Fintech PR
Growth for Growth: utu Expansion to Harness Booming Middle East Travel
Travel-tech company raises US$33 Million, Acquires SC Ventures-Incubated CardsPal to Bring More Value to Travellers
DUBAI, UAE, June 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — utu, a travel technology company transforming the customer experience in tax-free shopping, has closed a deal of US$33 million in combined transaction value. The deal, comprising of an acquisition and a funding round, consists of both a portion of new funding, with SC Ventures participating, and the roll-over of earlier funding from Singapore-based investors, marking a major milestone in scaling up the brand’s endeavours to transform tax-free shopping experiences worldwide. Using the Covid hiatus to establish key partnerships with global airlines such as Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways, along with hotel chains and retail brands, utu will use the funds to further expand rewards opportunities for tax-free shopping.
In May 2023, the UN World Tourism Organisation published data showing that the Middle East was the first region in the world to reach and exceed pre-pandemic travel levels during Q1 of 2023, surpassing 2019 figures by 15%. With growth of internal resources to meet this external growth in the region and beyond, utu, co-founded by travel retail and VAT refund veteran Asad Jumabhoy, is poised to disrupt the travel shopping industry by re-engineering the tax refund process, reaching more travellers.
Re-engineering tax-free shopping with Middle East rewards partners
Rather than competing with existing players, utu collaborates with refund and travel industry partners, enhancing refund value through innovative B2B and B2C solutions. With a reengineered approach that links payments, rewards, and shopping, utu introduces new value for tourist shoppers, retailers, VAT refund operators and the entire tax-free shopping value chain.
In the Middle East, this value chain extends to major airlines, specifically their frequent flyer programs. With Emirates Skywards, Etihad Guest, and the Qatar Airways Privilege Club as rewards partners, utu allows users to earn miles with VAT refunds with increased value and to choose among several top regional carriers’ rewards programs. It also partners with Accor, Europe’s largest hospitality brand.
Asad Jumabhoy, co-founder and CEO of utu, commented: “The cross-border travel market is ripe for a technology-driven transformation, with tax-free shopping presenting vast untapped potential. By enhancing the value of VAT and GST refunds for travellers, we’ve reimagined the cross-border retail experience and devised a technology-based business model unlocking previously inaccessible value. This strategy benefits all stakeholders while also enabling governments to compliantly recycle VAT refunds within their borders.”
In re-engineering the refund process, utu offers users two primary value-centric benefits when they opt to receive tax refunds via their utu Tax Free Card. Firstly, travellers can gain up to 40% more value by opting for frequent flyer miles or hotel points over cash refunds. Secondly, utu can issue an immediate store voucher equivalent to up to 120% of the VAT or GST paid during overseas shopping.
Accelerating availability of utu worldwide
The CardsPal acquisition equips utu with a digital marketplace, a unique promotions engine, a self-service merchant registration portal, and more. This technology will expedite utu’s rollout in major tax-free shopping markets like the UAE alongside some 50 countries offering VAT and GST refunds. Additionally, utu is developing plans to integrate CardsPal’s hyper-localised retail experience into an improved pay-with-points offer more value.
Gautam Jain, Member, at SC Ventures said: “CardsPal is a great example of why we at SC Ventures believe in the power of innovation and support our employees to have transformational impact. Through SC Ventures’ Intrapreneurship Program, CardsPal grew to become a substantial business with award winning UX. We look forward to utu’s continued success scaling its products across the globe using CardsPal’s technology.”
About utu
utu is a travel technology company on a mission to enrich the tax-free shopping experience. Leveraging over 27 years of sector expertise, co-founders Asad and Ameer Jumabhoy sought to create a platform that firmly positions tourists at the heart of the international shopping experience. By making use of innovative cross-border rewards technology, utu is able to reward travellers for every tax-free shopping transaction across 50 countries and with any VAT Refund Operator (VRO). utu is changing the world of tax-free shopping, transforming a once administrative process into a more rewarding experience for everyone involved – brands, VROs and tourists.
