Smile API Weblog

Singapore, January 23, 2025 — Smile API, a pioneering financial technology platform, is proud to announce that Dominic Grunden, the company's Chief Security Officer, has been recognized in the prestigious CSO30 ASEAN 2024 list of top cybersecurity leaders in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong. Read the full article here The CSO30 ASEAN 2024 list, published by CSO Online, represents a distinguished collection of cybersecurity professionals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and strategic vision in protecting digital assets across the rapidly evolving technological landscape of Southeast Asia and Hong Kong. Dominic Grunden's inclusion in this elite group underscores Smile API's unwavering commitment to maintaining the highest standards of data security and privacy in the financial technology sector. His recognition is a testament to the critical role of robust cybersecurity measures in enabling trusted digital financial services, particularly in a region experiencing rapid digital transformation. "We are incredibly proud of Dominic's achievement," said Jerome Eger, CEO at Smile API. "His strategic leadership in cybersecurity is instrumental in ensuring that our platform provides secure, reliable, and efficient employment and income data verification for financial institutions across Asia. This recognition validates our ongoing investment in cutting-edge security infrastructure and our dedication to protecting sensitive financial information." As a cybersecurity leader, Grunden has been instrumental in developing comprehensive security strategies that protect Smile API's innovative platform. His expertise spans multiple domains, including threat management, data protection, risk mitigation, and strategic security architecture design. By implementing advanced security protocols, Grunden has helped Smile API maintain the trust of its financial institution partners and end-users. About Smile API Smile API is a cutting-edge platform designed to revolutionize the way financial institutions access and utilize employment and income data. By leveraging secure and seamless API integration, Smile API empowers businesses to make informed credit decisions, enhancing access to financial services for individuals across Asia. Our innovative solution addresses the challenges faced by many in obtaining formal credit, providing a reliable and efficient means to verify employment and income information. Media Contact For media inquiries, please contact: Email: info@getsmileapi.com ###

MANILA, PHILIPPINES, November 6, 2024 -- Smile API, a trailblazing platform revolutionizing access to employment data, has been named the Grand Winner of the 2024 PLDT Startup Innovation Challenge, held on October 28, 2024. This prestigious accolade underscores Smile API's commitment to simplifying employment verification and equipping companies across the Philippines with secure, efficient data solutions. The victory cements Smile API's reputation as a leader in the tech startup ecosystem, championing data accessibility and economic empowerment.The PLDT Startup Innovation Challenge serves as an annual showcase for groundbreaking startups that are poised to make a substantial impact in their respective industries. This year’s competition attracted numerous standout entries, each presenting unique approaches to addressing current market needs. Smile API’s winning solution stood out for its seamless integration of secure data handling and user-centric services, setting a new standard for employment data accessibility.A Collaborative Push Towards InnovationThe event was powered by collaboration among some of the country’s most influential innovation advocates, including QBO Innovation Hub, Ideaspace Ventures, and PLDT Enterprise. These partnerships underscore a shared commitment to fostering an environment where startups can thrive and develop solutions that drive economic growth.As the newly crowned grand winner, Smile API will represent the Philippines at the NTT Start-Up Challenge in Jakarta on November 15. This global platform presents an invaluable opportunity to connect with industry leaders, investors, and peers from around the world. The competition will offer Smile API a stage to amplify its reach and demonstrate the power of Philippine innovation on an international scale.“We are thrilled to see Smile API recognized for its outstanding innovation,” said Dara Ever Juan, Head of PLDT Innovations Laboratory and Ecosystem Partnerships (INNOLAB). “Their dedication to transforming the way employment data is accessed is precisely the kind of ingenuity that puts the Philippines on the global map for tech innovation. We look forward to seeing them shine in Jakarta and beyond.”Elevating Filipino Startups on the World StageJan Pabellon, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Smile API, expressed his gratitude and vision for the future, stating, “This recognition is a testament to the hard work and vision of our team. Our goal has always been to simplify access to employment data, making it easier for businesses to make informed decisions. We thank PLDT INNOLAB, QBO Innovation Hub, Ideaspace Ventures, and all our supporters for believing in our mission. We’re excited to bring our solution to Jakarta and showcase our innovations to a broader market.”This victory highlights the dynamic potential of Philippine startups to drive global innovation: it marks a pivotal moment for the Philippine tech scene as it gains increasing traction on the global stage. With a fast-growing ecosystem supported by venture capital, innovation hubs, and forward-thinking corporations, startups like Smile API are creating solutions that not only respond to local challenges but also resonate with international markets.For more information about Smile API, please visit www.getsmileapi.com.### About Smile APISmile Technology Pte Ltd is the one trusted source for employment data in Asia. Smile provides us

