This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.
Finovate Blog
Tracking fintech, banking & financial services innovations since 1994
Streamly Fintech Insights offers unique opportunities to hear from some of the most innovative personalities in fintech and financial services.
Streamly’s interviewees range from entrepreneurs and investors who are helping build and fund tomorrow’s fintech solutions today to analysts and regulators whose job it is to ensure that the interests of consumers are heard and the rights of citizens are protected.
This week, we’re sharing six new conversations from Streamly’s Fintech Insights series.
Financial crime compliance platform Lucinity announced a strategic partnership with AI data management company Knights Analytics.
The partnership will bring advanced AI-powered data management capabilities to bear to fight financial crime.
Lucinity made its Finovate debut at FinovateSpring 2023 in San Francisco.
Lucinity has forged a strategic partnership with Knights Analytics, bringing advanced AI data management capabilities to its financial crime compliance platform.
The integration will enable Lucinity customers to consolidate, standardize, and reconcile their data within Lucinity’s unified Case Management system. The strategic partnership will also introduce additional ways to deploy Generative AI capabilities, including entity resolution, network analysis, and automated data extraction from documents. Users can also engage with their data via Lucinity’s AI copilot Luci, which offers actionable insights that are both intuitive and fully explainable.
“We are thrilled to simplify the ability to integrate more data within Lucinity’s platform,” Knights Analytics CEO Alex Ridden said. “Combining our data matching and entity resolution solutions with Lucinity ensures financial institutions make the most of their data. Financial institutions these days are sitting on a wealth of information that they don’t utilize effectively.”
Knights Analytics helps companies extract insights from large and siloed datasets. The firm specializes in combining graph analytics and AI, transforming structured and unstructured data into a high-quality, unified data layer. Leveraging innovations in data linkage and entity resolution technologies, Knights Analytics enables businesses to build a solid data foundation from which they can accelerate business processes and derive actionable insights.
“Partnering with Knights Analytics will take the Luci AI copilot to the next level by enhancing data accuracy, reducing manual analysis, and increasing the reliability of financial crime investigations through advanced data linkage and profile analysis,” Lucinity CEO Guðmundur Kristjánsson said. “This integration will unlock new use cases like on-demand entity resolution, enabling AI-driven automations and insights to streamline case investigations.”
Lucinity made its Finovate debut last year at FinovateSpring 2023. At the conference, the Reykjavik, Iceland-based company demonstrated its AI-powered copilot, Luci. Luci can conduct internet searches, background checks, fraud detection, sanctions screening, and more. This ability to manage and streamline tedious and time-consuming tasks enables compliance professionals to focus their decision-making on more complex issues.
Lucinity was founded in 2018. The company has raised more than $25 million in funding, according to Crunchbase. Keen Venture Partners and Experian are among the firm’s investors. Last month, Lucinity won the 2024 ICA Award for Innovation in Financial Crime Prevention for its Luci copilot. The company has also received accolades in recent months from Chartis Research and Microsoft, which named Lucinity one of its partners of the year for both its technological innovation and its commitment to “significant social impact and growth.”
Read our profile of Lucinity from earlier this year.
FORUM Credit Union has selected Apiture’s Business Banking solution to enhance its commercial digital banking experience.
FORUM Credit Union anticipates the move will expand its commercial member base.
“The comprehensive functionality available in Apiture’s Business Banking solution coupled with the company’s commitment to innovation made Apiture the right choice for our members and employees,” said FORUM Credit Union Chief Technology and Risk Officer Cameron Piercefield.
Digital banking solutions provider Apitureannounced today that FORUM Credit Union will use the fintech’s digital banking capabilities to power its commercial digital banking suite.
FORUM, a $2.1 billion, not-for-profit cooperative based in central Indiana, selected Apiture’s Business Banking solution to enhance the online and mobile banking experience for its commercial members. The credit union is also hoping to expand its commercial member base. FORUM was interested in Apiture’s ability to create a customized tool that integrates with its existing retail banking solution.
