Caxton, the leading payments solutions provider, and PayCaptain, the innovative cloud payroll software, are today announcing a new alliance, to inspire UK businesses to embrace the latest technology for payroll payments.

Caxton and PayCaptain will together offer a highly automated payroll and payments process, allowing their clients to choose to benefit from faster, more efficient payroll processing and payments.  Faster payments give companies the flexibility to pay their employees without the legacy three-day processing cycle, which is inefficient when other areas of business, and employees, are living in an instant world. 

Caxton, one of the original innovators in the fintech industry since 2002, provides every payment solution in one platform, and processes millions of transactions per year. With Caxton, customers can take advantage of its API capabilities with any software that they choose.

PayCaptain enables companies to be innovative in an area which previously was impossible and helps facilitate improved job satisfaction, retention, and productivity.  

The two companies form a meeting of minds, values, and belief, that technology has the power to improve the payday experience, especially during the cost-of-living crisis and supporting bringing payroll into the 21st century. 

Caxton founder and CEO, Rupert Lee-Browne. “This alliance is timely for all companies as payroll teams face increasing challenges.  Organisations are trying to help their employees through a cost-of-living crisis by being as flexible as possible with salary payments. It’s time the payroll industry took advantage of the technologies available to allow faster payments, making more efficient businesses and increasing employee satisfaction.”

CEO Of PayCaptain, Simon Bocca, “Just paying employees ‘accurately and on time’ is no longer good enough. With PayCaptain the mundane event of getting paid is converted into a modern, on-brand, flexible and helpful experience. We’re thrilled to be joining forces with Caxton who have been at the forefront of payments for many years, and hope the industry embraces the innovative technology available for payroll and payments.”

“The explosion of data over the past decade has driven both opportunities and challenges for businesses,” said CTO Shirshanka Das. “Companies embraced various technologies and platforms to store, process, and analyze their data - but now find themselves facing a fragmented data landscape. Siloed datasets, disparate tools, and a lack of unified control has created inefficiencies and hindered collaboration between technical and business teams. Further, the industry has addressed fragmentation with more fragmentation, as governance and observability tools have been unnecessarily separated, leading to inefficient and inconsistent solutions. Through the industry’s first open control plane for data, we have designed Acryl Cloud to take these problems head-on.” 

“8VC and Acryl share a vision for the future, in which enterprises can consolidate control of each of the various pieces of their data stack within a single platform, reducing complexity and accelerating innovation,” said Bhaskar Ghosh, CTO at 8VC. “Shirshanka, Swaroop and team are ideally positioned to harness the power of DataHub and solve the hard problems that have historically stood in the way of this vision.”

“The growth of data-driven decision-making has led to an increasingly fragmented data ecosystem,” said Ram Shriram, Founder and Managing Partner, Sherpalo Ventures. “We’re excited to join Acryl in its journey to help organizations manage this new decentralized environment, bringing data teams closer to the business and enabling even casual users to interact directly with data insights. Shirshanka and Swaroop have been at the forefront of these efforts from the beginning, and are well-situated to overcome many of the obstacles that exist in the industry.”

Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the leading global financial centre in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) region, today announced the second edition of Dubai FinTech Summit to be held on 6-7 May 2024. Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance of the UAE, and President of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the first edition of the summit concluded with resounding success, with a remarkable turnout of 5,300 visitors from 92 countries.

As the population transitions from cash to digital payment methods, the inaugural Dubai FinTech Summit highlighted the importance of accelerated investment in digital banking services, e-commerce websites, and contactless payments. According to co-host sponsor, Visa, four in five consumers surveyed in the UAE would switch merchants based on the payment methods offered, with most preferring digital payments over cash.

"It’s been incredible to witness the Dubai FinTech Summit succeed in becoming a powerful platform for showcasing innovation, developing meaningful dialogue around the issues and challenges facing our industry and creating engagement on the future of FinTech, all in its maiden edition. We have marked a significant milestone for FinTech in the region, as Dubai emerges as a leading hub for innovation and entrepreneurship," said Mohammad AlBlooshi, CEO of DIFC Innovation Hub. "With the industry growing at an unprecedented pace, the 2024 Dubai FinTech Summit will provide an invaluable platform for industry leaders and experts to come together, discuss opportunities, and draw the blueprint that will continue to guide the future of finance,” he added.

