NFC & Contactless Press Releases; ZAPA
Zapa Secures Investment
TECHNOLOGY ENTREPRENEUR TAKES CONTROL OF ZAPA TECHNOLOGY, SECURES NEW INVESTMENT OF €1.1M AND CREATES 15 NEW JOBS
- Brendan McDonagh has taken control of ZAPA with investment support from Tom Morrisroe and Delta Partners
- Investment will fund ambitious plan to develop technologies that will enhance the customer experience of payment, loyalty and couponing and help mobile operators become major players in the global payments industry
Dublin, Ireland, 25th November 2011 - ZAPA Technology, a leading provider of mobile payment and loyalty solutions, today announced a company re-organisation that has seen Brendan McDonagh take a controlling shareholding in the business which develops services based on Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. It is supported by additional investment by Mr McDonagh, Tom Morrisroe and Delta Partners and two other private investors.
The investors have established an initial fund of €1.1 million to support the recruitment of 15 new employees and investment in research and development, sales and marketing, and customer services in the next 12 months.
ZAPA Technology was founded in 2009 and has an established customer base. It provides managed payment, gift, loyalty and couponing services to businesses, including mobile network operators and others seeking to revolutionise the point of sale experience for consumers. Its ZAPATAG can be used by consumers for a vast array of emerging applications including making payments, collecting loyalty points and redeeming coupons.
Brendan McDonagh and Tom Morrisroe were the original founders of Arantech, which they grew into the world’s leading provider of Customer Experience Management, (CEM), solutions for mobile operators before selling the company in 2009. Mr McDonagh served as chairman and CEO of Arantech from 2000 until leaving the company in 2010.
Brendan McDonagh, who has taken the role of chief executive officer of ZAPA Technology, said, “We are at the cusp of the emergence of a new global market which will see a step change in the customer experience of payment, loyalty and couponing and also see mobile operators become major players in the payments industry, as they create an alternative to card based payment.
“We will build on ZAPA’s track record to date and will focus on developing new disruptive technologies and services directed at the new market created by the convergence of mobile communications and financial services. Our experience serving the needs of mobile operators over many years gives us a deep understanding of their needs and a particular ability to partner with them in innovating new value.
“We also look forward to continuing to invest in the partnerships with our existing gift and loyalty scheme customers and helping them to benefit from some exciting technology developments that we will bring to market in the coming years. These will include making payments in stores with the mobile phone as the wallet, or from vending machines; paying for tickets on transport; accessing events and venues and even enabling people to download information from and interact with media sites and smart posters.”
Zapa’s existing customers include local loyalty schemes operated in Bray, Dundalk, Kinsale and Tuam. It also works with major brands such as Insomnia Coffee Company.
Brendan McDonagh, chief executive officer, Zapa Technology is pictured at the announcement of the investment of €1.1 million in the business. This will support the recruitment of 15 new employees and investment in research and development, sales and marketing, and customer services in the next 12 months.About ZAPA Technology
ZAPA Technology has established itself as one of the leading providers of secure, fully-managed Near Field Communications (NFC) solutions in Europe. The company is focussed on developing NFC solutions for an emerging global market which will see mobile carriers become major players in the payments industry, as they create an alternative to card based payment.
ZAPA Technology provides managed payment, gift, loyalty and couponing services to businesses, including mobile network operators and others seeking to revolutionise the point of sale experience for consumers. Clients range from entire towns, which have implemented a community loyalty scheme to boost consumer spending in the local economy, to leading nationwide retail chains.
The ZAPATAG is a single tag that can operate multiple loyalty programmes by simply tapping the tag at the EFT terminal, allowing the consumer to access their loyalty at all times. Retailers benefit from having access to a powerful loyalty platform, not having to run and operate a card portfolio and access to significant, valuable and effective data on their most valued customers.
ZAPA Technology is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. For more information, please visit http://www.zapatechnology.com/
About Delta Partners
Delta Partners is a venture capital firm investing primarily in Ireland and the United Kingdom. It was established in 1994 and has over 250 million under management. The firm has a strong focus on investing in early stage technology companies, and the team has made over 70 investments. Our focus is on information technology, communications (including media), healthcare and business services investments.
Delta is among the most active early stage investors in Europe. The partners' backgrounds in operations, strategy and finance complement the drive and ambition of entrepreneurial management teams.
Zapa award nomination for Aviva Stadium project
Zapa technology have received another nomination for their already award winning NFC technology systems. This time Zapa are in the running for a Stadium Business Award, which recognise achievement, innovation, fresh thinking and the leaders in the world of stadium, arena and sports venue management.
Zapa Technology win award for Insomnia Coffee Company loyalty programme
Zapa Technology is delighted to announce its latest award. On April 14th 2011, at the Contactless Monkey awards in London, the company was recognised for its work with Insomnia Coffee Company on their customer loyalty programme. In a tough category, Zapa Technology and Insomnia Coffee beat Pret a Manger (UK) and AMT Coffee (UK) to take the accolade.
Insomnia reward their customers using Zapa Tags. The Zapa Tag is a nifty little sticker which collects customers loyalty points for them when they tap their mobile phone at point of purchase.
Zapa Technology's Sales Director, John Wall was there to collect our award in the ‘High Throughput Beverage’ category.
The Contactless Monkey Awards are presented to those companies, organizations and retailers who have done the most to embrace and implement contactless technology into their day-to-day operating practices. These awards represent a real promotional springboard and give the winners a reputation and credibility for their efforts within the industry. The competition was open to all implemented contactless applications within the relevant sectors, regardless of geographic region or size of corporation. You can learn more about the awards here.
ZAPA Contactless Technology wins prestigious Card and Payment Award
Issued 24th February, 2011. ZAPA Technology’s payment and coupon redemption platform was behind AIB Merchant Services’ achievement of 1st place in at the recent 2011 Card and Payments Awards in London. AIBMS were awarded first place in the Best Merchant Acquiring Initiative category for AIBMS loyaltyplus.
Contactless Payments expands in Ireland
13 December, 2010. Zapa today launched its contactless “NFC ready” payments and coupon scheme with the towns of Bray, Co Wicklow and Midelton Co Cork. These towns bring the number of towns to 5 that accept this innovative Contactless “NFC ready” device.
This comes shortly after most major mobile phone manufacturers have announced NFC enabled smartphones for 2011. Availability of these handsets will further enhance the contactless infrastructure.
Contactless NFC prepaid Gift launched in Kinsale
Dublin, Ireland: December 10th 2010. Today saw the town of Kinsale become leaders in next generation contactless payment technology in Co. Cork as the majority of Kinsale retailers join together to implement Zapa Technology’s unique gift card scheme.
Contactless NFC Acquirer partners with ZAPA for Solution
Dublin, Ireland & London England; 16th August 2010: AIBMS is a joint venture between AIB and First Data, the global leader in electronic commerce and payment services. AIB Merchant Services (AIBMS) today launched its new AIBMS loyaltyplus solution, an innovative and pioneering scheme that enables retailers to maintain and enrich relationships with their customers.
Retail TSM Managed Service Partnership by Vivotech and ZAPA
Barcelona, Spain – February 16th 2010 -- Silicon Valley-based ViVOtech, the leading end-to-end enabler of next generation mobile payments, loyalty, and marketing solutions, announced today that Zapa Technology has been selected as ViVOtech’s preferred partner for managed Trusted Service Manager (TSM) services in Europe.