London-based revenue management Fintech, MONET, is proud to announce the beta launch of its revenue-based lending platform with dedicated Creator Business debit cards and accounts for creators, providing infrastructure that is a world-first in its field. The platform is facilitated by embedded finance specialist Weavr, using their technology to provide business banking and payments infrastructure.

The revolutionary platform for creator businesses smoothens cash-flow and offers unique business tools to manage multi-stream income from the likes of brand deals and platform earnings, offering the potential to drive powerful financial inclusion for those charging into the future of work.

MONET’s e-money proposition is powered by embedded-finance specialist Weavr’s innovative Plug-and-Play Finance solution, allowing users to access bank accounts and manage payments directly within the app.

The launch hails a significant step forward in supporting the creator economy with financial technology. Creator businesses can now say goodbye to chasing payments or needing to pace their creation roadmap in line with when they are paid for completed work. Instead, MONET’s platform pays creators upfront on what they are owed from brand deals and platform earnings, pushing funds directly into the creator’s dedicated MONET current account, where they also get the benefit of 1% cashback on all business spending. 

Over 300 creator businesses joined the beta launch in the first month and over 7.5k creative businesses are awaiting an invite from the waitlist. MONET also provides creator marketing platforms with the opportunity to facilitate embedded cashflow finance for their users using MONET’s technology. These businesses are mostly creatives with multi-stream income and business activities - such as course creators, models, musicians, influencers, streamers, gamers and some members of the wider highly skilled freelancer economy who have side-stepped into online activities.

Having identified the need to build a finance and business hub that encompasses all revenue sources for creators, MONET’s first feature product, EarlyPay, allows users to have invoices and platform revenue instantly advanced into their MONET account by insuring the owed funds as part of the secured-lending process. The relationship with Weavr provides MONET with the building blocks to provide further financial and revenue-growth tools to its users at a later date.

Jake Casson, founder of MONET, said: “There are so many highly driven and maturing businesses within the space who are either excluded or mismatched from wider SME finance and business infrastructure. On top of this, the economy has seen a wave of creation tools emerge over the last few years, but not so much in terms of revenue management. So we’re very proud to be offering truly useful finance and business tools that help more creators grow powerful businesses from their passions and skills.

There is no doubt as to the growth of this economy, and the potential of the middle-class and side-hustle businesses within it. To put this into an example, we’re seeing bankers leaving high paid jobs to create content, courses, merch and other online businesses based on their experiences. Entrepreneurial professionals and creatives are unbundling from corporate life and we’re here to help stabilise and power up the shift - starting with cash-flow support and revenue management which is all powered by specialist banking infrastructure.”

Jake continues: “With the help of our partners at Weavr, we’ve been able to get to market with verticalized banking much quicker than we initially anticipated. Weavr has given us a cost-effective BaaS solution to bring MONET to life for UK creators in a safe and, regulatory compliant manner.”

Alex Mifsud, co-founder at Weavr, said: "Our aim is to empower innovators and disruptors everywhere. Embedded finance solutions are increasingly powering the digital applications we are all relying on in our lives, from transport and education, to housing and the future of work.”

"Jake’s plans for MONET are a much-needed solution for creators to realise their earning potential, serving the increasing number of individuals making a living as creators. I am thrilled that Jake and the MONET team have chosen Weavr embedded finance toolset to build a service that helps creators succeed."

Creators who are interested in signing up to the MONET Money platform can do so via the following link: https://monet.money/

