Latest news with #wealthtech
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Building AI-Native Fintechs: How Startups Are Winning At Machine Speed
Charlie Gautreaux is the CTO of IRALOGIX. The entrepreneurial journey hasn't changed at its core. You still have to identify a real problem, build a solution and bring it to market. But how those steps are accomplished has fundamentally changed. In fintech and wealthtech, we're seeing a major shift: the old human-guided marathon has become a technology-augmented sprint. AI is changing the rules and raising the bar for speed and precision. Startups harnessing AI as a foundational strategy will thrive. Those that cling to traditional playbooks will be outpaced at every turn. We're entering a pivotal shift where companies are no longer just aiming to be cloud-native, they're striving to be AI-native from the ground up. While the concept isn't entirely new, its implications go far beyond technology alone. Becoming AI-native reshapes business models, daily operations and strategic thinking. It's not about layering AI onto existing processes; it's about reimagining the foundation itself. From product development and customer engagement to organizational structure, AI-native thinking demands a new level of agility and adaptability. Success will come from embedding AI into the way companies are imagined, launched and scaled. Early-stage startups have long followed a familiar rhythm: market research, fundraising, product development. But in an AI-native world, each of these steps looks radically different. Market research, once a slow and manual process of gathering data sets, conducting surveys and compiling competitive analyses, can now be initiated and refined almost entirely through autonomous AI tools, providing access to market landscapes in a fraction of the time. Fundraising is accelerating, with AI making it easier to identify the right investors, tailor pitches and streamline outreach. Startups can move through early funding stages faster than ever before. Product development has seen the most dramatic transformation. With AI, creating a minimum viable product is no longer a months-long endeavor requiring a large team and significant resources. It's now possible to build and launch core feature sets at a fraction of the cost and time. Some incubators even argue that startups can achieve 80% of their feature functionality at 90% less cost with AI's help. It all comes down to one thing: velocity at the starting gate defines who gets ahead. Go-to-market strategies have undergone a fundamental shift. In the pre-AI world, personalization was limited, and startup leaders often had to cast a wide net without truly understanding who their ideal customer was or how best to reach them. Identifying and targeting the ideal customer wasn't practical or affordable at scale. Now, personalization is the baseline expectation. Startups can immediately micro-target the right customers with messaging tailored to their specific needs, behaviors and decision patterns. AI tools offer far more than traditional platforms. Founders have access to a powerful ecosystem of AI-enhanced outreach tools, predictive analytics and automated campaign design systems, enabling customized engagement from day one. The startups that leverage this full arsenal of capabilities will dominate their markets. While AI-native startups build for speed and flexibility from day one, incumbents face structural challenges. Much of their core infrastructure is built on decades-old technology—mainframes, legacy databases and systems that still depend on batch file transfers rather than real-time APIs. Designed for stability, these legacy platforms have become a major constraint. The modern AI ecosystem thrives on immediacy: real-time data processing, instant API-driven transactions and rapid iteration. Incumbents, by contrast, often find themselves limited by architecture that simply wasn't built to accommodate that kind of speed or flexibility. Even as they invest in modernization efforts, their ability to layer AI capabilities is severely restricted. With customers and markets demanding instant response and constant innovation, that structural lag will only become a bigger liability over time. Leading in an AI-native environment requires a fundamental shift in mindset. In the past, companies could set a strategy and stay the course for years. Today, the pace of AI innovation demands constant flexibility, and leaders must be willing to pivot quickly and adjust strategies in real time. A culture of continuous curiosity and principles-based strategy has become essential. Teams need the desire to learn new technologies and techniques and the freedom to explore and experiment without gatekeeping. At IRALOGIX, we create space for exploration. We encourage teams to try new tools, experiment with different approaches and innovate within guardrails. We don't just talk about innovation, we fund it and celebrate it when it succeeds. Smaller, empowered teams consistently outperform rigid, hierarchical structures. The organizations that foster agility and learning will be the ones that lead this machine-speed evolution. Simply using AI tools won't be enough to build a lasting company. The real winners will be the startups that integrate AI-driven speed and scale with strong human judgment and experience. While AI can analyze data, generate ideas and even suggest strategies, it can't fully replace human intuition, creativity or the nuanced understanding that comes from real-world experience. Founders and teams still need to validate insights, regardless of their source. Human connection, peer review and market feedback remain essential checks on even the best AI-generated ideas. Startups that combine AI capabilities with human judgment, adaptability and strategic thinking will pull ahead. Those blindly automating without critical validation will find themselves outpaced by competitors who build smarter and faster. The shift to building an AI-native company is becoming the new baseline for survival and success. Startups that move fast, adapt constantly and combine AI's capabilities with human judgment will set the pace for the next generation of fintech and wealthtech innovation. And those who embed AI deeply will be the ones who lead. Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?
