Google, by helping to facilitate transactions and redemptions of coupons and discounts, may also be able to gain insight into consumer-spending behavior, said a person familiar with the matter.

WSJ: Google Pursues Role in Mobile Payments

To facilitate large-value transactions and to assist in returns and merchant chargebacks, Balanced intends to add an option for bank ACH credits and debits as a payment choice in the near future.

FORBES: Payments Startup Balanced Innovates In Wrong Direction

Investors should be looking at companies today that have the ability to transform an industry from analog to digital or have the ability to create the infrastructure to facilitate digital properties or transactions.

FORBES: Importance of Being a Platform (Apple, LinkedIn, Amazon, eBay, Google, Facebook)

Visa earns revenues by charging fees for its transaction processing service, which involves routing payment information to facilitate the authorization, clearing and settlement of transactions.

FORBES: When Visa Hits $92, Don't Say We Didn't Tell You It Was Going There

In seeking to match buyers and sellers in large transactions that have historically proven difficult to execute on the traditional exchanges, the Zanbato Sutter ATS hopes to facilitate the sharing of investment opportunities between, on the one hand, governmental agencies, corporations and financial advisors, and, on the other hand, a network of qualified institutional investors.

FORBES: Zanbato Sutter ATS Set To Launch For Infrastructure Investments