In today’s dynamic fintech landscape, developments range from notable appointments to industry conferences, global ranking achievements, and the ongoing struggle between digital innovation and traditional cash reliance. This op-ed-style daily briefing dives into key updates and their potential impacts on the fintech industry, touching on politics, corporate shifts, and emerging trends.

1. Trump’s Potential Impact on Fintech: Policy Shifts and Market Reactions

As Donald Trump continues to be a central figure in U.S. politics, his stance on financial regulations and fintech could significantly influence the sector’s future. Historically, Trump has advocated for deregulation, which benefited banks and other financial services firms. His policies were known to relax certain compliance requirements, which made it easier for fintech companies to expand.

Under Trump’s administration, fintech firms might anticipate reduced regulatory constraints, particularly for newer sectors such as crypto and online lending. This relaxed stance could lower compliance costs for startups, allowing more resources to flow into technology and product innovation. However, a deregulated environment also increases the risk of market manipulation and consumer harm, raising concerns among advocates for tighter oversight.

The question remains whether a Trump-influenced regulatory environment would favor long-term fintech innovation or lead to an environment that could increase risks for both investors and consumers. As debates continue, fintech companies may need to be agile in adjusting to potential policy changes.
Source: Forbes

2. Hong Kong’s Love for Cash: Fintech Growth Stymied by Cultural Preferences

Hong Kong’s journey toward a cashless society faces a unique cultural hurdle—its residents’ affinity for cash, particularly among taxi drivers. Despite the proliferation of digital wallets and payment platforms in Asia, cash remains king in this metropolis. The attachment to cash among certain groups, especially cab drivers, poses a significant challenge for fintech companies aiming to promote mobile and digital payments in Hong Kong.

This resistance to cashless options highlights the complexities of fintech adoption, where technology alone cannot drive transformation without aligning with user behavior. For Hong Kong, overcoming this challenge may require fintech firms to develop hybrid solutions that incorporate cash with digital functionality or offer incentives for digital adoption. Until then, Hong Kong’s fintech ambitions will remain somewhat constrained by the cultural fondness for cash.

This preference for cash also has implications for Hong Kong’s broader economy. If the city cannot shift toward digital transactions, it may fall behind other financial hubs in terms of fintech innovation and integration.
Source: Bloomberg

3. Dave Inc. Joins the KBW Fintech Conference: Setting the Stage for New Partnerships

Next week, Dave Inc. is set to participate in KBW’s annual Fintech Conference, a major industry event in New York City. Scheduled for November 14, the conference will bring together industry leaders, investors, and innovators. Dave Inc.’s involvement underscores its ongoing commitment to establishing new partnerships and tapping into emerging fintech trends.

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For Dave, a prominent U.S.-based neobank, participating in high-profile conferences like this not only enhances visibility but also presents networking opportunities with potential investors and partners. The company’s growth strategy focuses on making financial services more accessible and affordable for underserved communities. With industry leaders present, the conference may foster collaborative efforts, especially in areas such as lending, personal finance, and digital banking.

The KBW Fintech Conference could provide Dave Inc. with critical insights and alliances to further its mission, potentially accelerating product innovation and geographical expansion.
Source: GlobeNewswire

4. MeridianLink’s Recognition in IDC Fintech Rankings: A Boost in Reputation

MeridianLink has recently been recognized in IDC’s Global Fintech Rankings, securing a spot in the Top 50. This accolade acknowledges the company’s commitment to digital transformation within the financial services sector, where it focuses on providing cloud-based software solutions for banks, credit unions, and financial institutions.

Being named to this prestigious list elevates MeridianLink’s reputation within the fintech community. This recognition could help MeridianLink secure more significant contracts with major financial institutions, as industry recognition often leads to increased trust among potential clients. Additionally, this placement in the IDC rankings may serve as a strategic advantage when pursuing funding and partnerships in a competitive market.

This recognition is a testament to MeridianLink’s innovation in fintech, showing how its cloud-based solutions align with industry trends toward digital-first financial services.
Source: Business Wire

5. Leadership Change at Alliant Credit Union: Navigating Transition with New Interim CEO

Alliant Credit Union has named Ken Schaafsma as the interim CEO following the departure of Dennis Devine. Schaafsma, who was previously the CFO, will guide the organization through this transitional phase as it searches for a permanent CEO. Leadership changes in financial institutions often signal shifts in strategic focus or operational adjustments, and Schaafsma’s background in finance could mean an emphasis on fiscal discipline and profitability.

As a credit union with a significant member base, Alliant’s choice of leadership may influence its approach to digital services and customer engagement. With Schaafsma’s familiarity with the organization’s financial health, his interim tenure may bring stability during this transitional period.

