Slice of Finance

Almost Breaking: $30M fundraising round led by Activant Capital, with participation from new and existing investors including Industry Ventures, Amex Ventures, Mischief, Assurant Ventures, Thayer Ventures, Pear VC, and Commerce Ventures. Michael was a guest on episode 11 of our podcast (link in the comments). Congrats to Michael and the Cardless team!

From manual spreadsheets to collaborative intelligence—learn how Invictus unlocks the future of deal-making in this episode. Guest: Stephanie Song, CEO at Invictus Check out the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/e7u2enPg #SoFPodcasts #ai #finance

Stax.ai Secures $7M to Revolutionize Retirement Plan Administration Learn more & get our take ?? https://lnkd.in/gdscy4Mr "Stax.ai is redefining the future of retirement plan administration by addressing some of the industry’s most pressing challenges with bold innovation and technology. Their impact is already undeniable." — Nitin Chopra, Managing Director at Neotribe Ventures "Stax.ai has transformed how we serve our clients by automating time-consuming tasks and freeing our team to focus on what matters most—delivering exceptional client service and driving real value." — Matthew Reimer, Managing Partner at MAP Retirement "This newest investment propels Stax.ai forward in transforming the retirement industry. As our offerings and team grow, we remain focused on driving innovation and unmatched value to TPAs nationwide." — Narendran (Naru) Muraleedharan, CEO and Co-founder at Stax.ai #SoFNews

So what exactly is direct indexing? And why should you care? ?? Here’s the scoop: ? Maximize tax savings: Sell underperforming stocks within an index to offset gains and boost after-tax returns. ? Invest your way: Exclude or add different companies and sectors to align with your values. ? Easy to use: Direct indexing is now within reach to investors like you. Our automated solution makes it easy to passively invest while growing your wealth. Oh and did we mention we offer complimentary portfolio analysis? Ready to upgrade your investment strategy? Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/g5bjTywg

First Pacific Bank Selects Q2 for Digital Banking Transformation Learn more & get our take ?? https://lnkd.in/g5dXsBb3 “As a Southern California-based business bank, our commitment to our clients and the communities we serve is at the core of everything we do. By continually evolving and expanding our product offerings, we’re able to meet the growing needs of our commercial banking clients.” — Tony DiVita, Chief Operating Officer at First Pacific Bank “The landscape has evolved for businesses and corporations selecting new banking relationships, with technology taking center stage. At Q2, we are committed to helping high-quality banks like First Pacific Bank stand out in fiercely competitive markets through the latest, most robust technology.” — Anthony Ianniciello, VP, Product Management at Q2 Holdings #SoFNews

Leonid Capital Partners Surpasses $265M AUM, Exceeding 2024 Goals Learn more & get our take ?? https://lnkd.in/g4vqxEvH “This milestone marks a belief in our work and the continued demand for credit investment among companies that do mission critical and groundbreaking work across the government ecosystem.” – Christopher Lay, Co-Founder at Leonid Capital Partners “We are successful when our clients are successful, and we believe we’re well positioned to continue advancing our goal of being the preferred lender for companies at the forefront of innovation in government and defense technology.” – James Parker, Co-Founder at Leonid Capital Partners #SoFNews

One Inc Partners with U.S. Bank to Transform Insurance Payments Learn more & get our take ?? https://lnkd.in/gMxPWBMJ “Together, we’re eager to empower carriers with streamlined solutions that support their financial objectives and deliver a more connected payment journey.” – Ian Drysdale, CEO at One Inc “By bringing the payment capabilities of One Inc and U.S. Bank, we can create even more value for our insurance clients and respond to the evolving needs of their policyholders.” – Mike Jorgensen, Head of Emerging Solutions and Strategy at U.S. Bank #SoFNews

Moody's Corporation's Acquires Numerated to Enhance Lending Suite Learn more & get our take ?? https://lnkd.in/g6xHkerT “As our banking customers undergo digital transformation programs to enhance their user experience, automate processes, and provide their front office functions with more data, they’re looking for a credible end-to-end lending solution.” — Rob Fauber, President and CEO at Moody’s Corporation #SoFNews

We're excited to introduce the founders who will be pitching at the Team8 Fintech Village NYC 2024 on November 20th at the NYSE. This group represents some of the most promising minds in fintech, each bringing unique solutions to the stage. The innovators will be: - Sagi Avitan, Co-Founder & CEO, Paylow - Noa Srebrnik, Co-Founder & CEO, Citrusx - Ben Borodach, Co-Founder & CEO, april - Nir Levy, Co-Founder & CTO, Kipp - Authorize more - David Talinovsky, Co-Founder & CEO, Bluespine - Niv Yaar, Co-Founder & CBO, Panax - Noam Izhaki, Co-Founder & CEO, Ballerine Don’t miss the chance to be part of this exclusive gathering at the NYSE – we only have a few spots left. Apply to attend here! https://lnkd.in/eQpEkmff Canapi Ventures I Deloitte Catalyst I Amazon Web Services (AWS) I HSBC Innovation Banking I NYSE I Fintech Meetup I GUTS - Harel Innovation hub I Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

What if taxes were fintech’s ultimate growth hack? ?? The 2024 Future of Fintech report from Silicon Valley Bank backs what we know: embedded solutions and AI are reshaping customer engagement, driving retention, and creating leaner, smarter growth strategies. Key insights from the report: Embedded finance is booming Platforms embedding services like payments and planning are creating new revenue streams. AI-native fintechs lead the pack AI-driven platforms raised $3.6B+ and generate higher value per dollar than legacy players. Re-engagement beats acquisition CAC has nearly doubled, making retention essential. Platforms embedding value-based tools—like those helping users save or manage finances—are driving repeat engagement and reducing churn. Taxes—often ignored—are the key to retention, loyalty, and relevance year-round. Case in point: One fintech reactivated lapsed users with a “free filing when you deposit” offer—response rates were off the charts. At april, we’re turning taxes into a growth strategy. Want to learn how? Let’s talk. Link to download the full report is the comments below ??