Karsten Wenzlaff, Advisor
August 26th, 2025
Karsten Wenzlaff is a Crowdfunding and Fintech Expert from Germany. He is Secretary-General of Digit[...]
Category Archives: Enterprise, Scaleup
Join NCFA at Elevate Festival 2025 in Toronto Oct 7-9
Elevate Festival | Aug 22, 2025
Elevate Festival Oct 7 9, 2025, Toronto
NCFA partners with Elevate Festival October 7–9 in Toronto, Canada’s Stage for Bold Innovation
The National Crowdfunding and Fintech Association of Canada (NCFA) is proud to be a Community Partner of Elevate Festival 2025. This is the seventh edition of Canada’s largest home grown technology and innovation gathering taking place from October 7 to 9 at Toronto’s Meridian Hall and St. Lawrence Centre. The Elevate Festival will welcome more than ten thousand attendees and over 250 speakers who are innovating the future of business, finance, and technology.
Visionary Voices and Experience
The lineup reads like a who’s who of innovation. Chris Urmson of Aurora, Clay Bavor of Sierra, and Dorothy Kilroy of Oura Health will share their visions for automation, artificial intelligence, and digital health. They will be joined by Erika Ayers Badan of Food52, Ida Tin of Clue, Althea Wishloff of Raven Capital, Harley Finkelstein of Shopify, and Hussein Fazal of Super.com. Together they represent the scale and diversity of thought that defines Elevate.
See: Accelerating Financial Innovation and Access in Canada
Elevate is not just a gathering, it is an experience. AI and Scale Up tracks will take the main stage for the first time, drawing thousands to conversations that matter most for Canada’s growth. Eight focused tracks will also cover fintech, moonshots, future talent, investors, and women in tech.
Attendees can join masterclasses limited to one hundred participants, connect in the Women in Tech Lounge presented by Interac, and build relationships in the Startup Lounge presented by Moneris.
Commitment to Inclusion and Impact
One of the things that we love about Elevate is that it continues to lead in representation. More than half of attendees in 2024 identified as women or non binary, which is way above Canadian and global benchmarks for tech gatherings (big and small). The festival has also generated significant startup investment by giving founders access to curated meetings, roundtables, and pitch stages.
See: 10 Innovative Product-Led Growth Strategies
That momentum carries into 2025 with the Startup Open House on October 9, where entrepreneurs can open their doors to investors, partners, and future hires. There are a plethora of reasons why entrepreneurs and investors globally should attend Elevate 2025, don't miss out!
GTA-BASED STARTUP HOST OPPORTUNITY
Open your doors to Elevate Festival attendees at Toronto's Startup Open House on Thursday, October 9 from 3:00 - 7:00 PM. Showcase your business, connect with talent and meet potential partners. Join this unique opportunity presented by TechTO, Elevate, and ElanTech. Gain exposure in Canada's vibrant startup ecosystem --> APPLY NOW
20% Discount for NCFA's Network
For NCFA’s community, Elevate is a fantastic opportunity to be part of Canada’s innovation story. It is where founders meet investors, where startups become scale ups, and where the fintech community can help shape Canada’s economic future. Save 20% on your Elevate Festival pass with the code NCFAELEVATE (offer valid for unlimited uses until October 9).
Register now to secure your ticket before prices rise on September 5.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
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H1 2025 Global Fintech Funding Slows, Some Sectors Firing
Global Fintech Report | Aug 22, 2025
Image: Pulse of Fintech H1 2025, KPMG
Fintech Investment Hits Five Year Low, but Digital Assets, AI, and Regtech Gaining
According to the KPMG Pulse of Fintech H1 2025 report (67 page PDF) published in August 2025, global fintech investment in the first half of 2025 fell to $44.7 billion across 2,216 deals, recording the lowest H1 total since early 2020. Investors remain cautious about elevated risks around higher interest rates, capital costs, and geopolitical uncertainty. Q2 2025 was particularly weak, with $18.7 billion across 972 deals.
