Unlocking Financial Innovation with Digital identities and Open Finance
Open banking data is hugely valuable as it allows us to address the lack of trust that innately exists in a digital-first financial services engagement. In actuality, it is our bank accounts that best reflect us as physical people, spending money every day and creating a footprint of data. By using open banking data we can leverage the identity and data we already have with our banks, so that third parties (like lenders) can understand us just as well as our bank understands us.
James Varga, Founder of DirectID, is passionate about Open Banking and the opportunities it provides to redefine the credit and risk industry. In 2011 he founded DirectID with a mission to leverage the identity and data that users have with their bank accounts, helping them prove their identity, financial health, and credit risk in seconds.
“One of my core fundamental beliefs is this idea that we should be able to manage our own individual data,” says Varga. “In the very near future, I think we’re going to start to hit that challenge around the sharing of identities and related standards, which will push us towards a consumer-centric data sharing model, where consumers are empowered to manage their varying sources of data and share them with third parties. But we’re not quite ready for it yet.“
Over the past few years, he notes that the industry has started to view digital identities as an enabler and opportunity, largely because we need to rely on a trusted exchange of information to make decisions. In a centralised view of the consumer-centric data sharing model, identities are treated as a utility with control over identifiers as a result. However, it is extremely difficult to maintain control within this centralised system due to the sheer scale of data relationships that exist. The decentralised model, meanwhile, places the consumer at the middle. This model recognises that value is found, not from controlling the identifiers, but from within the data and services related to that data. There are examples of decentralised models that we can draw on, for example, the domain name network and mobile phone numbers. Such a decentralised model won’t come without challenges: a framework and methodology still need to be ironed out, but prior to this Varga believes that the first big industry challenge is to realise that we shouldn’t own people’s identity and give up ownership over that.
As we move into a world where consumers have an increasing amount of access and control in managing their data, we move from open banking to open finance, which can incorporate all sorts of data occurring over a person’s lifespan. Once the decentralised framework of identity sharing is agreed on, issues around security, compliance and tech standards can then also be agreed upon. “This isn’t a technical problem,” says Varga. “What we want is for people to use multiple identities, and give that control back to the individual to help them to understand who sees your data, who is accessing it, and who is sharing it. And even, ideally, here is the money that you can make from enabling or the benefit that you can get from enabling.”
Encompass Wins Top Honors at Sibos 2023 Discover Perfect Pitch Competition
Encompass Corporation, the leading provider of dynamic Know Your Customer (KYC) process automation solutions was the winner of the Established Trendsetter category at the Discover Perfect Pitch competition held as part of Sibos 2023. This prestigious recognition serves as a testament to Encompass’ relentless commitment to revolutionising the landscape of financial services through innovative technology-driven solutions.
A testament of leadership
Competing in a highly competitive category, Encompass Corporation secured the title after its North America’s President, Alex Ford, delivered a live pitch to a panel of industry experts. The stage was set in Toronto, Canada, where Alex Ford outlined Encompass’ game-changing KYC solution and answered questions from the judges. The judging panel comprised senior leaders from banks, venture capitalists, and trailblazers in product innovation.
Discover Perfect Pitch: A Platform for Fintech Innovation
Discover Perfect Pitch, now in its fourth year, provides Fintech companies from across the globe with a unique opportunity to shine on the world stage. Participants are divided into three entry streams: Ambitious Adventurers, Community Pioneers, and Established Trendsetters. Sponsored by MaRS, Plug and Play, and RBC, this competition is renowned for celebrating the cream of the crop in the financial technology sector.
Encompass: A Trailblazer
As an “established trendsetter,” Encompass was commended for its trailblazing impact and success by the event organisers. This recognition reflects Encompass’ dedication to bringing about transformative change in the financial industry through innovation and technology.
Sibos: The Epicenter of Financial Services
Sibos provided the backdrop for this remarkable achievement. Held in Toronto this year, Sibos brings together industry leaders, innovators, and disruptors who gather to discuss the latest trends and advancements in financial services.
