CrossTech Magazine - 2023 Innovation Awards Winners (16th Edition) by crosstech

16TH EDITION

WORLD 2023

2023 Innovation Awards

WINNERS CrossTech Magazine

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editor’s letter

Priscilla D'Oliveira began her career in American Express USA and LATAM where she managed the Global Networking Services division with banks in Latin America, built online products to deliver collaboration at Laureate Education. She now joins cross-border payment space to contribute to the payment industry, delivering consulting and conferences for payments companies worldwide.

As we bid farewell to 2023, it is with immense appreciation that I reflect on a year filled with innovation, collaboration, and transformative strides in the cross-border payments landscape. To our cherished CrossTech Magazine readers and sponsors, your unwavering support has been the cornerstone of our success. Congratulations are in order for the remarkable achievements of the CrossTech Innovation Awards winners – AZA Finance, ISend, Almond Fintech, Mastercard, RemitOne, and UniTeller. These trailblazing entities have not only pushed the boundaries of technological advancement but have also set new standards for excellence in the industry. As we look ahead to 2024, CrossTech Magazine remains committed to providing insightful content, groundbreaking developments, and a platform that fosters collaboration and knowledge-sharing. Our journey would not be possible without each and every one of you who has contributed to the vibrant CrossTech community. Thank you for an incredible year of growth and achievement. Here’s to embracing the opportunities that the future holds, building on past successes, and continuing to drive innovation in the cross-border payments industry. Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a prosperous New Year!

PRISCILLA D’OLIVEIRA COO, CrossTech

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The views and opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the authors and contributors and do not necessarily reflect the position of CrossTech, The Platinum Network, or IMTC. The content here is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as investment business, compliance, or legal advice. Content contained within this publication is not to be reproduced in whole or part without the prior written consent of the company. We welcome quotes of our articles by mentioning “CrossTech Magazine” or #crosstech and share the quote with us using our social media channels.

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table of contents

FEATURED

Industry Leader p. 14

p. 10

p. 12 6 p.

p. 30 Conference Highlights 6

AZA Finance

Riding the Wave of Digital

Expansion of Inter & Co’s Presence in the US Financial Market

iSend Biz Wins Business Payment Solution of the Year

2023 CrossTech Innovation Awards: A Mastercard Article

CrossTech Magazine

Revolutionising Money Transfers: The Power of RemitONE’s White-Label Innovation

Trends Shaping the CrossBorder Payments Industry

End of the Year Gift List

CrossTech Innovation Awards Hosted by World 17TH EDITION

contributors

Akriti Lamichhane

iSend

Akriti Lamichhane is an articulate, dynamic, self motivated and result oriented professional with strong leadership quality. She has ASIC specialist knowledge requirement in Foreign Exchange and Deposit Products and Non-Cash Payment. She is also a Qualified Responsible Manager for Australian Financial Services License and RG 146 Compliant to provide general financial advise.

Fernando Fayzano

Inter & Co

Fernando Fayzano is a career entrepreneur with over 15 years experience in international remittances, cross-border commerce, and global payments. He founded and leads the Pontual Money Transfer (offline) and Usend (online) brands respectively. He values trust and transparency in business, enabling him to build long-lasting relationships across the global money transfer global industry.

Ani Sane

Terrapay

A seasoned entrepreneur, Aniruddha Sane is one of the founding members of TerraPay Payment Services, a licensed digital payment infrastructure and solutions provider. He has also served in multiple start-ups as a financial and strategic investor and has associated with several global giants like Diebold, Canon, and Motorola.

