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Higala, RCBC team up to connect rural banks, MFIs to InstaPay

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Higala, backed by Chemonics and Talino, and RCBC team up to connect rural banks and microfinance institutions through SynerFi, a new open payments platform

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Chemonics and Talino have announced a new and innovative partnership from Higala Group Inc., an inclusive instant payments platform operator seed-funded by the pair of mission-driven organizations. Higala and Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) have joined forces to operationalize SynerFi, an open payments platform that expands digital financial access to the unserved and underserved sectors in the Philippines.

Chemonics partnered with Talino earlier this year to launch Higala, which marked a new era for the organization as it strives to leverage private sector partnerships to deepen it’s sustainable development impact.

SynerFi was created to help rural banks and microfinance institutions (MFIs) offer their customers digital transactions through InstaPay, bringing banking services directly to their communities and fostering broader financial inclusion.

Traditionally, many rural and community banks have been excluded from the digital financial ecosystem due to regulatory and technological constraints. SynerFi changes this by providing these institutions with a seamless way to offer digital services to their customers and clients. 

Under the partnership, Higala will provide the technology that powers SynerFi, enabling rural banks and microfinance institutions to connect seamlessly to a digital payments network. RCBC will act as the sponsor platform bank and manage the essential regulatory requirements, such as compliance, clearing, and settlement. 

Higala investor and global sustainable development firm Chemonics brings a wealth of expertise in fostering resilient, inclusive growth in underserved communities worldwide. “SynerFi is a powerful tool for sustainable development, which is at the core of everything we do at Chemonics,” said President and CEO Jamey Butcher. “Together with our partners, we will move towards further reducing onramp barriers for all financial institutions looking to be part of the InstaPay network and drive true inclusion to unserved and underserved areas in the Philippines.”

“SynerFi brings digital services within reach for rural banks and MFIs that have traditionally been left out of the payments ecosystem,” Higala CEO Vice Catudio said. “Through SynerFi, we are reducing entry barriers and ensuring these institutions can thrive in InstaPay. Expanding financial access allows them to empower more Filipinos with the tools needed for economic participation and progress.” 

By connecting local banks and MFIs to InstaPay, SynerFi allows these smaller, community-based financial institutions to offer faster, more affordable digital transactions, such as sending money, paying bills, and buying or selling goods online. 

This means customers can access convenient financial services in their communities without needing to travel or rely on cash. Ultimately, SynerFi empowers more Filipinos to manage their finances digitally, helping them save time, reduce costs, and improve their financial well-being.

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“RCBC’s collaboration with Higala through its SynerFi would further advance accessible and inclusive payment channels as pillars of sustainable finance, creating and opening doors of opportunities for millions of people nationwide,” RCBC Executive Vice President and Chief Innovations and Inclusion Officer Lito Villanueva said. 

The collaboration addresses a critical gap in the current financial landscape. To date, only three percent of the total volume of digital transactions are interoperable across participating financial institutions. Only five percent of over 360 rural banks participate in InstaPay, while all 2,400 credit cooperatives and 4,300 NGO-MFIs are excluded. 

Allowing smaller banks and MFIs to participate in the broader payments network facilitates greater access to digital financial services. It reduces costs for end-users in previously unserved and underserved areas, making digital payments more inclusive, affordable, and accessible.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Cecelia Spearing
Senior Director, Communications and Media
Chemonics International
[email protected]      

About Chemonics

Chemonics International is a leading sustainable development company that works in more than 100 countries around the world. Our mission is to promote meaningful change to help people live healthier, more productive, and more independent lives. For more information, please visit www.chemonics.com.

About Talino

Talino Venture Studios is an award-winning global venture studio for inclusive fintech. Born in the intersection of Silicon Valley and Southeast Asia, Talino Venture Studios is on a mission to bridge financial inclusion for over 1.7 billion people around the world. It uses the successful venture studio model to build repeatable, scalable, and profitable fintechs that empower underserved, underrepresented groups around the world with financial access and mobility. Talino Ventures Studios (talinolabs.com)

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Trustero Secures $10M+ Series A Funding Led by Bright Pixel Capital to Revolutionize AI-Driven Security and Compliance

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Funding to Accelerate Development of AI-Powered Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) Intelligence Layer

PALO ALTO, Calif., Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Trustero, a Silicon Valley innovator in AI-powered Security and Compliance, announced today the close of a $10.35 million Series A funding round led by Bright Pixel Capital (formerly Sonae IM), with participation from existing investors Engineering Capital, Zetta Ventures Partners, and Vertex Ventures US. Trustero is proving that AI can drive real revenue and operational breakthroughs in GRC, a space traditionally dominated by complex, high-cost, and manual processes.