In an industry undergoing rapid digital transformation, Alliant Credit Union’s ability to maintain a clear strategic vision and leadership stability will be crucial in keeping pace with fintech competitors.
Source: Fintech Futures

The post Fintech Pulse: The Latest Trends and Insights Shaping Fintech appeared first on HIPTHER Alerts.

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The Marval Guru Fund Delivers Outstanding 21.9% Net Compound Annual Return Over 5 Years

TORONTO, Nov. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Marval Capital Ltd.’s (“Marval”) Marval Guru Fund (the “Fund”) proudly announces the completion of five years of performance this year, now with approximately $400 million in assets under management (“AUM”). For the first time, the Fund is sharing its performance rankings against all institutional funds offered in Canada and internationally available India-focused funds.

Over the past five years, in Canadian dollars, the Fund has delivered a net compound annual return of 21.9%, resulting in a total net return of 169%. An initial investment of $100 on September 30, 2019, would have grown to $269 by September 30, 2024. A fund with a net compound annual return of 10.4% over 10 years would yield a lower total net return than what the Marval Guru Fund has produced in just five years. Results were achieved without the use of leverage or derivatives.*

PERFORMANCE RANKINGS

Based on 5 Years of Performance (September 30, 2019 – September 30, 2024) 

Fund Database1	Number of Funds	Marvel Guru Fund Rank
Fundata Institutional Fund Database of Canada2	>3,000 Advertisement	6th
Royal Bank of Canada Pooled Fund Survey	>1,100	3rd
India Funds Available Outside of India	56	2nd

Fundata Institutional Fund Database of Canada: According to Fundata, which tracks all institutional funds in Canada, the Marval Guru Fund, based on its 5-year performance ranks sixth out of more than 3,000 funds, encompassing every major investment firm and investment strategy in the country. Marval believes the Fund is well-positioned to continue delivering strong performance over the next 20 years. Notably, over the last ten years, 93% of the funds in the Fundata database have not achieved a total return as high as the Fund’s five-year total return of 169%.

Royal Bank of Canada (“RBC”) Pooled Fund Survey: In RBC’s extensive survey of over 1,100 funds from more than 80 institutions, including most major investment firms in Canada, the Fund ranks third in five-year gross performance. This list is more selective with the top institutional-grade funds in Canada across all investment strategies. In the emerging markets category, the Fund’s compound annual five-year gross return is over 15% per year higher than the fund ranked second-place. Impressively, over ten years, 92% of the funds in this survey have not achieved a total gross return as high as the Fund’s five-year total gross return.

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Asian Fund Database of India-Focused Funds: From various Asian fund databases, Marval assessed 56 institutional-grade India-focused funds available outside of India; across Asia, Europe, and the U.S., including those from reputable international and emerging market firms, as well as Indian wealth managers with global offerings. Among these, the Fund ranks second, with the top fund only 0.4% ahead in net compound annual return performance over five years. Over ten years, 75% of these funds have not produced a total net return as high as the Fund’s five-year total net return of 169%.

INVESTMENT APPROACH

The Fund’s five-year net compound annual returns of 21.9% means that invested capital doubled approximately every three and a half years. The Fund is currently the only India-focused fund in Canada with such a strong track record. In an investment world that often focuses on short-term gains and frequent trading, Marval has demonstrated the Fund’s long-term, buy-and-hold investment strategy remains highly effective. 

LOOKING AHEAD

“After 23 years in the investment business, I feel fulfilled. Not because we’ve reached a destination, but because the path ahead has never looked clearer or brighter for our investors and for Marval,” said Ben Watsa, Founder and CEO of Marval Capital Ltd. and CIO of the Marval Guru Fund. “We hope that Marval will become known as the trusted place in North America to invest your capital safely and uniquely, benefiting from our insights and relationships cultivated over decades.”

ABOUT THE FUND

The Fund is an investment trust offered only by way of offering memorandum on a private placement basis to “accredited investors,” as defined in the applicable Canadian securities legislation. The Fund is not offered in the United States and U.S. Persons are not eligible to invest in the Fund.

ABOUT MARVAL CAPITAL LTD. 

Marval Capital Ltd. is an investment firm that focuses on the Indian market. We take pride in uncovering hidden gems in the Indian stock market, particularly within under-researched and often misunderstood small to mid-cap sectors. Guided by the principles of value investing, we diligently identify companies and invest where we have conviction that a business has potential to compound over the long-term. As an independent investment firm, we are committed to our clients’ best interests, striving to achieve greater heights together.

