Mahi Sall, Advisor, Fintech-Bank Partnerships, Payments and Financial Inclusivity
January 25th, 2023
Mahi Sall is the CEO & Founder of FinXpair, a Berlin-based strategic advisory boutique firm focu[...]
To Support Disruptive Technologies, Take Bigness Seriously
Denise Hearn | Myth of Capitalism | May 24, 2019
Shivaun Moeran and her husband Adam Raff founded one of the most promising startups you’ve never heard of. Adam managed Europe’s supercomputers used for weather forecasting and Shivaun managed software products for General Motors. While having a cigarette outside his office one day in 2006, Adam was struck with a brilliant idea. What if you could create an online search platform to find the best price for any product? It would aggregate specific information about category verticals, and nothing like it existed at the time.
They quit their jobs, hired a team, and began beta testing. Their site, Foundem.com ranked well on Google and they were receiving a steady flow of traffic. However, a few days after the official site launch, visitors to the site disappeared and never came back.
Upon investigation, they discovered that Google had updated their search ranking algorithm and had demoted the site, so it appeared on page 4 or even 170 of search results. Foundem had effectively disappeared from the internet – blacklisted. They suspected that they had been intentionally knocked out of the market and, after speaking with other entrepreneurs who had similar experiences, filed a complaint with the European Commission. Nearly 13 years later, Google was fined 2.4 billion euros for crushing competitors and steering users to its own product search sites. This was the first of 3 big antitrust fines leveled at the company, the third coming this past March.
The story of these two entrepreneurs is representative of the challenges facing many new entrepreneurs today – they are up against concentrated and centralized power not seen since the first Gilded Age, making it very difficult to compete.
See: Advancing Competition in a Changing Marketplace
Across many industries in the US and Canada, (and indeed globally), industries have become increasingly concentrated via waves of mergers and acquisitions. Many Canadians are aware of the main oligopolies of telco companies and banking. Banking is controlled by the Big 5 (TD Bank, RBC, Bank of Nova Scotia, Bank of Montreal, CIBC) which would have been the Big 3 had the Competition Bureau not blocked merger proposals in 1998. And The Wireless Telecom industry in Canada is heavily concentrated, with the big three capturing an estimated 88.7% of the market between Rogers, Bell, and Telus.
But fewer are aware of how industrial concentration has seeped into nearly all areas of the economy: eyeglasses, pharmacies, grocers, retail, and even funeral services. Park Lawn Corp, Canada’s largest publicly traded funeral service provider, went from owning 9 funeral facilities in 2013 to over 149 locations by the middle of 2018. Investment strategists praise the company’s consolidation efforts because death, though unsexy, is now becoming highly profitable for shareholders.
When companies merge, they announce the great savings from “synergies” that they will share with customers. To give you a sense of how outlandish the estimates are, the accounting firm Deloitte calculated that the announced cost savings of the current mergers boom amounted to $1.9 trillion, which is more than the entirety of Canada’s GDP. Despite the purported ‘efficiency gains’ meant to come from merging, Canadians pay some of the highest rates globally for international travel, cell phone packages, and banking services.
Wall Street earned $21 billion in merger fees last year, so there is an incentive to keep this engine running. And the US has its sights set on Canada: outbound deals into the U.S. increased by 40% from $80.56-billion in 2017 to $112.9-billion in 2018 (USD).
This matters for fintech firms for a variety of reasons. Most crucially, it should serve as a warning. The internet was invented to avoid single points of failure and protect from nuclear attack. Yet, in 2014, nearly 50% of all internet traffic moved through the Google and Facebook universe. Today, it is closer to 70%. What was meant to be the world’s decentralized, democratized exchange of information has become beholden to two choke point companies that extract the majority of revenue value from the internet.
See: Technology is the ‘most profound force bearing down’ on big banks, ex-Barclays boss says
Blockchain-backed cryptocurrencies were invented with a similar premise of decentralization and democratization. However, Bitmain, a Chinese bitcoin mining company, is estimated to have 70 to 80% market share in bitcoin miners, earning $2.8 billion in revenue in 2018. It is unclear, more than 10 years since inception, who has benefitted most from blockchain technology as it has yet failed to significantly deliver on its most lofty claims about equitable distribution.