SC Ventures
SC Ventures is a business unit that provides a platform and catalyst for Standard Chartered to promote innovation, invest in disruptive financial technology and explore alternative business models.
For more information, please visit www.scventures.io and follow SC Ventures on LinkedIn.
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/growth-for-growth-utu-expansion-to-harness-booming-middle-east-travel-301866002.html
Fintech PR
IDnow Trust Services AB certified as a Qualified Trust Service Provider in the European Union
IDnow partners with IDnow Trust Services AB to provide qualified electronic signatures, time stamps and seals to its customers and beyond
MUNICH, Nov. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — IDnow, a leading identity verification platform provider in Europe, announces its partnership with newly founded IDnow Trust Services AB, a certified Qualified Trust Service Provider (QTSP) under EU Regulation 910/2014 (eIDAS).1 Founded as a joint venture in Stockholm in early 2024 between IDnow and ESYSCO, a system integrator and technology provider, the company offers qualified trust services, such as electronic signatures, time stamps, and seals, that combine security, compliance, and user convenience.
Innovation and leadership in the digital signature market
As a recognized QTSP in the EU by the Swedish supervisory body Post-och telestyrelsen (PTS), IDnow Trust Services AB will issue, validate, and manage electronic certificates and time stamps; capture additional information, such as qualified time; hold identification evidence data, and perform certificate revocation, while complying as a Certificate Authority (CA). The QTSP provides assurance of the existence of specific electronic data at a specific time, such as proof that documents have been submitted for processing.
One of the features that IDnow Trust Services AB will immediately enable for IDnow’s customers is SMS-free signing. This certified capability simplifies the signing process, eliminating the requirement of One-Time Password (OTP) codes and driving higher conversion rates. IDnow Trust Services AB is the first QTSP that will allow this new user authentication process, which is already acknowledged by different CEN and ETSI standards and which will revolutionize the user experience in the digital signature market.
New joint venture secures trust and simplifies compliance
“We are incredibly pleased that our joint venture, IDnow Trust Services AB, is already bearing the fruits of our labor. At IDnow, we have long made it our mission to actively shape and lead the Know Your Customer and digital identity industry; we are now once again showing this leadership role by doubling down on trust services, as they are an essential part of the transformation of the digital identity market heralded by eIDAS 2.0,” says Andreas Bodczek, CEO of IDnow.
He continues: “In the coming years, our customers will benefit from the synergy of identity verification and qualified trust services, ensuring a compliant and efficient experience for all business-critical operations across the EU. This collaboration sets a new standard for trust and operational efficiency, positioning businesses for long-term success in the fast-evolving digital landscape.”
Johannes Leser, CEO of IDnow Trust Services AB, adds: “Trust and liability is the backbone of all business, and it will be the driving force behind the global digital economy. IDnow Trust Services AB is committed to delivering innovative and highly dependable solutions to IDnow, its customers, and partners. With trust as our mutual foundation, we’re poised to revolutionize the European digital signature market, which is expected to be seven times larger by 2030 than it is today.”
About IDnow
IDnow is a leading identity verification platform provider in Europe with a vision to make the connected world a safer place. The IDnow platform provides a broad portfolio of identity verification solutions, ranging from automated to human-assisted from purely online to point-of-sale, each of them optimized for user conversion rates and security.
In 2021, IDnow acquired the French market leader for identity technology, ARIADNEXT, and the German identity Trust Management AG, enabling IDnow to offer its customers one of the broadest identification solutions through a single, integrated platform.
The company has offices in Germany, United Kingdom, and France and is backed by renowned institutional investors, including Corsair Capital and Seventure Partners. Its portfolio of over 900 international clients spans a wide range of industries, and includes leading international players, such as UniCredit, Telefonica, Sixt, Crédit Agricole Personal Finance and Mobility, BNP Paribas Personal Finance, and Munich Re, as well as digital champions like N26, Solarisbank, Younited, BoursoBank, and Klarna.
