This week, several startups have made announcements regarding the launches of new features for their customers. Here’s the latest on their company updates.

PACTA launches blockchain app

PACTA, which allows companies to keep track of signed contracts, announced today that it is launching a contract authentication and tracking app using the Ethereum blockchain protocol.

PACTA, which hosts its platform on Microsoft Azure, said that the new functionality will allow businesses to get full visibility into all aspects of contracts, including who, what, where, when, and who of the contract.

“By leveraging the Ethereum blockchain protocol in PACTA’s proactive contract management platform, our customers will not only be able to cut down on audit time and costs, but also provide digital proof admissible in court in case of a contract dispute,” said Charlotte Rydlund, PACTA co-founder and CEO. “PACTA is committed to changing how contract lifecycle management (CLM) is done by leveraging blockchain technology in a CLM application.”

PACTA said its platform ensures businesses don’t miss important information in contracts with proactive alerts and analytics, as well as a mobile-friendly interface.

Overbond integrates Thomson Reuters fixed-income market data into platform

Toronto-based Overbond, a platform for digital bond issuance, announced a partnership with Thomson Reuters that will allow Reuters’ income market data and analytics will be integrated within the Overbond platform.

Through Thomson Reuters Labs in Waterloo Region (in October, Thomson Reuters launched a lab in Toronto), the companies will be exploring opportunities to drive innovation in the fixed income capital markets industry through continued research and development.

Overbond’s cloud-based platform directly connects corporate and government bond market issuers with dealers and fixed-income investors. The company also provides secure communications, price discovery, and custom reporting and analytics.

“Access to Thomson Reuters data universe and market analytics within the Overbond platform optimizes price discovery for participants in the primary bond origination market,” said Vuk Magdelinic, CEO of Overbond. “Through our partnership with Thomson Reuters, the Overbond platform now provides market participants with unparalleled price discovery capabilities to help them navigate what is currently a very challenging fixed income market.”

Firmex launches second file sharing product

Toronto-based Firmex, a document-sharing platform that allows companies to securely share highly-confidential documents, announced that it’s launched its second product, called FileSend.

FileSend is designed specifically for financial and legal intermediaries, investment firms, and corporations sharing documents associated with processes like financial transactions, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, litigation, and procurement. With Firmex FileSend, users can restrict access, require authentication, watermark, and digitally shred documents. In 2014, Firmex was named one of Canada’s Technology Fast 50.

“Too often, productivity is brought to a halt with limitations imposed by internal FTP sites and corporate email size limitations,” the company said in a blog post. “Firmex FileSend allows users to easily send large files securely, alleviating the need for email workarounds or support calls to IT.”

Photo via MaRS