Regional Divergence
- Americas attracted $26.7 billion, accounting for more than half of global fintech investment
- EMEA $13.7 billion, driven by large buyouts and consolidation activity
- ASPAC lagged with $4.3 billion, showing the most pronounced slowdown
Top Global Fintech Trends in H1 2025
1. Digital Assets Rebound Strongly
Investment in digital assets totalled $8.4 billion across 586 deals in H1 2025. Stablecoins attracted attention for payments and remittances in emerging markets, while tokenization platforms and infrastructure also captured capital. Circle's IPO anchored the sector’s strength, raising $1.1 billion with shares jumping 168% on day one.
2. AI Is Transforming Fintech Models
AI continues to boost fintech investment. Capital flowed into both AI native startups and to incumbents embedding AI in credit scoring, fraud detection, and customer engagement. Investors prioritized business models that combined growth with efficiency and risk control. See NCFAs coverage of AI Fintechs attracting a 242% valuation premium
3. Regtech Gains Momentum
Regtech attracted $2.1 billion across 190 deals in H1 2025. Adoption of automated KYC, AML, and reporting tools continues to grow as financial institutions look for cost savings and regulatory agility. GenAI in risk and compliance
4. Wealthtech and Insurtech Consolidation
Insurtech raised $4.8 billion across 141 deals in H1 2025, which is already greater than all of 2024. Wealthtech funding reached $0.9 billion across 14 deals, with AI enabled platforms a recurring theme. Both sectors experienced consolidation as incumbents prefer acquisitions over building new capabilities.
5. Payments Infrastructure Still the Backbone
Payments investment slowed to $4.6 billion across 242 deals in H1 2025, as investors grew more selective. But the sector is still foundational with capital being allocated to embedded finance, cross border platforms, and transaction monitoring. For Canada’s policy context see open banking delays and competitiveness and banks exiting merchant acquiring businesses like Moneris.
6. Cybersecurity Funding Is Soft
Cybersecurity specific fintech investment was just $0.1 billion across 26 deals in H1 2025. Despite heightened threat levels, most activity was concentrated at seed and early stages, reflecting investor caution toward scaling security focused fintechs.
7. IPOs and Exit Activity Pick Up
Exit momentum is returning. Circle’s successful IPO may open the door for additional digital asset platforms to list in H2 2025, boosting the case for fintech exit activity after years of lack lustre listings.
Top 10 Global Fintech Deals in H1 2025
- Preqin, $3.2B, London, UK, Information, Buyout
- Next Insurance, $2.6B, Palo Alto, US, Insurtech, M&A
- Binance, $2B, George Town, Cayman Islands, Digital assets, Late stage VC
- Esker, $1.7B, Villeurbanne, France, B2B and back office, Take private
- NinjaTrader, $1.5B, Chicago, US, Investment management, M&A
- Enfusion, $1.5B, Chicago, US, Wealthtech, M&A
- Hidden Road, $1.25B, New York, US, Digital assets, M&A
- Converge Technology Solutions, $916.5M, Toronto, Canada, Fintech services, Take private
- SafeSend, $600M, Ann Arbor, US, B2B and back office, M&A
- Plaid, $575M, San Francisco, US, B2B and back office, Late stage VC
See: U.S. ACCESS Act Advances to Ease Crowdfunding Rules
Outlook for Canada
For Canada, the data shows the window of opportunity for digital assets, AI, and regtech could attract investment with clear policy and infrastructure. The muted state of payments and open banking highlight gaps Canada must address to remain competitive. Clear rules, targeted support, and investment in digital infrastructure are critical to positioning Canadian fintech for growth in the second half of 2025 and beyond. See the crisis Canada and fintech cannot afford to waste
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
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Grok Leak Triggers Global AI Privacy Alarm
AI | Aug 21, 2025
Image: Freepik/Rawpixel.com
xAI Exposed Private Grok Conversations to the Open Web, Breach of Trust in AI
On August 20, 2025, Forbes revealed that Elon Musk’s xAI had published hundreds of thousands of Grok chatbot conversations that became searchable on Google without warning. The exposed chats ranged from personal medical questions and passwords to instructions for creating drugs, malware, and even a plan to assassinate Musk himself.