Manila, Philippines - November 05, 2024 - Manila, Philippines - Smile Checks and InsightGenie is excited to announce their partnership for Voice Check, designed to help HR professionals gain deeper insights into candidates by analyzing their voice and speech patterns during interviews. Voice Check leverages InsightGenie's AI-driven technology to assess candidates' speech prosody, tone, and patterns. This analysis offers non-invasive psychometric evaluations, predicting key traits like communication style, emotional stability, and engagement levels—providing hiring teams with a new layer of valuable data to make more informed decisions. Why is Voice Check a game-changer for HR operations: Enhanced Candidate Evaluation. With Voice Check, hiring professionals can go beyond resumes and interviews, obtaining scientifically-backed insights into a candidate's behavioral fit for the role and company culture. Data-Driven Decisions. InsightGenie's proprietary algorithms analyze multiple speech metrics to create a Genie Score™, predicting the likelihood of success and retention in a given role. Bias-Free Insights. By using AI to assess voice patterns, human biases are reduced, ensuring that decisions are based on objective, consistent data. - Jerome Eger, CEO of Smile Checks, said, "Partnering with InsightGenie allows us to deliver more and better results. With Voice Check, we're empowering hiring managers to make better decisions based on real behavioral data. This is the future of recruitment—data and human insights working together." InsightGenie, with its proven track record of predicting behaviors with 83-92% accuracy, brings their expertise in voice analytics to Smile Checks. The result is a solution that HR professionals can trust to provide deeper insights into potential hires. Hayk Hakobyan, CEO of InsightGenie commented, "We are thrilled to join forces with Smile Checks. Together, we're aiming to improve hiring processes and transform how organizations understand and assess their candidates by making voice and behavioral data a part of the decision-making process." About Smile Checks Smile Checks provides real-time, verified employment data with user-consent. With services tailored for HR professionals, Smile Checks helps businesses make informed hiring decisions. About Insight Genie InsightGenie combines facial recognition, voice analytics, and big data to offer AI-powered behavioral insights. By analyzing voice and video, InsightGenie's Genie Score™ provides deep insights into personality traits, decision-making abilities, and emotional responses. PRESS CONTACT For more details, contact Bianca Ulan, Marketing Director, email: info@getsmileapi.com.

This year’s May Mixer was made possible through the partnership of Fintech Philippines Association and Smile API, a fintech company known for providing real-time, verified, and user-consented employment data for financial institutions and HR departments. The event featured a distinguished panel of industry leaders who shared their insights on financial literacy, the role of rural banks, consumer trust, and data privacy. During the discussion, National Privacy Commission’s Deputy Commissioner Atty. Leandro Aguirre emphasized the crucial role of data privacy and the need for consent-driven data management. He stated, "If we hear about you, then you're not exactly doing a great job. If you're successful, it means the customer trusts you. The moment we hear about you, something's gone wrong."  - Aguirre also highlighted the responsibility of companies to educate and empower individuals about their data rights, ensuring transparency and trust between both parties.Rafael Amparo shared valuable insights on the role of rural banks in achieving financial inclusion. He highlighted the significance of developing strong relationships to better understand and serve rural communities. Rural banks, he noted, act as vital links between rural communities and government initiatives, with him saying “Results have been moderate, but we did this with them (pertaining to government institutions). Ties with the government are a lot deeper than what people would believe.” while discussing how DTI’s partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has provided local MSMEs with secured funding needed to grow their businessesAmparo further discusses the massive potential of neobanks in the Philippine market, noting their ability to leverage technology and extend financial services to underserved communities like the rural areas. He also pointed out that only few financial institutions can match the reach and understanding of rural banks, making them crucial for achieving financial inclusion. The rise of neobanks presents a challenge to traditional financial institutions, highlighting the need to expand their scope of service and create partnerships with government agencies & other institutions to effectively reach these markets.“There are places that don't exist from a banking perspective, yet we do know that a lot of these business owners are creating economies here.” - Marius Mare on rural businesses and their economies - Sybrin’s Marius Mare was also able to share his experiences from working in South Africa, where he highlighted the importance of tracking business activities in rural areas to which they plan to integrate them into the broader financial system to give them more opportunities. Mare emphasized that there is a need for reliable data sources in the country and advocated for improved methodologies & accuracy on data gathering, including enhancements in government data systems.The discussion also featured Christian Lauron talking about the critical role of proper data handling to achieve financial inclusion. When discussing credit score assessments, Lauron states that “... models should be designed to allocate amounts rather than come up with a score for these types of customers”. He addresses the need for financial institutions to utilize various types of data to determine how much rural business owners can borrow aside

