Published
- 06:00 am

payabl., the European payments expert that enables businesses to take payments easily, reliably and securely, announces it has appointed Igor Skachkov as its new Chief Product Officer.
Having worked within the payments industry for over 12 years, including at Klarna and Visa, Igor is experienced in card acquiring and issuing, Buy Now Pay Later, e-wallets, subscriptions and tokenized payments. With payabl.’s bold ambition to help merchants grow through innovative payments, Igor has been appointed to drive the company’s next phase of product development.
Ugne Buracience, CEO, payabl. comments, “We’re delighted to welcome Igor to the team. Over the past year, our business has expanded rapidly and our team has doubled to 60 employees. Igor further enhances our in-house expertise and will drive the development of new payment technologies, designed to achieve our mission of empowering business growth through innovative payments.”
As Chief Product Officer, Igor will collaborate with the company’s research and development team, partners and merchants to identify product challenges and opportunities, introduce new features, diversify the company’s product portfolio and build original products at the cutting edge of payments technology.
Igor Skachkov, Chief Product Officer, adds, “With the payments landscape always evolving and diversifying, I’m excited to be a part of payabl. I am looking forward to building on the company’s existing product portfolio, to make an even greater impact on partners and help them to unlock untapped growth opportunities. Exciting developments are on the horizon here at payabl.. We're working towards the creation of a full-scale payments ecosystem that combines payment acceptance, bank payments, open banking and dozens of other services on one platform. We have the potential to completely revolutionise the way payment-related services are offered and look forward to making this a reality with each new innovation.”
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- 07:00 am

Atom bank is expanding Portal - their next generation broker gateway- to include their innovative Quick Quote tool. This addition will allow brokers offering secured business loans to self-assess and create an indicative quote within the portal before submitting an application, whereas the traditional method requires brokers to contact the business development team for a quote.
The Quick Quote tool can be used for trading businesses and investment cases and comes after Atom relaunched their standard secured business loan range in January, offering variable and fixed-rate loans between £2m and £5m, alongside their pre-existing RLS range.
Commercial mortgage quotes are typically amongst the most difficult to price, but the Quick Quote tool will allow Atom to be one of the only banks to allow brokers to create a commercial mortgage quote instantly - with just a few clicks of a button.
Paula Mercer, Head of Lending at Atom bank commented:
“We are delighted to be able to expand on the incredible service that Portal offers to our brokers. Our Quick Quote tool offers near instantaneous quotes, 24 hours a day, and will provide unprecedented clarity and transparency to secured lending applicants.”
Tom Renwick, Head of Business Banking at Atom bank explained:
“After the turbulent year that was 2021, it is essential that SMEs have every possible opportunity to run their business to its full potential in 2022. We strive to offer small businesses the best rates and customer service possible.
“We believe that the Quick Quote tool is the perfect means to expand upon our innovative portal technology, supporting our business customers with access to our secured loans when they need it most.”
For more information on secured loans, visit https://www.atombank.co.uk/secured-loans/
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- 09:00 am