AI Conversations Exposed to Search Engines
The problem was related to Grok’s “share” button. When users clicked it, the platform generated a unique URL that was publicly crawlable by search engines. There was no disclaimer or safeguard, and ultimately private exchanges and shared personal information would immediately be published and available online. TechCrunch reporting confirmed that thousands of Grok conversations containing sensitive data are indexed on Google.
Among the published material were uploaded spreadsheets, text documents, and conversations disclosing names, personal details, and at least one password. Experts noted that xAI’s approach mirrored and exceeded a failed OpenAI experiment last month in July 2025, when ChatGPT briefly allowed chats to be discoverable before pulling back after user backlash.
Opportunists are already exploiting Grok’s share function to manipulate Google search results, proving that careless design choices can spawn entirely new risks.
Why This Matters
The Grok and ChatGPT leaks illustrate the absolute need for privacy by design and transparent governance in AI. For fintech and financial services, the implications are massive given that trust is foundational.
See: Cybersecurity Bill C8 Raises Fintech Security Bar
If users believe that their conversations or sensitive data could be exposed online without consent, it will only hinder AI adoption and long term growth. With global media and regulators now scrutinizing the exposure, the lesson is clear: innovation cannot come at the expense of trust.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
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Moneris Sale and Canada’s Changing Payments Market
Payments | Aug 21, 2025 | Last Updated Sep 21, 2026
Image: Freepik
Moneris Sale Separates Bank Distribution From Payment Processing
On August 10, 2026, Francisco Partners agreed to acquire Moneris from RBC and BMO for approximately C$2 billion in cash, subject to regulatory approvals and closing conditions. Each bank is entitled to half of the proceeds. The agreement turns the potential sale first reported in 2025 into a signed change of control.
Moneris supports more than 325,000 points of commerce and handles roughly one in three transactions in Canada. RBC and BMO are selling their ownership interests, but both banks have established long term agreements to refer customers exclusively to Moneris.
RBC and BMO can therefore continue serving business customers and distributing Moneris payment services without owning the processor itself. Francisco Partners will own the company responsible for much of the merchant technology, payment acceptance and commerce infrastructure behind those relationships.
The Moneris sale also leaves the company's Canadian headquarters and technology infrastructure in place while ownership changes hands.
TD, Scotiabank And National Bank Also Use Payment Partners
Canada's other major banks already use variations of this model.
In July 2025, TD partnered with Fiserv under a multi year managed services agreement. TD Merchant Solutions uses Fiserv payment processing, servicing and Clover products. Fiserv also agreed to acquire part of TD's merchant processing business covering approximately 3,400 merchant relationships and 30,000 locations.
Scotiabank works with Chase Payment Solutions for merchant services. National Bank refers commercial clients to Clover Canada, a Fiserv company, for payment processing and merchant technology.
Banks can keep the deposit account, lending, treasury services and customer relationship while specialist payment companies carry more of the technology and operating load.
Merchant acquiring now includes ecommerce, mobile acceptance, terminals, fraud controls, reporting, software integrations, inventory tools, analytics and faster settlement. Competing effectively requires continuous investment well beyond processing a card transaction.
Moneris Is Expanding Beyond Card Processing
Moneris itself is also becoming more than a traditional card processor.
In June 2026, the company expanded Konek pay by bank across Moneris Checkout and its API, giving merchants an online account to account payment option alongside cards.
Moneris has also added accounting integration with QuickBooks and technology that can connect AI agents with commerce tools. Merchant payment providers are now competing across checkout, accounting, data, software integration, fraud controls and business operations as well as payment acceptance.
Francisco Partners is acquiring both a large Canadian processing network and a merchant software platform with room to expand further into commerce technology.
Real Time Rail Adds Another Payment Option
Canada's national payment infrastructure has also advanced substantially since this article was first published.
