Unblu, a leading  Conversational Engagement Platform, and Objectway, a top 100 global provider of as-a-service software and services for financial institutions, have announced a strategic partnership to enable wealth and investment firms to build more successful, effective and profitable client relationships.  

By integrating Unblu’s capabilities, Objectway enhances their Omnichannel Client  Lifecycle Management solutions to provide personalised digital advice, boost online onboarding and conversions, and to exploit customer-facing time more effectively.  

The pooling of Unblu’s and Objectway’s solutions is now offering a superior client experience by enhancing client-advisor digital communication and collaboration tools, improving customer satisfaction and streamlining operations for financial institutions, ultimately leading to investors’ trust increase and growth in AUM for wealth and investment managers. 

Clients will also benefit from enhanced secure data handling, flexible cloud deployment and full compliance with the regulators, having Unblu achieved SOC  2 Type 2 compliance certification last year. 

The partnership focuses on two initial cases for client interaction management:  ongoing relationship management and the help desk. With help desk integration, financial institutions will be able to provide swift, seamless digital support in a secure environment. The relationship management capabilities, on the other hand, will ensure that clients and relationship managers have all the tools at their disposal to schedule one-to-one meetings, interact, and collaborate across devices and channels. These secure and flexible end-to-end conversational solutions will foster stronger relationships and enhance customer satisfaction. 

“At Unblu, we understand the role that communication plays in a wealth management context. Advisors need to be available on the channel of the client’s choice to build long-term relationships, and the challenge is to make this communication secure and compliant,” said Luc Haldimann, CEO at Unblu.  “We’re confident that this partnership will ensure that Objectway’s customers  have all the tools they need to provide meaningful advice and meet their evolving  expectations.” 

“Objectway shares with Unblu the same technology-forward mindset. This makes us able to offer ongoing innovation and support within our partnership, to ensure financial institutions stay ahead of industry trends and emerging technologies,” said Alberto Cuccu, Chief Solution Officer at Objectway. “Together, we bring on  the market customisable, scalable, and seamlessly integrable solutions that allow  for their quick implementation, but also ensure that our customers can offer a  truly hybrid service thanks to an enhanced digital offering.” 

Moving forward, Unblu and Objectway plan to explore new use cases and functionalities, allowing financial institutions to benefit from an ever-expanding array of digital engagement and collaboration tools. As the partnership progresses, additional integrations and deliverables will be developed to meet the evolving needs of the industry.

Paymob, the leading financial services enabler in the Middle East, North Africa, and Pakistan (MENAP), and Chefaa, Egypt’s GPS-enabled digital pharmacy marketplace announce their partnership to power the digital transformation of pharmaceutical payments in Egypt.

The partnership will digitize pharmaceutical payments by powering seamless and secure online card payments as well as point-of-sale (POS) payments upon delivery. Chefaa customers can also access several BNPL payment methods through Paymob’s gateway which helps elevate the financial burden of up-front payment for medicine and healthcare products. 

By driving the adoption of digital payments in the health sector and fueling online orders, the Paymob –  Chefaa partnership will enable smaller pharmacies to reach a broader customer base and increase sales. The partnership also streamlines prescriptions for chronic patients who require recurring refills.

The Egyptian pharmaceutical market demonstrated robust growth in 2022, and was valued at USD 3 billion. With a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 7% during 2022 – 2027, the market is poised to continue its upward trajectory. This positive trend reflects the country's increasing demand for pharmaceutical products as the population's healthcare needs grow. The steady expansion of the Egyptian pharmaceutical market presents promising opportunities for pharmaceutical companies operating in the region.

Gillan Shaaban, CCO of Paymob commented, “We are thrilled to partner with Chefaa as we see a massive opportunity to fuel the growth of e-pharmacies and online medicine orders in Egypt via access to Paymob’s cutting-edge payment solutions. The sector is ripe for innovation and our partnership with Chefaa will enhance customer experiences and drive digital adoption in the marketplace. It’s a win-win for the ecosystem.” 

Dr. Rasha Rady, COO & Co-founder of Chefaa stated, "In alignment with Chefaa vision to safely digitize an industry that directly serves patients' health welfare, this partnership with Paymob is a significant milestone in our comprehensive approach to patient care. By empowering patients with a digital payment solution that is designed with their unique needs in mind, we aim to ease patients’ worries, foster trust, and build lasting relationships based on compassion and support while leading innovation in our sector.”