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WORLD 2023

CONFERENCES

ANTS

OUR BUSINESS ECOSYSTEM

CrossTech Magazine

17TH EDITION

ctw winner

AZA FINANCE W

e are extremely honoured to have received the Crosstech Award for “Business Payment Solution of the Year”. This prestigious award is a testament to our commitment to providing exceptional financial solutions that empower businesses across Africa and beyond. Our company, founded in Nairobi 10 years ago, has expanded over the years to now include 9 offices across 2 continents. Within the past decade, AZA Finance has been committed to building payment rails, pushing for more direct African-African currency exchange and moving millions, then billions, for powerhouse African companies. When businesses partner with us, they gain more than just a payment solution; they join a dynamic ecosystem that fosters agility, efficiency, and adaptability. What sets us apart are:

Image courtesy of Freepik

1. Market Coverage: At AZA Finance, we have extensive market coverage in Africa and beyond, which enables us to provide payment solutions to businesses throughout the continent. Our access to over 115+ markets and 50+ currency pairs makes it easier for businesses to enter frontier markets seamlessly. Our financial infrastructure also allows for transacting, exchanging, paying, and settling in all major African, G20 and emerging markets currencies, which provides businesses with a streamlined and efficient process while reducing reliance on USD and mitigating risks associated with currency fluctuations.

2. Efficient Payment Infrastructure: Our unique payments API and web platform

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AZA, we continue to elevate our compliance procedures and policies, which again is a testament to our commitment to championing the industry’s best practices. We believe in not just meeting industry standards but in leading payment innovation. Our CEO and Founder, Elizabeth Rossiello, echoes this: “At AZA Finance, our journey has always been about pioneering payment innovation and driving positive change in the financial landscape. Receiving this award is a proud moment for our entire team, as it is a testament to our commitment to providing businesses with the tools they need to thrive in the global market. We look forward to continuing our mission of scaling up businesses in frontier markets through innovative financial infrastructure.”

have enabled us to build an efficient payment infrastructure, making us a leading payment partner in Africa. For more than a decade, we have been a trusted B2B cross-border payments provider catering to global remittance companies and international corporates alike. Unlike our competitors, we offer transparent pricing, deep liquidity, world-class security standards, and 99.5% uptime with 24/7 support.

3. Advanced Security Measures: We have obtained world-class security certifications, including PCI-DSS and SOCII. Recently, we became the first fintech in Africa to achieve the ISO 27001:2022 certification, which further demonstrates our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of security for our customers’ and partners’ data. At

To learn more about AZA Finance, visit www. azafinance.com.

Specialists in African currencies and emerging markets EUR

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@azafinance

corporatesales@azafinance.com CrossTech Magazine

Payments | FX | Treasury

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around the world

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Riding the Wave of Digital By Ani Sane

e’re going towards an exciting but equally complex world of opportunities for businesses and the payments industry players. In the last few years, the LATAM region has witnessed some transformative changes—propelled in part by the pandemic, the rise of emerging technology, shifting consumer behaviours and demands, and a global appetite for digital payments.

The Digital Revolution: A glimpse of changing payments market Today, we know that the Latin America Mobile Payment Market is expected to register a CAGR of 24.5% during the forecast period 2022 – 20271. Financial institutions, fintech companies and other payment providers are all enthusiastically taking advantage (some more successfully than others!) of this demand for change to build and implement ‘alternative’ or forward-thinking payment methods. Undoubtedly, this kind of progress was simply unthinkable only a few years ago. While it’s true that the payment ecosystem is in a state of rapid evolution as it looks to build on its legacy systems with a strong focus on digitization, even today, many challenges continue to exist. Barriers like lack of access, limited transparency, harmonization, affordability, and regulatory complexities, still prohibit the growth of digital payments throughout the region. Addressing and overcoming these persistent challenges becomes critical for economic growth. 8

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Tapping trends As the dependency on cash reduces and digital payments become the norm, the payments landscape is being shaped by newer trends.

Instant payments The exponential growth momentum of digital commerce and other factors have created a demand for instant payments. While not every market in the region has captured this trend yet, the overall shift is unanimously towards frictionless payments.

The Role of Regulation Historically, compliance and regulation have always played a key role in building customer and stakeholder relationships rooted in trust. With the rise of alternative payment methods, new & emerging technologies, regulation becomes even more vital to the health of the payments industry. Today, TerraPay is armed with 29 regulatory approvals and licenses, a number not many can claim because we see compliance as an enabler of a robust payments ecosystem.

