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☆ Here is the 14-page pitch deck a fintech helping SMBs get approved for loans via alt data used to raise $1.8 million from ATX Venture Partners, Rex Salisbury, and others
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Bianca Chan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Here is the deck Uplinq used to raise a $1.8 pre-seed extension round. One financial-technology startup trying to bring alternative data to small-business lending is catching the attention and dollars of some of the most notable fintech investors in the space. The latest round brings Uplinq's total funding to $5.6 million, with the startup raising its initial $3.5 million pre-seed round in April 2022. And is the credit score really an accurate reflection of their true credit worthiness?" Here's the 14-page pitch deck Uplinq used to raise $1.8 million.

☆ I asked an AI chatbot to give me advice on how to manage finances with my spouse
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Managing finances with a significant other isn't the sexiest thing to talk about, but it's an important topic to breach. If you're unfamiliar with Replika, it's an AI chatbot similar to ChatGPT, with one big exception. After a brief intro, I explained my problem: I needed help managing finances with my wife. Maintain separate accounts: It's also a good idea for each spouse to have their own personal account for individual expenses and financial independence. For example, if one spouse makes significantly more than the other, they may contribute a larger portion to joint expenses.

☆ Here are Friday's biggest analyst calls: Apple, Ford, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, Walmart, Disney & more
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Bernstein reiterates Apple as market perform Bernstein said it sees too many headwinds after Apple's mixed earnings report on Thursday. Morgan Stanley reiterates Amazon as overweight Morgan Stanley said it's staying bullish on the e-commerce giant after its earnings report on Thursday. " Guggenheim reiterates Walmart as buy Guggenheim said the stock remains "very well positioned" heading into earnings later this month. "Given ongoing macroeconomic concerns, we believe Walmart will retain its higher-income households given increased traction of Walmart+ and its app, pick-up/delivery services and eCommerce offerings. We continue to believe Walmart is very well positioned and reiterate our BUY rating and $165 PT."

☆ Guggenheim downgrades Microsoft, says vulnerabilities may be exacerbated during an economic slowdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Carmen Reinicke | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Now is the time to sell shares of tech giant Microsoft , according to analysts at Guggenheim. The firm on Tuesday downgraded the shares to sell from neutral and introduced a $212 price target, implying a more than 11% downside for Microsoft. Microsoft may disappoint on upcoming earnings numbers in the second quarter of 2023 and in their full-year guidance as well. "While most investors see MSFT as a large stable business that can weather any storm, it does have vulnerabilities, some of which could be exacerbated by this macro slowdown," analyst John DiFucci wrote. The biggest headwind the firm sees is MPC business, where consensus numbers are expecting slight growth after several quarters of declines.

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.

☆ This startup that provides insurance to SMEs just raised $54 million. Check out the 23-slide pitch deck Superscript used to land the fresh funds.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Insurance tech startup Superscript has raised $54 million in fresh funding. Superscript has raised fresh funds despite a downturn in the wider insurance tech market. London-based insurance tech startup Superscript has raised $54 million in fresh funding. The company, which was founded in 2015, provides insurance products to small and medium businesses (SMBs) and high-growth tech startups. Superscript's funding round was led by existing investor BHL UK, owner of Comparethemarket, with participation from insurance company The Hartford.

☆ How a hybrid work model can offer multiple advantages to the small businesses willing to take the leap
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Sponsor Post | Created Insider Studios With Dell Technologies | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Many small businesses could benefit from hybrid work, but are discouraged by concerns about productivity, security, and IT capacity. A number of tools from Microsoft and Dell Technologies can be tailored to provide support. Of course, no two small businesses are exactly alike, and each one will have slightly different needs, priorities, and goals for their day-to-day operations as we enter the post-covid era. Find out more about how Dell and Microsoft can help your hybrid work solution. This post was created by Insider Studios with Dell Technologies

☆ Here's how to establish better protection around your company's 2 biggest cybersecurity risks
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Sponsor Post | Created Citizens With Insider Studios | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

There are a number of ways that cybercriminals target payments directly or collect sensitive information that allows them to access financial accounts. Phishing remains one of the most common methods criminals use to gain access to payments or sensitive information. Under the guise of authority, they ask employees to send payments or sensitive information. Stolen credentials can also be used to initiate fraudulent ACH payments. Ransomware programs typically infiltrate a company's network, encrypting data across the network to render it unusable and then holding the encrypted data for ransom.

☆ These top stock picks from Morgan Stanley are well positioned for 'resilient growth'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-12 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

There's a wide range of stock ready to pop regardless of what direction the market goes, according to Morgan Stanley. They include Epam Systems , Bill.com , SLB, Microchip Technology and Ingersoll Rand. Bill.com Holdings Bill.com has showed "solid execution yields resilient growth in a worsening macro," analyst Keith Weiss said following the company's earnings report earlier this month. Microchip Technology Shares of the semiconductor supplier are too attractive to ignore, analyst Joseph Moore said earlier this month. Bill.com "Solid Execution Yields Resilient Growth in a Worsening Macro ... Amid this macro warning sign, mgmt.

☆ These little-known software stocks are poised for big gains going forward, Goldman Sachs says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

It's time to buy emerging software stocks Vertex and Workiva , according to Goldman Sachs. Back-office software company Workiva offers an "increasingly essential" business reporting process for companies navigating a complex regulatory environment, according to the note. The analyst issued a 12-month price target $101 that represents about 39% upside from Thursday's close of $27.91. Tax technology software company Vertex has an "underappreciated moat" around its enterprise business, and is positioned for "outsized growth" as it transitions into the cloud market, Goldman said. The analyst set a 12-month price target of $20 on Vertex, implying roughly 25% upside from Thursday's closing price of $15.94.

☆ 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.

☆ FedEx's Shopify strategy could prove costly as e-commerce cools and logistics firms fight over small business, analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( Emma Cosgrove | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The logistics giants are taking different paths when it comes to e-commerce platforms like Shopify. "Every entity in the parcel-delivery market — i.e., UPS, FedEx, USPS, Amazon Logistics, and every third party out there — is looking to that SMB customer," Shanker said. UPS and FedEx are taking opposite approachesMany small e-commerce businesses buy their shipping services through the online platforms they use to sell their products. "They want you to click on the FedEx logo because you think FedEx is great." "I think while FedEx talks about its focus on SMB shippers, I think UPS is actually executing on it," said Rick Watson, the CEO of RMW Commerce Consulting.

☆ Social Commerce 2022: Social media and ecommerce convergence trends bring growth opportunity for brands
▼ + stars: | 2022-01-27 | by ( Insider Intelligence | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

US retail social commerce sales will reach $36.62 billion in 2021, but that’s still about one-tenth the size of China’s social commerce market. Social commerce trendsThanks to the example set by China, brands remain optimistic about the future of social commerce. Examples of social commerce companiesSocial media companies have comparative strengths that determine its approach to social commerce. TwitterProbably the least popular social platform when it comes to social commerce is Twitter—especially after dropping its buy button feature in 2017. Social commerce market stats & outlookInsider Intelligence forecasts that US retail social commerce sales will rise by 24.9% to $45.74 billion in 2022.

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