic is headquartered in New York and backed by leading fintech investors. Guided by its mission to make wealth accessible to all, the company continues to build tools that bring investing to the forefront of everyday financial experiences.
Financing at checkout made easier for the insurance industry with FIRST Insurance Funding’s integration with ePayPolicy
FIRST Insurance Funding, a division of Lake Forest Bank & Trust Company, N.A. (“FIRST”), has announced a new integration with ePayPolicy designed to make premium financing more accessible and seamless for insurance companies and their clients.
With this collaboration, insureds now have the ability to view pay-in-full and premium financing options side by side at checkout, giving them clear choices and greater flexibility. Those who choose financing can complete enrollment directly through FIRST in just a few steps, benefitting from simplified terms and an easy, integrated process. As a long-standing partner of ePayPolicy, FIRST continues to deliver customized financing solutions that give insurance providers the ability to offer clients choice, efficiency, and enhanced service without adding complexity.
The integration is powered by ePayPolicy’s latest feature, Finance Connect, which extends the same convenience to online premium payments. Clients can now enroll in financing during a single online session, with premium finance agreements signed electronically and payments automated through secure connections with FIRST’s systems and leading agency management platforms.
“This collaboration with ePayPolicy reflects our shared vision of advancing digital transformation in the insurance sector,” said Dana French, Executive Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at FIRST. “By embedding premium financing directly within ePayPolicy’s workflow, we’re providing agents with a simple, streamlined solution that enhances productivity and eliminates disruption. We are confident this will ease the workload for our clients’ employees, while also making the payment and financing process smoother for their agencies and insureds.”
FIRST Insurance Funding has long been recognized as one of North America’s largest premium finance companies, financing more than $16 billion annually. For over three decades, the company has built a reputation for flexible service and innovative payment solutions, becoming a trusted partner for insurance industry clients. Its commitment to pioneering integrations with Insurtech providers has further strengthened its ability to deliver the latest financing technology tailored to the needs of brokers, agents, and carriers.
FIRST is part of Wintrust, a financial holding company with approximately $65 billion in assets and operations spanning more than 170 community banking locations across the greater Chicago area and southern Wisconsin. Wintrust blends the resources of a major financial institution with a community-focused approach to service, complemented by a range of non-bank business units that include premium finance in the U.S. and Canada, accounts receivable financing, wealth management, and mortgage services.
ePayPolicy, trusted by more than 7,500+ insurance companies, continues to modernize how the industry handles payments. With secure online tools, automated processing, and deep integration with agency management systems, the company is helping insurers streamline operations and deliver a faster, more convenient payment experience for clients across the industry.
Adobe and Antom Forge Strategic Partnership to Empower Digital Creativity with Seamless Payment Access Across Asia
Adobe and Antom, a leading provider of unified merchant payments and digitisation solutions under Ant International, today announced a strategic partnership to launch an optimized payment experience and tailored digital marketing offerings for Adobe’s customers across Asia.
“At Adobe, we’re always looking to deliver elevated and localized experiences for our customers. As our base of customers in Asia fast expands, we’re excited to announce our partnership with Antom to integrate localized payment options for our customers and unlock new growth opportunities in the various markets we’re expanding with Antom into,” said Matt Wegner, Vice President, Global Payments, at Adobe.
Adobe will integrate localized payment solutions to strengthen its global footprint with its user-centric approach. Leveraging Antom’s comprehensive acquiring network, advanced payment technology and broad local payment method coverage across Asia, this partnership will help Adobe optimize transaction flows, increasing conversion rates, and ensuring fast, secure and cost-effective payment settlement.
In the first phase of the collaboration, 8 new alternative payment options will be rolled out across 8 key Asian markets, including AlipayHK (Hong Kong SAR, China), DANA (Indonesia), GCash (the Philippines), Kakao Pay (South Korea), Momo (Vietnam), PayPay (Japan), Touch ‘n Go (Malaysia) and True Money (Thailand). Moving forward, both companies may explore opportunities to introduce additional payment methods to include credit cards, bank transfers, digital wallets, and more.
“We are excited to collaborate with Adobe, a pioneer in leveraging AI to enhance creativity and productivity for its users. Through this partnership, we aim to make Adobe’s advanced tools more accessible to a broader customer base in high-growth markets. Adobe’s AI strategy aligns closely with our commitment to supporting merchants with unified payment solutions powered by AI, and we look forward to driving greater synergy together,” said Gary Liu, General Manager of Antom, Ant International.