“As a member-owned organization with the mission of ‘helping members live their financial dreams,’ FORUM is committed to providing technology solutions that optimize our members’ banking experience,” said FORUM Credit Union Chief Technology and Risk Officer Cameron Piercefield. “The comprehensive functionality available in Apiture’s Business Banking solution coupled with the company’s commitment to innovation made Apiture the right choice for our members and employees.”
Apiture was founded in 2017 to help credit unions compete with larger banks and credit unions when it comes to digital banking experiences. The company’s solutions, which work with more than 40 cores, offer both consumer and commercial banking experiences, along with account opening, embedded banking, and data intelligence tools. Powering these capabilities are Apiture’s network of more than 200 pre-vetted fintech partners, including Glia, Deluxe, MX, Mambu, and DefenseStorm.
“We are proud to partner with FORUM Credit Union to support its growth objectives and drive member satisfaction,” said Apiture CEO Chris Babcock. “With integrations to more than 200 best-of-breed fintech partners and an API-first approach that enables rapid innovation, our Business Banking solution will empower FORUM to deliver a fully featured banking experience that supports businesses of all sizes.”
Headquartered in Wilmington, North Carolina, Apiture also has offices in Austin, Texas. The fintech has raised $69 million from investors including T. Rowe Price, Live Oak Bank, and others.
A look at the companies demoing at FinovateFall in New York on September 9 and 10. Register today using this link and save 20%.
Abrigo
Abrigo has been trusted by 2,500+ financial institutions for over 20 years to fight financial crime. The organization’s FinCrime suite includes market leading AML and fraud solutions.
Features
Offers AI/ML-powered check image analysis
Delivers nationwide consortium of check fraud data
Includes configurable rules engine
Who’s it for?
U.S. banks and credit unions.
Bancography
Branches consume sizable capital and noninterest expense costs. Bancography Plan maximizes those investments by identifying opportunities to deploy new branches and reconfigure or close current ones.
Features
Examine prospective merger candidates
Identify overlapping branches and forecast attrition
View full pro forma financial impact, before and after closures
Detect impacts on efficiency ratio and ROA
Who’s it for?
Banks and credit unions.
Diadem Capital
Diadem Capital is a deal flow engine and fundraising solution connecting private companies to private capital ranging across venture capital, private equity, venture debt, and non dilutive funding sources.
Features
Diadem Capital helps investors and lenders streamline due diligence, showcasing only the top prospects. Founders get one-to-one intros to otherwise inaccessible investors.
Who’s it for?
Diadem Capital is a two-sided marketplace catering to any private capital provider looking for deals and private company looking for capital. It is sector, stage, and geography agnostic.
iDENTIFY
iDENTIFY revolutionizes banking with a data validation tool that seamlessly integrates legacy and modern tech, transforming raw data into actionable insights for banks.
Features
Offers real-time data validation
Delivers seamless integration
Provides enhanced insights
Who’s it for?
Banks and credit unions.
Nest Bank & Efigence
Nest Bank, Poland’s first AI-enhanced bank, offers entrepreneurs and individuals innovative payment methods and personalized services. Efigence is a technology company that has been in operation since 1995.
Features
Expense tracking: Monitors and categorizes spending
AI-driven predictions: Forecasts future trends from users’ past actions
Placing instructions: Makes money transfers or issues virtual cards
Who’s it for?
Nest! has a diverse range of clients: Individuals and entrepreneurs who drive over 50% of Poland’s GDP.
Rapid Finance
Rapid Finance empowers enterprises to streamline their small business lending program. Lynx helps users take control of their data and unlock its potential.
Features
Offers comprehensive and holistic 360° views of customers
Advanced AI and analytics provides real time insights and patterns
Customizable rules engine allows users to automate decision making
Who’s it for?
Banks, credit unions, fintechs, neobanks, lending institutions, payment processors, insurance companies, lending and banking platforms, investment banks, wealth management firms, and more.
Winnow
Winnow AI leverages the power of LLP and NLP artificial intelligence. It allows customers to get lightning-fast answers to basic legal questions around topics that Winnow covers.