Press contact IDnow
Katherina Riesner
[email protected]
+49 89 41324 6030
About IDnow Trust Services AB
IDnow Trust Services AB is a joint venture between IDnow GmbH and ESYSCO Sp. z o.o. The company is a certified Qualified Trust Service Provider (QTSP) under EU Regulation 910/2014 (eIDAS), compliant with the creation and validation of electronic signatures, electronic time stamps, electronic seals, and certificates related to these services.
As an eIDAS-certified QTSP, IDnow Trust Services AB leads the way in compliance. It provides omnichannel trust services, including Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES), helps customers conduct cross-border business within the EU, and assists companies in the transition to fully digital processes.
1 The electronic Identification and Signature (eIDAS) regulation defines a QTSP as a natural or a legal person who provides one or more qualified trust services.
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2196749/5005893/IDnow_Logo.jpg
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Fintech PR
Sanitas, one of Switzerland’s largest health insurers, embeds Lifelight’s vital signs into customer app
- More than 0.5 million customers already trust the Sanitas portal
- The Chronic Journey included in the app focuses on the detection of high blood pressure with the integration of Lifelight’s remote vital signs technology
- Sanitas empowers users to obtain indicative estimates of their blood pressure via their own mobile device
LONDON, Nov. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — In a groundbreaking next step for preventative care Sanitas partners with Lifelight, a cutting-edge novel technology to bring blood pressure estimates to its private healthcare app users.
With the Sanitas Portal app, over 0.5m customers already have an overview of their insurance and health related benefits. App users can be rewarded for exercise, check symptoms, get support with mental health, translate complicated doctor’s bills, scan receipts or quickly check coverage. Customers can also receive valuable support from a virtual assistant and a personal advisory team.
Now with the inclusion of Lifelight, Sanitas is taking a proactive approach to further mitigate health risks. A chronic illness guide within the app focuses on prevention, detection and management of cardiovascular disease (CVD) through early monitoring and pre-emptive intervention.
The Sanitas Portal is available in German, French, Italian and English. It marks the first time that Lifelight offers full language support.
Lifelight, developed by xim Limited, provides the ability for Sanitas customers to easily check their blood pressure themselves at home, with on-screen instructions to guide them.
As well as providing fast vital signs readings, one of the key benefits of Lifelight is the user experience – zero contact – no uncomfortable cuff, no need to undress, no wearables – users simply look at their mobile device screen for 40 seconds.
Often more convenient, Sanitas’ customers can access Lifelight securely from the comfort of their homes or remotely – anytime, anywhere. This is where Lifelight can really scale, driving efficiencies with improved health outcomes.
Commenting on the joint venture, Evelyne Dürr, digital service project manager at Sanitas stated, “Partnering with Lifelight to bring blood pressure estimates to our health insurance customers is an integral step in our preventative care vision. We want to empower and encourage our customers to become experts of their own health. Lifelight’s contactless technology can also be used at home to estimate blood pressure. It provides important information for the early detection of high blood pressure.”
Laurence Pearce, Lifelight’s CEO and Founder said, “We’re motivated to work alongside a well-known established healthcare insurance brand, allowing us to scale Lifelight and support Sanitas’ ongoing preventative care programme. We look forward to reaching more people in Europe through Sanitas’ Swiss customer base, building on our shared aims to empower everyone who wants to, take responsibility for their health that will improve an individual’s wellbeing, cut healthcare costs and ultimately reduce the risk of CVD.”
For further information please contact:
Suzanne Congdon – [email protected] https://lifelight.ai/
With over 800,000 insured people and premium income of more than three billion francs, Sanitas (www.sanitas.com) is one of the largest Swiss health insurers.