Beyond payments, the two parties will explore opportunities to introduce Adobe into Antom’s A+ Rewards, an in-App digital marketing platform powered by privacy-preserving computing and AI technologies. It connects brands with hundreds of millions of e-wallet users by embedding with leading e-wallets in Asia. This collaboration is expected to help Adobe improve customer acquisition and engagement through targeted campaigns integrated into users’ everyday digital payment experiences.
“We work with global industry leaders to enhance their presence and advance digital innovations in Asia and beyond, and the partnership with Adobe is part of that effort. We look forward to enabling professionals and enterprises, especially small businesses, to adopt cutting-edge technology and fully unlock their potential,” Liu added.
Overall, the Antom-Adobe partnership will enhance accessibility to creative professionals, businesses and educational institutions, helping them leverage Adobe’s products with greater flexibility. Region-specific payment options built on Antom’s robust payment infrastructure will allow Adobe to respond to the evolving needs of customers in the Asia market via an omnichannel marketing approach that will deploy curated offers and content that is supported by their most preferred payment methods.
Orion180 launches FLEX Home Insurance to empower Florida homeowners with customisable coverage
Orion180, a leading provider of flexible, customer-focused homeowners and flood insurance solutions, has launched its new FLEX Home Insurance product across 14 coastal counties in Florida.
The launch comes in response to Florida’s escalating insurance crisis, driven by frequent hurricanes, flooding, and other natural disasters.
Homeowners in the state face some of the highest insurance premiums in the US, with an annual average of $5,340, according to data from Bankrate.
Despite this, 18.1% of homes in Florida remain uninsured, placing it among the top ten states with the highest rates of uninsured properties. Miami-Dade, in particular, stands out as the most at-risk county nationwide.
Orion180 provides innovative, customer-centric insurance solutions that are designed to address gaps in traditional home and flood coverage. Its mission is to offer flexible and transparent insurance products that adapt to homeowners’ individual needs and financial circumstances.
The new FLEX Home Insurance product empowers Florida homeowners to tailor their insurance policies according to their specific risk tolerance and budgets.
FLEX allows users to customise coverages and select from a variety of deductibles and co-payments, giving them greater control over how they manage both upfront and long-term costs.
Beyond basic coverage, FLEX includes several features aimed at rewarding and protecting policyholders. Homeowners with a claims-free history may qualify for a bonus of up to 100% of their first-year premium.
Additionally, the product includes a rate-locking feature, enabling customers to extend their policy terms and protect themselves from rising insurance rates.
FLEX is now available through a network of select insurance agents across 14 coastal counties in Florida, including Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Hillsborough, Pinellas, Lee, Sarasota, Manatee, Brevard, St. Lucie, Collier, Martin, Charlotte, and Indian River.
Orion180 CEO Ken Gregg said, “Standard home insurance policies are outdated for today’s consumer, and a lot of time do not align with the individual’s budget and interest. FLEX gives homeowners the power of choice. The policy is flexible and allows consumers to choose coverages that fit their individual needs and budget.”
FinTech Wales welcomes Aviva as new partner to strengthen InsurTech collaboration
Aviva, one of the UK’s leading insurance and financial services firms, has partnered with FinTech Wales to foster innovation, support collaboration, and strengthen the FinTech and InsurTech sectors across the nation.
Aviva joins an impressive roster of partner members including Barclays, The Royal Mint, Go.Compare, Confused.com, Admiral, Starling, Hodge, Principality and Monmouthshire Building Societies, Veeqo and Future Finance, according to FF News.
By becoming a partner of FinTech Wales, Aviva is deepening its involvement in the Welsh FinTech community, fostering innovation, and supporting the development of disruptive financial technologies.
Aviva has long been recognised as a stalwart in the insurance and financial services industry, providing a broad range of products to millions of customers in the UK.
Its operations increasingly focus on innovation through partnerships with emerging technology companies, with a view to accelerating digital transformation and future-proofing services.
FinTech Wales, founded in 2019, supports over 160 businesses both in and outside of Wales.
The organisation is committed to promoting innovation, growth, and cross-sector collaboration across the financial services and technology spectrum. Its core mission is to position Wales as a global leader in FinTech by facilitating connections between startups, established firms, academic institutions, and public sector entities.
Aviva’s collaboration with FinTech Wales predates the formal partnership. In November 2024, the insurer was headline sponsor of the FinTech Wales Investment Conference, underlining its early commitment to supporting local innovation and investment.