Moneyhub, the market-leading Open Data and payments platform, has joined forces with financial analytics pioneer Envizage to deliver the world’s first customer-directed Open Banking-powered financial planning application.  The Happiness Navigator (HapNav) is a ground-breaking digital planning experience from the Academy of Life Planning that allows end consumers to identify and manage risks to their future financial plans and aspirations. It is powered by Moneyhub’s Open Banking data and Envizage’s simulation capabilities.  The two fintechs share a commitment to helping consumers make the most of their money and their financial wellness solutions complement each other perfectly. Where Envizage’s probabilistic simulation technology can help people prepare for desired future outcomes, Moneyhub’s Data & Intelligence API can provide an accurate picture of a person’s current financial position, from income and expenses, to assets, liabilities and insurance.
 HapNav is made available through the Academy of Life Planning, the world's first network of financial planners that aren't also financial products salespeople. It’s this unique customer-centric DNA and independence that helps set HapNav apart from the competition since, unlike many planning apps in the market, the control lies firmly with the consumer.  The Open Banking-powered solution also makes a significant contribution to bridging the  ‘advice gap’ that millions of people in the UK fall into to the detriment of their financial health. By putting the right decision tools in consumers’ hands, HapNav enables people to keep on track and achieve their goals.  The data and analytics provided by Moneyhub and Envizage’s APIs allow users to understand the consequences of their financial choices, navigate potential trade offs and plan for the future. With 9% of Britons having no savings at all and 41% not having enough to live for a month without income, not to mention the economic toll of Covid-19 and the ongoing cost of living crisis, this solution could not be more essential.   The launch of HapNav comes at a moment when data-sharing is a growing priority for regulators and the UK government, creating a supportive backdrop for the new planning app.
 Sam Seaton, CEO at Moneyhub said: “Moneyhub exists to advance financial wellness through the power of technology, and so partnering with Envizage was both a no-brainer and a great pleasure. Open Banking and Open Finance is enabling smart customer-centric propositions to be developed in all areas of financial services and financial planning is one sector that is ripe for this disruption.
 
“As the industry begins to innovate in order to comply with the upcoming Consumer Duty rules, better data-sharing powered by Open Data will ensure businesses understand their customers and can offer them the very best tools and products.”
 
Vinay Jayaram at Envizage said: “Without a firm grounding in your present reality, projections about your future will be hazy at best, which is why the combination of real-time data with simulation technology is so powerful. And that is why the partnership with Moneyhub, which is the data backbone for the HapNav app, has been so valuable for us and has made the app a huge success.
Steve Conley, CEO of HapNav and Academy of Life Planning, adds: “The Open Banking-powered end-user financial planning app, delivered to the personal and corporate clients of our global network of financial planners, that aren’t also financial product salespeople, is ground-breaking.

Ebury, the Santander-backed fintech and global provider of mass payment and FX risk management solutions, is delighted to announce that it is exhibiting at BIBA 2022. Those attending the event will be able to meet Ebury’s experts in international payments and cross-border risk management, as well as members of its award-winning Mass Payments team.

Ebury’s decision to exhibit at the event hosted by British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA), the UK's leading general insurance organisation, reflects its ability to service insurers with a growing need to manage the operational and FX risks associated with making high volumes of time critical multicurrency global insurance claims and service provider invoice payments. As Ebury grows internationally and increases its capabilities, it is able to offer global insurance clients opportunities to manage mass payments, competitive FX solutions and risk management. Its services are boosted by dedicated relationship managers for all clients, no matter the scale of their business.

Ebury is the only dedicated FX solutions and global payments fintech exhibiting at BIBA in 2022.

Come and meet Ebury at stand B63 or if you would like to arrange a meeting at the exhibition please email – maxim.syn@ebury.com or andy.valentine@ebury.com

Ebury helps financial institutions, companies, charities & NGOs operate internationally. It specialises in international payments (single and mass) and collections, offers foreign exchange activity in over 130+ currencies for both major and emerging markets, as well as cash management strategies, and foreign exchange risk management.

Founded in London in 2009 by Spanish entrepreneurs Juan Lobato and Salvador García, the company has grown its global market presence to a network of 28 offices in 20 countries and more than 1,300 employees. The volume of transactions executed by Ebury amounts to $17 billion annually. 

Adyen, the global financial technology platform for leading businesses, today announced it has expanded upon its partnership with one of the leaders in Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL), Afterpay Limited. Afterpay is working with Adyen to process payments across key markets including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Europe, U.S., and the U.K. to support the company’s  global growth and momentum. Adyen's global reach and focus on enterprise businesses as an acquirer provides Afterpay with the capability needed for its fast growing business.
Adyen and Afterpay began their local payment method partnership in 2018. A number of Adyen’s merchants already offer Afterpay’s installment payments -  including MandM Direct, Revolution Beauty, and Superdry - with more expected to come online. Afterpay, known as Clearpay in the UK and Europe, is now available to Adyen merchants in the UK, France, Italy and Spain.
BNPL payment methods continue to gain global momentum. Globally, 24% of consumers (https://www.adyen.com/blog/5-things-consumers-expect-from-retailers-in-2022) have used BNPL services, with adoption highest in Sweden, Norway, Mexico, France, the USA, and Denmark.