Wayne Johnson, CEO, and Co-founder at Encompass Corporation, shared his excitement about the prestigious win:
“It is fantastic to win this accolade, connected to a competition with a strong pedigree, and be crowned the winner of a category full of organisations leading the way in providing critical innovation to the businesses we serve. This recognition underlines the power and potential of the Encompass platform and is testament to our ever-increasing impact. We are proud this has been recognised by experts who trul
y understand and respect the value of the work we do.
“Encompass plays a key role in the fight against financial crime, with this award evidencing the importance of our commitment to improving the landscape and enabling banks and financial institutions to realise the benefits of trusting in technology-led processes.”
Inicio AI selected to be part of Morgan Stanley’s 2023 global cohort of the Inclusive Ventures Lab
Fintech is a force for good with inclusivity at its core. In that respect Scottish fintech Inicio AI is leading the charge on many fronts.
First, their innovative proposition brings more financial inclusion for people who are facing financial hardship. By leveraging the power of AI and chat and a revolutionary chat interface, they can help people come out of debt and manage their finances in a better way.
Secondly, their CEO, Rachel Curtis is a real role model for female entrepreneurs, demonstrating every day that when it comes to fintech success, gender doesn’t matter. In an industry still very male dominated, diversity is paramount to bringing diversity in innovation with new thinking and new approaches.
For all those reasons, Inicio AI has recently caught the attention of global financial giant Morgan Stanley. Inicio AI’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of technology and diversity in the world of finance.
The Inclusive Ventures Lab: Nurturing Innovation
One of Morgan Stanley’s core values is Commit to Diversity and Inclusion and they recently unveiled the latest global cohort of their Inclusive Ventures Lab, a programme aimed at supporting underrepresented founders of technology and technology-enabled start-ups. What makes this year’s cohort stand out is not just its size, but the calibre of companies selected.
This year, 23 companies from North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa were chosen, effectively doubling the size of previous cohorts. These start-ups represent a diverse range of disruptive technologies, spanning industries like fintech, healthcare, sustainable solutions, customer service, supply chain management, recruiting, and cybersecurity. All those companies are at the post-seed to Series A funding stage and ready to make a significant impact in their respective domains.
FinTech Scotland worked with Morgan Stanley to help identify Scottish fintechs who would be a good fit for the programme. Inicio was one of them and was the winner of the Scottish pitching event organised by Morgan Stanley at the University of Edinburgh earlier this year.
A Major Investment and Much More
What sets the Inclusive Ventures Lab apart is the substantial support it provides to the selected start-ups. Each company in the cohort receives a substantial $250,000 investment (£250,000 in the UK) from Morgan Stanley. However, this financial backing is not everything companies will get. They also gain access to a wealth of mentorship opportunities and invaluable business-growth resources through Morgan Stanley’s extensive ecosystem of both internal and external partners.
Meeting Inicio AI
Rachel Curtis, the CEO of Inicio AI, will be attending a panel at the Fintech Summit on Thursday, September 21st which will be chaired by Nicola Anderson, CEO at FinTech Scotland. This event marks the opening of the Scotland FinTech Festival, a platform showcasing the brightest minds and ground-breaking ideas in the fintech industry.
Zumo Unveils the Future of Digital Assets at Sibos 2023
Scottish fintech Zumo is at Sibos 2023 in Toronto to unveil a groundbreaking report that’s set to reshape the landscape of digital assets. Titled “Digital Assets 2023: Identifying Opportunities Across the Enterprise Landscape,” this report marks a significant milestone in the journey towards understanding and harnessing the potential of digital assets from an enterprise perspective.
A Pioneering Approach
“Digital Assets 2023” is not just another report; it’s a comprehensive survey, categorisation, and practical analysis of emerging opportunities within the global digital asset ecosystem. It is a deep dive into this nascent sector to uncover the possibilities it offers to businesses worldwide.
The report is backed by fresh insights from some of the biggest names in the digital asset and financial services industries. Collaborators include financial companies like HSBC, NatWest, and Visa, as well as blockchain innovators such as Ripple and Chainalysis. Notably, industry cooperative Swift, the organiser of Sibos, has also played a pivotal role by engaging its global community to explore how financial institutions can seamlessly integrate with the evolving blockchain networks.
