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☆ Here's how OpenInvest is upping JPMorgan's ESG game and helping the bank partner with more fintechs
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Asia Martin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

OpenInvest, a sustainable-investing robo-advisor, has spent the past 13 months integrating into JPMorgan following the bank's acquisition of the startup in August 2021. Such products would include ESG and values-aligned investment strategies for JPMorgan financial advisors, along with proxy voting and philanthropic giving. Josh Levin, OpenInvest cofounder and chief strategy officer, told Insider clients are able to view things like how much carbon or tobacco the client has avoided funding. OpenInvest is helping JPMorgan work with other fintechsMurray and Levin told Insider that JPMorgan's acquisition represents more than an opportunity to upgrade the bank's sustainable investing offering. And so, we're gonna be looking to work more readily with fintechs in the future," Murray told Insider.

☆ Gen Z banking app Step, backed by the likes of Charli D'Amelio and Steph Curry, just raised $300 million in debt funding and launched crypto investing as it surpasses 3.5 million accounts
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Emmalyse Brownstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Step, a banking app designed for teens, said Tuesday it raised $300 million in debt. Step has now raised $500 million in equity and debt from a bevy of venture and celebrity backers. On Tuesday, financial-technology startup Step announced $300 million in debt funding led by venture-debt specialist TriplePoint Capital, with participation from Step's banking partner, Evolve Bank & Trust. The startup has previously raised $200 million in equity funding since launching in 2018. "In a matter of just the last couple of years, there's been a lot of volatility" in crypto, MacDonald said.

FRANKFURT, Oct 11 (Reuters) - German online bank N26, which is being monitored by German financial regulators, on Tuesday reported a wider loss for 2021 and a slowing in customer growth, capping a year of setbacks for one of Europe's most valuable fintechs. The Berlin-based bank's 2021 loss increased to 172 million euros ($167.10 million), from a 151 million euro loss in 2020. It added one million new customers last year, down from the two million customers that were added in the previous year. N26, founded in 2013, was valued at more than $9 billion after it completed a $900 million fundraising round in 2021. Of its 8 million customers, 3.7 million are generating revenue, it said.

Insider asked more than 40 investors to identify top up-and-coming fintechs. Investors nominated startups both inside and outside of their own portfolios. Insider surveyed 43 investors — including those from Bain Capital Ventures, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and QED Investors — about the most promising fintechs to watch. Startups that were nominated included a mix of investors' portfolio companies and ones they have no financial interest in. As was the case last year, the majority of those nominated work with other businesses, not individual consumers.

☆ OpenInvest cofounders share lessons learned from getting acquired by JPMorgan and how fintechs can 'maintain that special sauce' after getting bought
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-10 | by ( Asia Martin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

One of those acquisitions was OpenInvest, a deal JPMorgan announced last June and completed months later in August. But I think that JPMorgan, and maybe others in the space, have learned 'how do we maintain that special sauce," said Levin. Here's three things the OpenInvest cofounders have learned since last year about how best to transition into a bigger organization. Though it's still in the middle of its integration, OpenInvest has already begun to roll out fund reporting to the bank's wealth management businesses. All of those deals seem to have helped the bank streamline certain parts of integration, Murray said.

☆ A coder quit his $300,000 job at Stripe to build his own startup. Here's why he's convinced it was the right thing to do.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-05 | by ( Daniel Hüfner | Nathan Rennolds | Business Insider Deutschland | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Sumit Kumar, a 34-year-old coder from Hamburg, Germany, quit his $300,000-a-year job at Stripe. He left in May 2022 to build his startup Parqet, a financial platform he started as a side project. He told Insider why walking away from his job to pursue his own business was the right choice. Sumit Kumar, 34, quit his 300,000 euro, which is around $300,000, job as a solutions architect at the fintech Stripe to build his own financial platform. Kumar said he's planning to focus on Google Ads, which he hopes will arouse new interest among investors as he's no longer completely ruling out funding rounds.

