NEWS
Featured News
Trending News
New Titanium Boost Card and SmartPay Calendar by Receive Transform SMB Finance Management
Receive, a fintech startup focused on expanding financial access for small and medium-sized businesses, has officially emerged from stealth mode with the announcement of its latest milestone. With the help of further debt financing, the company announced that it has raised its total funding to approximately 7.1 million dollars, including a $4 million startup funding round headed by NGVP. Prominent financiers including Blank Ventures, Verissimo Ventures, Insight Partners, Corner Ventures, and Clocktower Technology Ventures are among the backers. Founded by Ariel Blum, a seasoned fintech executive with experience at Melio, Green Dot, and American Express, Receive was born from a clear understanding of the financial barriers facing SMBs. Blum recognized that traditional financial infrastructures were not equipped to meet the fast-moving demands of modern businesses, which often struggle with delayed payouts, extended settlement periods, and costly credit, all contributing to cash flow problems that hinder growth. According to data from SCORE, a partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration, 82% of small businesses fail due to cash flow issues.
In response, Blum launched Receive, positioning it as the first Earned Revenue Access platform designed to help small businesses access the revenue they’ve already earned, without the need for credit checks, interest, or conventional underwriting. By transforming pending sales into immediate spending power, Receive aims to empower businesses to reinvest more quickly and operate without accumulating debt. In addition to offering its platform directly to businesses, Receive operates through a white-labeled partnership model, enabling payment processors, ISOs, and software providers to integrate this solution seamlessly, generate new revenue streams, and strengthen merchant relationships.
In order to promote its purpose, Receive teamed up with Titanium Payments to launch the Titanium Boost Business Mastercard, which gives Titanium’s network of merchants direct access to Earned Revenue. This card allows businesses to convert pending settlements into usable funds instantly, supporting Receive’s goal of creating a more responsive and adaptable financial ecosystem for SMBs. Ariel Blum highlighted how critical immediate revenue access can be, citing the example of a local mechanic who, without timely access to funds, was unable to purchase parts and take on new jobs, illustrating how traditional financial delays can stall growth. With Titanium Boost, businesses gain the flexibility to access funds as needed, avoiding operational disruptions.
In addition to launching the Titanium Boost card, Receive introduced the SmartPay Calendar, a tool designed to transform cash flow management into a competitive advantage. This repayment system allows businesses to choose their repayment schedules and rewards early repayments with increased spending capacity. Through these innovations, Receive is working to redefine financial management for small businesses, providing tools that offer greater control, flexibility, and operational efficiency, ultimately helping SMBs grow on their own terms. The Titanium Boost Business Mastercard is issued by Patriot Bank under license from Mastercard and can be used wherever Mastercard is accepted.
From Spreadsheets to Smart Dashboards: Inside Finlens’ AI Accounting Platform
Finlens, a new AI-powered solution for accounting, has officially launched, aiming to streamline financial processes for startups and accounting firms alike. Backed by Y Combinator and Accel, Finlens positions itself as a tool designed specifically for founders and financial professionals who seek faster month-end closes, real-time financial visibility, and accurate bookkeeping without the usual spreadsheet clutter that bogs down many early-stage companies. The idea behind Finlens emerged after extensive conversations between its founders, Halim M. and Pawan Rochwani, and numerous founders and accountants. A consistent theme in those discussions was the frustration surrounding the manual and often disorganized nature of early-stage accounting. In response, Finlens was developed to automate much of the accounting backend, managing tasks like categorization, GAAP scheduling, and collaboration without requiring companies to migrate from existing systems like QuickBooks or endure complex change management processes.
According to co-founder Pawan Rochwani, the real challenge is not that founders are neglectful of their financial data but that traditional accounting platforms are not founder-friendly. Most founders have little interest in engaging directly with complex software like QuickBooks, preferring to rely on accountants to decipher and organize the data. Finlens seeks to bridge that gap by transforming the backend processes into something more intuitive and usable. The platform promises to give founders real-time visibility into their financials, reducing the need for accountants to repeatedly chase down receipts and preventing the typical end-of-month scramble many businesses experience.
Finlens offers features such as smart transaction categorization, receipt capture, and the management of split transactions. More complex accounting elements like accruals, compliance processes, and GAAP schedules are seamlessly integrated into the platform’s workflow. CPA firms can also benefit from its organized dashboard, designed to help them manage client accounts efficiently, whether they serve five clients or fifty. By syncing directly with QuickBooks through a two-way integration, Finlens eliminates the need for redundant data entry or double work.