A Glimpse into the Future
“Digital Assets 2023” serves as a roadmap for the evolution of blockchain technology from an enterprise perspective. It identifies four pivotal turning points that illustrate the progressive expansion of digital asset applications and participants, starting from the Bitcoin “big bang” moment (often referred to as ‘blockchain 1.0’) and culminating in the current ‘enterprise’ era (‘blockchain 4.0’).
To provide a clear understanding of the digital asset landscape, Zumo has created an enterprise ecosystem map that differentiates between consumer and institutionally-facing solutions, as well as investment versus applied use cases. The report then delves into the opportunities, challenges, and inter-relationships associated with nine specific use cases, categorised as early (institutional digital asset investment, institutional DeFi, web3), developing (tokenization, blockchain in industry, DLT for financial market infrastructure), and established (consumer-facing cryptoasset investment, and individual/business blockchain payments).
Insights from the Author
Daniel Taylor, Zumo’s Research and Policy Lead, and the mastermind behind this report, shared his thoughts on its significance:
“Active learning and knowledge development are integral to Zumo’s mission as a trusted partner for those venturing into the digital asset space. Today marks the dawn of the ‘enterprise’ era, where non-crypto businesses are actively engaging in all four quadrants of digital asset opportunity: consumer, institutional, application, and investment. Our report distills and synthesises these emerging opportunities, providing a comprehensive view of the digital asset and blockchain ecosystem.”
Download Your Copy
Explore the future of digital assets by downloading a complimentary copy of “Digital Assets 2023” at https://zumo.tech/digital-assets-2023/.
Bupa everywoman in Technology Awards are open for nominations
The annual everywoman in Technology Awards, celebrating the most inspirational women working in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), are open for nominations for 2024 and have announced their new title partner, Bupa Global & UK. Companies and individuals are invited to put forward candidates until 9th October 2023 for categories recognising all stages of the career journey, from apprentices to C-Suite.
Now in their 14th year, the awards shine a spotlight on and celebrate the tech industry’s most exceptional talent, from the UK and beyond, creating role models to inspire and attract women and young girls into STEM careers and close the gender gap within technology.
As an innovative industry, new sectors and specialisms and therefore career opportunities continue to increase. The UK tech market has been valued at $1trillion making it the third most valuable in the world, confirmation that growth is not slowing. Despite this, women currently only occupy 24% of roles in the technology industry and recent research suggests that almost half experience burnout, with 7% adding that they have felt pushed to their physical and mental limits.
The new partnership between everywoman and Bupa reflects the tech industry’s responsibility to attract and retain female tech talent, ensuring that women are fully supported to fulfil their career ambitions in order to support growth.
Maxine Benson MBE, Co-Founder of everywoman comments:
“Since 1999, everywoman has been working to advance women in business and help organisations to achieve their gender goals via our awards programmes, learning and development content, and our training that’s been delivered to over 200,000 women. With 40% of our learning and development content having a wellbeing related theme we recognise that work, family, and health responsibilities are intrinsically linked so are very excited to be partnering with Bupa. We look forward to unveiling this year’s role models at the March awards ceremony with our programme sponsors, including SSE, Accenture, BAE Systems, Howden Group Holdings Ltd, American Express, Centrica PLC, Computacenter, Discover and RS Group.”
Nimisha Patel, Chief Digital & Information Officer at Bupa Global & UK comments:
“We are delighted to be the title partner of the everywoman in Technology Awards. Technology is key to delivering the best healthcare solutions for our customers, it underpins innovation, helps people to be proactive with their health and supports us in being more sustainable.
We want to support everyone to live longer, healthier, and happier lives, and we understand the challenges that women in the workplace can face. Partnering with everywoman will help women to continue making the impact they already are, and to become the brave, caring, and responsible leaders of the future. Not just for tech but for business.”
For 2024, a new category will be introduced to reflect the ever-changing landscape of the industry. The AI Award will be awarded to a woman who is excelling in her role and making a tangible difference to her business in the field of artificial intelligence.