☆ B2B payments startup Hopscotch aims to be a supercharged 'Venmo for businesses' with a new tool helping SMBs manage invoices
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-29 | by ( Ann Gehan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Hopscotch, a B2B payments fintech, aims to be a Venmo-like payment tool for businesses. The result is Hopscotch, a B2B payments platform that adopts the look and feel of a consumer app and offers instant, free payment services. Hopscotch Flow is a way to monetize the startupAccording to Switzer, Hopscotch is built on the belief that businesses shouldn't have to wait to access money they've already earned. "The whole point is to give our users really more control over their cash flow, because for most of them, their cash flow is fairly unpredictable," he said. A rendering of a business user's Hopscotch dashboard.

☆ This startup enables companies to launch their own embedded finance products. Check out the 16-slide pitch deck Toqio used to raise $19.2 million.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-29 | by ( Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Toqio, a London-based fintech SaaS startup, has raised $19.2 million in Series A funding. The startup's platform enables companies to launch their own fintech products. London-based fintech startup Toqio has raised $19.2 million in fresh funding. Companies can access a range of different banking and embedded finance products from the startup's platform. The startup believes its platform and marketplace offer a more cost-efficient way for companies to launch their own financial products.

☆ Over 275 of the most promising startups of 2022 in edtech, fintech, crypto, proptech and more, according to VCs
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( Julie Bort | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

We asked hundreds of top venture capitalists to name the most promising startups of 2022. And they were also asked to name startups across all stages, particularly earlier-stage companies that are not widely known. VCs have grown tighter with investments and startups that were not well-prepared to weather the cold have struggled. Below, we list hundreds of the most promising startups of 2022, sorted by industry. Advertising tech:The 19 most promising advertising and marketing tech startups of 2022, according to VCsClimate tech:The 37 most promising climate-tech startups of 2022, from microplastics to toilets, according to top VCsConsumer tech:The 27 most promising consumer startups of 2022, according to VCsCrypto:The 53 most promising crypto startups of 2022, according to VCsEducation tech:23 of the most promising edtech startups of 2022, according to top edtech VCsFintech:The 61 most promising fintechs changing the world of banking, trading, and investing, according to top investorsHealth tech:The 21 most promising healthtech startups of 2022, according to top VCsReal estate/property tech:The 21 most promising proptech startups of 2022, according to VCsRetail tech:24 of the most promising retail startups of 2022, according to top VCs

☆ Public.com, an investing app backed by Will Smith and Maria Sharapova, is in talks to acquire Dutch trading startup Bux
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Investing app Public.com is in talks to acquire Dutch trading startup Bux, sources say. Bux was valued at an estimated $320 million to $480 million in 2021, but the expected deal price is lower. Investing app Public.com is in talks to acquire Dutch stock trading startup Bux, according to two sources with knowledge of the discussions. New York-based Public has been in active talks with Bux for two months, the sources said. Bux has never stated its valuation but was valued between $320 million and $480 million at its 2021 funding round, according to Dealroom estimates.

Parafin, launched in 2020, works with so-called platform partners, or companies that other small businesses sell their products through. All the cofounders knew was that they wanted to build technology that would help small businesses. And they may not get their first contract payment from the government for as long as 120 days," Reed, the startup's CEO, told Insider. Helping small businesses manage their taxesComplYant's founder Shiloh Jackson wants to help people be present in their bookkeeping. HoneyBookWhile countless small businesses have been harmed by the pandemic, self-employment and entrepreneurship have found ways to blossom as Americans started new ventures.

☆ Brazil's central bank to limit prepaid card interchange fee in setback for fintechs
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRASILIA, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Brazil's central bank on Monday said it would set a 0.7% limit for interchange fees for prepaid cards, which are offered by fintechs in free digital accounts, in a setback for the booming sector in Latin America's largest economy. The central bank had put the issue out for public consultation last year, but its proposal suggested a maximum rate of 0.5% for both debit and prepaid cards, which would be even more damaging to fintechs. The changes will take effect from April 2023, and will also standardize the settlement term for debit and prepaid card transactions. There is currently no limit on the rate for prepaid cards, which is usually higher than that charged in transactions with debit cards, representing an important source of revenue for fintechs. Nubank said in a statement that interchange fees on prepaid cards accounted for 7% of its revenue in the year to June 30.