The Real Time Rail rules and access framework is now approved. The RTR By-law and Rules came into force on August 24, 2026, establishing the legal and operating framework ahead of launch.
Payments Canada is targeting a Q4 2026 launch. Initial direct participants are scheduled to connect first, followed by additional participants and transaction volumes through 2027.
RTR is designed to support instant clearing and settlement around the clock with richer payment data. Payments Canada reported in August that 60% of Canadian businesses surveyed would use real time payments in specified situations. Supplier payments, government payments and domestic account to account transfers were among the identified use cases.
RTR is not a replacement for merchant acquiring or card networks. Banks, fintechs and payment providers still need to build payment initiation, fraud controls, reconciliation, merchant services and customer experiences around the rail.
Account to account products could give merchants another way to receive money and give payment companies another service to integrate into checkout, invoicing and business software.
More Payment Providers Can Enter Canada's Core Systems
Canada is also widening access to its national payment infrastructure.
Changes to the Canadian Payments Act expanded Payments Canada membership eligibility to qualifying payment service providers and other organizations that historically operated outside the core systems. The opening of Canada's payment infrastructure has already brought fintechs, PSPs and credit unions into systems once dominated almost entirely by banks.
The Retail Payment Activities Act framework adds regulatory oversight. Registered payment service providers are supervised by the Bank of Canada and must meet requirements covering operational risk, safeguarding funds, incident response and reporting.
Firms still need settlement arrangements, technical connections, fraud controls, liquidity, compliance and reliable operations before they can build competitive products on national payment infrastructure.
What The Moneris Sale Means For Fintechs And Merchants
For fintech companies, there are more ways to compete around the merchant relationship without owning the underlying processor.
A commerce platform can combine payment acceptance with accounting, reconciliation, lending, payroll, inventory, loyalty and analytics while another company handles regulated payment processing. Banks can distribute these products without building every payment capability themselves.
For merchants, pricing, uptime, settlement timing, dispute handling, fraud protection, software integration, reporting and support matter more than who owns the processor.
Real time account to account payments should eventually add another option once RTR is operating and commercial products are available. Cards will continue to offer different acceptance, credit, rewards and consumer protection features, so merchants are likely to support several payment methods rather than replace one system outright.
Outlook
RBC and BMO are selling Moneris while keeping exclusive referral relationships. TD uses Fiserv technology and has transferred part of its processing portfolio. Scotiabank works with Chase, while National Bank refers merchants to Clover.
At the same time, RTR is approaching launch and more regulated payment providers can participate in Canada's payment infrastructure.
Ownership of the processor is only one part of the market. Banks can control the commercial relationship, processors can run payment infrastructure, software companies can own the merchant workflow and fintechs can build services across those layers.
That gives new entrants more places to compete than the older model where merchant acquiring was concentrated inside a small number of bank owned networks.
Talking Point
If banks can keep the business customer without owning the payment processor, where will the most valuable part of the merchant relationship sit once real time payments and new account to account products become widely available?
Related NCFA Intelligence
Canada's payments market is opening while banks, processors and fintechs compete across different parts of the merchant relationship.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Moneris Sale And Canada's Payments Market
Who is buying Moneris?
Francisco Partners has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Moneris from RBC and BMO for approximately C$2 billion in cash. The transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals and other closing conditions.
Are RBC and BMO leaving merchant services?
RBC and BMO are selling their ownership interests in Moneris, but both banks have established long term agreements to refer customers exclusively to Moneris. Their business customers can therefore continue to use Moneris services after the transaction closes.
What happened to TD Merchant Solutions?
TD entered a multi year managed services relationship with Fiserv in 2025. TD Merchant Solutions uses Fiserv payment processing, servicing and Clover products. Fiserv also agreed to acquire part of TD's merchant processing portfolio covering approximately 3,400 merchant relationships and 30,000 locations.
When is Canada's Real Time Rail expected to launch?
Payments Canada is targeting Q4 2026. The RTR By-law and Rules came into force on August 24, 2026, and participant onboarding and transaction volumes are scheduled to increase in stages through 2027.