Paymob serves as a growth partner to over 200,000 merchants in its network across MENA-P by ensuring they have access to the most cutting-edge financial technology solutions available, tailored to meet their needs at any stage of their growth. Paymob’s omnichannel payments infrastructure powers over forty online and in-store payment methods via its gateway, point of sale (POS) devices, and mobile app soft POS. The regional fintech also enables merchants to pay bills, manage their finances and grow their businesses via a real-time dashboard.

Chefaa empowers over 900K people monthly to live healthier and happier and connects them with +1200 pharmacies to meet their pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical needs. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, Chefaa aims to revolutionize the healthcare industry by providing seamless access to essential healthcare products & services and personalized support for patients.

The partnership between Paymob and Chefaa will drive adoption of digital payments in the healthcare sector, benefiting both customers and pharmacies. By embracing Paymob's technology, Chefaa enables customers to easily settle their payments online, eliminating the need for traditional payment methods. This not only enhances the convenience for customers but also improves efficiency, accuracy, and overall operational effectiveness for Chefaa pharmacy owners.

Torstone Technology, a leading global SaaS platform provider for post-trade securities and derivatives processing and risk management, is excited to announce the appointment of Neil Mardon as the company’s new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). As a seasoned financial industry executive, Neil is expected to bring a wealth of experience to the firm and bolster its expansion. Neil will also be joining Torstone’s Board of Directors.

Neil previously served as CFO and later COO at Daiwa Capital Markets Europe, where he spent over a decade leading critical transformation initiatives. These responsibilities included remediation of operational challenges, enhancement of the senior leadership team with a focus on diversity and inclusion, delivery of a significant cybersecurity change program, and management of the FCA Operational Resilience model changes.

Neil previously served as CFO and later COO at Daiwa Capital Markets Europe, where he spent over a decade leading critical transformation initiatives. These responsibilities included ownership of organisational change, regulator relationships, building a strong leadership team with a focus on diversity and inclusion and providing strategic leadership.

A chartered accountant with over 30 years’ experience, Neil brings significant strategic financial insight and knowledge to Torstone. His previous experience at board level demonstrates an in-depth understanding of UK and EU regulatory environments, and spans both high-growth start-ups and mature business environments, including robust M&A activity.

The appointment comes on the heels of Torstone’s continued growth and recent client wins. Earlier this year the firm welcomed Sam Farrell as Head of North America, reinforcing the company’s intent to scale its market presence and deliver exceptional post-trade solutions across the globe.

“We are thrilled to have Neil join our team,” said BRIAN COLLINGS, CEO OF TORSTONE TECHNOLOGY. “His financial acumen, combined with his deep understanding of our sector, will be instrumental as we continue to expand and strengthen our business. Neil’s appointment reasserts our commitment to our clients and our dedication to delivering industry-leading solutions.”

“I am honoured to join Torstone Technology during this exciting period of growth,” said NEIL MARDON, CFO OF TORSTONE. “Torstone is renowned for its innovative cloud-based post-trade solutions, and I am committed to supporting the team in their mission to be the industry leading post-trade platform.”

ACA Group (ACA), the leading governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) advisor in financial services, today announced its Managed Performance Services offering, which enables investment firms globally to outsource all, or certain aspects, of their performance measurement and reporting functions, helping firms balance their regulatory obligations with monetary and time budgets.

Today’s investment industry is evolving rapidly, with investment managers facing heightened regulatory scrutiny, increased client expectations, staff turnover, and a competitive environment. To overcome challenges, businesses are increasingly relying on external providers to manage their investment performance programs. The latest Cost of Compliance Report from Thomson Reuters said 38% of firms outsource all or part of their compliance functionality, driven by the need for additional assurance on compliance processes (52%), the lack of in-house compliance skills (42%), and cost (43%).

ACA’s new Managed Performance Services offer an outsourced solution that combines the firm’s proprietary technology with the deep knowledge of a team of more than 90 investment performance professionals with 30 years of Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS^®) and investment performance measurement, verification, and certification experience. 

“Calculating and presenting performance results is becoming increasingly complex, especially given the introduction of the SEC’s recent marketing rule, which requires a more stringent performance requisite,” said Karen Foley, Partner and Head of Performance Management at ACA Group. “Having access to experienced professionals to maintain this process is more important than ever from a regulatory compliance and performance marketing standpoint. Outsourced performance services is the ideal solution to cost efficiency without sacrificing expertise.”

