| How they describe themselves: Bling Nation provides tap and go payments at the physical point of purchase.
The company enables consumers to pay merchants by tapping their mobile phone at the point of sale instead of
using a credit card or cash. Financial institutions sponsor the service in their respective markets. Bling Nation offers
lower costs, increased efficiency, better marketing and rewards services and improved security compared to credit
cards, debit cards, checks and cash.
What they think makes them better: Bling Nation was founded in 2007 by the team that created the largest
microfinance institution in Brazil and the largest alternative payment network in Brazil. Bling Nation enables consumers
to use any mobile phone to pay for purchases at the point of sale. In addition to consumer convenience
and instant access to coupon redemptions, merchants reduce their acceptance and banks increase income.
Executives: Wences Casares (co-CEO), Meyer Malka (co-CEO)
Investors: Lightspeed Venture Partners, Camp Ventures, Meck Ltd
Board Members: Luke Helms (former vice chairman of KeyBank and Bank of America), Eric O’Brien (institutional
investor, Lightspeed Venture Partners)
Advisory Board Members: John Reed (Former Chairman & CEO of Citibank), Carl Pascarella (Former Chairman & CEO of Visa USA), Jeff Steifler (Former President of American Express and former Chairman & CEO of Digital
Insights)
Customers: La Junta, Colo.-based The State Bank. La Junta Colo., a farming community and the epicenter of a
mobile payments network.
Partnerships: Viaero Wireless, PhoneFactor, Integrated Bank Technology
Contacts:
Biz Dev: Dan Rogers, CFO, daniel.rogers@blingnation.com
Sales: Shannon Goldman, Head of Sales, shannon.goldman@blingnation.com
Press: Joy Harper, Account Agent and Elizabeth Salter McMillan, Account Supervisor, press@blingnation.com |