“Holiday season 2021 was the holiday for BNPL - with consumers using Afterpay to pay responsibly for their holiday gifts,” said Zahir Khoja, General Manager, Afterpay Global Platform and Partnerships. “Our partnership with Adyen is allowing us to bring a better way to pay to millions of shoppers across multiple regions around the world.”
“We are excited to further expand our longstanding partnership with Afterpay to now include local acquiring in key markets. Afterpay is already a household name globally and we are proud to be able to continue to come together, leveraging both our technology and innovation to meet the needs of today’s evolving retail landscape,” said Roelant Prins, Chief Commercial Officer, Adyen.

About the Awards Ceremony

The awards show recognizes the best brands in the B2B & B2C online trading and fintech space. Ultimate Fintech, the full-service marketing agency and producers of the legendary iFX EXPO, are orchestrating a night to remember where the upper echelon of the industry go head-to-head to be crowned the best in their respective categories.

The advantages of winning an Ultimate Fintech Award are numerous. Your brand’s exposure will skyrocket to new heights, while earning unanimous approval from your peers in the industry.

To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best. Does your company have what it takes?

Award Categories

There are three different awards categories.

Broker Awards

Compete for a prestigious winning title! This category recognizes the best brokers on a global scale and features awards such as Broker of the Year, Best Global Broker, as well as the Best Market Maker.

Regional Broker Awards

These awards are broken down by region and country including Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Australia/New Zealand to name a few. Awards that can be won include Most Trusted Broker Asia, Best IB Programme Europe, Most Transparent Broker LATAM and Best Customer Support UK.

B2B Awards

If you’re a service provider to the industry looking for well-deserved recognition in a highly competitive market, why not nominate your brand in the B2B Category? Award titles include the Best Prime Broker award, the Best CFDs White Label Solution, as well as the Best Market Data Provider award and many more.

Timeframe

The time is almost here! You have got until the 23^rd of May to nominate the brands that stick out from the rest thanks to their excellence and business know-how.  

The voting round is between the 25^th of May and the 1^st of June. During the round, the entire industry will be asked to cast their vote.

We reach our climax on the 9^th of June, where the winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony held on the last day of the iFX EXPO International.

How do I nominate and vote?

Applicants have to register and fill out the nomination application form once they login. There will be a public voting system hosted on the website during the voting round as well.

There’s only a month left before this all kicks off. The time has come to be recognized for your hard work. The Ultimate Fintech Awards are your platform to shine and propel your rise to fame.

Let’s get started! Nominate your brand  

Temenos, the cloud banking platform, announced that Flowe, the digital bank of Banco Mediolanum, has reached a major milestone with 700,000 accounts in its first 18 months since its launch. With Temenos open platform for composable banking, Flowe is growing twice as fast as its nearest competitor. It received 150,000 new sign-ups in one week with peaks of 30,000 new customers per day.
 
Flowe offers digital services at scale, paving the way for future profitability and bringing sustainable banking to over 60 million Italians. Supported by Temenos cloud technology, Flowe is the first bank in Italy to be certified as a B-Corp and become carbon neutral. Flowe’s CEO will be speaking on the topic of ESG at Temenos Community Forum, 17-19 May in London.
 
Flowe’s mobile banking app combines fully-automated onboarding, a first-class user experience and eco-friendly banking services. Its target market consists of young people who need to manage their money effectively to pay rent and other bills and prefer to use innovative, ethical service providers.
 
Through a fully remote implementation with Temenos, Flowe went live in a record time of just five months, in June 2020. Temenos pre-composed banking services and simple customization through open APIs significantly accelerated the process. The bank’s highly differentiated value proposition has paid off – in 2021, Flowe won the prestigious Prodotto Dell’Anno (Product of the Year), an Italian product innovation award based exclusively on consumers’ votes. 
 