A platform for collaboration

Dubai FinTech Summit 2023 saw over 20 MoUs signed with global financial leaders, with DIFC inking 12 MoUs during the Summit alone, with global powerhouses of finance and technology, including Standard Chartered Bank, due to launch digital asset custody services (subject to regulatory approval) to cater to institutional clients globally.

Expansion and growth

Showcasing the significant growth and potential of the FinTech sector in the region, Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, a leading crypto solutions provider, announced company’s plans to expand into the region. With 20 per cent of its customers being MENA-based, Ripple is choosing to leverage the city’s forward-thinking regulatory framework and ecosystem to open its first regional hub in Dubai at DIFC.

Global crypto exchange, Coinbase, also announced exciting expansion plans, with CEO Brian Armstrong stating the company’s intent to explore the UAE as a prospective hub for its operations in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

Sharing insights on the increasing accessibility to smarter technologies, Jenny Johnson, CEO of Franklin Templeton, global leader in asset management, said: “AI is playing a big role in dynamically switching up investment portfolios and banking, (enabling) the ability to enhance tasks such as tax efficiency and delivering customisation in ways traditional banks could never achieve.”

Commenting on the UAE’s vision for economic diversification she added, “It’s been reform, invest, and transform. We have seen reform achieve two things. First, it has attracted human capital and talent. The second are the reforms around capital requirements for foreign ownership. One of the things I appreciate about this region is its generational thinking. It is about how you are diversifying economies to ensure that you are successful for generations to come.”

Speaking on changes in interest rates, Piyush Gupta, Group CEO of DBS Bank, said, “Four to five per cent interest rate environments have not been unusual. The big difference this time around is not the rate of interest, but the pace of change. Normally, the Federal Reserve System (FED) tends to take a couple of years − two to two and a half years to slowly work its way up. This time, a lot of people argued that the FED was behind the curve, and as a consequence, they have to react much more quickly.”  

The event was supported by finance and technology company, VISA as co-host sponsor; e& as headline sponsor; Geidea joining as the presenting sponsor; Finvasia, Emirates NBD and Paxos as lead sponsors; BLUE, Standard Chartered Bank, Ripple and Fasset as Platinum Sponsors; atPay, Dubai Financial Market and Commercial Bank of Dubai as Gold Sponsors and Huawei as the Lead Cloud Sponsor.

Dubai FinTech Summit will return in 2024

Looking ahead, the second edition of Dubai FinTech Summit promises greater impact, shaping the future of FinTech in the region. Mark your calendars for 6 and 7 May 2024 and join us once again as we push the boundaries of innovation and drive the FinTech industry forward.

Flutterwave a leading African payments technology company today announced it is working with Microsoft to build its next-generation platform on Microsoft Azure, powering payments infrastructure across the African continent and beyond. This agreement reflects com Flutterwave’s commitment to give businesses and individuals access to global-grade services across all of Africa and driving digital transformation around the world. With Flutterwave and Microsoft's plans to power payments to-and-from Africa, this collaboration is an incredible opportunity to impact growth across the continent.

Through this engagement, Flutterwave will support the accelerated growth of transactions processed on Flutterwave platform for global clients like Uber, Netflix, and Microsoft, solidifying Azure’s role in facilitating a seamless, reliable, and secure payment experience.

Key Flutterwave products such as Flutterwave for Business, Send by Flutterwave, Flutterwave Store, and Flutterwave for Fintech Platform, are being developed and transitioned onto the robust Azure cloud platform. Moreover,  Flutterwave uses Azure OpenAI Service capabilities, enabling the scaling of its product offerings to millions of merchants worldwide.