Will the Real Time Rail replace credit and debit cards?
RTR is national infrastructure for instant account to account payments. It can support new payment products, but cards offer different acceptance, credit, rewards and consumer protection features. Banks, fintechs and payment companies will decide how RTR is incorporated into merchant and consumer services.
Why does the Moneris sale matter for fintechs?
The sale separates ownership of a major Canadian payment processor from the banks distributing its services. Fintechs and software companies can compete around merchant software, payment integration, data and customer experience without owning the underlying processing network.
This article was originally published on August 21, 2025 and updated on September 21, 2026 using public company, regulatory and industry disclosures. The proposed Moneris acquisition remains subject to regulatory approvals and closing conditions. Payments Canada continues to target Q4 2026 for the initial Real Time Rail launch, and implementation timing may change. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, financial or legal advice.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
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Fintechs Lead NPS Race as Banks Lag Behind
Customer Loyalty Report | Aug 20, 2025
Image: Freepik
CustomerGauge 2025 Benchmarks Show Fintechs Leading the Pack as Incumbents Play Catchup
The 2025 CustomerGauge NPS & CX Benchmarks report (120 page PDF report) helps stakeholders measure customer loyalty across the financial services landscape. The industry average NPS stands at 44, while the banking subset is at 30. Fintechs by contrast are setting new standards with NPS scores ranging from 77 to 90.
What is NPS?
Net Promoter Score (NPS) is a widely used measure of customer loyalty. It asks customers a simple question: How likely are you to recommend this company to a friend or colleague? Answers are scored on a scale from 0 to 10.
- Those who score 9–10 are called Promoters
- 7–8 are Passives
- 0–6 are Detractors
See: The Benefits of Implementing Automated Customer Journey Mapping in Your Business
The final NPS is the percentage of Promoters minus the percentage of Detractors, giving a score that can range from –100 to +100. Higher scores reflect stronger customer advocacy and satisfaction.
Reported NPS Scores for Leading Financial Firms
The table data below is from the CustomerGauge 2025 report, sorted high to low. These figures clearly show fintechs leading customer loyalty followed by USAA and First Republic, while many popular banks fall significantly behind.
| Company | Type | NPS |
| SoFi | Fintech | 90 |
| OnDeck | Fintech | 84 |
| Affirm | Fintech | 83 |
| LendingClub | Fintech | 79 |
| Funding Circle | Fintech | 77 |
| USAA | Financial Institution | 75 |
| First Republic Bank | Bank | 72 |
| First Direct | Bank | 66 |
| ING Luxembourg | Bank | 63 |
| American Express Bank | Bank | 52 |
| Charles Schwab | Financial Institution | 52 |
| Royal Bank of Scotland | Bank | 51 |
| ABN AMRO | Financial Institution | 30 |
| JP Morgan Bank | Bank | 31 |
| Santander UK | Bank | 27 |
| Tesco Bank | Bank | 23 |
| Bank of America | Bank | 18 |
| CitiGroup | Bank | 18 |
| Morgan Stanley | Bank | 16 |
| ANZ | Bank | 15.4 |
| National Australia Bank (NAB) | Bank | 15.4 |
| PNC Bank | Bank | 15 |
| TSB Bank | Bank | 12 |
| CBA | Bank | 10.4 |
| HSBC | Bank | 7 |
| Goldman Sachs | Bank | 5 |
| Westpac | Bank | -6.9 |
Global Region Benchmarks
To help compare and contrast 2025 CustomerGauge NPS figures, below is some regional data points for consideration:
- In Europe and the UK, NPS for traditional banks hovered in the low to mid 40s in 2024, based on Forrester analysis of 60 European banks.
- In Australia, NPS among big banks averages –12.7 in 2024, while the digital-only bank Up scores +49.