Entrepreneur
4 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
InCred Money Enters Retail Broking with Acquisition of Stocko
With the acquisition, InCred Money will now provide a wider array of investment options, including fixed deposits, alternative investments, equities, and derivatives, tailored for digital-first investors. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. InCred Money, the retail wealth-tech arm of the InCred Group—has announced its entry into retail broking through the proposed acquisition of South Asian Stocks Limited (SASL), widely known by its brand name 'Stocko'. Stocko, a discount broker with a daily notional turnover of approximately INR 1 lakh crore, will be rebranded as InCred Stocko, subject to regulatory approvals. The platform will be integrated into InCred Money, expanding its digital-first wealth and investment offerings to now include equities and derivatives trading. "This acquisition marks a pivotal milestone in our journey to build a full-stack financial ecosystem," said Bhupinder Singh, Founder and Group CEO of InCred. "Stocko gives us a proven platform with serious volume, and we'll bring our tech, capital, and customer-first mindset to unlock its full potential." Founded in 2013, Stocko has earned a solid reputation among retail investors and active traders for its flat-rate pricing—INR 12.99 per order and subscription models as low as INR 2.99 per order—and user-friendly interface. It offers trading across equities, derivatives, commodities, and currencies, making it a one-stop-shop for serious market participants. With the acquisition, InCred Money will now provide a wider array of investment options, including fixed deposits, alternative investments, equities, and derivatives, tailored for digital-first investors. Shrey Jain, CEO of Stocko, stated, "This is a massive leap forward for us. With InCred's backing, we'll scale faster, innovate harder, and roll out smarter products—from enhanced margin funding to sharper tech. Our goal is simple: to become one of India's top 20 brokers in the next two years, and top 10 in four to five years." The existing Stocko team will continue to lead operations under the InCred banner, ensuring continuity, innovation, and client-centricity through the transition. Founded in 2016, InCred Group is a diversified financial services company, with a strong presence across lending, asset and wealth management, capital markets, and now, retail investing.
Entrepreneur
11-06-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
PowerUp Money Raises $7.1M in Seed Round to Expand Wealth Advisory Platform
With an aim to onboard 10 million users over the next three years, the platform promises to make goal-based investing more accessible while simplifying portfolio tracking and financial planning You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Wealthtech startup PowerUp Money has raised $7.1 million in seed funding to fuel its ambition of reshaping investment advisory for India's growing base of retail investors. The round was co-led by Accel, Blume Ventures, and Kae Capital, with participation from 8i Ventures, DeVC, and several angel investors. The Bengaluru-based startup plans to use the capital to enhance its investment intelligence engine, scale advisory services, and accelerate product development. The company's flagship offering, Power Mutual Funds, launched in April, has already attracted over 25,000 users, with assets under management touching INR 3,000 crore ($350 million). With an aim to onboard 10 million users over the next three years, PowerUp Money is positioning itself as a digital-first alternative to traditional wealth management. The platform promises to make goal-based investing more accessible while simplifying portfolio tracking and financial planning. "Most Indian investors start with SIPs or one-time investments, but don't know what to do next. Portfolios are left unattended for years—we want to fix this," said CEO, Prateek Jindal, in a statement. "We want to empower every investor with the right research and tools in a way that's simple and effortless. Getting the right advice at the right time compounds not just your money but also your confidence as an investor." The company's broader product suite includes Power FD, which offers access to high-interest fixed deposits from RBI-regulated entities, and Power Age, a planning tool aimed at helping users chart a course to financial independence. One of its premium offerings, PowerUp Elite, charges an annual fee of INR 999 for institutional-grade research and tailored portfolio advice—services typically reserved for high-net-worth individuals. Backing the startup, Ashish Fafadia, partner at Blume Ventures, said, "India's wealthtech story is just getting started—and now wealth advisory time has come, especially as investable surplus grows and investor participation broadens. PowerUp has the right ingredients: a strong product, a deep understanding of user behaviour, and the ability to scale." Accel's Prayank Swaroop echoed this sentiment, highlighting the shift in the market from just providing access to investment products to delivering actionable advice. "PowerUp is taking a unique approach, backed by deep user understanding and reimagining what investment advisory should look like for the digital investor," he said. "With PowerUp Elite, they're putting high quality investment research and guidance in the hands of every Indian — without the high fees of traditional wealth managers."
