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Flint Gets $9.4 Million in Funding; Verizon Ventures Leads Round [Professional Services Close - Up](Professional Services Close - Up Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Flint Mobile reported that it has secured $9.4 million in Series C funding to continue expanding its mobile-centric business management platform for small businesses operating outside traditional storefronts. According to a company release, the new round was led by Verizon Ventures, the investing arm of mobile and broadband provider Verizon Communications, with follow-on investments by Digicel, Storm Ventures and True Ventures as well as participation by new investor Peninsula Ventures. Flint also reported a new 'Sell Online' feature that brings online transaction capabilities to the Flint platform without requiring merchants to set up a separate e-commerce service. Now merchants can add custom "Buy Now" buttons to their website or insert secure ecommerce links in email campaigns or social feeds and process payments through Flint, the company said. Flint's Series C funding follows a $3 million Series A round in 2012 and an $8 million Series B round in 2013, bringing the company's total funding to $20.4 million. "More than 17 million independent businesses in the U.S. provide a significant portion of their goods and services in flexible or transient work environments. They range from contractors, photographers and consultants to health, beauty and fitness professionals," said Flint CEO Greg Goldfarb. "By enabling these businesses to run core revenue functions like payments, invoicing, couponing, and now online sales from a single app and focusing on ease of use, we are well positioned to become the leading mobility platform for a large market segment." Sell Online marks the latest Flint upgrade designed to advance mobile business productivity. In the last four months, Flint reported, it has added QuickBooks Online integration that eliminates manual data entry as well as a new Team Accounts feature that allows multiple users within an organization to use a single Flint account. In late 2013, the company also introduced a free loyalty offer feature that publishes coupons into a customer's iPhone Passbook, the primary interface for Apple Pay. Flint has also continued to optimize its patented technology to securely scan credit or debit cards instead of swiping. The Flint app is free to download and merchant setup is instant, with no need to wait for a merchant account or card reader, the company noted. More Information: http://www.flint.com ((Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected])) (c) 2014 ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved. |