*Net compound annual return figures referred to in this press release are presented net of fees and all dollar amounts referred to in this press release are expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise indicated. Past performance does not guarantee future results; no representation is being made that the Fund or any of its investments will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to those achieved in the past, or that significant losses will be avoided. 

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Marval Capital Ltd. is registered as an investment fund manager in Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador, as a portfolio manager in Ontario and as an exempt market dealer in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan.

This press release is not intended to constitute an offering of units of the Fund. Any offer or sale of securities of the Fund will be made according to the Fund’s Offering Memorandum (“OM”) to eligible “accredited investors” under applicable Canadian securities laws. The information contained herein is qualified in its entirety by reference to the OM of the Fund. The OM contains information about the investment objectives and terms and conditions of an investment in the Fund (including fees) and will also contain tax information and risk disclosures that are important to any investment decision regarding the Fund. Please read the OM before investing.

The Fund is not registered in the United States of America under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Fund’s units have not been registered in the United States of America under the Securities Act of 1933. Fund units made available under this offer may not be directly or indirectly offered or sold in the United States of America or any of its territories or possessions or areas subject to its jurisdiction or to or for the benefit of residents thereof, unless pursuant to an exemption from registration requirements available under U.S. law, any applicable statute, rule or interpretation. The Fund is not offered in the United States and U.S. Persons are not eligible to invest in the Fund. Prospective investors shall be required to declare that they are not a U.S. Person and are not applying for units on behalf of any U.S. Person, as defined under the relevant United States securities laws.

This press release is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a recommendation of any specific investment product, strategy, or decision, and is not intended to suggest taking or refraining from any course of action. It is not intended to address the needs, circumstances, and objectives of any specific investor. Prospective investors should consult with their own professional advisors regarding the financial, legal and tax consequences of any investment. The Fund is not intended as a complete investment program.

Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees, performance fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the OM before investing. The indicated rates of return are the historical net compound annual and total net returns including changes in unit value and reinvestment of all distributions and do not take into account sales, redemption, distribution or optional charges or income taxes payable by any unitholder that would have reduced returns. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated.

CONTACT INFORMATION: Marval Capital Ltd., Email: [email protected] or [email protected], Website: www.marvalcapital.com 

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Dyna.Ai’s Agent Studio, VoiceGPT, AvatarGPT and its FSI (Financial Services Industry) Suite were products exhibited at its booth

SINGAPORE, Nov. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Dyna.Ai, a Singaporean AI-as-a-Service company, took center stage at the 2024 Singapore Fintech Festival with the unveiling of its newest flagship product – Agent Studio.

Agent Studio is a groundbreaking AI agent builder platform built upon Dyna.Ai’s proprietary large language model (LLM). This innovative platform marks a significant evolution from traditional chatbots, offering a highly customizable and sandbox-like environment for businesses to create AI agents tailored to their specific needs. With simple low-code or no-code setup, Agent Studio allows companies to swiftly design and deploy agents that autonomously manage customer interactions across channels, including APIs, websites, and social platforms like WhatsApp.

Agent Studio enhances Dyna.Ai’s expanding portfolio of industry-leading AI-driven solutions, which includes its own AI platform, Agentic AI featuring VoiceGPT and AvatarGPT, along with the Financial Services Industry (FSI) Suite, all launched in 2024.

“We’re thrilled to introduce Agent Studio, a valuable tool for our partners and clients globally,” shared Tomas Skoumal, Chairman and Co-founder of Dyna.Ai. “Agent Studio exemplifies our commitment to providing a comprehensive suite of AI-powered solutions. Recognizing the diverse needs of different organizations and markets, we designed Agent Studio to empower businesses with granular customization capabilities.”

Founded earlier this year, Dyna.Ai has established itself as a key player in the global AI landscape. With a focus on cutting-edge AI models, sophisticated human-AI interaction technologies, and big data analytics, the company empowers businesses across various industries to achieve success in today’s competitive market.

“While there is certainly a lot of interest in AI adoption within Singapore’s financial sector,” commented Cynthia Siantar, Dyna.Ai’s newly appointed Singapore General Manager, “actual implementation may be fairly limited. There could be several factors at play, such as the prevalence of generic solutions that do not address specific needs. Often, these solutions leave institutions unsure how to leverage them effectively. Here is where Dyna.Ai offers a distinct advantage–our deep understanding of the financial sector allows us to create solutions that go beyond mere novelty, instead, bridging the gap between technology and practical problem-solving for our clients.”

Visit Dyna.Ai’s website to learn more about the company and its suite of products.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/dynaai-unveils-agent-studio-a-powerful-ai-agent-builder-platform-at-singapore-fintech-festival-302298883.html