Entrepreneur
03-06-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Stable Money Raises USD 20 Mn Series B to Redefine Fixed-Income Wealthtech for Bharat
The Series B round was led by Nandan Nilekani's Fundamentum Partnership, with participation from Aditya Birla Ventures. Existing backers Z47, RTP Global, and Lightspeed also doubled down in the round. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Bengaluru-based wealthtech platform Stable Money has raised USD 20 million (INR 173 crore) in a Series B round led by Nandan Nilekani's Fundamentum Partnership, with participation from Aditya Birla Ventures. Existing backers Z47, RTP Global, and Lightspeed also doubled down in the round. The fresh capital will fuel product expansion, build out offline distribution, and scale Stable Money's fixed-income partner network, according to co-founder and CEO Saurabh Jain. "We're building trust first, then expanding the wealth journey step by step," said Jain. "These products help customers move beyond FDs at their own pace." Founded in 2022 by Saurabh Jain (former CEO of Navi Mutual Fund) and Harish Reddy, Stable Money began as a digital fixed deposit (FD) investment platform, targeting first-time wealth-tech users who prefer trust and predictability over risk. In early 2024, after securing a BSE OBPP license, the startup expanded to offer curated short-term corporate bonds, which now see 80% of uptake from FD users. The platform has rapidly scaled, now claiming over INR 3,000 crore in assets under management (AUM) and serving 20 lakh customers. Its core differentiator: short-duration bonds — from 2 to 6 months — that offer users quicker investment cycles, same-day liquidity, and lifetime-free demat accounts. Jain said the platform is now piloting debt and gold mutual funds, alongside a secured credit card backed by FDs, which already has 3,200+ customers in just one month — mostly from tier-II cities. "People in these towns have idle capital but lack access to wealth managers. We help bridge that gap," he noted. Next up: loan-against-FD products launching in the next quarter, and a broader rollout of DIY-style investment baskets combining FDs, bonds, and mutual funds. Unlike advisory-heavy platforms, these baskets will be configuration templates users can self-manage. With 10 partner banks and NBFCs live and 8 more in the pipeline, Stable Money is building a full-stack suite of safe, fixed-income products, especially for India's underbanked Bharat segment. "With Saurabh and Harish at the helm, Stable Money is on its way to becoming a full-stack safety net for how India saves," said Mayank Kachhwaha of Fundamentum.
Finextra
30-05-2025
- Business
- Finextra
Mena wealth platform Vault opens to the general public
Vault Wealth Limited ('Vault'), MENA's first digital private wealth platform built for the modern affluent, today announced its public launch, alongside an investment round led by Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia Capital India & SEA), with continued support from Outliers VC. 1 This marks Peak XV Partners' first wealthtech investment in the MENA region and a milestone in Vault's journey to deliver fiduciary-grade, technology driven private wealth solutions to the region's modern affluent. Since securing its ADGM Financial Services Regulatory Authority license in mid-2023, Vault has focused on building and refining its offering in close collaboration with a select group of HNWIs, ensuring it is purpose-built to meet their sophisticated needs. Having quietly validated product-market fit and laid a strong foundation, Vault is now expanding access to a broader segment of affluent investors across the region, specifically those with over USD 100,000 in liquid assets. The platform has already demonstrated strong momentum, with assets under management (AUM) growing by over 300% in the past 12 months and clients typically tripling their deposits within 90 days of first funding. 'Vault was built with a simple premise: that affluent investors in MENA deserve better—better access, better alignment, and better outcomes,' said Bilal Abou-Diab, Co-Founder and CEO of Vault. 'Vault is what wealth management should look like today: digital-first, fiduciary by design, and built for how people live and invest now. With Peak XV Partners' support, we're entering a new phase of growth, delivering institutional-quality wealth management to a broader base of clients across the region.' 'Vault is bringing a tech-driven, client-centric approach to wealth management for HNWIs in MENA. They're building a platform that resonates with a new generation of affluent investors in a market that's ripe for disruption. We're excited to partner with them on this journey,' said GV Ravishankar, Managing Director, Peak XV. Established Expertise for Modern Wealth Vault combines expert advisory capabilities with advanced technology to deliver a comprehensive wealth management experience. The platform caters to a diverse international client base, including professionals and entrepreneurs from the UAE, GCC, Europe, Asia, and North America. Vault provides expert financial planning and goal-based portfolio management, alongside institutional-grade global market access through Interactive Brokers. Clients benefit from optimized liquidity solutions and gain access to exclusive private market opportunities spanning private equity, venture capital, private credit, and real estate—all through a unified platform. 'Vault provides the sophisticated capabilities that affluent investors deserve, without the legacy constraints of traditional wealth managers,' said Sami Abdul Hadi, Co-Founder and COO, Vault. 'With over 250% year-on-year client growth driven primarily by referrals, our platform clearly empowers clients with both expertise and transparency in a market where both have been in short supply.' 'Vault stood out from our first conversation with Bilal and Sami. The team had clarity of vision and deeply understood the scale of the market gap. As demand for modern wealth management solutions accelerates, our conviction has only grown. Wealth management in MENA is overdue for reinvention, and Vault is building the infrastructure to lead it,' said Sarah AlSaleh, General Partner, Outliers VC. Unlocking Dormant Capital in a USD 3.5 Trillion+ Market The UAE has established itself as a significant wealth hub, with approximately 29% of the population holding over USD 100 million in financial assets. Despite this, at least 41% of investible wealth is held in cash positions—far exceeding levels in mature markets. Across the broader MENA region, the opportunity is even greater. GCC household wealth is projected to surpass USD 3.5 trillion by 2027, yet much remains underutilized due to legacy systems and fragmented offerings. Vault addresses this gap by offering a regulated, transparent alternative that meets the expectations of sophisticated global investors who have chosen MENA as their home. Regulated by ADGM's Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) and recognized as one of the UAE's top innovators by Future 100, Vault is now welcoming new clients.