Available today, the key elements of the Managed Performance Services offering include:

• Portfolio and fund performance calculations: A streamlined service that eliminates the burden of monthly performance calculations, allowing investment firms’ internal resources to focus on core tasks. With flexibility and adaptability, ACA seamlessly integrates with a firm’s existing technology and environment.
• Composite management and performance calculations: A dedicated service that provides accurate and consistent composite performance reporting. ACA’s team handles composite management and performance calculations for firms of all sizes and complexities, working closely with client teams to validate data and generate reliable reports.
• GIPS compliance oversight and verification management: A comprehensive solution designed to meet GIPS compliance requirements, ACA’s team evaluates investment firms’ compliance status, identifies gaps, and develops a customised plan for achieving and maintaining GIPS compliance.

In addition, ACA’s consultants provide support for various aspects of a performance management program, including risk statistics, money-weighted returns and attribution, enabling investment managers to benefit from ACA’s peer knowledge and subject matter expertise in all areas of performance.

“Recruiting and retaining specialised talent for performance-related functions has been a constant challenge for many firms,” said Carlo di Florio, Global Advisory Leader at ACA Group. “By partnering with ACA, a global leader in performance services, regulatory compliance, managed services, and technology, clients can grow efficiently, manage turnover, mitigate costs, and free employees’ time to focus on other initiatives.”

ION Treasury, a global provider of treasury and risk management solutions for corporations, financial institutions, and central banks, has successfully moved its Wallstreet Suite clients to ISO 20022. An enterprise treasury and risk management solution for the largest and most complex organizations, Wallstreet Suite offers multi-entity support, real-time information across all asset classes, and advanced analytics for decision-making and performance measurement. The move coincides with significant structural changes in the financial industry, driven by using ISO 20022-compliant messaging to modernize and standardize the processing of financial transactions.

The Eurosystem, via its T2/T2S Consolidation project, required TARGET2 EUR payments to switch to ISO 20022 in March 2023. SWIFT, via its Cross Border Payments and Reporting (CBPR+) initiative, is also moving to ISO 20022 over a 3-year coexistence period. As a result, interbank legacy SWIFT message type (MT) payments and bank statements will be retired in November 2025.

These changes parallel initiatives elsewhere to upgrade legacy payment systems to ISO 20022, including RITS in Australia and FEDWIRE in the US. New payment systems, such as P27 in Scandinavia, are also adopting ISO 20022. The changes are expected to yield several benefits, from improved customer experience through greater transparency to faster straight-through-processing and improved financial compliance.

The current changes to standardization follow decisions by central banks and SWIFT as they fully adopt ISO 20022. ION Treasury has regularly met with central banks and SWIFT to discuss the strategy, and prepare for these challenging initiatives. These meetings were foundational to developing a solution that allows central banks and other financial institutions to comply with the new standards, and ensure the availability of TARGET2 and CBPR+ libraries.

As a result of ION’s implementation, its Wallstreet Suite clients now generate ISO 20022-format payments (instead of SWIFT MT formats), and receive status updates, bank notifications, and statements in ISO 20022 formats.

ION Treasury’s advanced technical messaging solution natively supports the required ISO 20022 messages, enabling output of all the new, richer, more structured data directly – without the need for translation from existing messages. This approach for the final, long-term technical solution, coupled with close collaboration with clients, provides a smooth migration, with minimal disruption.

“We are pleased with the successful migration of our Wallstreet Suite clients from SWIFT to ISO 20022,” said Michael Kolman, Chief Product Officer at ION Treasury. “Much more than a messaging project, the ISO 20022 migration will provide opportunities to streamline processes, and maintain improved, more rich data. It has the potential to influence booking systems, sanctions, Know-Your-Customer, liquidity management, and statement reconciliation.”

“Given the implementation end date of November 2025, the CBPR+ switch will be gradual. Our goal was to prepare clients as far in advance as possible,” Kolman continued. “These major changes will impact financial institutions for years to come, pushing corporations to become CGI ISO 20022 compliant.”

Nearly three-quarters of SMEs (70 per cent) say their bank actively discriminates against them in favour of larger companies, according to new research from HedgeFlows, a leading fintech platform.  

The findings were contained in a survey of 500 UK SME owners, conducted by independent polling agency Censuswide. The research quizzed industry chiefs about access to finance, support and tools for international expansion.  

A shocking 72 per cent of SME owners say their bank provides very limited support around international payments, and further support is necessary to bridge the gap and provide the confidence to expand. A substantial majority also feel ignored by their bank with 73 per cent saying they struggle to secure a meeting with their bank or financial manager, leading to delays in their business plans.  

SME bosses also said plans for international and overseas trade were scuppered by high trading costs. 72 per cent said they felt bank transfer fees abroad were too high and should be reduced for smaller companies.  

Worryingly, 69 per cent said their company would benefit from international expansion, but 65 per cent currently lack the financial expertise to open an office overseas. Additionally, 78 per cent admitted that their company have limited cash reserves in the face of rising inflation and an uncertain economy.