- NPS Prism report clocked Canadian banks NPS range in 2024 from 12-48, with Tangerine scoring the highest at 48
- Back in 2020, CSI financial ran an Ipsos poll to find that the average NPS of Canada's financial sector was 21.7
- Canadian fintech Nesto self-reported it's NPS of 76 in 2021, which is close to 2025 global fintech leaders scores
Why This Matters
Loyalty is still a competitive currency in financial services. With fintechs consistently outscoring banks by wide margins, Canadian incumbents in particular face mounting pressure to address gaps that stretch beyond digital convenience into trust, personalization, and value delivery.
See: Is FinTech getting it wrong? Focus on needs and wants
Put differently, improving NPS is not simply about catching up to fintechs but about meeting a global standard that modern customers expect globally. For Canada, this means that raising customer loyalty scores is directly tied to future competitiveness, investor confidence, and the ability to scale innovation in an increasingly global financial marketplace.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
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Cybersecurity Bill C8 Raises Fintech Security Bar
Cybersecurity | Aug 19, 2025
Image: Freepik/DC Studio
Canada’s New Cyber Law Strengthens Compliance and Resilience for Banks and Fintechs
After years of delay, Canada is finally moving forward on cybersecurity legislation. The previous Bill C-26 stalled after critics raised concerns around due process and transparency issues with sweeping ministerial powers, unclear compliance costs, and provisions that would have allowed the government to rely on “secret evidence” in court challenges.
Now a newly introduced Bill C-8 An Act Respecting Cyber Security with the controversial secret evidence clause removed and the introduction of stronger oversight, make it more acceptable to industry stakeholders and politically viable. The legislation creates a new compliance regime with enforceable standards for critical infrastructure operators, including the banking system, and introduces penalties for non-compliance. For fintechs, the implications extend well beyond checklists and into how firms manage partnerships, payments, and cross-border data.
Bill C8 and PSP Oversight Raise the Bar
Bill C-8 arrives alongside the Bank of Canada's supervision of payment service providers (PSPs) under the Retail Payment Activities Act on September 8, 2025. Wallets, transfer apps, and other fintech PSPs must register, meet operational requirements, and demonstrate risk and security controls. The alignment of Bill C-8 with this deadline raises the bar for cyber resilience across the fintech ecosystem.
See: Ottawa Issues New Guidance for Biometric Privacy in Canada
Even if most fintechs are not directly listed under the new Critical Cyber Systems Protection Act, regulated banks and clearing systems will be. These institutions will port obligations onto their fintech partners through contracts, audits, and certifications. OSFI’s Guideline B-13 on technology and cyber risk requires federally regulated institutions to govern third-party risks, test resilience, and maintain continuous monitoring, so we can expect those same requirements to flow into fintech vendor and partner assessments.
Payments Canada has also emphasized that national systems such as Lynx are critical infrastructure requiring robust cyber resilience. For fintechs integrated with those rails, resilience is no longer optional. It has become a business differentiator that impacts customer trust and competitive positioning.
Data Flows, Threats, and Global Readiness
Policy analysis suggests that Bill C-8 could influence EU–Canada data adequacy assessments, critical for fintechs handling European customer data or operating cross-border platforms. A compliance strategy that includes strong governance and privacy readiness will put Canadian fintechs in a better position to scale globally. For fintechs, compliance is only the minimum floor. Continues monitoring and governance should be the program.
Outlook
Bill C-8 is a structural change in how Canada is approaching digital security. For fintechs, it means cyber readiness is inseparable from growth, compliance, and trust.
See: Fintechs Face Rising SaaS Security Risks, JPMorgan CISO
Those that move early to align with the expectations of both regulators and banking partners will not only meet compliance demands, but also stand out in a crowded marketplace. Canada’s fintech sector has an opportunity to turn these new rules into a foundation for competitive strength in a global digital economy.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
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Proven Outreach Strategies by SalesAR That Drive Results
Aug 19, 2025
Image: Freepik
SalesAR has built its reputation on proven outreach strategies that consistently deliver measurable results for B2B companies. Specializing in outbound lead generation and appointment setting, the team focuses on precision targeting, tailored messaging, and data-backed execution.
