Today In Payments: Feedzai Raises $200 Million; Robinhood Files With SEC, Will Trade On NASDAQ

In today’s top news, FinTech Feedzai is now valued at $1 billion, and Robinhood has confidentially filed to go public. Plus, delivery firm goPuff is now valued at $8.9 billion.

FinTech AI Startup Feedzai Raises $200 Million At $1 Billion Valuation

FinTech artificial intelligence (AI) firm Feedzai raised $200 million in a Series D funding round that gives the Silicon Valley startup a valuation topping $1 billion. The new capital will help Feedzai continue its global expansion and enhance its product offerings.

Robinhood Files With SEC; Will Trade On NASDAQ

Robinhood, a free brokerage app, has filed confidentially with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to go public. It’s unknown whether it plans to go for a traditional initial public offering (IPO) or a direct listing.

Delivery Upstart goPuff Eyes Expansion After $1.15B In Funding

Delivery company goPuff has raised $1.15 billion in new funding, pushing its valuation to $8.9 billion. With the new funding, goPuff will expand its products and invest in new technology and talent.

AvidXchange Preps For IPO, Eyes $7 Billion Valuation

The business-to-business (B2B) payments firm AvidXchange is eyeing an initial public offering (IPO) that could give the North Carolina company a valuation topping $7 billion. AvidXchange saw a big uptick in business as the COVID-19 pandemic gripped the world and companies had to accommodate a digital-first approach.

Report: Automation And Tight KYC Process Improve SMBs’ Loan Access

Loans have served as lifelines for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) during the pandemic, but trying to get one often comes with clunky onboarding processes. In the Digital-First Banking Tracker, Sam Sidhu, vice chairman and chief operating officer at Customers Bank, explains how banks are leveraging automation and better know your customer (KYC) to underwrite and approve SMBs in need.

Why 2021 Is All About Disbursements 3.0

Instant payments, on-demand, has come a long way from its initial use case five years ago of a gig platform with a digital relationship with its workforce pushing money instantly to a debit card. As Ingo Money CEO Drew Edwards told Karen Webster, in 2021, it’s all about Disbursements 3.0 and making the most — and monetizing — complicated payments between payors and payees, instant, on-demand and to the payment endpoint of their choice.

Bank Of America Analysts See ‘No Good Reason’ To Own Bitcoin 

A recent note by Bank of America analysts posits that there is “no good reason” to own bitcoin — outside of speculation. Transaction speeds are slow, and the demand/supply equation is marked by an imbalance that supports speculation. Missing from the equation is a compelling reason to embrace the digital commodity in mainstream commerce.