“With Trustero, organizations no longer need to be weighed down by compliance. We offer human-quality, actionable GRC intelligence in seconds, without the high fees,” said Phillip Liu, CEO of Trustero. “The Trust Graph is our secret weapon, allowing us to ingest diverse data sources from GRC platforms, cloud providers, and more, delivering insights instantly.”

Trustero’s founder and CEO, Phillip Liu, is a visionary tech entrepreneur with a proven track record. Formerly, he founded SignalFx, a leader in cloud monitoring solutions, which was acquired by Splunk for over $1 billion. His early experience at Facebook and Opsware further distinguished him as a trusted name in Silicon Valley. Now, he turns his focus to Compliance and Security, seeing a new opportunity to revolutionize the field with AI, bringing agile, cost-effective solutions to an industry struggling with resource-intensive and manual workflows.

Since its founding in 2020, Trustero has grown significantly by helping organizations reduce compliance costs and the time commitments of their senior executives. Companies with complex compliance demands like Chassi, an AI-analytics platform, have experienced the most substantial time and cost savings. They added Trustero AI to their ISO 27001 compliance program in 2024. “For the rest of the company, the time savings was about 10-to-1. For me, it was closer to 100-to-1!” said Chassi CFO, Justin Dooley. “We also saved 75% on our internal audit costs because all the data was ready for the auditors.”

The new capital will be instrumental in driving Trustero’s development of more powerful and accurate AI for security and compliance, scaling operations, expanding market reach, and adding top-tier talent from AI engineering and GRC. Trustero has already made one executive hire since raising their Series A, bringing in George Totev as Chief Information Security Officer. He’s tasked with enhancing the company’s security capabilities and driving innovation in AI-driven GRC solutions.

George comes from Snowflake, where he led the Customer Trust team, managing 30+ certifications and customer security compliance. Previously, he built Atlassian’s Risk & Compliance function and held key roles at Visa, Goldman Sachs, Symantec, and The World Bank.

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Trustero’s technology is backed by its patented Trust Graph, which delivers unprecedented speed, accuracy, and cost savings in GRC intelligence. The Trust Graph is the core engine that enables Trustero to answer complex security questions in seconds, perform gap analyses across frameworks like FedRAMP and ISO 27001, and provide powerful audits, evidence mapping, and remediation guidance. This innovation differentiates Trustero from traditional GRC programs that rely on high-cost external consultants or limited manual processes.

“Companies are overwhelmed by the growing compliance demands driven either by evolving regulations or increasing customer compliance requirements. With Trustero, compliance and security teams go beyond simple compliance automation, by having a human-like AI-advisor that interprets not only the controls but also the evidence, in a manner comparable to how a human would,” explains Daniela Coutinho, Manager at Bright Pixel Capital.

Fernando Martins, Director at Bright Pixel Capital, added, “We are excited to support such a strong team, led by an experienced and technical leader, as they enter their next growth phase.”

About Bright Pixel Capital

Bright Pixel Capital, formerly known as Sonae IM, is the technology investment arm of the multinational group Sonae. With special focus on cybersecurity, infrastructure software, retail technologies, business applications and emerging tech, it has a portfolio of more than 60 companies, from early to growth stages. Bright Pixel Capital Capital Capital acts as a partner that brings specialized know-how, global footprint, and a wealth of experience in helping companies from early stage to IPO. Find out more at brpx.com.

About Trustero

Trustero’s AI automates governance, risk, and compliance functions such as compliance audits, security questionnaires, tailored remediation guidance, and third-party risk evaluations. Founded in 2020 by Phillip Liu, Trustero is the first to bring generative AI into the GRC space, enabling organizations to achieve and maintain compliance with unmatched speed, efficiency, and accuracy. For more information, visit Trustero.

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COCA Wallet Launches on Telegram, Simplifying Crypto Access for Millions of Users

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HONG KONG , Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — COCA Wallet, a leading non-custodial crypto wallet with debit card, is thrilled to announce its official launch on Telegram.

