Amanda Mills
The pandemic gave a big boost to fintech, changing the way we interact and perceive finance. We see a big shit in digital transformation and mobile banking. This forces traditional banking to quickly adjust to the changing landscape or risk becoming obsolete. Plus, tech-savvy generations wanted more. Hence, innovative fintech startups are rising up to the demand, offering seamless solutions in the highly digitalised world.
Mauricio Mendes Dutra says that is why the post-pandemic period experienced a surge in fintech investments. Everyone from VCs to banks saw the potential for growth in this booming industry and decided to pour billions into startups. However, things have slowed from 2023, down to 2024. The geopolitical tension, rising interest rates, and the fear of recession are making investors to be more careful.
“The initial euphoria has subsided and investors are becoming more careful as they sought out fintech startups with a clear profitability path with proven business models before making investment decisions”, says Mauricio Mendes Dutra, the Vice President of Primeo Bank.
As investment continues to slow down, what types of fintechs are investors looking to put their money into and what can fintech startups do to attract them?
Which Companies are VCs looking to Invest in?
Mauricio Mendes Dutra believes venture capitalists (VCs) are particularly interested in fintech startups with high growth potential that will give a good return for their money. The ones that are revolutionizing traditional financial services. Here are some of the high-growth potential areas Mauricio Mendes Dutra says they’re focusing on:
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Embedded Finance:
Non-financial platforms that are integrating financial services have high potential growth. It includes services like banking, payments, lending, and insurance. For instance, when a retailer provides buy-now-pay-later options.
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Open Banking:
- With open banking, customers are able to entrust their financial details to third parties in order to facilitate additional services such as customized financial advisory services and savings plans. Hence, consumers now have access to more convenient ways to view and manage their money while easily accessing credits.
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Insurtech:
- Insurtech companies are bringing about technological advancements in the insurance processes, including providing more customer-centric services and efficient systems. Good example is Lemonade, an insurance company that uses artificial intelligence and was able to secure a lot of funding.
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Digital Payments:
Almost everyone today embraces digital payment solutions more so with the current trends like mobile payments and contactless payments. Companies such as Stripe and Square have managed to lead the pack in the competition of digital payments and are able to attract investors.
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WealthTech:
- Wealth tech companies are using the power of technologies to facilitate investing and management of assets. Consumers want to grow their wealth, and this is why their growth potential will continue to rise.
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Blockchain and Crypto:
- Description: The evolution of payments has greatly contributed to the growing attention that Blockchain technology has been receiving as it still affects the wider parts of finance including – payments, the trade of securities, and even the management of supply chains. These blockchain-based solutions are on the rise in different spheres of business, thus making some venture capitalists pay close attention.
What can fintech startups do to attract investors?
To attract VCs and other investors, Mauricio Mendes Dutra says fintech startups should focus on the following key strategies:
Strong Value Proposition and Market Validation:
- Solve a Real Problem: Clearly articulate how your solution addresses a specific pain point in the financial industry. startups should ensure they are solving real-life challenges and issues.
Experienced and Passionate Team:
- Fintech startups need a team of experts with deep industry knowledge and technical skills. They should leverage the new talent pool that can put in their best to bring out innovative solutions. Not only that, the team must be proactive, experts who are always ahead of the curve, keeping tabs on trends and making adjustments where necessary. There should also be a visionary leader who can inspire confidence and drive the company’s growth.
Scalable Business Model:
There should be an outline how your business will generate revenue and achieve profitability. And also demonstrate the potential for rapid growth and expansion.
Strong Network and Partnerships:
- Strategic Alliances: it is also important for startups to build relationships with major industry players, such as banks, payment processors, and technology providers. They should develop effective strategies to acquire and retain customers and have a clear plan for risk management.
What’s next?
Despite the slowdown, the future of fintech remains bright. Although investors are still sceptical, as the economy begins to revive and political unrest continues to settle, things will change. The underlying trends driving fintech innovation including digitalization, personalization, and financial inclusion still remain. Therefore, as the dust settles, we can expect startups that demonstrate resilience and long-term growth potential. This is not to say there aren’t opportunities, especially in the AI and blockchain sector where there is increased funding.
The fintech landscape is evolving rapidly, and those who adapt to these changes will emerge as the winners in 2024 and beyond.
