Latest news with #FinTech
Forbes
2 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Why VCs Are Betting Big On Tradecraft AI In Financial Services
Ai agent thinking and making decision metaphor. Artificial intelligence visualization in human form ... More with laptop head. Black and white collage in pop art style illustration. OBSERVATIONS FROM THE FINTECH SNARK TANK In a world awash in AI hype, the next wave of innovation won't come from general-purpose tools, but from a new class of highly specialized applications designed to embed expertise directly into workflows. Think of this emerging category as "tradecraft AI." What Is Tradecraft AI? Tradecraft AI is the fusion of applied domain knowledge and AI technology. It captures the tacit, apprentice-learned knowledge traditionally acquired through years of experience and embeds it into software that executes with the precision, nuance, and adaptability of a seasoned expert. Think of a veteran underwriter, experienced analyst, or seasoned enterprise banker. They don't just follow checklists. They apply deep judgment, pattern recognition, and learned instincts to complex, variable situations. Tradecraft AI aims to replicate and scale that kind of professional decision-making. Unlike horizontal AI platforms (e.g., chatbots, summary generators, generic assistants), tradecraft AI is hyper-verticalized. It's tailored to a specific job family within a specific domain. Examples include: Tradecraft AI refers to AI applications that: This isn't "AI that can do a task" in the abstract--it's AI that understands the job because it's been trained, shaped, and constrained by tradecraft. According to Mike Degnan, founder of VC firm Darrery Capital: 'At its core, tradecraft AI is about the human element—the honed skill set of an expert who has lived the nuances of their craft. There's a difference between canned spaghetti sauce and your Grandma's slow-simmered Sunday sauce. Grandma's cooking isn't just about ingredients--it's about innate timing, feel, and adjustments. That's tradecraft. And that's the essence of what this new generation of AI tools captures.' Tradecraft AI isn't just data-fed software. It's a digital master craftsman, using AI trained by masters--through observation and direction--and built to deploy judgement and excellence at scale through an application layer. Why Tradecraft AI Is a Compelling VC Theme Tradecraft AI sits at the intersection of three powerful investment theses: What sets tradecraft AI apart from traditional vertical AI is its depth of specialization. Tradecraft AI understands the jobs-to-be-done and translates that understanding into software that thinks, recommends, and acts like a domain expert. Emerging Tradecraft AI Startups Companies emerging in the new tradecraft AI space include: Tradecraft AI: Why Now? Several forces are converging to make tradecraft AI not only possible but inevitable: And perhaps most importantly, the market is ready. The financial services industry is defined by apprenticeship, manual workflows, and regulatory burden—a perfect breeding ground for productivity tools that can offer speed and precision. Tradecraft AI Benefits for the Industry Professionals stand to gain immensely. Benefits include: This doesn't mean job displacement. It means enabling bankers to focus on high-value work, and bringing sophisticated decision-making to a broader range of institutions. Tradecraft AI Benefits for Consumers and Businesses The downstream effects of tradecraft AI are profound: By embedding AI into the fabric of financial services, institutions can deliver better outcomes, at lower cost, with greater transparency. Final Thoughts on Tradecraft AI Tradecraft AI isn't a buzzword. It's a shift in how software is built and delivered. According to Darrery Capital's Mike Degnan: 'Tradecraft AI is built on the belief that expert systems can be more than brittle rule engines—they can be adaptive, empathetic, and programmatic.' For founders, this is a greenfield opportunity to reshape the financial services industry. For investors, it's a category that combines deep moats, real workflows, and massive market need. For bankers, it's a productivity revolution wrapped in software that finally understands your job. And for the consumer tradecraft AI offers better service, better outcomes, and a more human financial system—powered by machines that finally know what they're doing.
