Karsten Wenzlaff, Advisor
August 26th, 2025
Karsten Wenzlaff is a Crowdfunding and Fintech Expert from Germany. He is Secretary-General of Digit[...]
DLA Piper’s Tech Index 2024 – Highlights for Fintechs
Tech Report | Sep 12, 2024
Image: Tech Index 2024 (DLA Piper)
DLA Piper Technology Index 2024 Highlights for Fintech Innovators and Investors
Last week, DLA Piper dropped "The Tech Index 2024 - Riding the Next Big Wave" based on responses from over 1,200 industry experts, investors, and policy makers worldwide. This years report takes a outlook beyond Europe to explore regions such, as North America, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia Pacific for the first time. Below we cover the highlights.
1. Staying Positive During Times of Uncertainty
The global IT Index score for 2024 reached a record high of 71 indicating strong optimism for the future of the IT sector especially for fintech participants in North American and Latin American. For investors and entrepreneurs, this means it's not too late to enter the market and there are still many of opportunities for development and growth despite the unpredictability of the world economy. Having said that, it's now or never for fintech businesses, especially those in the payments and digital banking sectors to take advantage of venture capital momentum and market confidence.
2. AI's Transformative Role in Fintech
Many experts consider Artificial Intelligence to be the catalyst for business expansion with 63 percent of those surveyed viewing it as the leading opportunity. AI is transforming fintech products, such as automated customer support services, real time fraud prevention, predictive data analysis, and investment management.
See: 5 Fintech Failures and Lessons to Learn From
For fintech founders, AI powered solutions can boost efficiency and provide an edge in offering personalized financial services, thus improving customer satisfaction. AI can even help strengthen security measures. It's no wonder that investors are lining up with FOMO to back the latest innovative AI startups. Companies should also remain focused on the emerging AI guardrails and risk frameworks (see: Canadian guide on the use of Generative AI) being developed around the world to protect the public and ourselves from existential risks and more.
3. The Growing Priority of Cybersecurity
The threat of cybersecurity is constantly growing as fintech organizations embrace digital-first strategies. AI is a key part of both innovative security solutions and also sophisticated cyberattacks. Cybercriminals use of AI to automate phishing and produce deepfakes, which are serious threats for fintech companies that handle sensitive financial data. Strong security architectures must be prioritized due to tightening regulatory frameworks, such as the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) in the EU. Companies looking to stay ahead of the curve and satisfy regulatory requirements while building trust, must have security professionals on staff to perform regular stress tests, and resolve any gaps expeditiously.
4. Unlocking the Value of Data
Data is frequently compared to the 'new oil' but only one third of participants in the Tech Index survey are actively engaging in data monetization tactics. Fintechs should be harnessing data to enhance understanding of customers, fine tune services and even generate new sources of revenue and user satisfaction.
See: Ilya Sutskever’s AI Startup SSI Secures $1 billion
There is significant opportunity for companies with vast amounts of high quality data. Companies must comply with various data protection laws, such as GDPR when developing monetization strategies. Solutions should optimize data without compromising privacy safeguards.
5. Stay On Top of Geopolitical Risks
The Tech Index highlights a concern about how global geopolitical uncertainties are slowing down growth momentum in various sectors like fintech due to conflicts in different regions and trade tensions between countries such, as the United States and China. It is crucial for investors to evaluate risks before expanding internationally or engaging in cross border transactions. Entrepreneurs should concentrate on developing adaptable solutions that can sustain market disruptions and adapt to changing regulatory environments.
Outlook
Fintechs and investors should be integrating AI technologies and developing data monetization strategies while remaining cognizant of complex geopolitical and regulatory environments globally. Remaining adaptable, resilient, and sustainable will set some fintech companies apart from others looking to grow long term.
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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