Ivan Mazzoleni, Chief Executive Officer, Flowe: “We chose Temenos Banking Cloud because it enabled us to go live fast, scale massively, and provide a seamless onboarding experience to our customers. Flowe went live in a record time of just five months, and we onboarded 15,000 customers in our first week alone. With Temenos, we’ve been able to bring new products to market quickly and offer truly personalized experiences in line with our sustainable mission. Supported by Temenos Banking Cloud, we can grow sustainably, passing on benefits to customers for a cleaner, greener planet and a better society.”
 
Max Chuard, Chief Executive Officer, Temenos, said: “Digital innovation in banking is thriving in Italy. And it’s an important market for Temenos, where we have a strong and growing presence.  Banks are ready to break free from the legacy core banking systems that have inhibited innovation, whereas new digital entrants are coming to the market. Flowe’s success shows that Temenos open platform for composable banking can help Italian banks provide highly-differentiated, sustainable banking experiences at scale. Congratulations to the team for demonstrating that a powerful mission combined with leading technology can change the face of banking.”
Cloud adoption has accelerated since the pandemic. A recent Economist Intelligence Unit report supported by Temenos finds that more than seven in ten banking respondents state that incorporating the cloud into their organization’s products and services will help them achieve their business priorities. Challenger banks specifically look for agility, scale, and easily composable banking services that allow them to assemble best-of-breed providers into an open ecosystem. On Temenos Banking Cloud, pre-composed banking services can be consumed from a self-service portal, easily configured, extended, or deployed anywhere. Composed Temenos Banking Services consist of pre-configured and pre-assembled Temenos Banking Capabilities plus optional integrated third-party solutions from the Temenos Exchange.

Yapily announces it has signed an agreement with SCHUFA to acquire finAPI, the leading provider of open banking solutions in Germany.

The deal is set to make Yapily the largest open banking payments platform in Europe; over the last 12 months, the fintechs have enabled customers to process a combined total of $39.5 billion in payment volumes and connect to more than 1 million monthly active data users. The acquisition will double Yapily’s customer base, adding well-established finAPI customers to its roster, including over 50 large enterprise firms in the financial, insurance, and IT industries.

As a result of the acquisition, Yapily will have a clear leadership position in two of Europe’s largest markets: the UK and Germany. In addition to its existing coverage of 16 European countries, Yapily will enter new territories including Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary, broadening its geographic footprint and accelerating the roll-out of open banking to millions of people and businesses across Europe.

finAPI customers will benefit from new opportunities for business growth, gaining access to pan-European markets through greater coverage and resources. The combined offering will also bring a number of finAPI solutions to the table for new and existing Yapily customers, including Identity and Age Verification and legally compliant KYC checks, and Digital Account Checks that can be used for automated credit scoring.

SCHUFA, Germany's leading credit bureau, will continue to cooperate with finAPI, both in the use of products and services as well as further product development.

Stefano Vaccino, Founder and CEO of Yapily, said: “This is a hugely exciting milestone for Yapily on our journey from disruptive start-up to ambitious scale-up. Within three years from launch, we have commercialised our platform, grown our customer base, and now have the largest open banking payments volumes in Europe. Working with finAPI, we can gain more speed, agility, and depth to accelerate innovation and shape the future of open finance in Europe and beyond.”

Dr. Florian Haagen, Founder and CEO of finAPI, said: “Yapily’s core DNA as a fintech and open banking enabler is equally aligned with our belief in an infrastructure-first approach. From the products we’ve built to the industries our customers operate in, our complimentary offerings mean that together, we are perfectly placed to spearhead Europe’s open finance agenda and make the financial lives of millions of people more resilient, simple, and secure.”

Tanja Birkholz, CEO of SCHUFA, said: “Our strategic focus is to further strengthen client centricity. Open banking is one of the technological levers advancing Europe’s digital economy. How transparently and appropriately the benefits of these technologies can be utilised will be very important for our customers and stakeholders. We know the customers’ needs, and together Yapily and finAPI will accelerate innovation to meet them."

The deal is subject to regulatory approvals and expected to complete in H2 2022. For now, finAPI will continue to function as an independent, regulated company in Germany. SCHUFA Holding AG will sell its 75% participation in finAPI to Yapily. Following the transaction, finAPI and SCHUFA will continue to play a role in the future of the unified entity.