“Microsoft has been an invaluable partner, providing a platform that allows us to deliver consistently high-quality services to our clients,” stated Olugbenga Agboola, Founder and CEO of Flutterwave. “As we manage high-volume payment processing, particularly during peak periods, the robustness, reliability, and scalability of Microsoft Azure become critical. As such, deepening our collaboration with Microsoft is the most logical step forward for us.” It means Flutterwave will continue to drive the transformation of global commerce, taking full advantage of the diverse and expanding range of services offered by Microsoft.

“Our development on Microsoft Azure has set a strong foundation for Flutterwave,” said Gurbhej Dhillon, Flutterwave CTO. “Their platform provides us with significant developer leverage, which we harness in service of our clients. Looking to the future, we’re excited about the possibilities of scaling with Azure OpenAI Service, which will enable us to serve even more merchants worldwide,” added Dhillon.

“We have proudly supported Flutterwave’s core operations with Microsoft Azure for many years. We are excited to further fuel their growth and innovation through this expanded collaboration,” said Mike Gaal, Microsoft Corporation General Manager. “Our mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Working with Flutterwave will take us a step closer to achieving our mission In Africa,” added Gaal.

Following a few exciting weeks of anticipation, the UF AWARDS APAC 2023 voting results reveal the best B2B and B2C brands in Asia-Pacific.

A benchmark of excellence in fintech and financial services, the UF AWARDS are some of the most sought-after accolades. Taking this benchmark to the APAC region, the UF AWARDS APAC shine a light of prestige on the most deserving Brokers and B2B market players locally. 

Celebrating the highest achievements, growth and top quality standards in this ultra-competitive industry, the UF AWARDS help build trust and raise awareness about the latest developments across all areas of fintech and online trading. The APAC edition of the UF AWARDS saw some of the biggest names in the brokerage and fintech sectors compete in 29 different categories.

Centred on transparency, the voting process was open to the general public. Thousands of votes have been cast, counted and validated, revealing the names of the best Brokers and B2B providers in APAC.

On June 22, fintech and online trading industry leaders prominent in Asia-Pacific convened at Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre in Bangkok’s iconic CentralWorld to take part in the UF AWARDS APAC 2023 ceremony.

Held on the last day of iFX EXPO Asia, the ceremony revealed the winning Brokers and top B2B brands in Asia-Pacific. And the awards go to…

Broker Awards

Best CFD Broker - APAC: AAAFx

Most Trusted Broker - APAC: Deriv

Most Trusted Broker - ASIA: Hantec Markets

Most Transparent Broker - APAC: FP Markets

Best Trading Conditions - APAC: FxPro

Best Trading Experience - APAC: TMGM

Best IB/Affiliate Programme - APAC: BDSwiss

Best Forex Spreads - APAC: Deriv

Best Trade Execution - APAC: FP Markets

Best Customer Support - APAC: Titan FX

Best Customer Support - AUSTRALIA: Vantage

Fastest Growing Broker - APAC: Trading Pro

Most Reliable Broker - ASIA: Libertex

Best Broker - ASIA: JustMarkets

Best Broker - AUSTRALIA: Vantage

Best Broker - APAC: ATFX

B2B Awards

Best Trading Platform - APAC: cTrader by Spotware

Best Social Trading Solution - APAC: ZuluTrade

Best Copy Trading Platform - APAC: cTrader by Spotware

Best Fintech AI Solution - APAC: OpixTech

Best Payment Service Provider - APAC: Worldpay from FIS

Best MT4 & MT5 CRM Solutions - APAC: Kangaroo IT Solutions 

Best CRM Software Provider - APAC: Techysquad

Best Mobile Trading App - APAC: cTrader by Spotware

Most Diversified Liquidity Provider - APAC: X Open Hub

Best B2B Liquidity Provider - APAC: Finalto

Best Risk Management Solution - APAC: Centroid Solutions

Best Connectivity Provider - APAC: oneZero

Best Bridge Provider - APAC: Centroid Solutions

The UF AWARDS APAC 2023 organiser, Ultimate Fintech, would like to thank all participants and congratulate the deserving winners.