Both founders bring prior experience in product development and go-to-market strategy. Rochwani, having previously held leadership roles in marketing and demand generation at companies like inFeedo and Pepper Content, also has experience as an angel investor. His co-founder, Halim M., had earlier worked on decentralized giving platforms and built widely-used consumer applications like FancyKey.
While Finlens enters an increasingly competitive market of AI-driven accounting solutions, it differentiates itself by focusing on usability and minimal disruption to existing systems. Another player in this growing space is Minerva Accounting, which also leverages artificial intelligence to automate core accounting functions. Like Finlens, Minerva aims to reduce manual workloads, minimize human error, and offer real-time insights into business finances. Minerva additionally promotes smart tax planning tools and on-demand financial chat services, presenting itself as a provider of CFO-level intelligence at a reduced cost.
Both companies reflect a broader trend in which artificial intelligence is reshaping financial operations, simplifying complex accounting tasks, and allowing both startups and accounting professionals to focus more on strategic growth rather than day-to-day financial admin work. Finlens, with its practical integration and founder-focused approach, is positioning itself as a key player in this evolving landscape.
Major Industrial Expansion: Georgia-Pacific’s Englehart Mill Set for $191M Overhaul
Georgia-Pacific has officially announced a significant capital investment in its Englehart OSB (Oriented Strand Board) mill, located in Ontario, marking a major step in the facility’s ongoing growth and modernization. The company plans to invest approximately $140 million USD, equivalent to around $191 million CAD, to upgrade the mill’s infrastructure. This investment will be directed toward developing a state-of-the-art log processing system and constructing an expanded finished goods warehouse to improve overall operational efficiency. This development aligns with Georgia-Pacific’s broader commitment to enhancing productivity and meeting the evolving needs of its customers.
The announcement comes at a momentous occasion as the Englehart OSB mill celebrates its fifteenth year as a member of the Georgia-Pacific network, even though the site itself dates back to 1983, when its first board was produced. Celebrating both its heritage and future, the mill now stands on the brink of significant transformation.
David Neal, senior vice president of Georgia-Pacific’s Building Products business, highlighted the company’s forward-thinking strategy during the formal groundbreaking ceremony. He highlighted that the investment not only underscores Georgia-Pacific’s dedication to serving its customers more effectively but also enhances the mill’s operational capabilities to support greater productivity well into the future. Neal acknowledged the local workforce, noting that ongoing operations at the facility will continue uninterrupted during the construction and implementation phases, allowing the company to maintain its service to current markets.
John Beers, president of Structural Panels at Georgia-Pacific, further reinforced this message by noting that improvements to the mill’s log processing system and warehouse symbolize the company’s commitment to continuous improvement and reinvestment in both the facility and the surrounding communities. According to Beers, these upgrades reflect the company’s focus on maintaining competitiveness while ensuring the mill operates as an environmentally responsible facility equipped to meet modern industry standards.
The upgrades are significant, as the log processing system plays a critical role in OSB production. This system is responsible for handling raw wood materials, sorting and debarking logs, and preparing them by cutting them into strands before they are dried and pressed into boards. As engineering and design work continues, Georgia-Pacific expects the upgrade to be completed by the second quarter of 2027, making the Englehart mill a modern facility ready to meet the company’s expansion plans.
Lloyds Banking Group Eyes £120m Deal to Acquire Digital Wallet Firm Curve
Lloyds Banking Group is now in the advanced stages of talks to acquire Curve, a well-known financial technology company. The deal, according to sources cited by Sky News, could close as soon as September 2025. The estimated value of the transaction stands at around £120 million. Curve is a strategic addition that Lloyds believes would let it play a bigger part in the expanding payments infrastructure market.
Founded in 2016 by Shachar Bialick, a former Israeli special forces soldier, Curve has quickly built a name for itself in digital payments. It competes directly with Apple Pay by offering a digital wallet service that allows users to combine multiple bank cards into a single, secure platform. Curve customers can avoid foreign exchange fees and collect rewards, which adds further appeal to the service. The company serves over six million customers and handles billions in payments every year across the UK and the European Economic Area.
For Lloyds, this acquisition holds strategic significance. The European Union currently pressures Apple to open its payment services to other platforms. This regulatory shift could allow Lloyds to benefit from acquiring Curve, offering its customers a direct alternative to Apple Pay and reducing reliance on Apple’s payment fees. In the framework of its larger fintech investment strategy, Lloyds also considers Curve to be a financially stable asset.