Inclusion matters Over the years, we have observed a strong CrossTech Magazine

push for financial inclusion, globally. In developing markets, it takes on a deeper albeit challenging role. But inclusion doesn’t stop at providing access alone, the larger aim to improve resilience and power financial independence among those who have, for long, been excluded from financial ecosystem. The future is bustling with change and opportunities! The right strategic partnerships across different markets will therefore be critical to strengthening payments in this diverse ecosystem. At TerraPay, we are enabling businesses and financial institutions to simplify global money movement while improving connectivity in the region. We recently joined hands with Bancolombia and Nequi with the goal of making cross-border payments seamless while enabling financial inclusion and are already in the process of acquiring our licenses in key LATAM markets like Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil, and Colombia to make borderless, secure, instant payments possible across the entire region. To learn how TerraPay is simplifying payments for partners across the globe, visit terrapay.com

Ani Sane

Co-Founder and CBO, Terrapay https://www.terrapay.com/ 17TH EDITION

Expansion of Inter & Co’s Presence in the US Financial Market By Fernando Fayzano

story that goes way back. Inter&Co’s trajectory had its first steps in 1994 with business credit operations in Brazil. Then, there were then 20 more years of constant transformation. From finance company to bank, from regional to national, from credit to multiple services to launching the first 100% digital account in Brazil in 2015. In 2018, “Banco Inter” became the first digital bank to go public on the Brazilian stock exchange (B3). Shortly after, in 2021, Inter became Brazil’s first Super App, offering a platform that provides more than 130 financial and non-financial products and services in one single app, going beyond traditional banking services. The game changer for the international expansion came in 2022: Inter launches a 100% listing on NASDAQ, one of the world’s leading stock exchanges. This new chapter was extremely important in strengthening Inter’s position as a global company. It has opened doors and broken barriers for the company to start operating in the United States. Along with the listing, another important milestone in starting Inter’s presence in the United States was the acquisition of the American fintech Usend, launching Inter International account for Brazilians. This was the beginning of the company’s expansion journey into other countries. 10

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This acquisition enabled Inter&Co to offer its first products in the US via an app, initially with international remittance services and now with various other features such as shopping, digital account, card, real estate financing, among others. By 2023, with operations in over 50 US states and more than 30 million customers around the world, Inter&Co’s goal is to gradually bring the Brazilian Super App to all of the Americas, increasing its portfolio of products and services. Inter&Co continues to evolve, innovate and break barriers by providing unique financial solutions to enable access to its financial and non-financial services worldwide.

Mass Payments With the groundbreaking launch of PIX, the Brazilian financial landscape underwent significant changes. This innovative payment system empowered the Brazilian population to access real-time and secure transactions. As a result, the international market needed to adapt quickly to this new era. Since the inception of the project, Inter&Co has been present and is now one of the largest PIX service providers in Brazil. To enable such transactions, Inter&Co’s API was adapted to PIX payment resources in Brazil. This means ensuring real-time transfers and payments 24/7, even on holidays, in all institutions in the Brazilian financial landscape. This efficient tool offers a simplified approach to transaction management. As Inter&Co builds a path towards a more connected and efficient financial future in Brazil, the Inter&Co API is proof of its dedication to providing personalized solutions that not only meet but exceed the expectations of our partners in the Brazilcrosstechpayments.com

inside job ian market. From facilitating real-time transactions to offering mass payment management, the API is ready to transform the way we engage with the dynamic world of global finance, tailored to the unique requirements of the Brazilian financial scenario.

Image courtesy of Freepik

Fernando Fayzano – Panel at CrossTech World 2023

(Regional Trends Cross-border Payments in Latin America and the Caribbean)

Fernando Fayzano, Director of Inter&Co, played a key role in an essential panel at CrossTech World, addressing the significance of cross-border payments in Latin America and the Caribbean. The panel delved into crucial points, highlighting the distinctions within the vast Latin American landscape. A notable example discussed was the cultural preference for cash in certain countries, contrasted with Brazil’s remarkable digital acceptance. The insightful discussion explored the intricacies of navigating diverse financial landscapes across the region.

