SHIFT Community Update #32
Events, Traitors and specialist lenders
Hey SHIFT Community, here’s your update on all things SHIFT.
Almost all of the nation has been watching Traitors and the grand finale was on Friday, here’s an open finance take on the ‘Seer’:
SHIFT Updates
🌐 Expanding Horizons: Middle East Fintech Opportunities. Tuesday 11th February, 12:00-13:00 GMT; Join us for a webinar with key international delegations, investors and financial institutions from Saudi Arabia and Dubai cover key aspects such as regulatory environments, market demand, partnership opportunities, incentives and support for new entrants.
🔨 Fintech Foundations. Tuesday 27th February, 13:00-18:00 GMT; Join us to take part in four engaging classrooms led by industry experts, designed to provide your business with the tools and strategies it needs to thrive, including; GTM support and Legals for fundraising.
👋 Grab 15 minutes to catch-up with Kyle; 2025 is looking to be our biggest year yet and we have TONS of opportunities for you all (more SHIFT+ spots, Market Entry Programme, OakNorth partnership, events). We want to build around our members so if you want a catch-up around every going on then please book 15 minutes in with me.
Member Updates
👋 Some awesome new SHIFT members, so make sure to say hi on Slack
Agostino Russo the founder of Micro Quant which is a data analytics application framework for Python.
Zitah McMillian the new CEO of Finexos is on a mission to provide lenders with the tools to lend to more people, with less risk and at lower cost of acquisition.
✅ CFPB Approves Application from Financial Data Exchange to Issue Standards for Open Banking
📡Making Open Finance Happen with Moneyhub and the Startup Coalition. There will be a panel followed by a drinks reception highlighting the UK’s world-leading £4bn Open Finance sector.
If you have news that you want to be included here then make sure to post it in the #news-and-views channel on Slack or tag Kyle in your posts!
Partner News
💸 OakNorth Business Bank Accounts. SHIFT has partnered with OakNorth to support their business banking proposition offering high-interest rate accounts (4.5%), with a dedicated business partner (an expert to help you seize new business opportunities) and access to a network of like-minded founders (all high-growth and successful companies). Please reach out if you would interested in a conversation.
🎤 Early waitlist launched for Rare Founders Demo Day. Make sure to sign up early!
Resource Recommendation
Powering the Lenders – The Technology Landscape
For Fintechs exploring opportunities in the specialist finance sector, Woodhurst and Finativ’s “Powering the Lenders: The Technology Landscape” is an invaluable resource.
This report goes beyond a simple market overview to provide a clear understanding of the vendor landscape, the technology shaping this sector, and where the gaps and opportunities lie. Why Read This Report:
Map the Vendor Landscape: The report offers a structured view of vendors, categorised into Specialist Banking, Specialist Lending, and Savings, highlighting the technologies being deployed to address sector-specific challenges. This insight helps Fintechs understand the competitive landscape and benchmark against established players.
Spot Opportunities: By analysing vendor offerings, the report highlights unmet needs in areas such as automation, customer experience, and scalability. Fintechs can leverage this insight to identify gaps in the market, whether it’s in underserved lending products, advanced data analytics, or integration ecosystems. This information can also provide insight into potential partnership opportunities for Fintechs seeking to enter this space.
Learn from Real-World Success Stories: Case studies from the report illustrate how different technologies have been deployed by lenders to solve challenges and deliver value. These examples can serve as inspiration for Fintechs looking to build partnerships or innovate within the space.
If there are any resources you find enjoyable, useful, or interesting then let me know :)