Although Curve’s valuation reached £133 million in its 2023 Series C funding round, the potential acquisition price falls slightly below that. Despite this, Curve remains valuable. Since its inception, the company has raised more than £200 million from investors like Britannia, IDC Ventures, Cercano Management, and Outward VC. Yet, last year, Curve faced some operational challenges. It reduced its workforce and paused expansion plans in the US market.
Lloyds Banking Group, led by chief executive Charlie Nunn, considers technology expansion a core part of its strategy. The group already holds stakes in multiple fintech firms. By acquiring Curve, Lloyds aims to strengthen its payments infrastructure and offer a competitive digital wallet alternative. The acquisition supports its long-term plan to build more efficient, cost-effective digital payment solutions for its customers.
Eltropy Unlocks New Growth for CFIs Through Secure, Personal Video Banking
Eltropy’s Video Banking solution is transforming how community financial institutions (CFIs) deliver services by enabling secure, face-to-face banking through any digital device. This technology effectively turns smartphones, tablets, and computers into virtual branches, allowing CFIs to offer personal banking experiences remotely while maintaining the human touch that customers expect. The rollout of this platform follows Eltropy’s 2022 acquisition of POPi/o, reinforcing its digital transformation strategy and positioning video banking as a fundamental solution for CFIs seeking to streamline operations, reduce vendor dependencies, and enhance overall customer engagement.
Video Banking addresses the modern challenges that CFIs and their customers face daily. For members and consumers, the technology eliminates the need for physical branch visits, helping those who have relocated, live in underserved areas, or simply prefer digital interactions. It also provides an inclusive service model by connecting customers with interpreters during video sessions, ensuring that language barriers do not limit access to essential financial services. For financial institutions operating with limited resources, video banking represents a practical solution to extend specialised consultations beyond typical branch hours, without the need for expanded staffing across all locations.
Eltropy’s solution meets these evolving needs by offering flexibility in its deployment. Through remote access, CFIs can provide on-demand or scheduled consultations, supporting services such as loan applications, new account setups, document submission, identity verification, and digital signatures from virtually anywhere. At the same time, in-branch video rooms allow CFIs to leverage centralised expertise, bringing specialised services like lending support, investment guidance, and business banking consultations to every branch without needing to hire additional specialists at each location.
Built specifically for the financial sector, Eltropy’s platform integrates identity verification, compliance management, secure communication, document handling, and seamless system integrations. As part of Eltropy’s broader Unified Conversations Platform, Video Banking combines these capabilities with AI-driven automation, workflow management, and analytics. This enables CFIs to strengthen vendor relationships, scale operations using digital assistants and automation, deliver enhanced omnichannel services, and expand their reach without increasing physical infrastructure, all while optimising the member experience.
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.”
FinScan enhances payment screening for faster, safer transactions
FinScan, an anti-money laundering (AML) compliance solution from Innovative Systems, has enhanced its payment screening solution, FinScan Payments, to accelerate transaction workflows while strengthening financial crime prevention.
According to recent research from Datos Insights, 91% of surveyed financial institutions (FIs) are investing significantly in payment modernisation. Despite this, many firms still operate with legacy AML compliance systems that were not designed for today’s real-time payment rails, making them ill-equipped to handle instant settlement workflows.
With digital payments surging and financial crime risks rising, FinScan Payments enables FIs, FinTech firms, and other organisations to navigate evolving payment infrastructures efficiently. The latest enhancements introduce an improved system architecture capable of high-volume transaction screening, expanded integration support for new payment messages, and a redesigned user interface.
Becki LaPorte, strategic advisor in the fraud and AML practice at Datos Insights, said: “Today’s payment arena requires real-time AML compliance as evolving regulations demand deeper scrutiny of transactions. In a fast-changing geopolitical and tech landscape, compliance teams must screen payments against the latest sanctions, PEP, and dual-use goods lists to stay ahead of illicit activity. FinScan Payments is well equipped to support faster payments while effectively controlling risk across domestic and cross-border ecosystems.”
Deborah Overdeput, chief marketing officer of Innovative Systems, said: “To keep pace with evolving payments, organizations must streamline workflows, update their screening solutions, customize watchlists, and execute compliance checks in milliseconds with accurate results for instant payments.
“FinScan Payments empowers FIs, neobanks, PayFacs, FinTechs, and other organizations to block high-risk transactions in real time, facilitating compliance without delays. With configurable alerts and seamless integration into payment workflows, it keeps transactions secure while meeting time-sensitive review thresholds.”