Fernando Fayzano CEO at Inter & Co USA https://inter.co/en/us/

CrossTech Magazine

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Biz Wins Business Payment Solution of the Year at CrossTech 2023 By Akriti Lamichhane

t CrossTech 2023, ISEND secured the prestigious Business Payment Solution of the Year award, affirming its position as a B2B payment trailblazer. Amidst competition, the company’s unwavering commitment to innovation, security, and customer-centric design earned accolades for its cutting-edge solutions. A key feature is the gateway facilitating seamless payments in over 100 countries and handling 15+ currencies effortlessly, streamlining international transactions. The Bank Payments system ensures simplicity in instant credits/debits and same-day fund transfers, underscoring ISEND’s dedication to secure and prompt payments. Automated reconciliation at checkout enhances customer satisfaction, emphasizing their focus on hasslefree payment experiences. The “Payouts Made Easy” service simplifies secure and compliant payments to vendors with just one click, meeting diverse business needs. ISEND’s tailored solutions address industry intricacies, offering growth options for startups

and reliability for real estate transactions. Akriti Lamichhane, COO of ISEND, expressed gratitude for the recognition, stating, “This acknowledgment is a testament to the strength of ISEND’s vision: to build the bestin-class cross-border solution for businesses and consumers, simplifying money transfers for everyone. We are excited to be among the innovative business payment solution providers and look forward to meeting CrossTech officials and industry professionals at the upcoming CrossTech events in New York and CrossTech World 2024.” ISEND’s success at CrossTech 2023 goes beyond recognition, inviting businesses to elevate their payment experience. Partnering with ISEND ensures smarter, faster, and more reliable transactions. Contact their team today to witness the transformation of your B2B payment experience.

Akriti Lamichhane COO/ Board of Director www.isendglobal.com

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Sending Money

buy your book

Forex, Remittances, Migration, & the Fintech Revolution

ENDING MONEY is a duology or a two-part series. Is the history of the cross-border payments industry since the shift from informal methods of migrants sending money home to the use by money transfer providers of EFTs -Electronic Funds Transfers. Technology initiated the first step toward digitization with the Telex and then the Fax before the internet made its appearance. The use of technology created many opportunities and the explosive growth of an industry with the corresponding challenges to banks, governments, and regulators. The duology is divided into two parts, the first period, 1987 to 2000 and the second, 2001 to the present day, with a forecast for 2030.

Aside from the book, the SENDING MONEY podcast is underway. You can find it here in Podbean or in Apple Podcasts, in Spotify, or in your preferred podcast provider. CrossTech Magazine

The book series is available in all platforms!

Hugo Cuevas-Mohr Founder

17TH EDITION

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2023 CrossTech Innovation Awards A Mastercard Article 14

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ctw winner

he interconnected global economy depends on safe, secure cross-border payments. Yet, the current global systems that support cross-border payments are out of date. The industry is using 40-50 year-old solutions and technology to address today’s $156 trillion cross-border payments sector. To address the absence of appropriate technology, institutions are throwing more human labor at the tasks. While this may ‘solve’ the immediate problem, it’s expensive, error-prone, and time-consuming – and unsustainable as cross-border payments continue to scale. We’re passionate about changing things, and improving the experience, for all users. People and businesses need a faster, more flexible, secure way to send and receive funds internationally. Through a single, secure point of access, Mastercard Cross-Border Services provides banks, non-bank financial institutions, corporates and their customers, where applicable, with choice, transparency and speed when sending and receiving funds internationally. Unlike bank wires, or other cash, mobile or online transfers, Mastercard Cross-Border Services offers a secure and predictable global solution. It enables money transfers to multiple, localized endpoints, including bank accounts, mobile wallets, card and cash payouts, allowing businesses to scale, banks to maximize revenue and consumers to transfer and receive money with control and peace of mind. Mastercard’s solution enables sending transfers to more than 120+ markets, covering 90% of global bank accounts. The solution has no additional costs in the chain and therefore what is sent is what is received. And Mastercard provides all of this in near real-time to CrossTech Magazine