Outreach strategies by SalesAR deliver measurable results by blending deep research, personalized messaging, and proven cold email outreach best practices within a multi-channel approach.
With more than 30,000 booked meetings and 650+ clients worldwide, they’ve shown time and again that a structured, performance-driven approach can fill pipelines faster and more reliably than guesswork.
The Core Principles Behind SalesAR’s Outreach Success
Their strategy is multi-channel by design, blending email, LinkedIn, and direct calls to keep prospects engaged without being intrusive. This mix not only increases touchpoints but also builds familiarity and trust. The result is a consistent flow of qualified leads that directly translates into pipeline growth and predictable, repeatable sales opportunities.
Step 1 — Deep ICP & Persona Research
Every successful campaign begins with knowing exactly who you want to reach. SalesAR defines the Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) with laser focus, mapping out industries, company sizes, geographies, and budgets that match the client’s best opportunities. From there, they pinpoint the real decision-makers—whether that’s a CMO, IT director, or procurement lead—and identify the buying triggers most likely to spark interest.
Before launching targeted outreach campaigns, the team follows cold email outreach best practices alongside a complete data verification and enrichment process. This ensures every contact is accurate, up-to-date, and worth engaging, eliminating wasted effort and keeping reply rates high from day one.
Step 2 — Personalized, High-Impact Messaging
Once the right audience is defined, the next step is speaking their language. SalesAR’s copywriters craft subject lines that consistently drive open rates of 50–70%, cutting through crowded inboxes. But personalization doesn’t stop at using a first name—it’s about referencing the recipient’s industry, addressing specific pain points, and timing the outreach when it’s most relevant.
Every message is designed to deliver value quickly. Concise, actionable content helps busy decision-makers see the benefit in responding without wading through fluff, making each touchpoint more likely to move the conversation forward.
Step 3 — Multi-Channel Outreach for Maximum Reach
Relying on a single communication channel limits results. SalesAR uses multichannel outbound for lead generation that combines tailored email sequences, LinkedIn connection requests with ongoing engagement, and direct calls when the timing is right.
This synchronized approach ensures prospects see the message in multiple contexts, boosting familiarity and trust. By aligning touchpoints across channels, the team consistently achieves higher engagement rates and keeps momentum strong throughout the outreach cycle.
Step 4 — Consistent Follow-Up & Nurturing
Most deals don’t happen after the first or second contact—they happen after the fifth or later. SalesAR builds in automated follow-up sequences that still feel personal, maintaining relevance while avoiding repetition.
Using cold email outreach best practices during nurturing ensures prospects stay warm until the timing is right. Whether it’s sharing valuable insights or checking back after a known trigger event, this steady communication ensures no opportunity slips away simply because it wasn’t nurtured.
Step 5 — Appointment Setting That Converts
Outreach success isn’t measured by replies alone—it’s about securing sales-qualified appointments that lead to real opportunities. From the first touch to the booked meeting, SalesAR’s multichannel outbound for lead generation process qualifies prospects to ensure only high-fit decision-makers make it onto the calendar.
With clear metrics like reply rates and meeting-to-close ratios, clients can see exactly how outreach performance translates into revenue. The result: fewer wasted meetings, more deals closed, and a stronger sales pipeline.
Why SalesAR’s Outreach Works When Others Don’t
Many outreach efforts fail because they ignore cold email outreach best practices and rely on guesswork. SalesAR combines precise research, meaningful personalization, and data-backed decision-making to outperform generic campaigns consistently. Their team brings together SDRs, strategists, copywriters, and analysts who know how to align efforts for maximum impact.
See: Strategies for Achieving Product-Market Fit in Web3
The process is built to scale using multichannel outbound for lead generation without sacrificing quality. Every touchpoint is intentional, relevant, and designed to move prospects closer to a meaningful conversation.
Conclusion
SalesAR’s proven outreach strategies deliver measurable results by blending deep research. If you’re ready to fill your calendar with sales-qualified appointments and accelerate growth, it’s time to see what SalesAR can do for you.
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