FinTech startup SparkReceipt secures investment from Trind Ventures for global expansion
SparkReceipt, a pre-accounting software provider based in Finland, has secured investment from Trind Ventures.
The funding round, which remains undisclosed, also received support from the European Union under the InvestEU Fund and Business Finland.
The company provides AI-powered pre-accounting software designed to simplify bookkeeping for micro-businesses, with operations spanning nearly 100 countries. The platform automates receipt and invoice processing, eliminating the need for manual data entry.
The new funding will be used to accelerate SparkReceipt’s international expansion.
Trind Ventures partner Reima Linnanvirta highlighted the significance of the investment, stating, “With my own background in the most boring industries like accounting, legal, and tax, I am always excited to see BoringTech startups transforming these industries. Knowing the team from the past and what they can deliver and seeing the strong early customer traction, I trust SparkReceipt will change the way millions of entrepreneurs handle their accounting, freeing their time for building their businesses.”
SparkReceipt co-founder Joel Ojala said, “It was crazy to see the appetite toward SparkReceipt from VCs. So many reached out, begging to invest. But it makes sense there is momentum in AI accounting for micro-businesses, or maybe it was the rockstar team.”
InsureVision raises $2.7m to transform insurance risk pricing with contextual driving data
InsureVision, an InsurTech company specialising in AI-powered contextual driving risk assessment technology, has successfully raised $2.7m in a seed funding round.
The investment round was led by Rethink Ventures, with participation from Twin Path Ventures and State Farm Ventures, the venture arm of State Farm, the largest vehicle insurer in the world.
InsureVision focuses on enhancing vehicle risk assessment by leveraging its proprietary “enviromatics” technology. This platform uses advanced vision transformer technology to analyse video footage from standard forward-facing vehicle cameras. Unlike conventional telematics systems or basic AI dashcams, which often rely solely on mechanical data or object detection, InsureVision’s solution takes a more holistic approach. It considers the full driving environment, including the behaviour and intent of other road users, to generate more accurate risk assessments.
With the fresh capital, InsureVision plans to accelerate product development and broaden its presence across international markets. The company is already conducting trials with major insurance providers in the US, with further pilots scheduled for Japan. Proof of value data from these trials is expected by mid-2025.
InsureVision was founded by serial entrepreneur Mark Miller, whose previous company, Dictate IT, was the largest supplier of medical speech recognition technology to the NHS before being acquired by Clanwilliam Group in a multi-million-pound deal in 2018.
The platform offers insurance companies a more accurate way to underwrite policies, enabling more precise pricing and fewer claims. Fleet operators benefit from real-time risk monitoring and enhanced driver safety insights, while automotive manufacturers can integrate the technology into software-defined vehicles to comply with upcoming Automatic Emergency Braking regulations.
Rethink Ventures general partner Matthias Schanze said, “We have followed Mark and his team for some time, and they have continuously shown exceptional entrepreneurial vigour and deep tech expertise paired with an unconventional approach. Their vision for transforming road safety through AI-powered contextual understanding sets a new standard for the industry.”
Twin Path Ventures partner Nick Slater added, “InsureTech is an exciting space because the numbers are huge and even a micro improvement can make a macro impact. InsureVision has one of the most unconventional but potentially groundbreaking ways of disrupting the sector for the better of insurance companies, fleet operators and drivers alike”.
UK AI FinTech Quantexa secures $175m Series F, hitting $2.6bn valuation
Quantexa, a global provider of AI-driven decision intelligence solutions, has successfully closed a $175m Series F funding round.
The funding round was led by Teachers’ Venture Growth (TVG), part of the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, with ongoing support from existing investors such as British Patient Capital.
Other backers in Quantexa include Warburg Pincus, Dawn Capital, BNY, Evolution Equity Partners, AlbionVC, and HSBC.
The fresh investment values the London-based company at $2.6bn.
Founded in 2016, Quantexa specialises in decision intelligence technology, which helps both public and private sector organisations make data-driven operational decisions with greater confidence. Its platform applies advanced AI to connect, unify, and analyse vast amounts of siloed data, providing insights into customer intelligence, risk management, financial crime, and fraud detection. The company’s solutions are used across financial services, insurance, telecoms, media, technology, and the public sector.
The newly raised capital will support Quantexa’s platform innovation, accelerating the development of new AI-powered products, expanding strategic partnerships, and boosting its footprint in North America.