more than 50 markets, bringing speed, choice and transparency to payments, and helping institutions and businesses to better meet their customers’ needs. Since launch in 2021, the results are clear and tangible to global financial institutions, particularly those in North American and Latin and Central America. For example, from Brazil you can send 1,000 reais (BRL) or 500,000 reais (BRL) to the United Kingdom and these funds will be in the final beneficiary’s account in less than 10 minutes. With our solution the sender and recipient will always know exactly how much money will arrive, with extremely competitive exchange rates. This entire experience can be done from the financial institution’s app and will have the ability to have a revolutionary tracking system, providing visibility and peace of mind to all players in the chain. Looking to the future we plan to leverage our extensive network of over 120 countries, our plethora of payout methods and combine them with our strong commitment with regulatory compliance in every market we operate, bringing fast, secure and predictable cross-border payments to even more people and businesses around the world.

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Revolutionising Money Transfers: The Power of RemitONE’s White-Label Innovation

emitONE is a trailblazer in the money transfer landscape, revolutionising the industry through its innovative white-label approach. Going beyond typical money transfer software providers, RemitONE offers a groundbreaking Remittance-as-a-Service (RaaS) solution, addressing the growing demand, especially from Start-ups and Money Service Businesses (MSBs) seeking expansion into new regions. This demand is fuelled by the escalating complexities of obtaining MSB licenses, securing bank accounts, and ensuring regulatory compliance across different geographical areas. RemitONE’s cutting-edge digital technology solutions Multi-Mobile Remittance Manager (Multi- MRM) and Multi-Online Remittance Manager (Multi-ORM) empower clients to embrace RaaS by providing multiple white-labelled mobile applications and online portals, each uniquely branded for a partner/agent. This solution not only allows MSBs to generate new revenue streams from agents but also supports traditional MSB agents, the backbone of the money transfer industry. Additionally, it enables companies from other verticals to participate in compliant money transfers, supporting all supply-chain members. This technology solution empowers licensed MSBs and unlicensed entities to deliver a range of services, especially to the unbanked and the underbanked. The RemitONE software under-

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pinning this solution encompasses key features such as e-KYC onboarding, Liveness, real-time AML monitoring, digital wallets, access to payment networks, and settlements. RemitONE’s Multi-MRM, created using existing partner/agent branding, allows dynamic back-end configuration based on countries, configures different transfer types, payment methods, and other operations without app store republishing. The complexity of managing various configurations is seamlessly handled by the RemitONE technology, ensuring a superior user experience. In 2018, RemitONE introduced MultiORM, setting a trend that the competitors later followed. The subsequent release of an enhanced white-labelled mobile app and the introduction of Multi-MRM in 2022 solidified RemitONE’s unique industry position. RemitONE’s technology proves especially beneficial in Africa and South America, where digital wallets dominate, enabling MSBs to quickly establish operations in North America, the UK, and Europe. The broader impact of RemitONE’s innovation is felt throughout the supply-chain, benefiting remitters in remote communities, regulators, and other MTOs and banks seeking expanded networks. The solution facilitating transactions through formal channels, ensuring transparency and accountability, contributing to economic stability. crosstechpayments.com

ctw winner

RemitONE’s proudest achievement lies in its investment of time and resources to create a system capable of handling complexity whilst delivering a user-friendly experience. The technology’s adaptability to diverse use cases, coupled with its simplicity, sets it apart in the marketplace. By revolutionising the industry and fostering financial inclusion,

CrossTech Magazine

RemitONE’s commitment to positive change remains unwavering.

Image courtesy of Freepik

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2023 Trends Shaping the Cross Border Payments Industry By Priscilla D’Oliveira

he Cross-border Payments industry in 2023 has witnessed a seismic shift marked by strategic mergers, a crypto renaissance, and a surge in Fintech innovations. From the corridors of Africa becoming the new focal point to the intricate dance between traditional banks and Fintech disruptors, this year is defining a future where speed, innovation, and strategic partnerships reign supreme in the global movement of money. As the COO of CrossTech, I have diligently observed, studied, and analyzed the most crucial trends in our industry throughout the year. This comprehensive understanding has been enriched by collaborating with our global clients, engaging in discussions with international experts during our consulting initiatives, and actively participating in the foremost conferences of the year.