This is why it is increasingly important to recognize the powerful forces with incentives to re-centralize power, and to set up appropriate checks and balances via regulation and citizen engagement to support the next wave of Canadian entrepreneurs – fintech or otherwise.
For regulators and government: Tax and transfer approaches treat symptoms, not the true disease of concentrated market power and capital ownership. We need to adopt economic policies that support distributed economies that more widely disseminate power. We also need to get serious about bigness. Antitrust and merger review need a return to the forefront of political discourse, as they increasingly are in the United States. Caring about innovation means taking concentrated power seriously and supporting disruptive industries like fintech, crowdfunding, and blockchain.
Funders should change success metrics away from chasing elusive unicorns with billion dollar valuations to fostering thousands of stronger locally grown and supported companies. Yes, we want national champions, but we also want a robust network of medium-sized businesses that are sustainable and adding value to the economy that do not get swallowed by foreign giants.
Lack of competition in markets hurts consumers, workers, innovators and entrepreneurs. It leads to a host of other symptomatic ills like income inequality and, by extension, populism. As the famous US Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis said,
“We must make our choice. We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can’t have both.”
See:
Why Open Banking Represents a Seismic Shift for Fintech
Canada’s financial upstarts are lining up behind open banking, but bigger players may need convincing
Open Banking: What’s Really at Stake
The time is now to admonish incumbent oligopolists and to support challenger entrepreneurs.
Disruptive technologies will play a key role, but it is incumbent upon regulators to foster markets where everyone has a chance to compete. We all have a responsibility to help create a more equitably distributed economic future.
Denise Hearn, Co-Author, Myth of Capitalism, mythofcapitalism.com
Denise writes, presents, and consults on economics, systems change, and human flourishing. She has presented to over 50,000 people at venues including: The Oxford Union, Bloomberg, a Canadian Parliamentary Standing Committee, and group homes for foster children. Things she find fun: investigating complex social and economic problems and co-creating organizational growth strategies with entrepreneurs and founders. She has done this across diverse fields: impact investing, education, the sharing economy, and macroeconomics.
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, 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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Cyber Security | Sep 27, 2023 The cyber landscape in 2023 has witnessed a significant surge in ransomware attacks, with small businesses becoming the primary targets. According to a report from Infosecurity Magazine, ransomware attackers are increasingly targeting smaller, less defended organizations. There was a 47% increase in new victims in the latter half of 2022, with many of these being small businesses with less mature cyber postures. Specifically, 57% of the victims of the LockBit gang, known for high-profile attacks on the Royal Mail and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), were small businesses. Many of these groups are moving away from traditional encryption-based attacks. Instead, they threaten to expose and publicize sensitive information, shifting from ransomware to pure extortion tactics. See: Small Businesses Incur Greatest Loss of Cyber Attacks | 67% Suffer Repeat Attacks Within 12 Months Ransomware by the Numbers In the first half of 2023, there was a 45.27% global increase in ransomware victim organizations, totaling 2,001. During the same period, the sectors most targeted by ransomware were banking, retail, and transportation. LockBit, a dominant ransomware since 2022, primarily targeted IT, finance, and professional services. Nearly 50% of all ransomware victims were US-based organizations, a significant increase ...
Release | Sep 27, 2023 Elevate's Acquisition of CIX is A Testament to Canada's Flourishing Startup Ecosystem Canada's startup landscape has always been a vibrant tapestry of innovation, ambition, and collaboration. At the heart of this ecosystem, organizations like the Canadian Innovation Exchange (CIX) have played pivotal roles in spotlighting the nation's most promising startups and bridging the gap between innovators and investors. As a long-time community partner and admirer of CIX, the National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association of Canada (NCFA) is thrilled about this acquisition announcement. NCFA & CIX: A Journey Together Over the years, NCFA has had the privilege of walking alongside CIX, celebrating its successes, and learning from its vast experiences. Our partnership has been rooted in mutual respect and a shared passion for fostering innovation in Canada. We've watched CIX grow, evolve, and transform into Canada's largest startup awards program and investment conference. Their annual curation program has consistently showcased the crème de la crème of Canadian startups, attracting attention from North American VCs, corporates, and private equity investors. See: Clay Financial Closes $1.7 Million Pre-Seed to Offer Home Equity Sharing AltFi Product in Canada Both Elevate and CIX have been champions of innovation, tirelessly working ...