Neh Thaker, co-founder of HedgeFlows, comments: “SMEs are the beating heart of the UK economy, creating jobs and driving crucial growth in uncertain times. It’s absurd that so many of our most ambitious and fast-growing businesses feel left out in the cold by their bank and unable to access the level of service enjoyed by their super-size counterparts.  

“The time has come to equip SMEs with a level playing field to expand internationally, giving them access to a suite of services required to manage overseas transactions, currency conversions and cashflows. These privileges are already enjoyed by larger enterprises and should be available to businesses of all sizes.”  

Tezos India, a leading blockchain technology company, is thrilled to announce its partnership with Blockbank, a cutting-edge FinTech solution. The collaboration aims to provide users with enhanced access to digital assets and a seamless trading experience. The highlight of this partnership is the listing of Tezos (XTZ) on the Blockbank exchange.

Tezos India's integration with Blockbank marks a significant milestone in the growth of the Tezos ecosystem. With the listing of XTZ on Blockbank, users will have the opportunity to trade Tezos directly within the platform's centralized finance (CeFi) wallet. This expansion allows Tezos enthusiasts and investors to conveniently access and manage their digital assets, creating a more streamlined experience.

Blockbank offers a comprehensive financial platform that combines various services to meet the diverse needs of its users. The platform enables individuals to store their assets securely, trade cryptocurrencies, earn passive income, engage in decentralized finance (DeFi) activities, and access traditional banking services. With Blockbank, users can now benefit from all these services seamlessly within a single user-friendly interface.

"We are excited to join forces with Blockbank and provide our community with increased accessibility to the Tezos network," said, Om Malviya, President, Tezos India. "Tezos is renowned for its robust and innovative blockchain technology, and this partnership reflects our commitment to expanding its reach and facilitating its adoption."

Blockbank's incorporation of Tezos into its platform further reinforces the cryptocurrency's presence in the global market. By offering Tezos as a trading option, Blockbank is paving the way for Tezos to reach a broader audience of investors and enthusiasts. The inclusion of Tezos on Blockbank's CeFi wallet empowers users to engage in secure and efficient transactions while taking advantage of the platform's comprehensive suite of financial services.

Tezos India and Blockbank are excited to embark on this collaborative journey, where innovation and user-centric solutions are at the forefront. By leveraging the strengths of both entities, this partnership seeks to revolutionize the way users manage their digital assets and navigate the evolving landscape of blockchain technology.

Bankable, a pioneer in the Banking-as-a-service industry, today announced the acquisition of Arex Markets, giving the combined company the ability to embed credit and working capital into the payment flows of established neobanks, multinational brands and fintech platforms. Arex Markets’ proprietary technology enables investors to finance a variety of commercial papers to seamlessly speed up payment flows and ease the working capital challenge.  

As BaaS and embedded finance solutions continue to proliferate, the B2B finance space continues to struggle with quick and flexible access to liquidity solutions, whilst investors continue to search for the right balance between risk and yield. The legacy banking system has not been able to provide the ability to offer credit and working capital solutions which can be embedded in transactional flows as diverse as accounts payable, invoicing, cards issuing and cross-border supplier payments. Which forces businesses to consider alternative private financiers or carrying additional costs on their balance sheet. 

Bankable will add working capital (flexible invoice financing, corporate credit cards, lodged cards and revolving credit) to the existing API-first digital platform.  Customers will have the ability to become ‘Bankable’ and build cards, payments, and credit solutions on top of the Bankable virtual account core in minutes. Through extensive investor partnerships, Bankable can offer unlimited working capital matched with an extensive portfolio of relevant customers.  Early use cases for the combined offering are being rolled out in the B2B wholesale travel sector for working capital support on supplier payments; supporting pan-European scale-up fintechs and neo-banks to take the next step in building net new revenues from credit cards; and working with global consumer brands to establish a single payments solution tailored to their needs. 

Core to the Bankable approach is working as a friend to the established banking industry and Bankable is working closely with several tier 1 institutions to welcome them as new investors onto the platform providing them with an additional route to deploy capital quickly and flexibly.  

Eric Mouilleron, CEO & founder of Bankable: “Together with Arex Markets, we share the same entrepreneurial culture and ambition. Thanks to our complementary assets and strong alignment of our teams, we can attract premium clients seeking to develop a uniform pan-European banking offer leveraging our best-in-class API platform including credit. This partnership clearly sets us up with the richest Bank as a Service offer for premium clients with clear multi-country ambitions.” 