Features
Quickly answers basic legal questions
Generates responses based on Winnow’s 60,000+ attorney-reviewed legal requirements
Reduces time and effort typically spent on legal research
Should more financial advisers be treated as fiduciaries? Even for one-time financial recommendations like a 401(k) rollover?
The Washington Post recently published an article looking at the battle over the needs of recent retirees on one side and what critics have called “lucrative broker commissions” on the other. At issue is an effort by the Biden administration to force brokers to act as fiduciaries, which means that they must place client needs above all else, including their own paychecks. The administration is especially concerned about what happens when millions of Americans retire or roll over their retirement savings in favor of tax-advantaged accounts such as IRAs. This is a huge market; the federal government estimates that these transactions are valued at more than $770 billion in 2022.
In many, if not most instances, these transfers from 401(k)s and similar products into IRAs is unremarkable. But the administration is looking closely at some transfers, in which investors’ retirement money is invested in instruments such as annuities. Annuity products, in which retirees give funds to an insurance company that provides them with a fixed, annual payout, not only often have costly restrictions – such as big penalties for early withdrawals and caps on returns – but also can be more lucrative products for insurance agents to sell compared to other investments. This – from the Biden administration’s perspective, and that of some consumer advocates – creates a conflict of interest that can lead to savers being steered toward investments that are not optimal for them.
As such, Biden’s Department of Labor extended fiduciary duties under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act to cover one-time recommendations issued to retirement investors. This puts a number of activities traditionally not covered by the fiduciary rule, including those rollovers noted above, under the rule. The policy was finalized in April and was set to take effect next month.
For their part, critics of the administration’s policy see the attempt to change regulations as a “costly, illegal federal mandate.” In an unsigned statement (ahem!) one of the organizations that sued to stop the Biden’s administration, the American Council of Life Insurers, warned that new fiduciary requirements could “deprive millions of consumers of access to much needed retirement financial guidance and protected lifetime income products.”
So far, the courts – and Congress – have agreed with the critics. Congress made initial moves toward invalidating the new rules in July, with a congressional committee passing a resolution to overturn the rule. Additionally, two federal judges have separately blocked the Biden administration from implementing the rule in September. And industry groups, sensing a major change to their business model, have geared up to persuade politicians that an expansion of the fiduciary rule “would be potentially devastating for the insurance industry,” according to one such group, the Federation of Americans for Consumer Choice.
Indeed, impact would be felt. Morningstar reported that investors in annuities could save more than $32 billion over the next ten years – with insurance agents enduring major restrictions in their commissions.
Could an extension of fiduciary responsibility become as significant a campaign topic as the debate over taxing tips? It’s hard to say. But I’ll be on the lookout to see whether or not the Trump or Harris campaigns decide there’s advantage to be had by backing fewer regulations – or retiree rights – when it comes to the role of fiduciary responsibility.
Interested in wealthtech? Check out our feature on the six key ways fintechs drive innovation in wealth management.And be sure to read our primer on wealthtech at FinovateFall next month, Client Centricity and the Rise of Alternative Assets.
Ivankovich is taking the reigns from former CEO John Deignan.
Ivankovich founded iLendx and oversaw Fiserv’s lending and deposit software products and services division.
Small business lending solutions provider Baker Hillannounced this morning it has appointed Andy Ivankovich as its new CEO. Ivankovich takes the place of John Deignan, who has served as Baker Hill CEO since 2017.
Baker Hill tapped Ivankovich for his background in lending technology. After serving in the U.S. Air Force, he spent his early career managing a $14 billion lending portfolio as a product executive with USAA. During his time as a banker, he developed and was named as inventor on USAA’s lending technology patents. Ivankovich went on to become the founder of iLendx, which he sold to Fiserv in 2018. After the acquisition, he stayed on to oversee Fiserv’s lending and deposit software products and services division.