Merger and Acquisition: Buy versus Build One of the prominent trends in the 18

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cross-border payments industry is the surge in mergers and acquisitions. Companies are faced with a critical decision – to buy or to build. This strategic move allows businesses to harness synergies, pull resources, and streamline operations, positioning them for a competitive edge in an overcrowded market.

Crypto Integrations in Traditional Money Transmitters In a groundbreaking move, traditional money transmitters are beginning to embrace cryptocurrencies. The integration of crypto into established financial systems signifies a paradigm shift, offering faster and more cost-effective cross-border transactions. This intersection of traditional and digital finance is poised to redefine the industry’s landscape.

Evolution of Business Payments in the P2P Space The peer-to-peer (P2P) space is witnessing a remarkable evolution in business payments. As businesses increasingly turn to P2P platforms for streamlined transactions, the industry adapts to meet this demad and now P2P digital platforms are looking to operate business payments to facilitate cross-border payments at a larger scale.

Africa: A New Frontier for Money Service Businesses (MSBs) The African continent is emerging as a key corridor and attraction for Money Service Businesses, including Latin America. With untapped potential and a growing middle class, Africa presents a lucrative opportunity for MSBs to expand their footprint. Strategic crosstechpayments.com

around the world investments and partnerships in this region are becoming crucial for industry players.

Fintech Overpopulation and Market Competition The cross-border payments industry is experiencing a boom in Fintech startups, leading to overcrowding. The fierce competition prompts companies to innovate and differentiate to gain a competitive advantage. The challenge lies in attracting users and retaining them by providing unique and value-added services.

Compliance at the Core: Regulator Presence and Parallel Development In the ever-evolving regulatory landscape, compliance remains the cornerstone of the cross-border payments industry. Companies recognize the importance of building compliance measures from the outset, with regulators working in parallel to ensure a secure and transparent financial ecosystem.

Compliance at the Core: Regulator Presence and Parallel Development As cost competition intensifies, industry players seek new ways to differentiate themselves. The key lies in building a competitive advantage that goes beyond pricing. Innovation, user experience, and value-added services are becoming pivotal in driving user adoption and loyalty. An example of partnerships becoming key in the industry are White Label and API Integration for the benefit of Time-to-Market. The need for speed in this dynamic industry has led to a surge in partnerships through white CrossTech Magazine

label and API integration. These collaborations offer a time-to-market advantage, allowing companies to adapt to evolving trends and swiftly meet customer expectations.

Real-Time Global Payments Success Stories Real-time payments across the globe have become a success story, with initiatives like FedNow in the USA now live. The ability to instantly transfer funds is revolutionizing how individuals and businesses conduct cross-border transactions, enhancing efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Traditional Banks & Fintech Collaborations To stay ahead of the curve, traditional banks are increasingly partnering with Fintech companies. This collaboration allows banks to leverage Fintech innovations and ride the wave of new trends, ensuring they remain competitive in a rapidly evolving cross-border payments landscape. The cross-border payments industry is navigating a complex and dynamic landscape in 2023. The industry is adapting to meet the evolving needs of businesses and consumers. As the competition intensifies, companies that can innovate, collaborate, and differentiate themselves will emerge as the leaders in this transformative era of cross-border finance.

Priscilla D’Oliveira COO of Crosstech Payments https://crosstechpayments.com/ 17TH EDITION

WHAT DID YOU THINK OF ? WORLD 2023

FILL OUT OUR SURVEY! Help us improve future Crosstech World events with your feedback!

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end of the year gift list

MEATER Plus: Long Range Wireless Smart Meat Thermometer with Bluetooth Booster MEATER Plus is 100% wire-free, allowing you to cook with complete freedom and flexibility. Achieve perfect results every time with this high-precision thermometer that takes the guesswork out of cooking. With the holiday season approaching, it also makes a great gift for Christmas, stocking stuffers, or white elephant gift exchanges. Make this year’s festivities sizzle with this essential kitchen tool.

