Fintech for good ... it's a journey!

In keeping with my attempt for positivity and celebrating new beginnings ... here are a few inspirational stories to end the week.

Fintech for Good

• 30% of Americans lack access to affordable banking services that can support them during downturns.
• 59 million Americans use government benefits just to get by financially.

How can technology be used to help consumers weather financial emergencies? There are quite a few examples around us, as we have featured in our book Beyond Good, and the One Vision podcast.

And here are two of them from a recent article from Impact Entrepreneur: SaverLife and Propel, Inc.

Helping immigrants establish credit is also another way that fintechs are helping underrepresented communities, not just in providing access, but getting them one step closer towards their dreams and aspirations.

We have recently featured the super inspirational story of Lamine Zarrad and his company StellarFi 🚀.

Here is another interesting fintech to check out: Upwardli

Funding for Black Founders

This article from Dominic-Madori Davis also caught my eye this week.

Funding for Black web3 founders has only increased, and the crypto winter proved the most fruitful year.

In particular, "Crunchbase data shows that U.S. Black web3 founders raised $60 million (out of the $11.9 billion total given to all U.S. web3 startups in 2022). That amount is substantially higher than the $16 million such founders received in 2021, during crypto’s record-breaking year (U.S. web3 startups received $16.5 billion that year)."

So while change is painfully slow, there might be a glimmer of hope after all.

Being Human

There is no lack of doom and gloom articles lately, especially with the buzz around generative AI and the ability of such technology replacing humans.

This article in the The New York Times offers their take in weathering the storm: Be human.

In particular, the author suggests a few things to focus on:

• A distinct personal voice
• Presentation skills
• A childlike talent for creativity
• Unusual worldviews
• Empathy
• Situational Awareness

At the end of the day, technology is a means to an end. Let's use it to make the world a better place ... for humans.

Being Modular

I'll end with this fun article about big projects and Legos. When in doubt, think bite-size chunks.

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How can financial institutions navigate the economic uncertainty and adapt to the changing social and macro dynamics? What role will emerging technologies such as AI and blockchain play?

Recently, I spoke with Tony Warren from FIS and Christian Chamberlin from M Booth on the current state of ESG in capital markets and what the future may hold.

If you missed our conversation, you can watch the recording here.

#FISPartner #Finpact #ESG #FinancialServices

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It was wonderful meeting with the latest cohort from the Techstars Future of Longevity Accelerator, which includes a great mix of fintech, healthtech, and insurtech, focusing on innovative solutions to address the unmet needs of older adults and their caregivers.

For those who know me well would know that this is a passion area of mine since before my fintech time. So you imagine my excitement!

And as I often said, these solutions are just not for the older adults, but also for the wide demographics of family caregivers and loved ones. Spoiler alert: 60% of new caregivers last year were Gen Z and millennials.

Check out the new cohort here:

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That's it for this week. Stay tuned for my column next week on FinTech Futures, where I talk about a fable on elephant and giraffe, and the diversity of socks. (Shout out to Sonya B. Dreizler for the inspiration!)

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Beyond Good is available now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, Kogan Page and anywhere books are sold. You can check out what others are saying about our book here. 

If it resonates, please leave us a review on Amazon or goodreads.com. 

Thank you!

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