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2548805/Lifelight_Sanitas.jpg
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Fintech PR
TerraPay and Suyool Join Forces to Enable Instant and Secure Money Transfers to Anyone in Lebanon
BEIRUT, Nov. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — In a significant step towards enhancing financial accessibility in Lebanon, TerraPay, a global money movement company, has partnered with Suyool, a licensed financial ecosystem regulated by Banque du Liban. This collaboration is set to transform how Lebanese residents send and receive money, addressing the pressing demand for fast, secure, and convenient remittance services.
Lebanon has long been reliant on remittances, with over $6.5 billion transferred to the country in 2023. This inflow, primarily driven by the Lebanese diaspora, underscores the critical need for efficient financial services that can cater to both banked and unbanked populations. As a response to this necessity, Suyool is dedicated to providing an advanced digital wallet solution that facilitates not only local and international payments but also supports financial inclusion for unbanked individuals.
Suyool gains access to TerraPay’s extensive network covering over 144+ receiving countries, 210 sending countries, 3.7 billion mobile wallets, 7.5 billion bank accounts, and more than 12 billion cards, enhancing the efficiency and reliability of remittances. Suyool can now expand its remittance services for both inbound and outbound transactions, ensuring financial services are accessible to all.
Mr. Arz El Murr, Founder & CEO of Suyool, added, “By partnering with TerraPay, we are able to enhance our service offerings and meet the growing needs of our users. This collaboration will allow us to facilitate faster, more secure transactions, helping to bridge the financial gap for many in Lebanon.”
The remittance corridors into Lebanon remain robust, particularly from the USA, Gulf region, and Europe, which are vital for Lebanese families reliant on financial support from abroad. With around 20% of Lebanon’s population unbanked, Suyool is positioned to serve this demographic effectively, making financial services accessible through its intuitive mobile app.
Ambar Sur, Founder & CEO at TerraPay, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: “This collaboration deepens TerraPay’s footprint in Lebanon, where there is a strong demand for efficient remittance solutions. Together with Suyool, we are committed to driving financial inclusion and providing reliable payment options to all users. This partnership comes at an exciting time for wallet providers, as we have recently launched the Wallet Interoperability Council to enhance interconnectivity and interoperability for multiple cross-border transaction types, including remittances and merchant payments using wallets.”
This partnership between TerraPay and Suyool represents a pivotal development in the financial landscape, enabling simplified global money movement in the region.
About TerraPay
TerraPay simplifies global money movement, providing a single connection to one of the most expansive cross-border payment networks regulated in over 30 global markets. The platform enables payments to 144+ receiving countries, 210+ sending countries, over 3.7 billion mobile wallets, 7.5 billion bank accounts, and more than 12 billion cards. TerraPay is on a mission to create a borderless financial world, making money transfers instant, reliable, transparent, and fully compliant. Founded in 2014, TerraPay operates in over 12 countries and has built the global digital wallet interoperable network, driving financial inclusion even in the most remote markets. TerraPay is headquartered in London, with offices in cities like Bangalore, Dubai, Bogota, Dar es Salaam, Kampala, and Singapore. Backed by leading investors including the IFC (World Bank), Prime Ventures, Partech Africa, and Visa, TerraPay continues its rapid global expansion.
About Suyool
Suyool is a licensed financial ecosystem regulated by Banque du Liban (BDL) and originated in Europe. It is built to deliver convenience and security for all financial needs, allowing users to send money to anyone in Lebanon, make local and international payments with the Platinum Debit Card, and perform local payments at merchants using QR codes. Users can also access their money in cash, complete local or international transfers, cash out at over 850+ cash points, or request cash delivery to their door. As an advanced digital wallet, Suyool offers a variety of services, including mobile payments, remittance handling, international transfers, and utility & bill payments. With a strong focus on financial inclusion, Suyool is making banking accessible and easy for everyone, particularly the unbanked, through its intuitive mobile app.
Contact:
Juveria Samrin,
[email protected]
Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1222771/TerraPay_Logo.jpg
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/terrapay-and-suyool-join-forces-to-enable-instant-and-secure-money-transfers-to-anyone-in-lebanon-302296385.html
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