THE fintech sectorespecially the world of cross-border digital paymentshas had its share of high-growth “unicorns” that approach their rise in business with the infamous “move fast and break things” mentality.
The strategy is certainly doing a lot of damage and has recently left Some investors hold the piggy bank. But it worked well enough to become the dominant culture in Silicon Valley, where disruption is still very much in vogue.
In other parts of the world, various fintech startups are equally, if not more, in demand by investors.
Kimberly Ofori — a European venture capitalist focusing on impact businesses, or “zebras” — is joining the Converge podcast to discuss European investment style, unicorns, camels, zebras and the latest challenges and opportunities for fintech startups.
Fintech startups of today and tomorrow
As fintech insiders acknowledge, fintech revolutionDriven by advances in financial data and technology, it is unlikely to stop disrupting the global payments market, banking institutions, financial markets and the financial sector in general. Globally, the number of fintech startups continues to grow. By 2024, it is expected to reach 30,000 companiescompared to 12,000 in 2018.
Unicorns
Unicorns, private fintech companies with a market valuation of at least $1 billion, continue to dominate the fintech space and dominate headlines. As of early 2024, in terms of the number of disruptive fintech companies, the United States ranked first with 166 fintech unicornsThis is more than five times more than the next country, the United Kingdom (30).
Camels
Camels take a more measured and slower approach to wealth creation. Instead of rapid growth at all costs from the beginning, these fintech companies focus on stable profits over a long period of time.
Camels often start by building sustainable infrastructure to support their future technological advancements. To do this, they develop a business model, research a financial services product that fits the realities of their market, and then develop operations to support it. It’s not about reaching the market first, but rather developing and building a business over time.
Zebras
Zebras, on the other hand, are profitable, founder-led fintech companies focused on solving big problems. Zebras often reject traditional investment strategies and seek alternative sources of funding.
The need for more services and solutions
Overall, according to Boston Consulting GroupThe global fintech market is expected to continue growing and reach $1.5 trillion in revenue by 2030, about five times what it is today.
With more than a billion people Without a bank account, the demand – and need – for innovation and new fintech companies is unlikely to slow down. Additionally, platforms that facilitate access to digital assets, such as cryptocurrencies and NFTs, are becoming increasingly important in the fintech landscape.
Fintech entrepreneurs need to create or rethink various solutions, such as open bank or crowdfunding platforms, and continue to modernize financial services, credit history tools or payment services.
With new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and generative AI, fintech startups can, for example, continue to build resilience for both small and large businesses by delivering better experiences and innovative digital products to consumers and financial institutions. Wealth management technology platforms integrate portfolio management tools to help retail clients optimize their trading and investment strategies.
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