“I am truly honored to be appointed Baker Hill’s Chief Executive Officer and look forward to building upon the strong foundation Baker Hill has built over its 40-year history,” said Ivankovich. “Baker Hill is consistently recognized as a leading fintech company with world-class products. The team has cultivated a reputation for driving innovation in lending for banks and credit unions to better serve their communities. I am proud to join this team of experts and look forward to leading Baker Hill through its next stage of growth and ushering in a new era of innovation for our clients.”
In his new role, Ivankovich aims to promote innovation across the company’s product suite to ultimately enable financial institutions to modernize their lending operations.
“Andy has demonstrated forward-thinking leadership throughout his career, and he is well-acquainted with Baker Hill’s mission,” said Chairman of the Board for Baker Hill and former CEO of Wolters Kluwer Financial and Compliance Services Brian Longe. “His product and client focused approach, entrepreneurial background, and forward-thinking innovation make him an excellent choice to lead Baker Hill.”
Founded in 1983, Baker Hill offers banks and credit unions a SaaS solution for commercial, small business, and consumer loan origination, as well as risk management tools. The company, which most recently demoed at FinovateFall 2021, has recently formed partnerships with Harmony Bank, Union Bank, and Amalgamated Bank.
Last spring, Baker Hill agreed to be acquired by private equity firm Flexpoint Ford for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition offered Baker Hill access to Flexpoint’s resources and expertise, including its experienced team and capital to fund ongoing product innovation and acquisitions.
Sustainable Fitch will integrate AI-powered text analysis from SESAMm into its ESG Scores and Ratings solution.
The integration will help Sustainable Fitch offer a more comprehensive ESG insights to asset owners and asset managers.
SESAMm won Best of Show in its Finovate debut at FinovateEurope 2022 in London.
ESG data and analysis provider Sustainable Fitch will integrate AI-powered text analysis from SESAMm into its ESG Scores and Ratings solution. The integration will enable Sustainable Fitch to provide more comprehensive ESG insights to its asset owner and manager clientele.
The addition of SESAMm’s analysis will improve decision-making and help guide investment and due diligence. The partnership will also help provide broader data coverage for both public and private market data analysis.
“Working with SESAMm’s technology allows us to leverage their advanced solutions to enhance our ESG Scores and Ratings offering,” Sustainable Fitch Global Head of ESG Analytics Gianluca Spinetti said. “By integrating SESAMm’s extensive data coverage, we can offer our clients more comprehensive ESG insights.”
Headquartered in New York, Sustainable Fitch is a research firm that provides data, tools, analysis, and insights for the fixed-income market. The company provides ESG ratings, Second Party Opinions, thought leadership, and more to help individuals and institutions make informed decisions when it comes to ESG impact.
Launched in 2022, Sustainable Fitch has been recognized by Environmental Finance as one of the top five largest global Second Party Opinion providers. This year, the company won “Best Specialist ESG Ratings Provider” at the ESG Investing Awards and “Best ESG Data Provider/Vendor” at the Inside Market Data Awards & Inside Reference Data Awards.
“We are excited that a recognized leader in ESG analysis is using our insights for their ESG analysis,” SESAMm CEO Sylvain Forté said. “Our AI-powered text analysis will provide deeper insights and broader coverage, helping Sustainable Fitch to deliver high-quality ESG data and ratings.”
SESAMm won Best of Show in its Finovate debut at FinovateEurope in London in 2022. The company most recently demoed its technology at FinovateFall 2023, where the French AI firm showed an integration of ChatReveal, its proprietary generative AI solution. Bringing advanced chatbot technology to the SESAMm platform, ChatReveal examines more than 23 billion articles on five million public and private companies. The technology identifies if the company is the subject of ESG controversies or issues to help private equity firms and financial institutions better understand the potential risk of companies in their portfolios.
Last month, SESAMm unveiled its ESG Controversy Risk Exposure Heatmap. The solution delivers an overview of environmental, social, and governance risks to provide an easy way to visualize and assess a company’s reputational profile. This enables users to focus on particular areas of concern and prioritize next steps.
Headquartered in Paris, France, SESAMm was founded in 2014. The company has raised more than €50 million in funding and includes Elaia, Opera Tech Ventures, The Carlyle Group, and NewAlpha Asset Management VC among its investors.