AI | Sep 27, 2023 Amazon agrees to invest up to $4 billion in Anthropic to compete against other tech giants like Microsoft, Meta, Google, and Nvidia who are heavily invested in the space. The initial investment will see Amazon infuse $1.25 billion for a minority stake in Anthropic. Furthermore, Amazon retains the option to increase its investment to a total of $4 billion. Anthropic, backed by notable investors including Google, Spark Capital, Salesforce, Sound Ventures, Menlo Ventures, and Zoom, has amassed a total funding of $2.7 billion so far, and has ambitious plans. In May of this year, the startup achieved a valuation of approximately $5 billion following a $450 million funding round. The valuation set by Amazon in their recent investment in Anthropic has not been disclosed. For context, OpenAI has already secured more than $11 billion in funding, with a significant portion coming from Microsoft. See: OSFI’s Evolving Focus on Integrity & Security Anthropic aims to raise as much as $5 billion over the next two years and has recently launched its consumer-facing premium subscription plan of chatbot Claude 2 and has plans to develop a "frontier model" named "Claude-Next." This model is projected to be ten ...
Sep 27, 2023 Citi's groundbreaking partnership with BondbloX underscores the rising prominence of fractional bonds in reshaping the global investment landscape. What are Fractional Bonds? Fractional bonds (see Digital bonds), as the name suggests, allow investors to own a fraction of a bond rather than the entire bond. This concept is similar to buying shares in a company. Instead of purchasing an entire bond, which might be cost-prohibitive for many retail investors, they can buy a fraction of it. This democratizes bond trading, making it accessible to a broader audience. See: Catastrophe Bonds: Killer Use Case for Digital Asset Adoption? The concept of fractional bonds is still relatively new, but it's gaining traction rapidly. Platforms like BondbloX are at the forefront of this movement. BondbloX, which started as BondEvalue, has made significant strides in simplifying bond investing. Their platform allows investors to track and trade bonds electronically, much like stocks. This approach not only makes bond trading more accessible but also integrates the advantages of equities trading into the bond market. Citi and BondbloX's IRL Partnership One of the most notable partnerships in the fractional bond space is between BondbloX and Citi. As we've seen from the recent announcement, Citi ...
Payments | Sep 27, 2023 Jack Dorsey returns to lead Square as it strategically dives into the Canadian cannabis market through a partnership with Jane Technologies, signaling a bold new direction for the fintech giant. In recent developments, Jack Dorsey, the co-founder of Twitter (now known as X) and the mind behind fintech giant Block Inc, is making headlines once again. This time, it's not just about his leadership changes at Square but also about Square's strategic move into the Canadian cannabis market. Jack Dorsey Returns to Square Jack Dorsey, who co-founded fintech company Block in 2009, is set to lead Square once more. As CEO Alyssa Henry prepares to step down on October 2nd after a commendable nine-year tenure, Dorsey will take over her role. Interestingly, Dorsey will be titled as "Square Head", aligning with his current title of "Block Head" at Block Inc. During her time as CEO, Alyssa Henry played a pivotal role in transforming Square into a software-led technology company. Under her leadership, the company navigated the challenges of global pandemic lockdowns and expanded its services for small businesses globally. See: Jack Dorsey Announces Launching Bluesky, Decentralized Social Platform, Closed Beta Soon Square, which was initially ...
Report Insights | Sep 26, 2023 Dive into Citi's illuminating insights on the transformative landscape of cross-border payments for 2023 Based on the Citi's latest "Global Perspectives & Solutions: Future of Cross-Border Payments" report September 2023, here are 10 of the most insightful thought leadership points, statistics, or facts and figures that would be of interest to fintechs and banks. The report is the culmination of insights gathered from prominent market infrastructure specialists both inside and outside of Citi, as well as from FinTechs and a broad spectrum of banks spread across four continents. Additionally, it encapsulates the primary discoveries from an exclusive survey conducted among over 100 financial institutions affiliated with Citi. See: Understanding the Impact of Blockchain on Banking: Cross-Border Payments 1. Cross-Border Payments Inflection Point The world of cross-border payments is at a pivotal moment. As new competition and technologies emerge, there will be winners and losers. All players must adapt to maintain and grow their market share. 2. $250 Trillion Opportunity The value of cross-border payments is projected to reach $250 trillion by 2027. This massive growth presents a significant opportunity for both traditional banks and fintechs. 3. Market Share Shift to Fintechs Over 40% of ...
