Creating people-first digital payment solutions with Star’s FinTech Builder

Overview

Monavate’s mission is to demystify finance and make it accessible by simplifying how people pay worldwide. 

They combine expert guidance with fit-for-purpose technology to translate the most ambitious financial product ideas into reality. Through BIN (Bank Identification Number) sponsorship, card processing and related services, their platform enables companies to create new programs quickly, expand into new geographies and offer value-add services to their customers.

Since the beginning, we’ve had a true partnership with Monavate, supporting them in building, launching and evolving their vision, services and products.

The idea

Monavate initially contacted Star to help build their tech-enabled compliance and card scheme sponsorship platform. Their pioneering product would focus on several impactful areas, including BIN sponsorship, card processing, bank transfer and top-up, cardless cash withdrawal, account reconciliation and CRM and customer support. 

Our FinTech Practice provided end-to-end technology services and expertise, transforming their visionary ideas into a product that quickly reached the market. We helped them articulate everything they needed to develop their first MVP and build the foundation for a great FinTech solution.

Since launch, Monavte has entrusted our team to deliver further development and evolution of the projects through integrations, digital design and services.

Project

Monavate’s founding team brought a massive amount of experience from ecosystem leaders. They reached out to us to translate that expertise and craft a first-generation MVP to help them stay lean and make the most of their seed capital. With Star’s track record of success as a FinTech Builder, the decision to partner with us was as easy as 1-2-3. 

We kicked off our collaboration with a six-week discovery process. Our team included a product lead, solution architect and designer to help them define the best path forward from scratch. 

From here, we moved into the next phase of supporting as a development partner. We orchestrated a cross-functional team of front and backend developers, designers, product managers and other experts. We ran through a cycle of sprints to build the framework for the solution, engineer core features and ultimately launch the MVP. 

One of our top achievements was creating the Monavate IBAN (International Bank Account Number) API services which allow users to create, modify or delete multi-currency accounts. We took a complex traditional financial product and made it so simple that IBANs can be opened in seconds. Best of all, less than 10 API calls (information exchange, process and feedback between client and server) offer all the functionality needed to help further streamline platform functionality. 

We’ve also developed a powerful suite of API services to integrate Monavate’s customers with Episode 6 and Marqueta, providing them with global card management services (including 3DS and real-time funding) at reduced complexity, cost and lead-time. Episode 6 and Marqueta integration also enable 

Monavate to produce physical cards from Visa and Mastercard.  

Recently, we released Design 2.0, overhauling the user experience and adding an array of new data tools. In addition, we evolved a more tactical data warehouse structure that boosts reporting and data transformation automation. 

Finally, we’ve supported Monavate’s PCI-DSS compliance journey helping them become one of the first organizations to certify against the latest versions of the PCI Data Security Standard (v4.0).

The road ahead for payment solutions for business success is brighter, thanks to Monavate. We’re excited to support them as they expand on new technologies and opportunities.