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Profile has announced its strategic collaboration with TMEDE Microfinance Solutions, having been selected following an open tender for the provision of a modern online platform offering financing to TMEDE members.

TMEDE, the Greek Engineers and Public Works Contractors Fund, consists of an autonomous institution providing among others LoG’s and Collaterals to its members. TMEDE’s wholly owned subsidiary TMEDE Microfinance Solutions, is the first licensed microlending institution in Greece, which aims at providing alternative means of financing to its members and especially those that are at their early stage of their careers.

The online platform is accessed through mobile or web application and offers users the capability to apply directly from their mobile or PC with just a few “clicks”. The approval and disbursement of the loan from TMEDE Microfinance Solutions, up to the amount of 25.000 euros, takes place in less than 24 hours, providing financing of investment needs, working capital or settlement of outstanding debts.

The platform was presented to the public by the President of TMEDE, Mr. Konstantinos Makedos, and the CEO of TMEDE Microfinance Solutions, Mr. Haris Agyropoulos last Tuesday 20/6/2023. The event was attended by the Governor of the Bank of Greece, Mr. Yiannis Stournaras, the Deputy Governor of the Bank of Greece, Mrs. Christina Papakonstantinou, the President of the Technical Chamber of Greece, Mr. George Stasinos, the Governor of e-EFKA (National Social Security Organisation), Mr. Panagiotis Doufexis, the CEO of Attica Bank, Mrs. Eleni Vrettou, as well as representatives of the entire Technical World.

The presentation included an extensive demonstration of Finuevo Suite, Profile’s new front-to-back banking solution, which has been successfully installed at TMEDE Microfinance Solutions and which is the single integrated solution for core and digital banking applications, combining leading technological and banking expertise. Specifically for the needs of TMEDE Microfinance Solutions, the platform supports Digital Onboarding, Banking-as-a-Service, as well as the entire financial management of lending products to TMEDE members in a digital and agile way, significantly reducing time implementation, operating costs and service time.

Profile believes that the Engineers and Contractors’ community will make extensive use of the platform and its services, and therefore TMEDE Microfinance Solutions will become an absolutely successful venture.

Sezzle, a purpose-driven instalment payment platform, is pleased to announce the launch of its new Sezzle Pay Anywhere product - a subscription-based service that allows shoppers to use Sezzle’s Virtual Card online, in-store, or wherever Visa is accepted.
Sezzle fills an important gap in consumers’ financial lives, and when used responsibly, it can open doors to opportunities. Only 44% of the US adult population is considered Credit Prime, while the rest are considered Near Prime, Subprime, Unscorable, or even Invisible, making access to financing challenging. With Sezzle Anywhere, consumers are being given additional choices and flexibility in their financial journey.

Pay Anywhere is part of Sezzle’s commitment to the democratization of financial freedom - granting access to responsible financing for shoppers everywhere, no matter where they stand in their credit journey. Consistent with the Company’s efforts as a B Corp, Sezzle adheres to the pillars of Justice, Stewardship, Advancement and Integrity to better serve its stakeholders. Continued product innovation is a key part of Sezzle’s commitment to driving change in the name of greater accessibility to under-represented consumers. 

“Without a doubt, the number one cause for concern with Sezzle shoppers is their desire to use our core financing product at a wider selection of retailers. In a survey conducted by the Center for Generational Kinetics, we found that over half (53%) of consumers are likely to use installment payments if it’s available at their favourite store,” noted Charlie Youakim, Sezzle Cofounder and CEO. “Our consumers recognize the benefits that responsible, flexible financing brings to their budget - their only dilemma has been lack of access. With Anywhere, we are bridging the gap and giving shoppers access to Sezzle everywhere.”

With an active Anywhere subscription, Sezzle shoppers enjoy all the Sezzle Premium benefits (like priority support and an additional reschedule per order) plus:

• The ability to use Sezzle to shop online, pay bills, and tap to pay in-store anywhere in the U.S. that accepts VISA with Apple Pay or Google Pay,
• Earn 1% back in Sezzle Spend on eligible Pay-in-Full transactions;
• The option to build credit through Sezzle Up.