This sponsorship served as a catalyst for deeper engagement and has now evolved into an official strategic partnership.
As part of the partnership, Aviva aims to contribute its industry expertise to the FinTech Wales community, while also gaining insights from the Welsh FinTech and InsurTech scene. The relationship is poised to open new doors for startups and entrepreneurs seeking to collaborate with an established market leader.
Sarah Kocianski, CEO of FinTech Wales, said, “Aviva joining FinTech Wales as a partner highlights the strength and potential of our ecosystem. Its presence will not only add to the wealth of expertise within our community but also create new opportunities for collaboration for innovative fintechs. Partnerships like this are key to the continuing growth and evolution of the Welsh fintech industry, and we’re excited to see the impact Aviva will have as we continue to champion Wales as a hub for fintech excellence.”
Arslan Hannani, group innovation director at Aviva, said, “We’re delighted to work with Fintech Wales and strengthen our relationships with businesses in this growing sector. The partnership will allow Aviva to explore innovative ideas and solutions with the Welsh FinTech community and help businesses get ready for the future.”
Temenos reveals GenAI’s transformative impact on the banking sector
In a comprehensive survey conducted by Hanover Research for Temenos, a leading provider of banking technology, it was revealed that a significant majority of banks are actively exploring the deployment of GenAI to enhance their operational efficiencies.
The survey, which polled 420 business and technology leaders within the financial services sector, underscores the growing interest in GenAI’s potential to revolutionise various facets of banking operations.
The findings indicate that 75% of banks are exploring GenAI deployment strategies, with 36% already in the deployment phase or in the process of deploying the technology, and an additional 39% evaluating potential deployment opportunities. The driving force behind this surge in interest is the desire to enhance operational efficiency, improve customer experience, and fuel business growth. Notably, nearly half (43%) of the banks already involved with GenAI plan to increase their investment in the technology over the coming year.
Despite the enthusiasm, there are significant concerns regarding GenAI among the banking community, particularly related to data protection, with 86% of respondents highlighting it as a major issue. Other concerns include compliance with legal requirements, cited by 60% of respondents, and the risk of GenAI generating inaccurate results, known as ‘hallucinations’, which worries 59%.
Isabelle Guis, Chief Marketing Officer at Temenos, commented on the survey’s outcomes: “This survey highlights both the enthusiasm and challenges banks are facing as they explore GenAI. There’s huge potential for GenAI to enhance efficiency, address operational challenges, and elevate the customer experience. However, concerns around data privacy, legal requirements and accuracy remain top of mind. GenAI is not a silver bullet banks also need to balance a human touch in the process to ensure that interactions remain differentiated and build trust with their customers.”
Looking to the future, a substantial 73% of survey participants believe that Agentic AI AI systems capable of making decisions and taking actions independently will be transformative for the banking industry. As part of its commitment to fostering this technological evolution, Temenos has embraced flexible deployment options, enabling banks to implement its GenAI solutions across cloud, SaaS, or on-premises infrastructure. Temenos also announced a significant collaboration with NVIDIA to enhance the performance of on-premises GenAI, ensuring superior speed, precision, and data privacy.
Foliume raises $1m seed round to enhance AI-driven insurance distribution
Foliume, which specialises in automating insurance processes, has secured a $1m seed funding round led by Belgium-based venture fund Pitchdrive and Wayra, the investment arm of Telefónica.
The round also saw participation from key figures in insurance distribution and technology, according to InsurTech Insights.
The fresh capital will be used to enhance product development and support the European expansion of Foliume’s AI assistants.
These tools are designed to improve efficiency for brokers, agents, and bancassurance teams by streamlining processes such as quotes, policy renewals, and customer service.
Foliume is focused on tackling long-standing inefficiencies in the insurance sector. Traditional intermediaries often struggle with cumbersome workflows, from manually comparing quotes to handling slow policy renewals.
The company’s AI-powered automation aims to eliminate these bottlenecks, reducing quoting and renewal times from hours to minutes. By handling repetitive tasks such as form-filling and policy comparisons, the platform allows brokers to concentrate on high-value activities like client advisory and closing deals.
The funding will accelerate Foliume’s European expansion and improve its AI capabilities. The company plans to enhance its AI engine, introduce client-requested features, and establish strategic partnerships in key markets.
The goal is to further optimise insurance distribution by making quoting and policy renewal processes faster and more accurate.