CrossTech Magazine

Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug 2 Our updated smart coffee mug’s extended battery life keeps your drink at your preferred temperature (between 120°F - 145°F) for up to 80 minutes on a full charge or all day on its redesigned charging coaster. air this temperature control mug with the Ember app to set the temperature, customize presets and more; Our self-heating coffee mug is also functional without the app and remembers your last-used temperature.

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end of the year gift list

Rabbit Automatic Electric Corkscrew Wine Bottle Opener, One Size This corkscrew wine opener starts upon contact with the wine cork and automatically pulls the cork and then ejects it after removal from the bottle. This durable automatic corkscrew includes a built-in rechargeable battery to open 30+ bottles of wine with a single charge This corkscrew makes a perfect gift for your favorite wine lover or anyone who has trouble with a manual wine bottle opener.

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Bose TV Speaker Designed with simplicity in mind, the Bose TV Speaker is a small soundbar that clarifies speech and is a simple fix for better TV sound. This TV speaker is designed to specifically focus on clarifying and elevating vocals and pronunciation. Compact TV speaker comes with a remote control that enables a dialogue mode to further enhance speech or add a bass boost for more depth.

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conference highlights

www.crosstechpayments.com

help@crosstechpayments.com maria@crosstechpayments.com

World 2023

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www.crosstechpayments.com www.crosstechpayments.com

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World 2023 Categories business payment solution of the year This prestigious award recognizes the most impactful business payment solution that has significantly transformed the way enterprises conduct cross-border transactions. The winning solution will have demonstrated exceptional efficiency, scalability, security, and innovation in facilitating seamless payments between businesses across different borders. It will acknowledge the solution that has made the most profound impact on improving the speed, transparency, and reliability of cross-border business payments.

fintech startup solution in crossborder This category highlights the disruptive power of fintech startups in revolutionizing the cross-border payments industry. It acknowledges the most relevant solution developed by a startup that addresses key challenges in cross-border transactions, such as speed, cost-effectiveness, transparency, and security. The award will honor the startup that has demonstrated exceptional innovation, scalability, and market impact.

white label provider This category recognizes exemplary white label providers who have demonstrated excellence in delivering innovative and comprehensive solutions for financial institutions. White label providers play a vital role in enabling banks and other financial service providers to offer customized and branded payment solutions to their customers. The award will acknowledge those who have showcased exceptional capabilities, reliability, and flexibility in serving the needs of their clients.

industry leader The 2023 CrossTech Innovation Awards provide a platform to honor industry leaders, pioneers, and innovators who have driven positive change in the cross-border payments landscape. By recognizing excellence and innovation in these categories, the awards aim to inspire further advancements and promote the adoption of cutting-edge technologies and solutions in the global financial ecosystem. www.crosstechpayments.com

help@crosstechpayments.com maria@crosstechpayments.com

Judges

Marcela Gonzalez

González is one of the leading women in the Money Transfer sector in Europe. She joined Titan Intercontinental where she eventually became the COO and later worked in the US in a partnership between Titan & New York Foreign Exchange, before her expertise took her to the UK, joining RIA in 2005. She is now the Managing Director of RIA Financial Services UK & Ireland.

Crosstech Board of Directors

Odilon Almeida Jr. is an experienced global leader with a strong track record of value creation in the financial, fintech, technology, and consumer goods sectors. Over his 40+ year career, he has set strategy and led growth acceleration through organic expansion, as well as the acquisition and integration of new businesses. Currently, he is the Managing Principal of AJ. Holdings Co., where he partners with enterprises for value creation through board participation, advisory, or direct investment.

Anthony Rodriguez

Odilon Almeida

International Cross-border Payments Consultant

Mr. Rodriquez’s background includes over 20 years of experience as a Money Service Business/Fintech Financial Crime and Regulatory Compliance Executive. For the last 10 years, Mr. Rodriguez oversaw the financial crime risk management framework and compliance programs at AFEX now CORPAY which offers a comprehensive range of global payment and risk management solutions in three continents.