Airto Vienola, CEO of Arex Markets, added: “Bankable and Arex share the same mission: to offer embedded financial services across Europe to fintechs, established businesses and brands. Together with Bankable, we offer both a formidable infrastructure powered by the best technology that gives access to banking-related services that are modular and easy to integrate and the deepest product breadth in the Bank-as-a-Service European market, covering accounts, cards and credit.”

Series A backers, LocalGlobe, Lifeline Ventures and Mosaic Ventures, are delighted to announce the sale of AREX Markets and will continue on as investors in Bankable. Deal advisors include DLA Piper, LK Shields and Zelig Capital Partners.

Froda is launching its card-based embedded lending solution in Denmark together with Lunar and Visa. The launch follows a successful test period and the goal is to make it faster and cheaper for Danish small businesses to access financing and secure the necessary capital for driving growth.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make up 99 per cent of all Danish businesses* and play a vital role in Denmark's economy and competitiveness. However, SMEs often face obstacles when in need of financing, which hinders their growth potential.

To address this, the Swedish fintech company Froda, in collaboration with Visa, has developed card-based embedded lending, a new loan solution that uses card rails for payouts and repayments. The solution is offered as a white-label product through Froda Embedded to partners that are issuers of Visa business cards.

– It started with an idea and a sketch on paper more than a year ago, and now it has become a reality thanks to our partnership with Visa and Lunar. We have experienced a significant demand for the solution among Danish entrepreneurs during the test period, making Denmark a natural next step on our journey, says Olle Lundin, co-founder and CEO of Froda.

The process is fully digitized and by using Visa cards for payouts and repayments, the entire loan process can be shortened from the typical two months, to a few minutes. This breakthrough in the market ensures both speed and efficiency for small businesses when they are in need of financing.

– We are constantly working to find new, innovative ways to utilize the card infrastructure, including through strong partnerships. In collaboration with Froda and Lunar, we can digitize the entire loan process and ensure a seamless and fast process for the benefit of small businesses, says Philip Konopik, Regional Managing Director at Visa in Nordics and Baltics.

Card-based embedded lending was introduced earlier this year. With Visa's extensive presence in over 200 countries and territories, the product offers a consistent experience across markets, making it globally scalable. Lunar has become the pioneering partner to introduce this product to the Danish market.

– Lunar will be the first to launch an entirely new type of financing for small businesses in Denmark. It is easy to apply through our app, and you receive a non-binding offer within a few minutes. Additionally, we offer an attractive price guarantee, making our product extremely competitive and supporting our goal of building the best everyday bank in the Nordic region, especially for small businesses, says Anne Marie Kindberg, Chief Revenue Officer of Lunar Group.

During the spring, a selected group of Lunar's Danish customers had the opportunity to test a beta version of the product. The results were positive, with over half of the customers expressing great interest in this financing solution.

– It is fantastic to see such interest in the product. It demonstrates a clear need for innovative financing solutions. The partnership with Visa and Lunar has significant potential and enables us to expand our offering with business loans across markets, says Stella Snickare, VP Froda Embedded.

The product will be available to all Lunar customers in Denmark from the 20th of June. Lunar is building the best everyday bank for private and business customers and aims to make running a business in Denmark easier. The partnership with Visa and Froda aims to increase financing options, particularly for smaller businesses.

FundMyPitch (FMP), a leading platform that connects investors with investment-ready companies seeking funds in order to kickstart their ventures, has helped raise nearly £6m in funding for entrepreneurs using its platform in its first year of trading.

The company, founded by entrepreneur Steven Mooney in 2022, has seen a rapid increase in user base. FMP now has 3,460 registered users - of this figure 941 are listed as businesses seeking investment, with the remaining 2,519 listed as investors. The platform has helped raise a grand total of £5,773,000 for entrepreneurs and SMEs who are seeking funding for their ventures.

FMP offers users an innovative video pitch model, allowing entrepreneurs to create high-impact content to attract the interest of investors. The platform also focusses on championing early-stage business opportunities and does not charge upfront fees, meaning it has a vested interest in facilitating the successful completion of deals.

The platform also leverages advanced AI algorithms, offering an intuitive user interface, creating a dynamic investor network. Additionally, FMP has strategic partnerships with a number of key financial institutions, venture capital firms, and startup incubators.

Steven Mooney, CEO, FundMyPitch said:

“Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of the economy, creating jobs, growth, and spreading opportunity. Yet far too many ambitious startups and SMEs cannot get access to the funding they need to expand and hire due to outdated fundraising systems.

Our mission is to give startups and SMEs a dynamic platform to showcase their offering and connect with investors, turbocharging their businesses and reaching their full potential.”