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Hip Pocket launches kickstarter for a new app—and a revolution
Nebraska-based software company Hip Pocket has launched a Kickstarter campaign for their new app, Hip Money. But it’s not just any fundraising campaign. It’s a movement. “We know that this is bigger than just an app,” said Mark Zmarzly, Hip Pocket CEO. “It’s a long-overdue movement for change.” It’s being called the “Fingers Up!” movement…
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FuturePay offers point of sale financing for consumers without a credit card
FuturePay is the alternative to credit cards for the millennial generation. From rare collectibles to weekly groceries, everything is available online. The world of ecommerce has given consumers complete control over when and how they want to shop. Not simply online but in the palm of their hands. It only makes sense that as consumers…
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C2FO adds Citi Ventures as a strategic investor
Fairway, Kansas based C2FO (Collaborative Cash Flow Optimization), the world’s largest market for working capital, has announced the addition of Citi Ventures to their already expansive group of investors including Temasek, Union Square Ventures, Mithril Capital, Tiger Global, Summerhill Venture Partners and OpenAir Equity Partners. C2FO’s global marketplace allows for the collaboration between buyers and suppliers to…
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blooom raises $4 million in Series A, led by QED
Blooom has announced the close of a $4 million Series A round of funding. The round was led by QED Investors, an investor in companies such as Credit Karma, SoFi, Prosper and Braintree. “We’ve seen great growth by word of mouth with very little spent in marketing, and we want to expand quickly,” said Greg Smith, President of…
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D3 Banking, Jack Henry present at FinovateFall in New York
Two Silicon Prairie companies presented at FinovateFall in New York last week. Omaha-based FinTech startup D3 Banking presented a new product at FinovateFall, D3 Small Business Banking, which provides small business banking services on any device, including wearables. It will allow for deeper data analytics for small business finances while simplifying small business banking processes.…
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NorthStar announces integration of Blu Giant and Gemcom
Blu Giant Advisor Studios, an Omaha-based creative services division under NorthStar Financial Services Group, announced this week that they are integrating their services with Gemcom, an Arizona-based printing company also owned by NorthStar. Blu Giant Advisor Studios and Gemcom will now operate as Blu Giant, LLC, a subsidiary of NorthStar. Blu Giant will provide creative storytelling, including branding,…
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How Benaissance successfully navigated Obamacare
In fall of 2009, John Jenkins and Mark Waterstraat were anxiously watching the Affordable Care Act debate unfold, knowing it could potentially sink their company. Jenkins and Waterstraat had created Benaissance in 2006 around processing COBRA-compliant insurance payments for employers. (COBRA allows employees leaving a company to remain on their company’s health plan for a period of time.)…
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Hip Pocket, Dwolla will present at Finovate
Hip Pocket, Dwolla, Prairie Cloudware and CBW Bank with be presenting this week in San Jose at Finovate, the nation’s premiere FinTech conference. The event draws industry leaders and experts, as well as senior financial and banking executives. Hip Pocket will be demoing a new version of their mortgage peer comparison web application. The new…
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Newsmakers: Ben Milne of Dwolla
We’re unveiling a new feature today called Newsmakers, a video series and podcast taking you behind the headlines with the individuals making news in the Silicon Prairie. Our first newsmaker is Ben Milne, co-founder and CEO of Dwolla, an online cash transfer company based in Des Moines. Just a little more than two years to…