WorkFusion, led by CEO Adam Famularo, is an AI digital workforce solutions company that automates complex tasks for financial institutions, focusing on anti-money laundering compliance. Famularo emphasizes the importance of AI in improving efficiency and risk management in the financial sector. WorkFusion's AI Digital Workers, like Evelyn, help banks manage compliance challenges and reduce labor costs. Famularo envisions WorkFusion as essential technology for combating financial crime, with a focus on customer-driven product development and the integration of advanced AI models. The company aims to address staffing challenges and enhance customer experiences in the financial industry.

Yerbol Orynbayev, a former governor of the World Bank and deputy prime minister of Kazakhstan, shares insights on his role as a judge for the Asia FinTech Awards 2024. He reflects on his governmental initiatives during the 2008 financial crisis, emphasizing employment strategies and infrastructure projects. Orynbayev discusses Kazakhstan's collaboration with the World Bank, highlighting significant projects like a major highway and joint research programs. He advocates for integrating traditional banking with non-financial services and stresses the importance of innovation in the financial sector. Orynbayev also underscores the role of education in national development and the challenges regulators face in balancing innovation and security, using Revolut as an example. He envisions AI and big data analytics as pivotal in driving future banking innovations.

Paynetics, an embedded finance provider, has acquired digital bank Novus to enhance its ESG goals. Novus allows customers to track and offset their carbon footprint and access rewards from ethical brands, while contributing to causes with each transaction. Paynetics, headquartered in Bulgaria and regulated in the EU and UK, aims to create a platform that empowers clients to grow and make a positive impact. The acquisition aligns with Paynetics' mission to accelerate businesses through innovation and speed, and is expected to amplify Novus' mission of creating impact through finance.

Belong, a new wealth-building platform targeting millennials, has launched with £3.4m in pre-seed funding, the largest ever raised by female founders in Europe. Founded by Avion Gray and Samantha Rosenberg, Belong aims to make wealth-building more accessible through innovative features like the 'Boost loan'. The platform has garnered support from Octopus Ventures, Viola Fintech, and Connect Ventures. The founders emphasize the importance of starting long-term investments early, addressing common financial challenges faced by millennials.

GoCardless, a bank payment company, has agreed to acquire Sentenial, which operates under the Nuapay brand, from EML Payments. This acquisition will enhance GoCardless' platform by adding new disbursement capabilities and enabling expansion into new sectors such as payroll and insurance. GoCardless processes over $35bn annually across 30 countries. The move aligns with their strategy to become the world's bank payment network and follows other initiatives like the launch of GoCardless Embed and partnerships with JustGiving and Xero. Nuapay's co-founder sees the shift towards account-to-account payments and open banking as central to the future of payments.

Zone, a Nigeria-based payment infrastructure provider, has raised $8.5 million in an oversubscribed seed funding round led by Flourish Ventures and TLcom Capital. The funding will help Zone expand its blockchain-based decentralised payment network domestically and pilot its cross-border capabilities by 2025. Zone aims to become a global payment network and has already partnered with over 15 of Africa's largest banks and fintechs. The round also saw participation from Digital Currency Group, VKAV, and Alter Global. Stakeholders express strong confidence in Zone's potential to transform Africa's payment infrastructure.

Affiliate marketing offers significant revenue opportunities across various sectors, but ensuring timely and accurate payments is crucial for maintaining strong brand-affiliate relationships. Affiliates should consider multiple payment options, including emerging methods like cryptocurrency, and ensure robust fraud detection and prevention measures. Trust, transparency, and effective communication are key to optimizing affiliate partnerships, with technology playing a vital role in automating complex commission payments and providing clear reporting and analytics.

Rivero, a Swiss fintech company specializing in payment solutions, has secured $7 million in a series A funding round led by 6 Degrees Capital and Inference Partners, with additional support from PostFinance, Kraken Ventures, and angel investors. The investment will be used to expand Rivero's market presence and enhance its product development. Rivero, known for its innovative solutions in fraud recovery, dispute management, and payment compliance, is recognized as the first Swiss fintech to join the Visa Fintech Partner Connect program. Stakeholders express confidence in Rivero's potential to address the fragmented payment value chain and become integral to modern payment infrastructure.

IFX Payments has appointed Sara Cass as chief compliance officer, bringing her 15 years of financial services compliance expertise to the company. Cass has previously held roles at World First, Heronbridge Investment Management, and REGIS-TR UK. CEO Will Marwick emphasized the company's commitment to compliance and best practices, while Cass expressed her enthusiasm for joining the team and her desire for industry-wide collaboration to tackle fraud. IFX Payments, founded in 2005, provides foreign exchange, payment, and financial technology solutions, and employs 150 people worldwide with offices in London, Warsaw, and Dubai.

Thunes, a B2B cross-border payment company, has appointed Floris de Kort as its new CEO and promoted Peter De Caluwe to deputy chairman. De Kort, formerly with Worldpay and TSG, will be based in Singapore. De Caluwe will focus on strategy, mergers, acquisitions, and expansion into key markets like China and the Gulf countries. Thunes, founded in 2016, facilitates payments in 80 currencies across 133 countries. The leadership changes aim to scale and accelerate Thunes' growth, positioning it as a market leader in cross-border payments.