We’re midway through August, and while everyone attempts to sneak in their final summer vacation days, the fintech news continues on. While we’ve seen a handful of acquisition news headlines so far this summer, I expect things to tick up slightly this fall. Stay tuned throughout the week to read the latest news this week as we post updates and evolutions.
LianLian Global has tapped Thredd to help it launch a virtual card program in the APAC market.
Thredd will power LianLian’s Yueda virtual card product.
The news comes weeks after Thredd initiated partnerships with TerraPay and Spendbase.
Digital payment solutions company Threddannounced a partnership with global payments company LianLian Global to help the Singapore-based company launch its virtual card program in the APAC market.
LianLian, which specializes in cross-border settlement services with instant payouts, selected Thredd to power its Yueda virtual card product. Designed to facilitate cross-border payments and financial management for businesses, Yueda provides comprehensive payment services, including multi-currency support, payment collection, and fund transfers, tailored specifically for the needs of businesses in a range of industries, including e-commerce, international B2B trade and travel, engage in international trade and commerce.
Founded in 2007 and headquartered in London, Thredd offers digital payment solutions to help businesses simplify financial transactions. In addition to the virtual card service that LianLian will use, Thredd also delivers card issuance, payments processing, card controls, risk and fraud, digital wallets, and cross-border payments solutions.
“Utilising Thredd’s virtual card issuing capabilities we will be able to deliver on our ambitious growth plans for 2024 and beyond,” said LianLian Global Co-CEO Tim Shen. “We have already secured payments licenses covering eight [regions], including mainland China, China, Singapore, the U.S., the U.K., Luxembourg, Thailand, and Indonesia. We are delighted to find a partner in Thredd who can support us with virtual cards that will ensure that no matter where a client needs to send a payment, it will be supported. Access to a local team of experts who speak our language has made the implementation and ongoing operations seamless.”
Today’s announcement comes after Thredd partnered with TerraPay in June to support virtual card payments for the travel industry. Thredd has also recently launched in the U.S., having secured its second U.S. client, Spendbase, in June.
This week’s edition of Finovate Global highlights recent fintech news from the Philippines.
Philippine mobile payments company Mynt, the firm behind super app GCash, has secured an investment of $393 million courtesy of an investment from Mitsubishi UFJ (MUFG). The funding comes at virtually the same time as the company reported another $393 million investment, this one from Philippines-based conglomerate Ayala Corporation.
“We are thrilled to welcome MUFG as a new strategic partner,” said Mynt President and CEO Martha Sazon. “With their global expertise and reach within the financial inclusion space, they will be instrumental in further expanding GCash’s social impact, especially to the underserved. Alongside this, Ayala’s unmatched commitment to Philippine economic growth and development, and its expertise in multiple industries will accelerate GCash’s mission.”
The investments give the Filipino firm a valuation of $5 billion, and gives MUFG an 8% stake in the company. Ayala’s share climbs to approximately 13%.
A subsidiary of Globe Telecom, Mynt’s GCash is used by more than 90 million individuals to buy prepaid airtime, pay bills, send and receive funds, transact with merchants, and access savings, credit, insurance, and investment products.
“GCash is an indispensable infrastructure for everyday life of Filipinos and we are delighted to join Mynt as a strategic investor to support the growth of the company,” MUFG Senior Managing Corporate Executive, Head of Global Commercial Banking Business Group Yasushi Itagaki said. “With our investment, we are excited to expand our contribution to the ongoing development of the Philippines’ digital economy and financial inclusion.”
MUFG’s investment comes at a time when the banking group has been funding a range of regional fintechs that are helping bring financial services to the underbanked. Among these fintechs are Ascend Money, a super app based in Thailand, as well as Grab of Singapore and Akulaku of Indonesia.
Earlier this year, Globe Telecom suggested that the super app may launch as a public company in the Philippines next year. This week, Bloomberg reported that the company may pursue a Philippine digital banking license, as well.