The winners of Fast Company’s 2022 World Changing Ideas Awards were announced today, honoring clean technology, innovative corporate initiatives, brave new designs for cities and buildings, and other creative works that are supporting the growth of positive social innovation, tackling social inequality, climate change, and public health crises.
The Education category focuses on companies or initiatives that help inspire improved and more equitable learning. Kaleidoscope was named a Finalist in this category due to how it’s products and services create more equitable access to education on a platform connecting those searching for education financing to sponsors that provide the funds. Kaleidoscope’s launch of their Award Builder puts more power into the hands of those who aim to start or host their own programs. With this innovation, the company is doubling down on their mission to mobilize private sector wealth to eliminate barriers to education.
Now in its sixth year, the World Changing Ideas Awards showcase 39 winners, 350 finalists, and more than 600 honorable mentions—with climate, social justice, and AI and data among the most popular categories. A panel of eminent Fast Company editors and reporters selected winners and finalists from a pool of more than 2,997 entries across transportation, education, food, politics, technology, health, social justice, and more. In addition, several new categories have been added this year including climate, nature, water, and workplace. The 2022 awards feature entries from across the globe, from Switzerland to Hong Kong to Australia.
Fast Company’s Summer 2022 issue (on newsstands May 10, 2022) will showcase some of the world’s most inventive entrepreneurs and companies tackling global challenges. The issues highlight, among others, probiotics for coral reefs, easy-to-assemble kit homes for refugees or disaster survivors, a 3D printed vaccine patch, an electric truck, a system to heat homes from the waste heat of a name-brand factory, and prosecutor-initiated resentencing for overly long prison sentences.
“So many innovative people are solving the world’s most challenging problems. Our team is humbled to be recognized among them,” said Greg Dehn, Kaleidoscope Founder and CEO. “We’ve set our sights on eliminating the barriers to education so the best and brightest in any field can share their talents with the world. With our Award Builder product, recognized today, we are proud to continue being a catalyst for change.”
“We are consistently inspired by the novelty and creativity that people are applying to solve some of our society’s most pressing problems, from shelter to the climate crisis. Fast Company relishes its role in amplifying important, innovative work to address big challenges,” says David Lidsky, interim editor-in-chief of Fast Company. “Our journalists have identified some of the most ingenious initiatives to launch since the start of 2021, which we hope will both have a meaningful impact and lead others to join in being part of the solution.”
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- 03:00 am

“At Northpointe Bank the customer is always at the center of everything we do, and we continually work to provide a more personalized banking experience,” said Michael Winks, President, Lending & Retail Banking, at Northpointe Bank. “A few years back we recognized a need for a solution that could simplify our communications with home lending customers and free up time for our sales team to focus on more complex initiatives. We have seen firsthand what Total Expert has been able to accomplish, and want to leverage this platform for similar results with our retail banking services.”
“We’re excited to expand our partnership with Northpointe Bank to help drive customer growth and loyalty for its retail banking team,” said Joe Welu, founder and CEO of Total Expert. “Northpointe Bank is a perfect example of how Total Expert’s modern, purpose-built platform can help teams develop lifelong customers. The company’s commitment to enhancing its customer experience through personalization and education is inspiring and has the power to change the whole banking experience.”
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- 06:00 am

Mike Laven, CEO of CurrencyCloud, appointed as a Board Director to support ambitious growth trajectory
VP of Customer Success and VP of Marketing appointed to General Management Team bringing deep expertise in knowledge management and marketing
Stravito, the enterprise insights platform democratizing access to market research for the world’s largest organizations, continues to build out its global leadership team following its $14.6 million USD Series A fundraise. Stravito has appointed Mike Laven, CEO of CurrencyCloud, to the Board of Directors, Laura Lockley as VP of Customer Success, and Will Gardiner as VP of Marketing.
These appointments will support Stravito as it continues to accelerate product development and to expand globally, with a particular focus on the US.
Mike Laven, CEO of CurrencyCloud, comments, “Over the past five years Stravito has scaled to become one of the most promising SaaS companies in Europe. I've been incredibly impressed by its next-generation product, stellar client list and talented team, and it’s clear this is just the beginning. I look forward to joining the Board of Directors and working together as we enter a new and exciting chapter of growth.”
Mike has a proven track record of scaling tech companies. For the past 10 years he has served as the CEO of CurrencyCloud, an enterprise SaaS company which was acquired by Visa last year for $983 million USD.
Laura is accomplished in Knowledge Management and has been embedding an insights-driven culture for customers at global enterprises for more than 15 years. Before Stravito, Laura was VP of Customer Success and Professional Services at enterprise software business Upland Services.
Will is an award-winning marketer recognised for his work leading progressive international marketing strategies for both scale-ups and global technology enterprises. Most recently, he served as Chief Marketing Officer for data services company Calligo.
Thor Olof Philogene, CEO and Founder of Stravito comments, “Now more than ever, global enterprises need to understand and respond to changing customer behaviors, wants and needs. Stravito’s technology makes it fast and easy to discover market research and insights that drive better business decision making.
“I’m pleased to welcome Mike, Laura and Will to the team, and am confident their expertise will help us develop key areas as we continue to scale fast and simplify knowledge discovery.”
Stravito was founded in 2017 by market research veterans and former iZettle employees. Today customers include world-leading enterprises such as McDonalds, Electrolux, Comcast, and Carlsberg.
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- 02:00 am

