Platforms like Klarna and Affirm have popularized buy it now, pay later platforms to distribute payments over time for e-commerce purchases. Sunbit is the buy now, pay later platform that brings the flexibility and ease of these payments for everyday services like optical care, dental visits, automobile maintenance, and election healthcare. Transactions, for amounts as low as $60 to as high as $10K, can be approved for the flexible solution within 30-seconds in 7300+ locations. LA TechWatch caught up with Cofounder and CEO Arad Levertov to learn more about how Sunbit’s platform brings consumers peace of mind with the ability to pay over time, the company’s strategic plans, and latest round of funding from investors that include Group 11, Zeev Ventures, Migdal Insurance, Harel Group, AltaIR Capital, and More Investment House.
Finance
Albert Raises $100M to Help Manage Your Finances with a Blend of Automation and Expert Human Guidance
Goal setting is one of the most powerful processes to build your future. When it comes to your finances, adding in expert advice accelerates achieving those goals in a sustainable and measurable way. Albert is the personal financial advice platform that leverages technology and access to financial experts to address any aspect of your financial situation. At its core, the platform provides mobile banking complete with automated savings, equity investing, tracking, budgeting, and access to cash advances if necessary. LA TechWatch caught up with CEO Yinon Ravid to learn more about the gap that Albert fills in the consumer finance space, the company’s future plans, and latest round of funding from investors that include General Atlantic, CapitalG, Portag3, and QED Investors.
Sunbit is the Buy Now Pay Later Solution Helping Thousands of Local Businesses Increase Revenue
4,500+ merchants have already signed up to use Sunbit, the omnichannel financial solution helping local businesses generate revenue while giving consumers flexible payment plans for everyday essentials. In 30 seconds, consumers can sign up for a 3, 6, or 12-month payment plan that will finance total purchases ranging anywhere from $60 – $8K. Merchants such as auto shops, eye doctors, dentists, and veterinary clinics can provide omnichannel payment experiences to make payment as seamless as possible. LA TechWatch caught up with Cofounder and CTO Ornit Maizel to learn more about Sunbit’s plan to Buy Now Pay Later solutions more accessible and applicable to everyday purchases
Finli Raises Another $1M to be the Payment Solution for Neighborhood Schools and Studios
Small businesses have been devastated by the pandemic and neighborhood schools and studios are no different. There has been a wave of innovation that empowers these small businesses to rapidly digitize to address changing customer preferences. Finli is the small business management platform and payment solution for these family-centric businesses that have been traditionally reliant on paper and pencil models. On the platform, parents and caretakers connect their bank accounts or credits to schedule and process payments for their children’s education, while schools and studios can invoice, streamline payments, and service their customer bases. LA TechWatch caught up with CEO and Founder Lori Shao to learn more about the critical service the platform provides to family businesses, the company’s future plans, and recent seed extension round from investors that include MaC Venture Capital, TechStars Los Angeles, Core Innovation Capital, and Muse Capital.
Incentify Raises $4.25M for its SaaS Platform to Manage Tax Credits and Incentives
The average Fortune 500 company has a portfolio of over $212M in Tax Credits and Incentives. As large as this sounds, nearly 50% of available credits and incentives (C&I) go unclaimed each year. Companies may be dissuaded by the process of applying, reporting, and maintaining these credits. Incentify is the enterprise SaaS platform that lets companies manage all aspects of tax credits and incentives.CEO Laurence Sotsky shares more on how Incentify is changing the narrative around C&I by providing analytics, reporting, and compliance in a centralized platform.
Pipe Raises $10M to Give SaaS Startups What They Need Most – Cash Flow
Investors love SaaS companies because of the recurring revenue. But SaaS companies often have to give up growth when faced with monthly and quarterly subscriptions that cause less signup friction versus annual upfront fees. Pipe is the non-dilutive financing solution for these to normalize their cash flows. Pipe is a marketplace that connects SaaS companies to investors that are looking to invest in these types of factoring arrangements. Investors receive reliable cash flows and companies receive the cash they need quickly to fuel their growth. Win/Win. We caught up with CEO and Cofounder Harry Hurst to learn more about Pipe, the Saas landscape, and the company’s recent Seed extension round.
Willa Raises $3M to Help Freelancers to Get Paid on Time
The future work is changing and the freelance economy is thriving. Though for freelancers, getting paid is still a constant problem. Willa has built a payment platform specifically for freelancers that is more popular than Paypal, Quickbooks, or other invoicing platforms. CEO and Cofounder Kristofer Sommestad shares some on the state of the fintech market, how the needs of freelancers have not been addressed, and the company’s recent funding round led by EQT Ventures.
U-Nest Raises $3.5M to Simplify the College Savings Process
Higher education is more expensive than ever. On average, Americans complete undergrad with approximately $35.5K in student loan debt according to Experian. U-Nest is the mobile app for college savings that encourages parents to take a proactive approach to college savings. By downloading the app, parents set up a tax-advantaged 529 college saving plan in just […]
Pepper Raises $5.6M to Enable DTC Companies to Avoid the Most Common Growth Mistakes
While WeWork made headlines this year for its irresponsible, rapid growth, Pepper Financial has built a financial analytics company that helps digital companies grow responsibly. DTC and app-based businesses face uncertainty about speculative customer lifetime value and customer acquisition cost, but through Pepper’s platform, businesses can project these costs and allocate money where it matters, […]
Draper Goren Holm Raises $3M to be LA’s First Blockchain Venture Studio
The blockchain market is expected to have a compound annual growth rate, or CAGR, of 69.4% from 2019 to 2025. There is an impressive amount of opportunity in this sector and Draper Goren Holm is the startup venture studio and incubator that is investing in the most promising talent and early-stage startups in blockchain. Founded […]
Camino Financial Raises Another $8M to Connect Underserved Latinx Businesses to Capital
A majority of Latinx businesses are under-capitalized and under-resourced to scale to reach their maximum potential. Camino Financial is the small-and-medium-sized businesses marketplace lender that connects Latinx businesses to capital. Camino Financial understands the specific pain points that a Latinx business owner faces – 25%of its members lack a credit history and 65% have less […]