The 2024 Bupa everywoman in Technology Awards are free to enter and all the categories can be found here. The awards ceremony and dinner will take place at The Park Plaza in London on 14 March 2024, after the annual everywoman in Technology Forum.
For more information visit www.everywoman.com/techawards
@everywomanUK #ewTechAwards
For more information contact Francesca Stainer, PR Manager, francesca@everywoman.com
New opportunity to join Scotland’s thriving fintech cluster
The University of Strathclyde has just published a new job opportunity and is on the look-out for a High Growth Advisor who will be working very closely with FinTech Scotland.
The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting the development of the Financial Regulation Innovation Lab which is launching later this year. They will collaborate closely with the University’s Industry Engagement and Innovation Directorate, the University’s FinTech Cluster Lead, and Fintech Scotland’s Strategic Innovation Director, Trish Quinn whose appointment was announced recently.
The Financial Regulation Innovation Lab builds upon the UK Fintech Research & Innovation Roadmapunveiled last year. The roadmap highlighted the potential for further research and innovation in financial regulation. Aligned with the UK Government Science and Technology Framework published in March 2023, the Lab aims to position the UK at the forefront of global science and technology.
The Lab will create a unique environment where fintech entrepreneurs, established UK and global financial services firms, technology enterprises, regulators, universities, and third-sector organisations come together to drive financial innovation, addressing opportunities and challenges in financial regulation.
Key responsibilities for this role include facilitating the Innovation Call series for the Lab, which comprises demand-led challenges set by industry.
Additionally, the role will involve developing essential partnerships between the University of Strathclyde, FinTech Scotland, and the University of Glasgow, to create more collaboration opportunities in the Scottish and UK fintech clusters.
The ideal candidate for the role should have extensive leadership experience gained from transforming leading financial sector companies digitally. They will be instrumental in shaping the Lab’s interactions with diverse stakeholders, developing effective networks, sector relationships, and multi-party collaborations through their strong negotiation skills, business acumen, and strategic vision.
Interviews for this exciting opportunity are scheduled for October 2, 2023.
To apply visit this page
For more information or informal inquiries, please contact Catherine Breslin, Head of Industry Engagement & Commercialisation, at catherine.breslin@strath.ac.uk.
FinTech Scotland appoints senior leader to accelerate plans for the Financial Regulation Innovation Lab
FinTech Scotland has announced today the appointment of a new senior leader, Trish Quinn, who joins as Strategic Innovation Director. Trish will be leading the development of the Financial Regulation Innovation Lab (FRIL) which is due to launch later on this year.
The Financial Regulation Innovation Lab (FRIL) is one of the recommendations laid out in the UK Fintech research & Innovation Roadmap published in March 2022. It is set to be a new collaborative centre of excellence for cutting-edge fintech developments in financial regulation. The Lab will explore solutions that aim to streamline regulatory processes, enhance compliance measures, and drive efficiencies across the financial sector.
FinTech Scotland, in partnership with industry partners, and with the University of Strathclyde and the University of Glasgow, will stand up the launch the Lab and drive progress this year. This industry-led initiative showcases the power of the Fintech Scotland Cluster to drive innovation. This project is funded by the Glasgow City Region Innovation Accelerator programme, led by Innovate UK on behalf of UK Research and Innovation. This financial support from the UK Government continues to endorse the opportunity from the emerging fintech sector to support growth across the UK economy.
As the newly appointed Innovation Director, Quinn will be responsible for leading the Lab and working with partners across Scotland and in the UK, in delivering a programme that will enable efficiencies through technology to meet the needs of current and future financial regulation. Quinn brings a wealth of experience in digital transformation and digital product development to her new role, having previously served in a number of senior digital roles in both the UK and Scottish Government.
Commenting on her appointment, Trish Quinn said:
“I am delighted to join FinTech Scotland as the Innovation Director and lead the Financial Regulation Innovation Lab. The potential to reshape the financial industry through technology applied to financial regulation is significant, and I am excited to join the team at FinTech Scotland to drive innovation, foster collaboration, and contribute to the growth of the fintech sector.”