Foliume’s platform is designed to integrate seamlessly into existing brokerage operations. It automates the quote-gathering process by aggregating and comparing offers from multiple insurers, accessible via WhatsApp, email, or API.
Additionally, its AI reduces human errors by auto-filling forms and validating data across documents. The system also streamlines policy renewals by automatically re-rating policies and identifying the best available alternatives.
Unlike general-purpose AI models, Foliume’s technology is tailored specifically for insurance, ensuring precise interpretation of industry terminology, coverage details, and underwriting rules.
This level of specialisation allows the AI to deliver more accurate outputs, such as risk evaluations and quote suggestions, improving efficiency and reliability for brokers.
Foliume CEO Martín Fagioli highlighted the company’s mission, stating, “Insurance intermediaries have been stuck with time-consuming processes for too long. Our AI assistants handle the repetitive work – from filling out forms to comparing policies – so brokers can focus on what really matters: advising clients and delivering a great customer experience.”
Pitchdrive Founder and Managing Partner Koen Christiaens expressed confidence in Foliume’s potential, saying, “We backed Foliume because they’re solving a real and urgent problem in the insurance industry. The team has built an innovative SaaS platform that helps brokers modernise their operations, drive efficiency, and unlock new revenue streams. Their rapid growth, strong customer engagement, and clear expansion roadmap showed us a business with both momentum and long-term potential. It’s exactly the kind of B2B SaaS company we love to support at Pitchdrive.”
Augusto Pérez Arbizu, corporate director of risk and insurance at Telefónica, highlighted the strategic importance of the investment, stating, “The investment in Foliume is part of our commitment to driving digitalisation and innovation in the insurance sector. Through this partnership, we not only support the industry’s digital transformation, but also provide insurance professionals with tools that enhance their productivity and effectiveness.”
With this latest backing, Foliume is poised to revolutionise insurance distribution by making it faster, more accurate, and more seamless.
Tietoevry and Version 1 join forces to transform European banking digitalisation
Tietoevry Banking and Version 1 have announced a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating the digitalisation of European financial institutions.
By combining Tietoevry Banking’s robust SaaS offerings with Version 1’s expertise in modernising banking systems and their specialism in AI compliance, ethics, and risk management, this alliance is poised to transform the digital landscape of banking across Europe.
The collaboration is driven by the need to equip banks with the necessary tools to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital environment. European banks are currently facing a crucial period of transformation, where adapting to changing market demands and customer expectations is vital for survival and growth. This partnership promises to deliver secure, resilient, and agile financial services by leveraging a flexible software ecosystem that can quickly respond to these changes.
Tietoevry Banking brings to the table decades of experience in delivering financial software that has been crucial in the digitalisation of tier-1 banks, especially in the Nordics. The company’s modular SaaS solutions have been instrumental in helping financial institutions enhance customer personalisation, optimise digital channels, and maintain rigorous regulatory compliance.
On the other hand, Version 1 offers a wealth of experience in digital transformation, having engaged in significant projects with banks in key markets like the UK, Ireland, and Spain. Their expertise is expected to complement Tietoevry’s offerings by introducing enhanced AI capabilities and innovative solutions for fraud prevention and financial crime monitoring.
The partnership strategically targets growth in the UK, Ireland, and Spain, aiming to provide European banks with access to top-tier fraud prevention and financial crime solutions. Additionally, it will bolster capabilities in the card value chain, focusing on modular and industrialised card issuing and production solutions.
A key aspect of the partnership is its commitment to fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration. This environment enables banks to not only keep pace with technological advances but to lead in delivering modern, customer-centric experiences. By combining Tietoevry’s leading-edge SaaS solutions with Version 1’s industry-leading expertise, the partnership equips financial institutions to navigate the digital landscape effectively.
Tietoevry Banking managing director Endre Rangnes said, “Our 50 years of experience in financial software has taught us how to help banks thrive in a time of accelerated change. Our modular SaaS solutions empower financial institutions to drive domain transformation while continuing to run their core business effectively. Partnering with Version 1 allows us to extend these capabilities to more European banks, helping them build resilience, amplify efficiency, and deliver superior customer experiences.”
Version 1 head of private sector sales Martin McDonagh added, “We evaluated several partners to find the right strategic fit and identified Tietoevry Banking as an ideal match for our ambitions. We have already engaged in promising discussions with banks in the UK, Ireland and Spain, and we’re excited to see this partnership gain further momentum in these key markets.”
