In the last few months, we’ve experienced an increased buzz from Generative AI (artificial intelligence) across all technology companies. The modern financial services industry has leveraged AI and machine learning since the early 2010s as a way of improving fraud management, credit underwriting, and user onboarding. Using large language models…

The tech landscape in 2023 looks dramatically different than in 2021. Gone are the days of high-flying valuations and large, recurring investment rounds. New projects, products, and growth initiatives are no longer heavily prioritized. The theme is for companies (of all sizes) to scale back, minimize operating costs, and focus…

In light of the bank failures in the 1st Qtr., traditional banks and deposit frameworks have come into the spotlight. Customers from regional banks concerned about the safety and availability of their funds made bulk transfers digitally to large institutions — spurring a modern day ‘bank run.’ If there was…

Convenience, user friendliness, access, and customer experience did not describe financial services at the end of the 90s. This was when digital financial services first made a splash with peer-to-peer (P2P) payments for consumers first launched in 1998 (by PayPal). Throughout the early 2000s, more services & features were slowly…

To say these are unprecedented times in the financial services industry is an understatement. From layoffs, tech companies contracting, difficulties in fundraising and the changing regulatory environment — we’ve seen a bit of everything in the last 12–15 months. What have we not experienced? A financial institution shutting down. By…

The financial services industry (and all its participants) are facing an uphill battle this year. Lower funding levels from investors, increased competition, changing regulatory landscape, and poor economic conditions created a challenging market environment — for startups, established companies, and enterprise platforms. For the fintech sector in particular, the challenge…

The majority of our discussions about the financial services industry highlight the US. There’s also a fertile landscape of growth and innovation across 18 countries to the south. The fintech ecosystem in Latin America continues to gain traction (even in a downturn) as the financial needs of underserved consumers &…

For those outside of the financial services industry, Embedded Finance sounds like an opaque concept. The reality is that it’s actually something we’re all familiar with. Requesting a ride from Uber or ordering from Doordash. Driving for Uber or Doordash (and getting paid instantly). Purchasing coffee from Starbucks by loading…

In speaking with investors about their portfolio preferences, most will point to traditional offerings (i.e. stocks and bonds). Discussion of alternative investments as part of a long-term investment strategy is rare. Since 2014, the alt investments sector has grown (by asset type, platform, and type of user). Individuals from diverse…