Nicola Anderson, CEO of FinTech Scotland, said:
“Trish brings extensive experience in digital transformation, leading strategic initiatives across her career with an emphasis on change through collaboration and partnerships. Her leadership and experience will help us accelerate the Lab’s development, creating the conditions needed for more fintech growth in Glasgow and the FinTech Scotland cluster.
David Hillier, Associate Principal and Executive Dean of the University of Strathclyde Business School said:
“We are excited to welcome Trish to lead this critical initiative. The University of Strathclyde has significant expertise to bring, and we’re looking forward to driving this initiative, working closely with our industry partners across the FinTech Scotland Cluster and our academic partners in the University of Glasgow to drive this opportunity for Glasgow City Region. The Lab creates the environment for high-potential innovation in a subject that’s fundamental to the success of our financial system”.
Eleanor Shaw, Head of the University of Glasgow Adam Smith Business School said:
“Trish will lead a ground-breaking initiative that’s a first for Scotland and the UK, and we are delighted to be working with her. It’s fantastic to see Glasgow City Region’s innovation capabilities and ambition come together to create what will become a key asset for Scotland and the UK in driving innovation in financial regulation. The University of Glasgow is looking forward to playing a leading role.”
Dr. Catherine Martin, Vice Principal Corporate Services, University of Edinburgh said:
“I’m very pleased to welcome Trish to FinTech Scotland and want to congratulate her on this appointment. The Financial Regulation Innovation Lab is an exciting new endeavour and we at Edinburgh are pleased to support this opportunity for Glasgow and for Scotland. As a founding member of FinTech Scotland it’s a pleasure to see the fintech opportunity continue to grow across Scotland and the UK”.
Revolutionising Access to Unlisted UK Equities: JP Jenkins and Winterflood Securities’ Game-Changing Collaboration
In a recent announcement, JP Jenkins and Winterflood Securities have revealed their gnew collaboration, set to reshape the landscape of unlisted UK equities trading.
This partnership will interest family offices, institutional wealth managers, sophisticated private investors, and their broker intermediaries, as it simplifies access to this traditionally complex asset class.
Alex Skrine, Director at Winterflood Securities, believes that this collaboration marks a pivotal moment in the world of unlisted stocks. He says,
“For too long, it has been too complicated for many intermediaries and their underlying investors to gain access to unlisted UK equities. As more and more companies are choosing to remain private for longer, reform here is long overdue, which is why we believe this collaboration can drive a step change in the popularity of unlisted stocks.”
The journey towards this collaboration began in early 2023 when JP Jenkins was acquired by InfinitX, a Scottish fintech that powers private marketplaces. By leveraging innovative technologies, InfinitX seamlessly integrates with JP Jenkins, facilitating the electronic routing of order flow onto their platform for execution and settlement.
Mike McCudden, CEO of InfinitX, highlights the significance of this announcement:
“Today’s news validates the strength of the technology we have built, enabling any private marketplace to connect using existing trading infrastructures. As we have seen with the JP Jenkins and Winterflood Securities integration, our solution allows venues to dramatically scale their distribution without counterparties needing to make any significant technology investment to gain access.”
One of the key advantages of this collaboration is its ability to leverage existing market infrastructure to place orders in unlisted securities and settle trades via CREST. This innovative approach significantly reduces the cost and complexity associated with transactions in this asset class.
The integration primarily harnesses Winterflood’s existing trading infrastructure and direct client distribution channels to route order flow through the InfinitX API. This seamless process ensures that executions are returned through the same efficient workflow.
Veronika Oswald, Commercial Director at JP Jenkins said:
“Investors are increasingly seeing unlisted assets as providing a valuable way to diversify a portfolio. This collaboration revolutionizes the ease of distribution for unlisted stocks.”
Strengthening Scotland’s Financial Services: SFE Announces Key Appointments
Scottish Financial Enterprise (SFE) has recently announced two new appointments. Ben Rose has stepped into the role of Director of Public Policy and Communications, while Christina Anthoulaki takes on the role of Programme Director. These strategic additions to the SFE team will help the organisation achieve its sector-wide strategic priorities.