The company also plans to pursue selected mergers and acquisitions to strengthen its capabilities.
Following the funding, Ara Yeromian, managing director at TVG, is expected to join Quantexa’s board, subject to regulatory approval.
The Series F funding arrives shortly after Quantexa achieved ‘Centaur’ status, a milestone reserved for SaaS firms surpassing $100m in annual recurring revenue.
The company’s strong performance in 2024 saw nearly 40% growth in licence revenue and the addition of 23 new clients, helping to expand its footprint into new sectors, including insurance and telecoms.
Quantexa founder and CEO Vishal Marria said, “AI is a once-in-a-generation technology transforming industries, redefining operations, and creating entirely new processes. From day one, Quantexa has been at the forefront of this revolution, helping enterprises create trusted, curated data to unlock AI’s full potential.
“This latest investment reflects investors’ embracing our vision and committing to join our journey as we accelerate innovation, platform deployments, and amplify the value we deliver to clients and the broader ecosystem. With the continued support of our investors,
BriteCore unveils new vendor integrations to transform P&C insurance operations
BriteCore, a provider of cloud-native core insurance platforms for property and casualty insurers, has expanded its Solution Partner Marketplace.
This enhancement introduces five new vendor integrations, marking a significant stride in BriteCore’s ongoing effort to equip insurers with cutting-edge technology solutions and increased flexibility in underwriting accuracy, claims processing, and overall operational efficiency.
BriteCore’s core function is to offer property and casualty insurers advanced technology solutions that streamline and enhance their insurance processes. The BriteCore Solution Partner Marketplace is crafted to provide seamless access to innovative tools and services that augment insurers’ core operational capabilities.
The reason behind this new product initiative is to further BriteCore’s mission to deliver a flexible and comprehensive ecosystem that supports insurers in optimizing key business processes such as underwriting, claims handling, and risk assessment.
The newly integrated vendors in the BriteCore Solution Partner Marketplace include Acrisure AcrisureIQ, which provides real-time risk scores and tools for catastrophe risk modeling, and Bees360, which offers drone-enabled claims and underwriting inspection services. Also included are DataCrest AppEase, enhancing submission workflows and commercial insurers’ efficiency; Howden Re TigerCQ, which supplies advanced analytics for risk management; and Verisk XactAnalysis, improving the claims process with precise, professional estimates.
These integrations reflect BriteCore’s commitment to innovation and excellence in the InsurTech sector, offering solutions that enhance insurers’ operational efficiency and elevate policyholder experiences.
BriteCore’s CEO, Ray Villeneuve, emphasized the benefits of the expansion, stating, “These new solution integrations reinforce BriteCore’s mission to deliver a flexible and comprehensive ecosystem that empowers insurers with best-in-class solutions. By teaming with these industry leaders and innovators, we continue to provide our customers with the solutions they need to optimize underwriting, claims handling, and risk assessment.”
Tom Young, CEO of DataCrest, also shared his enthusiasm about the collaboration: “Collaborating with BriteCore allows us to bring AppEase’s efficiency-driven submission management capabilities to more insurers, helping them navigate complex and time-intensive workflows with ease and accuracy. We are excited to join BriteCore’s growing ecosystem of innovative solutions.”
Unique AI secures $30m in Series A to transform FinTech with agentic AI
Unique AI, a vertical AI company, announced that it has successfully closed a $30m Series A funding round.
Since its inception in 2021, the company has now amassed a total of $53m in investment. The latest funding round was spearheaded by CommerzVentures and DN Capital, with continued backing from early seed investors, including VI Partners and Pictet Group.
Unique AI operates in the FinTech sector, developing an advanced agentic AI platform tailored for financial firms. The platform offers 25 specialized ‘off the shelf’ use cases, along with customisable agents, to enhance back and middle-office operations. This integration allows for improved data processing and accuracy, making significant impacts on efficiency and regulatory compliance.
The company plans to use this new influx of capital to fuel its global expansion and refine its ability to deploy cutting-edge solutions. With a solid base of deployment among blue-chip companies managing over $2.3 trillion in assets, including names like Pictet Group and LGT Private Banking, Unique AI is setting a new standard in financial services technology.
One of Unique AI’s prominent clients, Pictet Group, utilizes the platform extensively, providing it to 6,000 employees and reporting efficiency gains of approximately two hours per week per person. Despite the platform’s ability to streamline investment product filtering and related tasks, human relationship managers remain central to client interactions.