By integrating directly into Telegram, one of the world’s largest messaging platforms with over 800 million active users, COCA Wallet is transforming how people manage their digital assets. As Telegram solidifies its position in the crypto space with blockchain-friendly features, COCA’s launch as a mini-app brings unparalleled convenience. Users can now access and manage their cryptocurrencies effortlessly without the need for additional apps or complex setups. This milestone simplifies cryptocurrency management for everyone—from newcomers to seasoned users.

Key Features of COCA Wallet on Telegram:

  • Complete Wallet Management – Send, receive, and track portfolio with ease.
  • Cross-Chain Swaps – Trade tokens across 13+ blockchains with zero fees (network fees apply).
  • COCA Mastercard Integration – Spend crypto online or in stores seamlessly.
  • Non-Custodial and Secure – Full control of assets with advanced encryption and MPC technology.

“Telegram has become a cornerstone for crypto adoption by offering intuitive and accessible solutions. With COCA Wallet’s integration, we’re empowering users to explore the world of digital currencies, whether they’re experienced users or just starting out,” said Vasili Paula, CEO at COCA Wallet.

With Telegram’s ongoing innovations and COCA’s cutting-edge features, managing digital assets has never been easier, safer, or more accessible.

Getting started with COCA Wallet on Telegram is simple. Users can visit the step-by-step guide on the COCA blog, or dive right in and try COCA on Telegram here.

About COCA
COCA is a next-generation crypto super app designed to simplify and secure the crypto experience for users worldwide. With advanced features and seamless integration, COCA is shaping the future of digital asset management. Learn more at coca.xyz.

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GSCF Launches Connected Capital with Next-Gen Working Capital Management Solution

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Integrating Alternative and Bank Capital on One Powerful Servicing Platform

NEW YORK, Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — GSCF, a leading global provider of working capital solutions, today announced the launch of its enhanced cloud-enabled liquidity management platform and the creation of the Connected Capital ecosystem. Developed on a fully modernized technology stack, this innovative platform is designed to support a financing ecosystem that seamlessly connects alternative capital and bank financing.

GSCF’s highly configurable technology platform is unique as a one-stop solution for optimizing financial operations and accelerating growth, empowering companies and their funding partners to manage the end-to-end working capital cycle. The integration of funding sources can benefit a wide range of companies seeking to complement their core bank funding with access to alternative capital, including large investment grade enterprises and extending to mid-sized companies operating in riskier jurisdictions and industry verticals.

GSCF activated its Connected Capital ecosystem through a multi-year development program aimed at modernizing and consolidating its servicing and funding platforms. The Company has now completed the migration of its currently supported working capital programs, representing approximately $60 billion in annual funding volume, onto the new Connected Capital platform which provides:

  • Full-Scope Risk Coverage: One platform that offers broad-spectrum risk coverage by combining the flexibility of alternative capital solutions with the efficiency of bank funding
  • Tailored Solutions to Unlock New Growth: Co-creation of custom working capital programs to meet the unique needs of a business
  • Actionable Insights: A powerful data warehouse supporting advanced analytics tools that dynamically enhance working capital decision-making and provide real-time insights into performance
  • Expert Managed Services: Experienced professionals capable of addressing complex program requirements and delivering efficiency through automated workflows and streamlined operations

“By leveraging our cloud-enabled platform and deep industry expertise, we are empowering organizations to unlock the full potential of their working capital strategies,” said Doug Morgan, GSCF’s Chief Executive Officer. “Our advanced platform provides a seamless and efficient way to tailor funding to meet specific needs, enabling our clients to focus on their core business and access the capital needed to fuel expansion.”

With this significant technology investment and by combining the power of funding and servicing, GSCF has further extended the scope of the Working Capital as a Service (WCaaS) solutions it delivers to corporate customers and their funding partners to address real-time liquidity in a manner that supports sustainable growth.  It also positions GSCF to meet the needs of currently underserved sectors, including mid-size companies that currently lack access to capital sources which fit their specific risk profile.

About GSCF

GSCF is the leading global provider of working capital solutions. The company empowers companies and their financial institution partners to accelerate growth, unlock liquidity and manage the risk and complexity of the end-to-end working capital cycle. GSCF’s innovative Working Capital-as-a-Service offering combines the power of an end-to-end Connected Capital technology platform with expert managed services and alternative capital solutions. GSCF’s team of working capital experts operates in over 75 countries, offering a truly global and holistic perspective to solve working capital efficiency challenges. Visit www.gscf.com to learn more.

Contact Information: 

GSCF
Natalie Silverman                                                                                            
Chief Marketing Officer        
[email protected]           
(609) 577-5083  

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