MANILA, PHILIPPINES, [Date] - In an important step forward to refine their hiring process, Adventus, a distinguished Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Solutions and Services Provider with a broad footprint across Asia, has formed a strategic partnership with Smile Checks. This collaboration is poised to make Adventus's background investigation operations quicker and more secure, ensuring a smoother and safer onboarding experience. Smile Checks, brought to you by Smile API, stands as a leading provider of employment data services, offering real-time, user-consented access to a vast array of verified employment information. With direct links to reliable data sources in the Philippines, Smile Checks offers a solid solution for businesses seeking detailed background checks. Adventus is a pioneer in the ICT solutions and services space, dedicated to facilitating positive business changes through the smart use of innovative solutions and relevant services. With a firm belief in the role of technology in creating competitive edges and introducing business innovations, Adventus is devoted to preparing businesses for tomorrow, today. Their unparalleled customer care and focus on delivering intelligent IT solutions have positioned Adventus as a leader in customer satisfaction within the industry. The adoption of Smile Checks by Adventus signifies a noteworthy improvement in their capability to conduct detailed and dependable background investigations. With Smile Checks, Adventus now enjoys access to a centralized database of employment data, enabling quicker and more precise evaluations of prospective employees.  Reflecting on the collaboration, Paulo Demalata, the Human Resources Operations Specialist of Adventus, noted, "I recently had the chance to work with Smile Checks for our background investigation needs, and it went beyond our expectations. Smile API is swift, dependable, and provides the crucial employment data we require before the onboarding of employees. I strongly recommend Smile API to anyone looking for comprehensive and dependable background investigation services." We invite businesses and HR practitioners to discover the reliability and efficiency of Smile Checks! In line with our dedication to excellence in recruitment processes, Smile Checks is offering a special promotion: use the referral code "SmileChecksMarch" to receive 1 free background check credit.  For more information and to claim your free background check credit, please visit us at: https://smilechecks.getsmileapi.com/ ### About Smile Smile revolutionizes hiring by instantly verifying candidate backgrounds with our automated pre-employment screening solution, reducing risks and costs while empowering employers to make faster, fairer hiring decisions. Unlike traditional background checks, we aggregate employment and income data in real-time from multiple sources for comprehensive, accurate candidate profiles. About Adventus Adventus is an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Solutions and Services Provider with a wide foot print in Asia that helps organizations bring about positive transformations to their businesses through the intelligent applications of innovative solutions and pertinent services. We believe strongly that the winners in a globalized and ultra-competitive marketplace of today are defined by how they are able to effectively leverage techn

MANILA, PHILIPPINES, January 22, 2024 - Smile API, a leading infrastructure provider that offers real-time access to comprehensive income and employment data, has announced a data partnership with  Atome, Southeast Asia's leading digital financial services platform.The data partnership is set to enhance the customer onboarding and payment experience in the Philippines through greater financial inclusivity and data-driven decision-making."By partnering with Atome, we aim to improve shopping and payment options for people in the Philippines and the wider Southeast Asian region," said Jerome Eger, CEO of Smile API. "In this part of the world, many individuals can live without a bank account but not without a job. In this way, they can approve access to credit for those who might have been left out by traditional credit rating methods, which still rely heavily on data coming from bank accounts and credit cards, making shopping easier and more convenient for those who really need it.Through the use of data from a variety of sources such as employment documents, HR and payroll systems, gig platforms, and social security systems, Smile API makes it possible for Atome to strengthen credit decisioning, resulting in an easy and pleasant shopping experience for consumers in the Philippines.Through this data partnership, Smile API and Atome will provide consumers in the Philippines with more accessible, convenient, and inclusive access to credit.###About Smile APISmile API is a leading provider of employment data for credit decisions. The company provides lenders with employment data from multiple platforms, all through a single API, enabling lenders to make better decisions, increase adoption and conversion, reduce costs, and lower risks.About AtomeAtome is Southeast Asia's leading digital financial services platform, evolving from a buy now pay later and embedded financing platform into a comprehensive provider of digital financial services that includes insurance, cards and loans in various markets. Leveraging its unique expertise in risk-managed credit and responsible financing, Atome is committed to enhancing digital and financial inclusion through technology. Atome is part of Singapore-headquartered Advance Intelligence Group, an AI-driven technology company that consists of an ecosystem of AI-powered, credit-enabled products and services that includes consumer financing, digital identity verification and risk management, as well as enterprise resource planning software.---For more details about Smile API, contact Bianca Ulan, Marketing Director, email: info@getsmileapi.com.