Regulatory Insights | Sep 26, 2023 OSFI Superintendent Peter Routledge recently delivered a keynote speech at the Global Risk Institute Annual Summit, highlighting the organization's evolving approach to risk management, particularly in the areas of integrity and security. Evolving Mandate Historically, OSFI's primary focus has been on prudential, financial risks, especially post the 2008 global financial crisis. This included aspects like leverage ratios, reserve capital, and liquidity. However, the growing prevalence of non-financial risks, such as those arising from climate change, digitalization, institutional culture, and geopolitical risks, has necessitated a broader approach. See: OSFI and GRI report: AI in Finance Needs Safeguards, Explainability Key For Trust OSFI's mandate has recently undergone changes, emphasizing the importance of integrity and security in promoting confidence in Canada's financial system. Non-Financial Risks A Growing Concern While financial risks remain a significant concern, non-financial risks, if unaddressed, can manifest as prudential risks. Risks like climate change, digitalization, and institutional culture, although primarily non-financial, can have substantial prudential impacts. Geopolitical risks are becoming more prominent and can expose Canadian financial institutions to vulnerabilities. Addressing Threats to Integrity and Security The Government of Canada modified OSFI's mandate in June, emphasizing the supervision of federally regulated financial institutions ...
Capital | Sep 26, 2023 Luge Capital, a trailblazer in fintech-focused venture capital, has unveiled a significant milestone: the first close of its second fund, Luge Capital Fund II, amassing CA$71 million. MONTRÉAL – September 26, 2023 – With an ambitious target of $100 million for the fund, this announcement is set to reverberate across the fintech investment landscape. Since its launch in 2018, Luge Capital has been synonymous with innovation, backing early-stage startups in Canada and the U.S. that are led by transformative founders. Their inaugural fund of roughly $85 million saw investments in 21 pioneering companies, including standout names like Flinks, Plooto, and Owl. The second fund promises to be even more impactful. Not only will it continue the legacy of its predecessor, but it's also broadening its investment horizons. Luge is setting its sights on verticalized fintech startups that intersect with major industries and is also venturing into the realm of ESG-focused fintech startups. See: Browse AI Secures US$2.8M Seed Funding: Vancouver Tech Startup’s Success Several prominent investors have returned, such as CDPQ, Desjardins, BDC Capital, and Sun Life, showing their continued trust in Luge's vision, while simultaneously attracting new investors such as Inovia Discovery Fund I, ...
AI | Sep 25, 2023 OpenAI Announces that ChatGPT Can Now Speak and Listen & Process Images. New Features to Rollout to 'Pro Customers' Within 2 Weeks 1. The Power of Voice in Fintech Gone are the days when interactions with financial platforms were limited to typed commands. With the advent of sophisticated voice technology, businesses can now offer a more intuitive and personalized user experience. Imagine querying your financial dashboard using voice commands or authorizing transactions with a simple spoken phrase. The possibilities are endless. See: FCA’s Emerging Regulatory Strategy for Big Tech and Artificial Intelligence To name but a few checkout below and unlock your imagination: Voice-Activated Financial Assistants: From checking account balances to setting up payments, voice commands streamline operations, especially for those who prefer hands-free interactions or have accessibility needs. Interactive Financial Education: Voice interactions can make financial literacy sessions more engaging, allowing users to ask questions and receive real-time responses. Voice-Powered Transactions: With advancements in voice recognition security, the future might see us authorizing payments or transfers using just our voices. Financial Planning and Advisory: Consumers can discuss their financial goals and plans with ChatGPT, which can then provide insights, suggestions, or even generate financial ...