Mynt’s GCash is a big deal in the Philippines when it comes to mobile fintech apps. But how big are mobile fintech apps in the Philippines? A new report from UnaFinancial noted that among Southeast Asian nations mobile fintech app adoption has been strong overall, but nowhere more so than in the Philippines where mobile fintech app penetration reached 63% by May of this year. Malaysia was second at 55%. Interestingly, fintech powerhouse Singapore registered 45%, tied with Thailand and behind Indonesia’s 49%. Vietnam showed 32% mobile fintech app penetration.
Why such a strong performance for mobile fintech apps in the Philippines? The UnaFinancial analysts cited a handful of factors including the large number of unbanked Filipinos; regulatory support for developing digital financial technologies; a sizable, tech-savvy youth population; and growing rates of Internet adoption. Digital wallets and payment apps remain the most popular mobile fintech apps, with mobile banking apps making a strong second place showing. One area of particular growth is lending apps, which increased their share of mobile fintech apps from 1% to 5% between 2019 and 2024.
The report noted that the Philippines is likely to remain the regional leader in mobile fintech app adoption. But recent growth in Indonesia’s fintech sector has UnaFinancial predicting that Indonesia could take the second spot from Malaysia by the end of 2030.
The move will allow as many as ten digital banks to operate in the Philippines. Currently, six digital banks have been licensed to operate in the country since the introduction of the Digital Banking Framework in 2020. This week’s announcement will allow as many as ten digital banks, opening the door for the granting of an additional four licenses. Both new applicants as well as existing banks are eligible to apply, though the BSP noted that the licensing process will be “stringent.”
Additionally, the BSP made clear in a statement that it is looking for innovation rather than more of the same. “Applicants must bring something new to the table,” said bank governor Eli M Remolona, Jr. “We want to see unique product and service offerings that are different from that offered by the existing market players.”
Beginning on September 4th, banks in South Africa will suspend electronic fund transfer (EFT) services to Namibia, eSwatini, and Lesotho as part of a payments reclassification to help prevent financial crime.
Central and Eastern Europe
Austrian cryptocurrency platform Bitpanda partnered with Solaris to enhance its KYC capabilities in the German market.
The deal is set to close for $61 million in cash and may include an extra $20 million in contingent funds and restricted stock units, depending on conditions.
Payoneer plans to integrate Skuad’s payroll and contract management solutions into its own offerings.
Hours after I published a piece highlighting summer acquisition activity in fintech, I woke up to this news: global digital commerce company Payoneerannounced today that it has acquired HR platform Skuad.
While the purchase is slated for $61 million in cash, it could close for as much as $81 million. That’s because Payoneer may also pay an additional $10 million, contingent on Skuad’s performance metrics, and offer $10 million in restricted stock units, depending on key employee vesting.
“To accelerate our evolution and B2B momentum, we are excited to announce the acquisition of Skuad and welcome to Payoneer the talented entrepreneurs who share our vision of supporting global SMBs,” said Payoneer CEO John Caplan. “We are combining the strength and reach of Payoneer with Skuad’s comprehensive global workforce and payroll solutions to create a powerful platform that will enhance our customers’ ability to expand their teams worldwide and grow globally.”
Skuad was founded in 2019 to help businesses automate payroll management, local compliance, and taxation of their employees. The Singapore-based company, which has raised $19 million, helps businesses compliantly hire employees across more than 160 countries. Skuad also assists its clients in global payroll, allowing their employees to receive payment in their choice of 100+ currencies.
Founded in 2005, Payoneer offers multi-currency accounts and payment services to two million businesses across 190 countries. With a mission to “democratize access to financial services and drive growth for digital businesses of all sizes from around the world,” Payoneer helps users pay, get paid, and manage funds on a global scale. The company also offers working capital– providing advances to Amazon and Walmart sellers, as well as to small businesses.
Payoneer, which plans to integrate Skuad’s payroll and contract management offerings into its own, announced the acquisition of Skuad in an earnings announcement this week. Also during that call, Payoneer revealed a record revenue of $240 million, which is up 16% from last year’s figure.
