ClearTax acquires Dose FM

Y Combinator-backed fintech startup ClearTax has announced the acquisition of Mumbai based audio streaming platform Dose FM for an undisclosed amount.

The purpose of this acquisition is to utilize the team’s potential to build mobile focussed products for simplifying the financial lives of businesses and individuals. Post-acquisition, the four-member team of Dose FM will work with the ClearTax team.

ClearTax provides a range of services to clients including tax preparation, e-filing, accounting, and investment planning solutions for individuals and businesses. The Bengaluru-based start-up has raised $68 Mn in funding since its inception in 2011 and counts Composite Capital, SAIF Partners, and Sequoia Capital among its investors.

Dose FM lets users create and share audio clips and shows across a range of interests. At present, Dose FM offers a live audio creation tool for creators which helps them interact with listeners and co-host shows with their friends. It claims to have more than 30K active listeners and 10K creators.

Cognizant to acquire Contino

Cognizant Technology Solutions has agreed to acquire Contino, a privately held technology consulting firm, for an undisclosed amount. Contino specializes in helping global 2,000 clients accelerate their digital transformation by leveraging enterprise DevOps methodologies, a cloud-native development approach, and advanced data platforms

Earlier this year, Cognizant acquired fintech software firm Meritsoft, and life sciences manufacturing technology company Zenith Technologies. Including the Contino acquisition, Cognizant has acquired 14 companies so far since 2017, most of which are in the digital space.

Contino’s expertise lies in building cloud platforms, implementing enterprise DevOps, modernizing IT security through DevSecOps and cloud security services, developing cloud-native software, and building data platforms and implementing advanced analytics to gather and analyze data from multiple sources.

Contino was co-founded by Matt Farmer and Benjamin Wootton, who serves as chief executive and chief technology officer, respectively. Based in London, Contino has approximately 350 employees worldwide with operations in the UK, US and Australia. Contino’s consulting and engineering teams have completed more than 200 enterprise engagements since 2014. Clients have included more than 100 of the world’s leading brands such as Adidas, Allianz, Barclays, Dow Jones, JetStar, Lloyds Bank, Morgan Stanley, National Australia Bank, and Vodafone, among others.

Genpact buys US Digital Consultancy Rightpoint

Genpact, a global professional services firm focused on delivering digital transformation, announced a definitive agreement to acquire Chicago based Rightpoint, a premier digital consultancy with technology at its core. The deal is designed to bring experience and process innovation together to help clients drive end-to-end digital transformation and win in the growing experience economy.

The convergence of market forces and consumer demand has elevated the role of experience from that of a front-end design function to a strategic lever that has the ability to impact the entire organization, connecting the front, middle and back-office. In fact, leading industry analysts predict rapid growth in experience innovation and have estimated the experience market to be more than $30 billion for middle and back-office functions in 2019.

This acquisition combines Genpact's deep process, domain, and digital expertise with Rightpoint's proven ability to create impactful experiences – for both customers and employees. Genpact's global reach and client base will help fuel Rightpoint's continued expansion, as it focuses on growth, which will also include expanding core offerings.

Rightpoint was founded in 2007 and has made a name for itself as a leading authority on customer experience. The company was ranked 28th fastest growing technology consultancy in America on the Inc. 5000 and serves more than 250 Fortune 1000 companies. In 2015, Rightpoint partnered with private equity firm Stella Point Capital to help fuel its growth. The company has five core solution areas, including customer experience and engagement, commerce, digital products, digital workplace, and digital operations.