Launch Release | Sep 25, 2023 Canadian digital assets infrastructure provider, Aquanow, unveils its latest venture: the AQN Digital Ventures Fund. Aquanow Overview Founded in 2018, headquartered in Canada with offices in Toronto and Vancouver. Aimed at pioneering digital assets investment funds for Canadians in a transparent manner. Team strength of over 100 professionals. AQN Digital is a wholly owned subsidiary of Aquanow CEO Phil Sham has a background in traditional finance, with roles at Connor, Clark & Lunn Financial Group and CIBC. Regulatory Moves in 2022: Registered AQN Asset Management, Ltd. with regulatory authorities in British Columbia and Ontario. Aimed at pioneering digital assets investment funds for Canadians in a transparent manner. The Fund Already invested over $1 million in seven companies. Notable investments include BoomFi and Mash. Fund valuation stands at $13.4 million CAD ($10 million USD). Comprises individuals and entities closely associated with Aquanow, including early investors and long-standing customers (especially ventures that align with Aquanow's core business of digital asset infrastructure and liquidity). Targeting early-stage investments in blockchain technologies, payments, infrastructure, and compliance within the crypto domain. Aims to invest between $100,000 and $500,000 per venture, and plans to make one to two additional investments monthly ...
Cyber Security | Sep 27, 2023 The cyber landscape in 2023 has witnessed a significant surge in ransomware attacks, with small businesses becoming the primary targets. According to a report from Infosecurity Magazine, ransomware attackers are increasingly targeting smaller, less defended organizations. There was a 47% increase in new victims in the latter half of 2022, with many of these being small businesses with less mature cyber postures. Specifically, 57% of the victims of the LockBit gang, known for high-profile attacks on the Royal Mail and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), were small businesses. Many of these groups are moving away from traditional encryption-based attacks. Instead, they threaten to expose and publicize sensitive information, shifting from ransomware to pure extortion tactics. See: Small Businesses Incur Greatest Loss of Cyber Attacks | 67% Suffer Repeat Attacks Within 12 Months Ransomware by the Numbers In the first half of 2023, there was a 45.27% global increase in ransomware victim organizations, totaling 2,001. During the same period, the sectors most targeted by ransomware were banking, retail, and transportation. LockBit, a dominant ransomware since 2022, primarily targeted IT, finance, and professional services. Nearly 50% of all ransomware victims were US-based organizations, a significant increase ...
Release | Sep 27, 2023 Elevate's Acquisition of CIX is A Testament to Canada's Flourishing Startup Ecosystem Canada's startup landscape has always been a vibrant tapestry of innovation, ambition, and collaboration. At the heart of this ecosystem, organizations like the Canadian Innovation Exchange (CIX) have played pivotal roles in spotlighting the nation's most promising startups and bridging the gap between innovators and investors. As a long-time community partner and admirer of CIX, the National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association of Canada (NCFA) is thrilled about this acquisition announcement. NCFA & CIX: A Journey Together Over the years, NCFA has had the privilege of walking alongside CIX, celebrating its successes, and learning from its vast experiences. Our partnership has been rooted in mutual respect and a shared passion for fostering innovation in Canada. We've watched CIX grow, evolve, and transform into Canada's largest startup awards program and investment conference. Their annual curation program has consistently showcased the crème de la crème of Canadian startups, attracting attention from North American VCs, corporates, and private equity investors. See: Clay Financial Closes $1.7 Million Pre-Seed to Offer Home Equity Sharing AltFi Product in Canada Both Elevate and CIX have been champions of innovation, tirelessly working ...
AI | Sep 27, 2023 Amazon agrees to invest up to $4 billion in Anthropic to compete against other tech giants like Microsoft, Meta, Google, and Nvidia who are heavily invested in the space. The initial investment will see Amazon infuse $1.25 billion for a minority stake in Anthropic. Furthermore, Amazon retains the option to increase its investment to a total of $4 billion. Anthropic, backed by notable investors including Google, Spark Capital, Salesforce, Sound Ventures, Menlo Ventures, and Zoom, has amassed a total funding of $2.7 billion so far, and has ambitious plans. In May of this year, the startup achieved a valuation of approximately $5 billion following a $450 million funding round. The valuation set by Amazon in their recent investment in Anthropic has not been disclosed. For context, OpenAI has already secured more than $11 billion in funding, with a significant portion coming from Microsoft. See: OSFI’s Evolving Focus on Integrity & Security Anthropic aims to raise as much as $5 billion over the next two years and has recently launched its consumer-facing premium subscription plan of chatbot Claude 2 and has plans to develop a "frontier model" named "Claude-Next." This model is projected to be ten ...
