Most Popular Tech News Stories of 2015
We covered a lot of tech news in Orlando over this last year, and even created some of our own content. We hope that you’ve enjoyed Orlando Tech’s News presence this year, and we can’t wait to deliver more great coverage of Central Florida’s growing startup and tech scene in the new year.
Here are 15 of this year’s most popular stories.
- Data Management Best Practices
- What Is the Least Expensive Way to Accept Credit Cards?
- Best Apps for Sports Team Communication
- Should I Use an App for Travel?
- What Needs to Be Included in a Marketing Plan?
- How Often do you Need to Change a Capacitor?
- How to End an Interview as an Employer
- Perks of Having Internet in Garages
- Top 4 Ways to Increase Your Online Presence
- Is Phoenix the New Silicon Valley? Shocking
- Complete Guide to Facebook Estimated Ad Recall Lift
- Nominations for Best of The Best Orlando
- VentureScaleUp Opens Applications for Spring Program Following Inaugural Cohort
- Plugging In: How to Better Connect Yourself to Orlando’s Startup & Tech Community -Part II
- Starter Studio Series: FlightFishing
The 4 Most Important Tech Tips of 2015
This year we had the pleasure of interviewing some of the regions’ most respected tech executives, and learning a few of the key aspects to their daily successes. Whether it’s which productivity app Viewpost CEO Max Eliscu prefers, or the best way to get in touch with IZEA’s Ted Murphy, there is always something to glean from these conversations.
Industry Spotlight: Financial Technology Part II
Tech Industry Spotlight is a new series in which we will highlight some of the region’s industry standouts.
Do you know of a startup that fits this profile? Shoot us a tip athello@orlandotech.org
Today’s Industry Spotlight: Financial Technology – Part II
Financial technology innovation is integral to a healthy economy. Between data security, transaction security, fair payment processing, and processing new forms of currency, the financial industry has to evolve with the changing e tech landscape. FinTech companies work to keep financial information safe, and accessibility to that information uninterrupted.
Here is a look at some Orlando FinTech companies that are staying with, perhaps ahead of, the times.
The seniormost company on this list, founded in 1984, Fiserv provides banking clients with mobile and online banking solutions, as well as data management, and payment processing. Though the company is headquartered in Wisconsin, Fiserv has 600+ employees in the greater Orlando area, specializing in software development, human resources, and other business functions.
BitPay, a bitcoin processing platform, was founded in Orlando in 2011. Now Atlanta-based, BitPay has become the largest bitcoin processing firm in the world. The company, serving over 60,000 merchants worldwide, is now developing software to prepare for the age of bitcoin applications. The original founders,Tony Gallippi and Stephen Pair, remain with the company.
Digital Risk offers its clients a wealth of services, such as quality control, valuations, due diligence, and fulfillment services for financial markets. With over a thousand analysts, Digital Risk manages over 40,000 files each month. The firm has developed a mortgage analytic platform that models operational risk for loan providers In 2013 Digital Risk was acquired by Mphasis, owned by Hewlett-Packard, though they continue to operate independently.
flexReceipts transforms passive, boring, old paper receipts into high functioning, brand building, digital receipts. With flexReceipts you can customize digital receipts to reflect your brand strategy, engage customers, and drive sales. Features of flexReceipts include product recommendations and the ability to track customer spending trends. Join brands such as GNC, the Vitamin Shoppe, and Beats by Dre in using flexReceipts.
Industry Spotlight: Financial Technology
Tech Industry Spotlight is a new series in which we will highlight some of the region’s industry standouts.
Do you know of a startup that fits this profile? Shoot us a tip at hello@orlandotech.org
Today’s Industry Spotlight: Financial Technology
Financial technology innovation is integral to a healthy economy. Between data security, transaction security, fair payment processing, and processing new forms of currency, the financial industry has to evolve with the changing e tech landscape. FinTech companies work to keep financial information safe, and accessibility to that information uninterrupted.
Here is a look at some Orlando FinTech companies that are staying with, perhaps ahead of, the times.
Fattmerchant is a payment processing platform that charges monthly subscription rates instead of transaction fees. Fattmerchant users have access to all of the traditional forms of payment such as eCommerce, virtual, and mobile payments. According to Fattmerchant their clients save on average 40% off of what traditional payment processors cost. Prospective users can test a savings calculator on the Fattmerchant website to see what their savings might look.
Edu(k)ate offers you a “simplified financial education to help steer your retirement.” The startup offers classes and tools to make financial planning easier. They offer classes on investments, personal finance, insurance, and economics. Prior to taking on a class, edu(k)ate will ask you a series of interactive questions to find classes that best suit your financial goals.
Viewpost is a digital network that allows businesses to exchange invoices and payments. Businesses link bank accounts to the Viewpost platform, and can immediately begin sending and receiving payments. Users can send and track electronic invoices for free, send electronic payments for $.50, or paper checks for $.75.
DIY.Fund, a current Starter Studio participant, wants to help you invest like a professional. The DIY.Fund web platform helps you manage your portfolio, understand risk, and keep track of performance. The startup was created by financial industry veterans and is free for anyone to use.
Check back soon for Part 2.
edu(k)ate Launches Personal Finance Tool, Kate
Spending less is better than saving more.
Orlando-based edu(k)ate has launched Kate, a new app that helps people track the effects of the uncontrolled spending on their long-term financial wellness. edu(k)ate provides personalized financial wellness programs, helping employers take their workforce from financially stressed to financially savvy. Born out of Starter Studio, edu(k)ate was founded in 2013 by Chris Whitlow and Anthony Collini.
“Too many Americans can’t tame their spending, refusing to adopt a lifestyle that sets them up
for longer-term financial independence. Everyone’s heard the standard rhetoric of ‘save more’, when really, you just need to spend less today, spend less tomorrow, spend less over the year, and then keep spending less over the course of your lifetime. That’s why we built Kate: to inspire everyday people to adopt a lifestyle that keeps them financially fit over the long haul of their life,” said Chris Whitlow, founder and CEO of financial education startup, edu(k)ate.
Kate was designed to help people think differently about where they let their money go each day. It’s all done without the complexity of confusingquestions and explained with the colorful directness of someone who cares about your financial well being.
Unlike other retirement calculators, Kate helps people understand their future financial self in a different kind of way. Kate focuses only on the most simple financial metric that people can control: their own personal spending.
“We want people to start bei
ng more aware of what they spend money on each and every day,” said Whitlow. People are encouraged to play around with their financial information and learn how a small change in their day-to-day lifestyle, can get them where they want to be in retirement.