VizyPay’s unique initiative motivates shoppers to support community businesses nationwide
VizyPay, the industry-leading payment processing company behind the Look Local First movement, encourages consumers to support entrepreneurs this National Small Business Week (NSBW) by patronizing small businesses in their area. Taking place May 1 to May 7, NSBW celebrates America’s tenacious small businesses and the critical contributions that they make to local communities and the national economy.
“According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, more than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, and those businesses create about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year,” said VizyPay CEO Austin Mac Nab. “So, by taking the time to support a small business, you’re not only boosting the local economy but you’re also investing in the community by keeping your neighbor on the payroll.”
VizyPay’s support of small businesses extends beyond NSBW. Its unique Look Local First initiative celebrates hundreds of entrepreneurs across the nation year-round. Leveraging its social media channels, Look Local First provides free digital marketing to these small businesses, raising awareness and driving support among local community members.
“Small businesses do so much for us. They create jobs, drive innovation and foster local economies to keep our communities thriving. Look Local First is just one way we give back,” said Olivia Hall, VizyPay’s Marketing Director. "These are the businesses sponsoring school events, donating to local charities and creating places people are proud to call home. Supporting and raising awareness for the businesses investing in the future of our community is what Look Local First is all about."
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- 09:00 am

Biotech company looks to streamline AP processes to speed cycle time and provide foundation for rapid business growth
MineralTree, an Accounts Payable (AP) and payment automation solution provider, today announced that Myro Therapeutics, a Massachusetts-based biotech company focused on new drug treatments for central nervous system (CNS) disorders, has selected MineralTree TotalAP to streamline its vendor invoice and payment processes.
Myro’s research and development efforts involve the purchase of a variety of lab supplies and reagents. As a newly formed biotech company, Myro was looking for an AP system to avoid the processes of manual invoice input, PO matching, and invoice and payment approval and free up its staff. MineralTree’s Total AP system provided an ideal solution combining sophisticated workflow automation and ease of use to enable both its scientific and finance teams to work more efficiently.
“We’ve been using our bank’s bill payment service,” said Monica Tommet, Assistant Controller at Myro Therapeutics. “Essentially, we have to retype all the vendor information into the banking system and then once the invoices are approved, manually go back onto our bank app to initiate payments. Once the bills are paid, we have to go back into QuickBooks to manually mark them paid. It’s obviously not a process that will scale as we grow.”
With MineralTree’s TotalAP solution Myro will be able to automate its payment workflows and streamline the entire invoice-to-pay process. Supplier invoices will come into Myro’s procurement system to be matched with corresponding purchase orders, sync into its QuickBooks accounting system, and then sync into MineralTree. From there invoices will be automatically routed to the right individuals for approval and payments will be dispersed via the supplier’s preferred method, including virtual card, ACH, or check. Once a payment is made, MineralTree automatically updates QuickBooks to streamline reconciliation.
“As our scientific team continues to grow and we increase our research efforts, MineralTree’s AP automation platform and payment services will provide a scalable foundation for our back-office business functions,” added Tommet. “We won’t have to increase our finance headcount at the same rate to support that growth and my team will free up capacity bandwidth to focus on other priorities.
“MineralTree also makes it really easy for our scientists and researchers to review and approve invoices. The ease of use is an important benefit, as we don’t want them spending their time on unnecessary administrative tasks.”
“Myro is a great example of a company looking ahead and putting the necessary pieces in place to support its future,” said Elle Kowal, COO at MineralTree. “In a fast-growing segment like biotech, finance teams have to ask themselves whether what they are doing today will meet their needs as the company scales. By automating its AP process and focusing on adoption of digital payments, Myro is laying the foundation and setting the company up for continued growth and success down the road.”
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- 02:00 am