“Twenty-five percent of Payoneer’s B2B customers are asking for enhanced workforce management capabilities, including payroll, employer of record and contractor management capabilities — so there is significant cross-sell potential with this acquisition,” the company said in a news release.
Payoneer went public via a SPAC merger with FTAC Olympus Acquisition Corp. in 2021. The company listed on the NASDAQ in June of that same year under the ticker PAYO and has a current market capitalization of $2.41 billion.
For the first time, Finovate will offer a dedicated wealthtech/wealth management track at FinovateFall. Featuring keynote addresses, power panels, and more, our new wealthtech track will cover topics ranging from the rise of alternative assets to the role of technology and digitization in helping meet the needs of a new generation of investors.
“I’m really excited about the new Wealthtech track we’re offering at FinovateFall this year,” said Greg Palmer, host of Finovate. “So much innovation is taking place on the wealth management side of the fintech industry right now, and there are a lot of opportunities out there. Customer demographics are shifting, new assets are gaining popularity, and new technologies are raising the bar for every industry. It’s a crucial time to be paying attention to the space.”
Over the next few weeks, we’ll share a preview of the wealthtech content we have in store for you this year at FinovateFall. Today, we’re highlighting a pair of Power Panels that will take place on Day Three, September 11, of the conference.
Both of these Power Panels will be moderated by April Rudin, CEO and Founder of The Rudin Group. LinkedIn.
The Rudin Group is a global wealth management/wealthtech marketing consultancy serving banks, wealth management firms, fintechs, and wealthtechs.
The Future of Client Centricity in a Tech-Disrupted Wealth Landscape
Our Power Panel on the Future of Client Centricity will examine ways in which technology has altered the landscape of wealth management. The panel will discuss the impact of the Great Wealth Transfer from Baby Boomers to Millennials and what wealth managers should do to meet a new generation of investors’ growing preference for digital solutions and tools.
Andrea Finan, Head of J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing, J.P. Morgan Wealth Management
Finan is responsible for developing strategy, driving scale and profitability, and expanding capabilities to serve the firm’s Self-Directed and broader Wealth Management clients. She has 20 years of experience in financial services and is well-versed in creating high-performing digital products. LinkedIn.
Ali Geramian, Managing Director, Anthemis
Geramian is currently a Partner at Anthemis, where he steers the Anthemis ecosystem and investor relations platform to catalyze mutual value creation, collaboration, and transformative partnership opportunities across the firm’s global portfolio companies and strategic investor base. LinkedIn.
Michelle Julia Ng, Software Engineer, Apple
Ng is a software engineer with Apple. Educated at Stanford University (double majoring in Computer Science/Artificial Intelligence and History), Ng brings experience in the practical application of emerging technologies – including system intelligence, machine learning, and robustness analysis – having worked with Apple’s Vision Pro and Watch products. LinkedIn.
How Will Technology Transform How Alternative Assets are Managed?
This Power Panel will look at the rise of alternative assets through the lens of a shift toward diversification, a search for yield, a demand for uncorrelated returns, and a growing desire among a new generation of investors for investment opportunities that are aligned with their personal values. The Panel will also discuss how enabling technologies – from AI to the blockchain – will influence the way alternative assets are managed.
Bundeep Singh Rangar, CEO of Fineqia
A thought leader in blockchain technologies, Rangar is CEO of Fineqia International. Fineqia is a digital asset business that builds and targets investments in early and growth-stage technology companies. An investor in digital industries, Rangar has raised venture capital from entities such as Rakuten and secured private equity investment from U.S. financial institutions. LinkedIn.
David Teten, Venture Partner at Coolwater Capital
Teten is a Partner with Coolwater Capital. Known as the “Y Combinator for Emerging VCs,” Coolwater offers an accelerator for emerging VC fund managers and invests as a limited partner, into general partnerships and fund management companies. Coolwater also invests directly into startups. He is Chair of PEVCTech, a community of investors in private companies using AI, technology, and analytics to generate alpha. LinkedIn.