☆ Andreessen Horowitz and Benchmark have piled into the burgeoning FinOps sector. Now, European startups are racing to become the region's early leader.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

European startups like Sequence and Numeral want to establish themselves as the region's leaders. In March, the valuation of Californian startup Modern Treasury spiked to $2 billion as it established itself as an early leader in the burgeoning FinOps sector. In Europe, FinOps startups have captured the attention of a wealth of venture capital firms hoping to be an early backer in the region's own Modern Treasury. The US payments market is notoriously fragmented with some 5,000 banks and no universal real-time settlements platform. Indeed, investment into European startups plummeted by 38% in the second quarter of the year to $23.7 billion, according to Crunchbase data.

☆ Over 260 of the most promising startups of 2022 in edtech, fintech, crypto, proptech and more, according to VCs
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Julie Bort | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

We asked hundreds of top venture capitalists to name the most promising startups of 2022. And they were also asked to name startups across all stages, particularly earlier-stage companies that are not widely known. VCs have grown tighter with investments and startups that were not well-prepared to weather the cold have struggled. Below, we list hundreds of the most promising startups of 2022, sorted by industry. Climate tech:The 37 most promising climate-tech startups of 2022, from microplastics to toilets, according to top VCsConsumer tech:The 27 most promising consumer startups of 2022, according to VCsCrypto:The 53 most promising crypto startups of 2022, according to VCsEducation tech:23 of the most promising edtech startups of 2022, according to top edtech VCsFintech:The 61 most promising fintechs changing the world of banking, trading, and investing, according to top investorsHealth tech:The 21 most promising healthtech startups of 2022, according to top VCsReal estate/property tech:The 21 most promising proptech startups of 2022, according to VCsRetail tech:24 of the most promising retail startups of 2022, according to top VCs

☆ How SkyBridge founder Anthony Scaramucci is navigating the world between traditional and digital assets — plus his favorite coins and hedge funds for the tough market environment
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Laila Maidan | Alyson Velati | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

A survey conducted by the Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA), showed that about one-third of traditional hedge funds are investing in digital assets. Approximately one-third of the panel discussions revolved around digital assets, according to SkyBridge Capital's Anthony Scaramucci. And while some funds may still be grappling with the question of how much exposure they should allocate to digital assets, Scaramucci is pedaling forward. Long term, he believes in the appreciation of digital assets, and he's willing to pay the price of absorbing the volatility in the meantime. The pivot to digital assetsSkyBridge has pivoted heavily into crypto and blockchain technology from its traditional hedge fund of funds business.

☆ Inside how Cash App is redefining company merch with an in-house fashion line that includes $300 ponchos and handmade crochet cardigans
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Asia Martin | Carter Johnson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Cash App launched a new clothing brand, Cash by Cash App, during the pandemic. In a bid to stand out in a crowded payments market, Cash App launched a fashion brand, Cash by Cash App, in 2020.he line initially offered athleisure styling amid the pandemic. Then, last November, Cash App worked with rapper Megan Thee Stallion on an outside, limited-edition collection that Liang Shi, head of Cash by Cash App said sold out of the few hundred units created. Three women model Cash App robes and Fenty Beauty leisure wear at Afterpay, Cash App & Tidal's Front Row To NYFW Party on September 13, 2022, in New York City. Cash App's Ferdon said that Cash by Cash App "is pretty well integrated" into the company's broader payments "ecosystem."

☆ Stash just revamped its tech and announced new partnerships with Mastercard and Marqeta as the fintech looks to stand out in a crowded field
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Carter Johnson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Stash announced Wednesday the launch of a new core banking system and a refreshed debit card. CEO Brandon Krieg told Insider 'Stash Core' will make it easier to develop new products. The startup inked new partnerships with Mastercard, Stride Bank, Marqeta, and other fintech names. For Stash, a fintech built on both deposit banking and investing rails, that has led to an overhaul of the fintech's financial infrastructure and a host of new partnerships. On Wednesday, Stash announced the launch of Stash Core, a new banking system that Brandon Krieg, Stash's cofounder and CEO, said amounts to a rebuild of the startup's back-end tech stack.

☆ Walmart's secretive fintech ONE is the new disruptor in consumer banking, and the retailer has nabbed talent from Wall Street mainstays like Goldman Sachs.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Aaron Weinman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

In January last year, the retailer said it was pursuing a partnership with venture-capital firm Ribbit Capital, which backed Robinhood. The next month, Walmart lured Omer Ismail and David Stark, two executives from Goldman Sachs' Marcus, over to work on a fintech initiative. Insider's Ann Gehan, Carter Johnson, and Ben Tobin have identified the key people shaping this effort at its fintech called ONE. Done deals :Acrisure, a fintech company that operates an insurance broker and real-estate services company, has acquired B2Z Insurance. Aditxt, a biotech company developing tech around monitoring the immune system, raised $20 million after selling 3.33 million shares on Nasdaq.