Selected companies focus on streamlining low- to moderate-income, Black, and Latinx individuals’ navigation and use of benefits and tools in support of better financial health
Chicago, IL, May 03, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Financial Solutions Lab, an initiative launched and managed by the Financial Health Network in collaboration with founding partner JPMorgan Chase & Co. and with support from Prudential Financial, today announced that it has selected six organizations for its 2022 Accelerator program which is focused on financial benefits and tools. The companies selected for this year’s cohort are Canary, finEQUITY, Let's Get Set, Pie for Providers, Stackwell, and Sunny Day Fund.
The 2022 cohort was selected for their potential to help individuals better navigate benefits offerings and financial tools that strengthen financial health. In particular, the offerings from this year’s cohort assist consumers with workplace benefits, wealth and credit building, and public systems navigation.
The 2022 cohort companies by area of focus are:
Workplace Benefits:
- Canary (New York, NY) partners with employers to ensure that in times of financial need, their employees can access emergency aid swiftly and with dignity.
- Sunny Day Fund (Falls Church, VA) partners with employers to provide their employees an easy, accessible, and rewarding path to save for emergencies and future life events.
Wealth and Credit Building:
- finEQUITY (Brooklyn, NY) helps build credit profiles for individuals reentering society after being incarcerated.
- Stackwell (Boston, MA) delivers automated financial tools and education through a digital investment platform to help people in the Black community stack and build wealth.
Public Systems Navigation:
- Let's Get Set (San Francisco, CA) supports hardworking parents and families to secure and deploy their maximum tax benefits and create a path to enhanced financial stability.
- Pie for Providers (Chicago, IL) streamlines and automates government funding for child care providers, increasing providers’ incomes and helping families access affordable care.
"Public benefits help thousands across our country improve their financial health, and yet, systemic barriers still prevent many from taking full advantage of them," said Adeeb Mahmud, chief program officer, Financial Health Network. "We are proud to collaborate with this year's cohort of innovators to drive innovation in the financial health marketplace, breaking down these historic barriers."
The 2021 Financial Health Pulse U.S. Trends Report reveals that two-thirds of Americans are still not Financially Healthy, and stark disparities remain across gender, race/ethnicity, and income. While government programs reached those in need, recipients may be at risk as these policies expire. Specifically, the 2022 cohort companies are focused on strengthening financial resilience by improving safety nets for low- to moderate-income (LMI), Black, and Latinx individuals – many of whom may face systemic barriers preventing access to key benefits and financial tools, limiting their opportunities to improve financial health.
According to the JPMorgan Chase Institute, public supports such as stimulus payments and child tax credits had a positive immediate impact on liquidity for LMI, Black, and Latinx communities, but systemic barriers continue to prevent these communities from building and maintaining long-term financial health.
“Financial resilience remains a top priority in our effort to improve financial health,” said Sarah Keh, vice president, Prudential Inclusive Solutions. “The cohort of fintechs selected for this year’s program will mean more inclusive products for underserved communities, a covenant of Prudential's goal to put financial security within reach for everyone. We look forward to engaging with these innovators to scale their purpose-driven organizations and support financially vulnerable communities.”
For nearly a decade, the Accelerator has annually invested and supported a cohort of companies, working directly with entrepreneurs to further our mission of identifying, developing, and scaling fintech solutions for LMI individuals and Black and Latinx communities. Each selected organization will receive $100,000 from the Financial Health Network; behavioral insights to help inform product development and market strategy; guidance to navigate the legal and regulatory fintech environment; insights on impact and customer financial health measurement; resources for external marketing and communications; mentorship from financial services and financial health experts; support to further diversity, equity, and inclusion; and peer learning via virtual retreats and working sessions throughout the year.
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- 03:00 am

iink Payments, a digital payments network that expedites the disbursement of funds associated with multi-party property insurance claims, announced it has closed on a $6 million debt facility with accordion up to $100 million in partnership with a Los Angeles-based asset management firm.
The capital will be used to fund the rapidly expanding iink Advanced Funding program that provides short-term advances to restoration contractors constrained by cash flow issues commonly found in insurance work.
"We're helping these contractors operate their businesses more intelligently and efficiently by streamlining the process of obtaining lienholder approvals on claims which can sometimes take months before funds are disbursed. The iink Advanced Funding program is just one of the many ways we solve this problem," states Tom McGrath, CEO and co-founder of iink.
With storm season quickly approaching, iink Payments plans to deploy this capital to assist in getting thousands of property owners back into their homes faster and their contractors paid on time and with ease.
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