Ascend

Palo Alto, United States Founded: 2021 • Age: 5 yrs
Online insurance payments and premium financing are enabled for businesses.
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About Ascend

Ascend is a company based in Palo Alto (United States) founded in 2021 by Praveen Chekuri and Andrew Wynn. It operates as a SaaS (Software-as-a-Service), FinTech, and InsurTech. Ascend has raised $35.5 million across 3 funding rounds from investors including FirstMark, Hudson Structured Capital Management and Index Ventures. The company has 39 employees as of December 31, 2024. Ascend offers products and services including Accounting Automation Solution, Invoicing and Payments, and Direct Bill Automation. Ascend operates in a competitive market with competitors including Functional Finance, InsurePay, SCIO Health Analytics, VPay and GoFetch Pay, among others.

  • Headquarter Palo Alto, United States
  • Employees 39 as on 31 Dec, 2024
  • Founders Praveen Chekuri, Andrew Wynn
  • Sectors
    Financial Services
  • Email
    ***********
  • Phone
    *********
  • Website
    *********
  • Social
    *********
  • Legal Name Slash Eureka, Inc.
Operational Areas
Financial Services → FinTech & Digital Finance
Financial Services → FinTech & Digital Finance
Key Metrics
  • Annual Revenue
  • Net Profit
  • EBITDA
  • Total Equity Funding
    $35.5 M (USD)

    in 3 rounds

  • Latest Funding Round
    $250 M (USD), Debt – Conventional

    Jan 28, 2022

  • Investors
    FirstMark

    & 29 more

  • Employee Count
    39

    as on Dec 31, 2024

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Products & Services of Ascend

Ascend offers a comprehensive portfolio of products and services, including Accounting Automation Solution, Invoicing and Payments, and Direct Bill Automation. The company's diverse product and service offerings are designed to meet the evolving needs of its customers, address market demands, and provide comprehensive solutions that drive value creation and customer satisfaction across various segments and use cases.

Primary

Comprehensive automation for insurance invoicing and payments provided.

Streamlined invoicing and payment processes for insurance offered.

Automated direct billing solutions for insurance operations delivered.

People of Ascend
Headcount 10-50
Employee Profiles 13
Employee Profiles
People
Kailyn Despotakis
Director Of Agency Sales
People
Jake Howell
Sales Development
People
Nia Casso
Account Executive
People
Andrew Wynn
Co-Founder & Co-CEO

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Funding Insights of Ascend

Ascend has successfully raised a total of $35.5M across 3 strategic funding rounds. The most recent funding activity was a Debt – Conventional round of $250 million completed in January 2022. This substantial capital infusion reflects strong investor confidence in the company's business model, growth potential, and market opportunities. The funding enables strategic expansion, product development, market penetration, and operational scaling to drive long-term value creation and competitive advantage.

  • Total Funding
  • Total Rounds 3
  • Last Round Debt – Conventional — $250.0M
  • First Round

    (15 Sep 2021)

  • Investors Count 30
Date Amount Transaction Name Valuation Lead Investors Investors
Jan, 2022 Amount Debt – Conventional - Ascend Valuation

investors

Jan, 2022 Amount Series A - Ascend Valuation Index Ventures
Sep, 2021 Amount Seed - Ascend Valuation First Round Capital
Date Amount Transaction Name Valuation Lead Investors Investors
Jul, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Feb, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Jan, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Feb, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Investors in Ascend

Ascend has secured backing from 30 investors, including institutional, venture fund, and angel investors. Prominent investors backing the company include FirstMark, Hudson Structured Capital Management and Index Ventures. This diverse investor base provides strategic capital, industry expertise, and valuable network connections that support the company's growth initiatives, market expansion, and long-term value creation.