☆ Laid-off Snap employees are fielding dozens of messages from TikTok, Facebook, and Netflix recruiters
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Jordan Parker Erb | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Well now, some of those laid-off employees are having trouble keeping up with demand from recruiters — and some say they've received reachouts from more than 70 companies. Laid-off Snap employees describe "overwhelming" recruiter outreach. After the company laid off a staggering 20% of its staff, some former workers' inboxes are filled with messages from Facebook, Netflix, and TikTok recruiters. As former employees found themselves without jobs, some told Insider they've fielded dozens of messages from recruiters. What laid-off Snap employees told us.

Investors nominated startups both inside and outside of their own portfolios. Check out the 61 startups identified as the most promising fintechs. Startups that were nominated included a mix of investors' portfolio companies and ones they have no financial interest in. In total, 61 startups that haven't raised beyond a Series B round were identified. Many investors noted B2B startups are one of the biggest bright spots in the sector as businesses and financial institutions continue to streamline their processes and cut costs where they can.

Insider asked more than 40 top fintech investors to nominate the most promising fintechs. Here are the 61 most promising fintechs. Insider surveyed 43 investors — including those from Bain Capital Ventures, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and QED Investors — about the most promising fintechs to watch. Global fintech funding dropped to $20.4 billion in the second quarter, falling 46% from last year, according to data from CB Insights. Check out the 61 fintechs identified as most promising by top investors.

☆ Block's Cash App Pay expands to outside retailers and payment processors as company targets 'superapp' status
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-16 | by ( Ann Gehan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Cash App has expanded its Cash App Pay feature beyond the Square network for the first time. Cash App has taken another step toward becoming a "superapp" by extending its Cash App Pay feature to more e-commerce merchants and an additional payments processor, the company told Insider. With Cash App Pay, users can make online purchases using their Cash App balance by selecting the payment option at checkout on a retailer's website. Retailers including American Eagle, Aerie, and JD Sports will now adopt Cash App Pay as an option for e-commerce payments. There's upside for Cash App as well — by expanding Cash App Pay's availability, Cash App can reach more users, as well as strengthen engagement with existing ones.

☆ How to Choose the Best High-Yield Savings Account for You
▼ + stars: | 2022-06-09 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +9 min

By Beth PinskerIf you search for the best available high-yield savings offers, it can be hard to tell whether what you see advertised is being offered by an actual bank. High-yield savings accounts offer a much higher return for customers on savings than the national average, although there’s no fixed scale. What should you look for in a high-yield savings offer? What is FDIC insurance and why is it important for high-yield savings accounts? Which banks can I trust for a high-yield savings account?

☆ How to Choose the Best High-Yield Savings Account
▼ + stars: | 2022-06-09 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +9 min

☆ Jack Dorsey's Cash App wants to become a super app — and is aggressively integrating buy now, pay later service Afterpay into its ecosystem to get there
▼ + stars: | 2022-05-18 | by ( Ann Gehan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

"Afterpay can help transform Cash App into a super app," Molnar said. Block estimates only around 6% of current Cash App users are also Afterpay users, meaning over 75 million Cash App users are potential new Afterpay customers. Other significant developments include the addition of an Afterpay shopping and browsing feature to Cash App and the integration of Afterpay account management capabilities into Cash App. The Cash App and Afterpay integrations will extend to e-commerce checkout, where Afterpay sellers will now be able to accept Cash App Pay as a form of payment. A slide from Block's 2022 investor day presentation lays out a plan for integrating Cash App, Afterpay, and Square.

Persons: Cash, Brian Grassadonia, Cash App's, Afterpay cofounders, Nick Molnar, Anthony Eisen, Alyssa Henry, Jack Dorsey, Molnar, Afterpay, Block's, Grassadonia, there's, Eisen, Block, PYMNTS, Omar Ismail, Goldman Sachs, David Stark Organizations: Block, Business, Cash, Dick's Sporting Goods, PayPal, Klarna, Walmart

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