Category : 2019

The fintech sector continues to show growth and innovation.  At the same time, it is not an industry that is dominated by the biggest names.  Innovation and a creative approach to technology allows smaller start-ups to compete toe to toe with more established brands.  This makes it a very popular choice for those looking for the highest growth investment opportunities.

Venture capital funding of fintech start-ups topped $32 billion globally in 2018 according to CB Insight.   At the same time, in 2018 there were 30 fintech exits in the US at over $7 billion in value. M&A activity is expected to accelerate as financial services incumbants acquire emerging fintech companies in an effort to stay competitive.  With more fintech unicorns than any other industry vertical, fintech is widely tipped to remain one of the highest returning VC sectors with no shortage of high potential areas to disrupt in financials services.

For investors that have not already jumped on the fintech bandwagon, fear not as the next wave of value creation from younger fintechs could well be even bigger than the first.

Innovation in the tech industry moves at breakneck pace. As technology evolves, it enables even faster change and progress; the resulting wider adoption and usage causes further acceleration of the rate of change, until eventually it becomes exponential.  When mobile phones were first introduced, they took 12 years to reach 50 million users; the internet took just seven years to get to the same point.  Once digital technologies emerged the rate is accelerated dramatically; Facebook reached 50 million users in 4 years; WeChat, one year and Pokemon GO, nineteen days.

Disruptive technologies are predicted to accelerate and transform many industries at a rapid pace throughout 2019.  These technology trends will shape the world and the future and will present opportunities for business owners and investors alike.

Technology innovation over the past decade has seen most businesses embrace digitalisation to increase efficiencies and customer reach.  The digital framework is set to become the foundation for disruptive technologies to offer businesses extraordinary new capabilities as services become highly customised, real time experiences built around customer needs and preferences.

Here we further review the new technologies tipped to be transformative in 2019.

Whatever the economic impact of Brexit will be, it is creating huge uncertainties with regards future trading conditions and new market opportunities.   These characteristics are consistent with what companies face in times of recession, so can you increase investment returns through Brexit by learning from how companies prosper during large recessions?