Sep 27, 2023 Citi's groundbreaking partnership with BondbloX underscores the rising prominence of fractional bonds in reshaping the global investment landscape. What are Fractional Bonds? Fractional bonds (see Digital bonds), as the name suggests, allow investors to own a fraction of a bond rather than the entire bond. This concept is similar to buying shares in a company. Instead of purchasing an entire bond, which might be cost-prohibitive for many retail investors, they can buy a fraction of it. This democratizes bond trading, making it accessible to a broader audience. See: Catastrophe Bonds: Killer Use Case for Digital Asset Adoption? The concept of fractional bonds is still relatively new, but it's gaining traction rapidly. Platforms like BondbloX are at the forefront of this movement. BondbloX, which started as BondEvalue, has made significant strides in simplifying bond investing. Their platform allows investors to track and trade bonds electronically, much like stocks. This approach not only makes bond trading more accessible but also integrates the advantages of equities trading into the bond market. Citi and BondbloX's IRL Partnership One of the most notable partnerships in the fractional bond space is between BondbloX and Citi. As we've seen from the recent announcement, Citi ...
Payments | Sep 27, 2023 Jack Dorsey returns to lead Square as it strategically dives into the Canadian cannabis market through a partnership with Jane Technologies, signaling a bold new direction for the fintech giant. In recent developments, Jack Dorsey, the co-founder of Twitter (now known as X) and the mind behind fintech giant Block Inc, is making headlines once again. This time, it's not just about his leadership changes at Square but also about Square's strategic move into the Canadian cannabis market. Jack Dorsey Returns to Square Jack Dorsey, who co-founded fintech company Block in 2009, is set to lead Square once more. As CEO Alyssa Henry prepares to step down on October 2nd after a commendable nine-year tenure, Dorsey will take over her role. Interestingly, Dorsey will be titled as "Square Head", aligning with his current title of "Block Head" at Block Inc. During her time as CEO, Alyssa Henry played a pivotal role in transforming Square into a software-led technology company. Under her leadership, the company navigated the challenges of global pandemic lockdowns and expanded its services for small businesses globally. See: Jack Dorsey Announces Launching Bluesky, Decentralized Social Platform, Closed Beta Soon Square, which was initially ...
Report Insights | Sep 26, 2023 Dive into Citi's illuminating insights on the transformative landscape of cross-border payments for 2023 Based on the Citi's latest "Global Perspectives & Solutions: Future of Cross-Border Payments" report September 2023, here are 10 of the most insightful thought leadership points, statistics, or facts and figures that would be of interest to fintechs and banks. The report is the culmination of insights gathered from prominent market infrastructure specialists both inside and outside of Citi, as well as from FinTechs and a broad spectrum of banks spread across four continents. Additionally, it encapsulates the primary discoveries from an exclusive survey conducted among over 100 financial institutions affiliated with Citi. See: Understanding the Impact of Blockchain on Banking: Cross-Border Payments 1. Cross-Border Payments Inflection Point The world of cross-border payments is at a pivotal moment. As new competition and technologies emerge, there will be winners and losers. All players must adapt to maintain and grow their market share. 2. $250 Trillion Opportunity The value of cross-border payments is projected to reach $250 trillion by 2027. This massive growth presents a significant opportunity for both traditional banks and fintechs. 3. Market Share Shift to Fintechs Over 40% of ...
Regulatory Insights | Sep 26, 2023 OSFI Superintendent Peter Routledge recently delivered a keynote speech at the Global Risk Institute Annual Summit, highlighting the organization's evolving approach to risk management, particularly in the areas of integrity and security. Evolving Mandate Historically, OSFI's primary focus has been on prudential, financial risks, especially post the 2008 global financial crisis. This included aspects like leverage ratios, reserve capital, and liquidity. However, the growing prevalence of non-financial risks, such as those arising from climate change, digitalization, institutional culture, and geopolitical risks, has necessitated a broader approach. See: OSFI and GRI report: AI in Finance Needs Safeguards, Explainability Key For Trust OSFI's mandate has recently undergone changes, emphasizing the importance of integrity and security in promoting confidence in Canada's financial system. Non-Financial Risks A Growing Concern While financial risks remain a significant concern, non-financial risks, if unaddressed, can manifest as prudential risks. Risks like climate change, digitalization, and institutional culture, although primarily non-financial, can have substantial prudential impacts. Geopolitical risks are becoming more prominent and can expose Canadian financial institutions to vulnerabilities. Addressing Threats to Integrity and Security The Government of Canada modified OSFI's mandate in June, emphasizing the supervision of federally regulated financial institutions ...