In addition to funding news, Unique AI announced the appointment of Dana Ritter as Chief Product Officer, effective April 2025. Ritter, a former Group Product Manager at Google Deepmind, brings a wealth of experience from his time leading projects like Gemini on Android and Google’s agentic web capability, Duplex on the Web.
Several quotes from the investing partners highlight the enthusiasm for Unique AI’s potential. “We are excited to announce this Series A investment,” Unique CEO Manuel Grenacher said. “This funding will significantly boost our global expansion efforts and enhance our ability to deploy agentic solutions for our clients.”
“We are thrilled to support Unique in this next phase of growth,” CommerzVentures Managing Partner Patrick Meisberger commented. Similarly, DN Capital Partner Guy Ward Thomas added, “Unique’s offering is serving a pressing need for banks and asset managers to deploy compliant and accurate agentic AI solutions.”
Lastly, VI Partners Managing Partner Olivier Laplace noted, “Our partnership with Manuel and his team goes back a decade when we backed his previous venture. Seeing once again their bold vision and outstanding execution, we are excited to support them in this next stage.”
Bourn raises £1.5m seed funding to revolutionise SME cash flow management
Bourn, a UK-based FinTech startup focused on SME finance, has secured £1.5m in seed funding to support the expansion of its AI-powered Flexible Trade Account (FTA).
The funding round was led by Haatch, with participation from fintech investors Love Ventures, Portfolio Ventures, and Aperture, alongside private backers.
Founded by Roger Vincent, Nick Tracey, and Paul Gambrell, the company has also appointed former banker and FinTech executive Leda Glyptis as a non-executive board member.
Bourn aims to address the cash flow challenges faced by SMEs by offering a modern alternative to traditional business overdrafts. Its flagship solution, the Flexible Trade Account, integrates AI-driven risk assessment, Open Banking, and accounting software connectivity to provide an automated revolving credit facility.
By partnering with banks and lenders, Bourn offers a white-label solution that enables financial institutions to expand their SME portfolios while minimising risk and maximising returns.
The newly raised funds will be used to further develop Bourn’s product, enhance its technology, and accelerate market entry.
Bourn’s CEO, Nick Tracey, highlighted the company’s mission, stating: “At Bourn, we understand the vital role SMEs play in the UK economy. Our mission is to simplify cash flow management through innovative financial solutions, giving businesses the confidence to grow. This funding propels us closer to our vision of transforming SME finance across the UK.”
Marcus Love, general partner at Love Ventures, reinforced the importance of Bourn’s solution, saying: “Access to working capital remains one of the biggest barriers to SME growth. Bourn’s solution offers a scalable, efficient funding option for UK businesses, and we’re thrilled to support their journey.”
Newly appointed non-executive board member Leda Glyptis added: “Bourn brings together a group of industry-leading seasoned professionals solving a very real problem that they understand deeply. I am honoured and excited to be joining this team bringing tangible value to businesses and driving financial accessibility.”
FinTech firm ClearScore secures £30m from HSBC Innovation Banking UK to drive global expansion
ClearScore, a global FinTech and data-driven financial marketplace, has secured £30m in debt financing from HSBC Innovation Banking UK to support its expansion across domestic and international markets.
The funding continues a long-standing partnership between ClearScore and HSBC Innovation Banking UK, which began in 2017. Over the past eight years, HSBC has played a key role in financing ClearScore’s global growth, enabling the company to scale and enhance its offerings. Today, ClearScore helps over 24 million users across the UK, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada improve their financial wellbeing.
ClearScore provides a financial marketplace that allows consumers to access their credit scores and compare financial products.
The newly secured funding will support ClearScore’s next phase of growth, expanding the range of financial products it offers and increasing the channels through which users can access them.
ClearScore CFO Brian Cole said, “As a profitable FinTech operating at global scale, we have options when it comes to choosing how to invest for the next ten years of growth. This funding allows us to expand the range products we can offer our users and the channels through which we can reach them. HSBC Innovation Banking has been a key strategic partner to enable us to scale at pace and become one of the UK’s leading fintech brands.”
Nick Conway, director of FinTech coverage at HSBC Innovation Banking UK, said, “ClearScore has been a valued long-term partner, and we’re thrilled to have been able to support their growth with this financing. We look forward to continuing our collaboration as they continue to transform the way people manage their financial health. This is a great example of how HSBC Innovation Banking helps our UK FinTech clients achieve their ambitions, scale and build world class, innovation driven businesses.”