Ben Rose: Policy Expert
Ben Rose brings an impressive track record of over 15 years in both the public and private sectors, making him a valuable asset to SFE. His most recent role as Senior Public Policy Manager at NatWest Group allowed him to amass a wealth of experience that he now brings to SFE. Moreover, Rose previously served as Chair of SFE’s Public Affairs and Communications forum from 2021 to 2023.
In his new capacity, Rose will take the reins of SFE’s policy development, government engagement, and broader stakeholder communication efforts.
Christina Anthoulaki: Nurturing Growth and Talent
Christina Anthoulaki steps into her role as Programme Director, a new position designed to oversee the coordination and delivery of key programs across SFE. Her mission is clear: to align these programs with Scotland’s Financial Services Strategy, which includes the pivotal delivery of the Skills Action Plan and the sector’s Growth Strategy.
Anthoulaki’s background is equally impressive. With a six-year tenure at NatWest Group in various technology and change management roles and subsequent experience as Finance Product lead at law firm Mishcon de Reya, she brings a wealth of knowledge and strategic acumen to her new role at SFE. Her prior work at Mishcon de Reya helped reshape the organization’s strategy towards a more efficient business model, highlighting her ability to drive transformation and growth.
Beyond these two key appointments, SFE is also fortifying its junior team with the permanent addition of Marketing Executive Harry Meighan and the appointment of Lana McGill on an Office Admin internship.
Sandy Begbie CBE FRSE, Chief Executive of Scottish Financial Enterprise, emphasises the importance of these appointments in the context of SFE. He states, ”
“As our membership continues to grow, we are adding new talent and expertise to help us oversee our increasingly ambitious agenda. Ben and Christina bring valuable capability across a range of specialisms that will add value to our membership and support our strategic priorities.
“I’m looking forward to working with Christina on developing our industry-wide growth strategy, and with Ben to further develop our strong relationships with both the Scottish and UK Governments and delivering our public policy agenda.”
Three Scottish Companies Join AG Elevate Mentoring Scheme
In a dynamic landscape where technology is reshaping industries at an unprecedented pace, leading international law firm Addleshaw Goddard has once again demonstrated its commitment to fostering innovation. The unveiling of the 2023 AG Elevate mentoring scheme is not just a celebration of entrepreneurial spirit, but a nod to the transformative power of AI and health tech.
Among the chosen, three Scottish companies have secured their spot, cementing their position in a diverse cohort that mirrors the global tech economy.
AG Elevate is a 10-month program meticulously designed to guide tech businesses through the labyrinth of legal challenges that arise as they scale-up. This year’s selection shows AI innovation across diverse sectors, with health tech also emerging as a prominent theme. The chosen businesses have a shared vision of high-growth, backed by external funding and ambitious plans to disrupt norms.
AI’s explosion
AI is no longer confined to the realm of science fiction; it’s an integral aspect of our present and future. This year’s AG Elevate cohort reflects this, with over a quarter of the selected businesses making AI central to their propositions. From generative AI startups like Syntonym, specialising in hyper-realistic synthetic face generation, to AI-driven language e-learning platforms like Cardemy, the diversity of AI applications is staggering. These innovations have the potential to redefine customer experiences, streamline processes, and revolutionise various industries.
Scotland’s Tech Capabilities
Scotland’s tech capabilities are well represented in this year’s cohort with the inclusion of three exceptional companies. Legado, an innovative data-as-a-service platform, is reshaping the client-business interaction paradigm. Vectofy, on the other hand, is easing spreadsheet comprehension with interactive 3D visualisations, reducing errors and saving valuable time. Zelim is bringing the world’s first remotely operated rescue vessel with advanced AI-enabled casualty detection to market.
The Path Forward
The selected businesses are not only gaining access to legal mentors and industry networks but are also becoming part of a supportive ecosystem that encourages cross-collaboration and shared insights. Bespoke support, legal documentation, seminars, and interactions with like-minded professionals all contribute to a comprehensive growth experience. As these 15 innovative ventures embark on their 10-month journey, they are primed to elevate not only their own businesses but also contribute to the wider narrative of technological advancement.