Capital | Sep 26, 2023 Luge Capital, a trailblazer in fintech-focused venture capital, has unveiled a significant milestone: the first close of its second fund, Luge Capital Fund II, amassing CA$71 million. MONTRÉAL – September 26, 2023 – With an ambitious target of $100 million for the fund, this announcement is set to reverberate across the fintech investment landscape. Since its launch in 2018, Luge Capital has been synonymous with innovation, backing early-stage startups in Canada and the U.S. that are led by transformative founders. Their inaugural fund of roughly $85 million saw investments in 21 pioneering companies, including standout names like Flinks, Plooto, and Owl. The second fund promises to be even more impactful. Not only will it continue the legacy of its predecessor, but it's also broadening its investment horizons. Luge is setting its sights on verticalized fintech startups that intersect with major industries and is also venturing into the realm of ESG-focused fintech startups. See: Browse AI Secures US$2.8M Seed Funding: Vancouver Tech Startup’s Success Several prominent investors have returned, such as CDPQ, Desjardins, BDC Capital, and Sun Life, showing their continued trust in Luge's vision, while simultaneously attracting new investors such as Inovia Discovery Fund I, ...
AI | Sep 25, 2023 OpenAI Announces that ChatGPT Can Now Speak and Listen & Process Images. New Features to Rollout to 'Pro Customers' Within 2 Weeks 1. The Power of Voice in Fintech Gone are the days when interactions with financial platforms were limited to typed commands. With the advent of sophisticated voice technology, businesses can now offer a more intuitive and personalized user experience. Imagine querying your financial dashboard using voice commands or authorizing transactions with a simple spoken phrase. The possibilities are endless. See: FCA’s Emerging Regulatory Strategy for Big Tech and Artificial Intelligence To name but a few checkout below and unlock your imagination: Voice-Activated Financial Assistants: From checking account balances to setting up payments, voice commands streamline operations, especially for those who prefer hands-free interactions or have accessibility needs. Interactive Financial Education: Voice interactions can make financial literacy sessions more engaging, allowing users to ask questions and receive real-time responses. Voice-Powered Transactions: With advancements in voice recognition security, the future might see us authorizing payments or transfers using just our voices. Financial Planning and Advisory: Consumers can discuss their financial goals and plans with ChatGPT, which can then provide insights, suggestions, or even generate financial ...
Launch Release | Sep 25, 2023 Canadian digital assets infrastructure provider, Aquanow, unveils its latest venture: the AQN Digital Ventures Fund. Aquanow Overview Founded in 2018, headquartered in Canada with offices in Toronto and Vancouver. Aimed at pioneering digital assets investment funds for Canadians in a transparent manner. Team strength of over 100 professionals. AQN Digital is a wholly owned subsidiary of Aquanow CEO Phil Sham has a background in traditional finance, with roles at Connor, Clark & Lunn Financial Group and CIBC. Regulatory Moves in 2022: Registered AQN Asset Management, Ltd. with regulatory authorities in British Columbia and Ontario. Aimed at pioneering digital assets investment funds for Canadians in a transparent manner. The Fund Already invested over $1 million in seven companies. Notable investments include BoomFi and Mash. Fund valuation stands at $13.4 million CAD ($10 million USD). Comprises individuals and entities closely associated with Aquanow, including early investors and long-standing customers (especially ventures that align with Aquanow's core business of digital asset infrastructure and liquidity). Targeting early-stage investments in blockchain technologies, payments, infrastructure, and compliance within the crypto domain. Aims to invest between $100,000 and $500,000 per venture, and plans to make one to two additional investments monthly ...
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