All
Venture Fund
Institutional
Angel
Investor Description Founded Year Domain Location
Venture capital investments in technology startups and entrepreneurs.
Founded Year Domain Location
Investments in insurtech, fintech, and health-tech startups are made.
Founded Year Domain Location
Venture capital firm focused on fintech & insurtech sectors
Founded Year Domain Location
Investor Description Founded Year Domain Location
Single family office of Amitabh Bachchan, founder of Amitabh Bachchan Corporation or AB CORP
Founded Year Domain Location
Startup ecosystems are ignited through strategic investments by Signite Partners.
Founded Year Domain Location
Venture capital is directed toward companies in multiple sectors.
Founded Year Domain Location
Venture capital is invested in cybersecurity, fintech, and AI startups.
Founded Year Domain Location

Investments & Acquisitions by Ascend

Investments
Company Name Description Domain Location Founded Year Amount
Bionic investment advisor platform
2016
Fine Asian gourmet food is offered by an internet-first restaurant.
2016
Physical e-commerce kiosks are deployed for rural purchases in Indonesia.
2014
Fine Asian gourmet food is offered by an internet-first restaurant.
2016

Financial Statements - Ascend

Tata Steel revenue growth over time
Tata Steel profit and loss trends over time
Date Amount Transaction Name Valuation Lead Investors Investors
Jul, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Feb, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Jan, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Feb, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Ascend Comparisons

Employees
+
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Competitors of Ascend

Ascend operates in a dynamic and competitive business environment, facing competition from various established players and emerging companies in the market. The competitive landscape includes prominent companies such as Functional Finance, InsurePay, SCIO Health Analytics, VPay and GoFetch Pay, among others. This competitive environment drives innovation, market differentiation, and strategic positioning as companies strive to capture market share and deliver value to their customers. Understanding the competitive dynamics is crucial for assessing market positioning, identifying growth opportunities, and navigating the challenges inherent in a competitive marketplace.

Company Name Domain Founded year HQ Location Description
domain founded_year HQ Location
Online payment platform for insurance companies
domain founded_year HQ Location
Cloud-based payroll integration is provided for insurance premium collection.
domain founded_year HQ Location
Provides payment integrity solutions for healthcare organizations
domain founded_year HQ Location
Payment solutions provider for insurers
domain founded_year HQ Location
Pet insurance payment solution that allows pet owners to pay their vet bills
Company Name Domain Founded year HQ Location Description
domain founded_year HQ Location
Multiple services are booked via an app-based platform.
domain founded_year HQ Location
On-demand services are booked through an app-based platform.
domain founded_year HQ Location
App based platform offering on demand delivery and ride-hailing services
domain founded_year HQ Location
Operates an on-demand hyperlocal delivery app for food and groceries.

Latest news on Ascend

Frequently Asked Questions about Ascend

When was Ascend founded?

Ascend was founded in 2021.

Where is Ascend located?

Ascend is headquartered in Palo Alto, United States. It is registered at Palo Alto, California, United States.

Who is the current CEO of Ascend?

Praveen Chekuri is the current CEO of Ascend. They have also founded this company.

Is Ascend a funded company?

Ascend is a funded company, having raised a total of $35.5M across 3 funding rounds to date. The company's 1st funding round was a Seed of $5.5M, raised on Sep 15, 2021.

How many employees does Ascend have?

As of Dec 31, 2024, the latest employee count at Ascend is 39.

What does Ascend do?

Comprehensive financial technology solutions are offered by Ascend to unify insurance invoicing, payments, and accounting tasks. Services are designed for agencies, wholesalers, MGAs, and carriers to improve revenue, margins, and customer experience. Operations are streamlined through integrations with existing technology, reducing administrative expenses. Enhanced security measures are implemented to protect sensitive payment information and ensure compliance. A modern payment experience is delivered to meet customer expectations across the insurance sector.

Who are the top competitors of Ascend?

Ascend's top competitors include Functional Finance, SCIO Health Analytics and InsurePay.

What products or services does Ascend offer?

Ascend offers Accounting Automation Solution, Invoicing and Payments, and Direct Bill Automation.

Who are Ascend's investors?

Ascend has 30 investors. Key investors include FirstMark, Hudson Structured Capital Management, Index Ventures, Distributed Ventures, and NFP Venture.

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