COO Corpay

Rob Ayers is a Bates Business Development and Consulting Expert. During his career, Mr. Ayers has been an executive at three licensed money transmitters and has managed P&L for various regions around the world. He has also run sales and marketing organizations and worked both sides of mergers and acquisitions. At Bates, Mr. Ayers represents the Money Services Business, Fintech and Cryptocurrency practice, supporting client engagement and new business outreach.

www.crosstechpayments.com

Rob Ayers

Business Development Bates Group

help@crosstechpayments.com maria@crosstechpayments.com

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WINNER business payment solution of the year

Founded in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2013, AZA Finance has grown from a currency exchange platform to a global financial services firm expert in frontier markets and currencies. Our mission is to accelerate frontier economies by empowering international businesses. AZA Finance empowers companies from 115+ countries to accelerate their operations. We make international Payments, FX and Treasury through our web and API platforms easier and better for enterprises doing business in Africa. All directed by our expert team, who bring decades of experience in frontier markets, fintech and financial services to your business.

CrossTech Magazine

17TH EDITION

DECEMBER ISSUE

crosstechpayments.com

WINNER business payment solution of the year

As a global company, we specialize in offering seamless money transfer solutions from Australia, USA, Singapore, Japan, and South Korea to over 73+ countries. Our unwavering commitment lies in delivering safe and efficient remittance options for individuals and businesses, empowering them with secure and cost-effective means to send money across international borders. As a global industry leader, we remain at the forefront of technological advancements and regulatory compliance, setting industry standards for security and efficiency in international money transfers. By combining innovation with a customer-centric approach, we continue to shape the remittance landscape, facilitating financial connectivity on a global scale.

CrossTech Magazine

17TH EDITION

WINNER fintech startup solution in crossborder industry

Almond is the international funds network that connects people and financial institutions everywhere. Our mission is to remove barriers between people and money through borderless financial technology, leading to better lives with fewer limits. Almond is part of a new breed of cross-border financial innovations that move money in nimble new ways. By seamlessly bridging the worlds of fiat and digital currency, the Almond API suite is able to reduce settlement time, slash costs, and optimize settlements, while offering new levels of transparency. When you’re leaping from one ecosystem to another as you are with any cross-border payment, there’s a tremendous amount of friction to overcome. The Almond Transfer Protocol expands coverage by standardizing cross-border communications between financial institutions, then optimizing the conversion between fiat and digital currency.

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CrossTech Magazine

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WINNER white label provider

Mastercard is a growth company with a constant commitment and dedication to delivering value to consumers, businesses and shareholders. We work to connect and power an inclusive digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. Our decency quotient, or DQ, drives our culture and everything we do inside and outside of our company.

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RemitONE is a technology and business services firm that breathes innovation and excellence into the remittance world for all types and sizes of organisations including banks, money transfer operators, micro-finance institutions, telecom firms and start-ups. Founded in 2007, our technology allows you to manage your entire remittance business. Our consulting services have a fantastic success rate for license accreditation and for acquiring bank accounts as well as offering alternative approaches through our business network.

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WINNER white label provider

At UniTeller, our mission is to lead the way in connecting the world by enabling global prosperity through seamless cross-border payments. Committed to excellence, we drive innovation and deliver exceptional service while upholding the highest standards of trust and security. Our goal is to empower and connect businesses and individuals, transcending geographical boundaries, and contributing to economic growth and opportunity on a global scale. UniTeller envisions itself as one of the most important provider of remittance processing services for traditional and digital channels. UniTeller’s foundation is built on our core values: People, global connectivity, service excellence, trust and security, economic empowerment, and innovation at the forefront. These values represent standards of conduct that guide our actions and reflect our commitment to our customers, employees, clients, agents, and to the communities in which we operate.

CrossTech Magazine

17TH EDITION

WINNER industry leader

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CrossTech Magazine

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our team Hugo Cuevas Mohr President & CEO

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We are thankful to all our staff and the supporting team of collaborators who help us develop our conferences in each of the cities and regions we select to host them. Without their help, it would be impossible for us to give all the participants in our in-person and virtual events the unique experience we strive to give everyone attending.

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Find our magazine at industry events such as WORLD 2023

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17TH EDITION