Flagright secures $4.3m to enhance AI-native AML solutions in FinTech
Flagright, an AI-native AML compliance platform, has announced the successful closure of a $4.3m seed funding round.
This financial boost aims to propel the development of Flagright’s solutions and support its international expansion. The funding round was spearheaded by Frontline Ventures and included investments from a group of distinguished angel investors.
The company specializes in utilizing AI to tackle financial crimes, a critical need in today’s tech-driven financial landscape. Historically, financial institutions have faced challenges such as the notorious $25m fraud incident in Hong Kong, involving deepfake technology. Such incidents underscore the growing sophistication of financial fraud, which increasingly involves AI technologies. Reports indicate that in 2023, deepfake usage in FinTech surged by 700%.
Flagright was founded in 2022 by Baran Ozkan and Madhu Nadig after they identified a gap in the market for effective, efficient, and high-quality financial compliance services. The founders aimed to create a solution robust enough to meet their own high standards as consumers. The platform initially focused on real-time transaction monitoring but has since evolved into a comprehensive suite of AML compliance tools, thanks to advancements in AI and machine learning language models (LLMs).
Today, Flagright offers an innovative ecosystem that includes dynamic risk scoring, automated case management, real-time transaction monitoring, and AML screening. It boasts integration with top-tier data providers like LSEG and Dow Jones, ensuring its compliance capabilities are second to none. The platform is renowned for its banking-grade reliability, delivering 99.99% uptime and real-time data processing in under 700ms. According to user feedback, Flagright has significantly reduced false positives by 93% and decreased manual monitoring efforts by 87%.
With the new funds, Flagright is set to further accelerate its product innovation and global expansion. The company is also introducing a new product family, AI Forensics, which aims to revolutionize compliance workflows in screening, monitoring, governance, and quality assurance. The AI Forensics for Screening tool has already shown promising results, reducing false positives by 93% and cutting down alert investigation times by 80%.
Flagright CEO Baran Ozkan expressed enthusiasm about the funding, stating, “This investment not only validates our vision but also equips us to scale new heights in AI-powered compliance solutions.”
Previously, Flagright had garnered support from influential investors like Y Combinator, Pioneer Fund, and Moonfire Ventures, who have reaffirmed their confidence in the company’s direction by contributing to the latest funding round.
Vanquis Banking Group teams up with FinScan to boost AML capabilities
Vanquis and FinScan, a leading provider of AML compliance solutions from Innovative Systems, have entered into a partnership.
Vanquis Banking Group is known for its dedicated approach to responsible lending within the financial industry, whereas FinScan specializes in advanced AML compliance technologies that aid in enhancing operational efficiencies and customer transparency.
The driving force behind this collaboration is to further strengthen Vanquis’s AML procedures and overall financial crime risk management strategies. By integrating FinScan’s cutting-edge technology, Vanquis aims to enhance its capabilities in monitoring and managing financial crime risks effectively.
FinScan stands out in the market for its unified platform that supports both real-time and retrospective name screening. This technology allows banks to centralize their AML processes, which is crucial for improving operational efficiency and extending customer visibility. FinScan’s advanced, customizable matching technology not only delivers higher accuracy and scalability but also incorporates diverse data sources to facilitate more comprehensive risk assessments.
The partnership is poised to significantly advance Vanquis’s resilience against financial crimes, reinforcing its commitment to customer-centric innovation. FinScan’s solutions are tailored to meet specific banking needs, such as simplifying simulation matching for KYC onboarding and ongoing monitoring, which are essential for maintaining high standards of compliance and operational efficiency at Vanquis.
Paul Blackmore, head of financial crime at Vanquis Banking Group, emphasised the importance of the partnership, stating: “At Vanquis, compliance and operational efficiency are core to our commitment to responsible lending. Partnering with FinScan allows us to harness advanced technology that aligns with our business goals. Its scalability, configurability, and centralized capabilities make it the ideal solution to optimize our AML processes and support our growth.”
Steve Maul, chief revenue officer at Innovative Systems, Inc., also commented on the collaboration: “Unlike off-the-shelf solutions, FinScan offers tailored AML compliance capabilities designed to meet the bank’s specific needs, including simplifying simulation matching for KYC onboarding and monitoring. This partnership marks a significant step forward in further strengthening the bank’s resilience against financial crime while maintaining its unwavering commitment to customer-centric innovation.”