As large banks embrace FinTech start-ups and their advanced technology rather than compete against them, both parties aim to eliminate the “middle man” in financial services transactions. This “middle man” is a metaphor for the different steps of customer interaction that technology has removed to make banking more efficient. However, in the hyper-speed environment from which bank - start-up integrations emerge, a new middle man - between these parties has become necessary.
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The Rise of the New FinTech Middle Man
Topics: FinTech Startup Careers Bitcoin trends Blockchain
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Startup Lesson: Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data
FinTech startup VendorMach provided lessons in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and big data on the Byte campus recently. Topics covered by Chaney Ojinnaka, CEO, and Ivan Kotorov, VP, Enterprise, included: KYC (Know Your Customer), supply chain, trust scoring and programming languages. They explained why they chose Python over Ruby for their product. Python's ability to analyze numbers and frameworks are key (as a Python school we're thrilled:). VendorMach also discussed FinTech cultural attitudes in London (original headquarters) and New York City (second office location). By the end of the event the audience felt much much comfortable with "hot" technology buzzwords including artificial intelligence, machine learning, supply chain and more.
Topics: FinTech Machine Learning Big Data Startup AI Data Science supply chain
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Django Resources From A Founder and CTO
Will Plaehn, founder and CTO of Last Mile Retail, a retail marketing platform, recently visited Byte Academy as a guest speaker for our Entrepreneur Series. He also gave a workshop on Django, a Python framework while here. Read some of his favorite resources that he shared and referenced in his talk (thanks Will!)...
Topics: Startup Careers Python Programming Tips django
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From Concept to Company – 5 Tips for Every Entrepreneur
Taking the decision to start your own venture is never easy. But once you overcome your initial hesitation and take the plunge, your life will take a turn for the better. Here are our 5 tips for every aspiring entrepreneur to keep in mind as they embark on this journey.
Topics: Startup Careers Programming Tips
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What Tools Are Spreading Usage of the Blockchain?
Perhaps no other development is as well known for its “disruptive” nature than the blockchain, the digital, decentralized ledger behind bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies that has held the spotlight over the past year. Banks all around the world are exploring the blockchain’s capabilities. It may significantly reduce overhead costs in the financial sector.
Some of the latest technologies which use the blockchain and increases its applications by developers were presented at FinDEVr, the FinTech for developers conference held in New York City at the end of this March. This was the first time that New York City was added to the FinDEVr roster after a long history of the conference being held in San Francisco in the fall. Especially considering the diminishing line dividing technology and Wall Street, it’s about time that the conference headed East...
Topics: Finovate FinTech Startup findDEVr Blockchain events conference
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Big Data, Machine Learning and Other Themes From Finovate Europe
In early February, Finovate Europe, a sold-out, two-day conference in London brought together more than 1500 on a guest list composed of the “who’s who in FinTech” – VC’s, founders, press and more. The conference is perhaps only surpassed in size by its original, Finovate Fall in New York. Products were launched by 70 companies from around the world - both startups and larger veterans. However, no matter what the size or founder's native language, a few themes were common. These included personalization, big data, machine learning and white labeling. Some even indicated a shift from Finovate Fall a few months prior.
Topics: Finovate FinTech Startup europe london Banking Data Science events
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An Overview of India's Current Banking Landscape
Guest post by Arvind Padmanabhan, from Indian Engineering Design Forum, who attended our event this week on "Demonetization and its impact on FinTech and Digital Payments" in Bangalore.
Topics: FinTech Current Events Startup Banking India
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Which Country Will Lead The FinTech Revolution?
Collaboration maybe a manifestation of competition. Hong Kong, Singapore and China race to lead the FinTech revolution. Passionate debate at Hong Kong FinTech Breakfast Briefing and The Economist #FinanceDisrupted conference
Singapore FinTech Festival
In April the Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore announced that Singapore would hold its inaugural FinTech Festival in November. He made the announcement regarding the week-long global event in New York City.
Hong Kong FinTech Breakfast Briefing, Oct. 12, 2016 Princeton Club, New York City
Finovate, which holds a series of some of the largest FinTech conferences in the world debuts Finovate Asia in Hong Kong November 8. This is days before Singapore’s FinTech Festival. Between the two events many global companies already have their airplane tickets booked, so..
Hong Kong FinTech Week
Invest Hong Kong announced on September 21st that it would be holding its first “FinTech Week.” This will kick off with Finovate and end a couple days before the Singapore event. Although both Singapore and Hong Kong may say that the current atmosphere is collaborative, the FinTech event race suggests competition. This has been true historically for both countries.
Hong Kong’s FinTech Facilitation Office (FFO) Plan to promote FinTech development, Oct. 12, 2016
Hong Kong Breakfast Briefing speakers hinted at current competition when they pointed out that Hong Kong did not need to provide large subsidies to encourage companies to innovate in the country. However, Singapore “has to.”
Will China Win The FinTech Revolution?
The sense of competition thickened the next day at The Economist’s Finance Disrupted event. The theme of the day long conference, “collaborate or die” attracted a few hundred attendees paying $2200 per ticket. Viewpoints during the afternoon's Oxford style debate, “the house believes that China will win the FinTech revolution” suggested that China's domination relied heavily on mobilizing its peoples' technology and other professional skills.
Other views suggested that China is separated from global financial power players and has a long journey to advance. One of the supports for this: although the largest banks are in China the most powerful citizens don’t trust these banks. Instead, they go to American banks such as Goldman Sachs.
#FinanceDisrupted Conference by The Economist Oct. 13, 2016 New York City. Theme? “Collaborate or Die”
Other interesting points brought up that day? The Economist used to be banned in Singapore but now it is allowed. The government has relaxed its regulatory measures too. Global leaders such as Vikram Pandit, former CEO Citigroup Inc. pointed this out as reasoning for his faith in Singapore FinTech.
Vikram Pandit, Former CEO Citigroup Inc. Professing His Love For Singapore to the Editor-In-Chief of the The Economist at Finance Disrupted, Oct. 13Topics: FinTech Current Events China Hong Kong Startup Asia
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Are We In A Cryptocurrency Bubble?
Recently Matt Gertler, cryptocurrency attorney at Digital Asset Research answered a big question on many minds recently: are we in a cryptocurrency bubble? Particularly with the rise of ICOs (Initial Coin Offerings) and China's recent ban on them, this has been on many minds recently.
Topics: FinTech Startup Bitcoin ico Blockchain events
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Inside Bitcoin & Blockchain - By the Founder of a Bitcoin Wallet
Bitcoin and blockchain, the digital ledger used for bitcoin, have been headlining news. Bitcoin, once associated with illicit online transactions, is being recognized by big banks. Just this week State Street, one of the oldest banks in the US, made headlines as it set up its own innovation lab to deal with blockchain technology. JP Morgan, Credit Suisse, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, with more banks to come, backed R3, a blockchain consortium. To understand Bitcoin, blockchain and the crypto future we sat down with Tim Lee, founder of ArcBit bitcoin wallet, who has been dealing with the blockchain much earlier before the general public, or even large banks, heard about the Bitcoin or its digital ledger. Tim comes from the start-up background - similar to the Bitcoin and blockchain founders and disruptors. Byte Academy is excited to announce that Tim Lee will be doing a blockchain workshop October 16 in addition to other part-time classes.
