CEO, Entrepreneurial Highflier Looks into Commerce Crystal Ball

Name: Alfred ‘Chip’ Kahn IV

Title: Chief Executive Officer

Company: IP Commerce, Inc. (view company bio)

Related Story: 5 Burning Questions: IP Commerce’s Tyler Hannan

PYMNTS.com: What makes the IP Commerce Platform unique?

CHIP KAHN: IP Commerce is the fastest, most robust way to quickly enable commerce services within multi-channel retail applications. The IP Commerce Platform is an enterprise service bus that facilitates rich, two-way interactions thereby enabling all members of the commerce ecosystem (Retailers, Developers, Payment Service Providers, Advertisers/Offer Publishers, Value-Added Service Providers) to seamlessly and effectively work together.

PYMNTS.com: What pain points does IP Commerce alleviate for clients?

KAHN: The payment system connectivity to the network edge (E.g. POS) is inflexible and unintelligent. We enrich that link and turn simple payment transactions into two-way commerce interactions by using data, indentity and high velocity business rules.

PYMNTS.com: Payment security is always of concern to consumers. What type of security features does the product contain?

KAHN: IP Commerce has the people, product, process and partnerships in place to ensure that security and compliance (for those building commerce applications) is as seamless and painless as possible.

PYMNTS.com: Who are some of your partners?

KAHN: Intuit, Digital River, Chase Paymentech, Vantiv, Square

PYMNTS.com: How will IP Commerce continue to enhance commerce innovation in 2012?

KAHN: If 2010 was the year of API and 2011 the year of the Platform, 2012 is all about workflow and orchestration.

IP Commerce Playlists bring together a combination of identity, transactions, business rules, pre-built software applications, workflows, data services and value-added services to address market requirements around commerce innovation (such as Online2Onsite commerce – http://www.online2onsite.com).

PYMNTS.com: Any words of wisdom for those working on startups?

KAHN: Keep your chin up.

PYMNTS.com: Let’s play a little word association:

KAHN:

• Cash is…. Often times convenient

 

• Checks are… Proof that B2B commerce innovation hasn’t yet occurred

 

• eCommerce is…Quite different than card present systems. Now eCommerce entrants do not seem to grasp the differences yet.

 

• Mobile commerce is….Creating a converged user experience between online and offline for end-users.

 

• The most important thing to consumers is….Personalization and instant gratification. In commerce that means unique, real-time experiences at the point of acceptance.

 

INNOVATOR BIO: IP Commerce founder and CEO Chip Kahn exemplifies entrepreneurialism, with an impressive track record of identifying business opportunities and developing innovative strategies to address market needs. Kahn has led the growth of IP Commerce since its inception. Prior to IP Commerce, Kahn founded and developed several successful companies, including Inventure Partners, a venture enterprise group that owns a portfolio of companies; ASI, a payment services provider; Application Media, a broadband media and commerce consultancy; and STS Hotel Net, an integrated media supplier.

Kahn also serves on the advisory board for BroadHop, Inc., a broadband services software company. He is a frequent keynote speaker at industry conferences and was recognized as one of Colorado’s up-and-coming business leaders in 2002 with the “40 Under 40” Award, and more recently as semi-finalist for Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year award.

Kahn holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Colorado State University.