Forbes
2 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Generative AI As Infrastructure: A Productivity Playbook For Banks
AI productivity in banks OBSERVATIONS FROM THE FINTECH SNARK TANK As banks explore the value of artificial intelligence, one fact is becoming increasingly clear: generative AI is emerging as core infrastructure for operational transformation. A recent report by Cornerstone Advisors and commissioned by Hapax, provides a framework for how banks and credit unions can move beyond experimentation and begin capturing tangible productivity gains from generative AI. Moving From Generative AI Experimentation to Enterprise Value Many financial institutions are in a reactive posture toward generative AI—running pilot programs, deploying isolated tools, or setting general usage policies. While this exploratory stage is important, generative AI must ultimately be treated as foundational infrastructure, similar to broadband connectivity or cloud architecture. Institutions that approach generative AI this way are seeing measurable improvements in productivity and staff enablement in three key areas: 1) knowledge management; 2) process and workflow optimization; and 3) personal productivity. The most immediate and impactful application of generative AI has been streamlining internal knowledge access. Employees at every level—from compliance teams to branch staff—routinely spend valuable time searching for policy documents, procedural guidance, or answers to routine questions. By implementing 'super search' platforms powered by generative AI, these institutions have enabled staff to find accurate, real-time answers in seconds rather than minutes. Marine Credit Union, for example, reported a 20–25% increase in employee productivity after adopting such a solution. These tools reduce cognitive friction, shorten onboarding and training times, and enhance overall employee experience. Rather than replacing staff, AI acts as an expert assistant—always available, up to date, and context-aware. Some institutions are beginning to integrate AI more deeply into critical business workflows. In particular, compliance, vendor due diligence, treasury operations, and HR policy development are emerging as high-impact use cases. By automating tasks like document summarization, risk flagging, or policy drafting, AI is helping teams reduce cycle times, improve accuracy, and free up capacity for higher-order decision-making. In doing so, AI becomes less of a tool and more of a collaborator embedded within the daily operational rhythm. At First State Community Bank, initial concerns about uncontrolled AI usage were replaced by a structured adoption framework that included employee training, clear governance, and change management support. The outcome: improved productivity and rising employee interest in new AI applications. Measuring and Managing the Value of Generative AI The report emphasizes the need for rigorous measurement when deploying AI. Banks and credit unions should treat each AI-enabled workflow like a capital investment—with clear ROI metrics, performance tracking, and continuous feedback loops. Key performance indicators (KPIs) should be defined upfront, including: Institutions like Visa and JPMorgan Chase have published productivity figures tied to AI initiatives: Visa reported $40 billion in fraud prevention using AI, and JPMorgan's COIN platform automated 360,000 hours of legal document review. While community banks and credit unions may operate at a smaller scale, the principle remains the same—measurable value is the standard for success. Building a Scalable Generative AI Adoption Strategy Rather than launching full-scale AI transformations, take a stepwise approach: This incremental approach reduces risk while accelerating organizational learning and adoption. Generative AI as Infrastructure Just as no one says 'we're doing a cloud project' anymore—because cloud is now assumed to be part of modern IT architecture—the same will soon be true for generative AI. Too often, AI is viewed as an 'app'—something a business can bolt on to fix a specific problem. AI isn't a project—it's infrastructure because it: Treating AI as infrastructure means rethinking how you: 1) Budget—moving from 'AI project line item' to 'platform-level investment;' 2) Organize—creating cross-functional teams for AI model ops, governance, and integration; 3) Govern—establishing AI lifecycle management, bias detection, and explainability standards; and 4) Train—shifting the focus from 'how to use the tool' to 'how to build on top of it.' Organizational Considerations: Trust, Culture, and Governance Perhaps most importantly, the report underscores that AI transformation is as much about people as it is about technology. Trust is a prerequisite. Employees must understand how AI works, what it's doing, and how it benefits them. Leaders must invest in change management, education, and the creation of AI champions throughout the organization. At Magnifi Financial, a culture of transparency and hands-on experimentation helped overcome initial skepticism. Employees began with small use cases, validated outcomes, and built confidence organically. Over time, AI became not just a technical initiative, but a workforce enabler. A Strategic Inflection Point For Generative AI Financial institutions now face a strategic decision: treat AI as an isolated technology, or embrace it as foundational infrastructure. The former risks stagnation. The latter opens the door to continuous productivity improvement, talent enablement, and better outcomes for customers. The institutions profiled in the report demonstrate that real, measurable value is within reach—achievable today through focused deployment, strong governance, and a commitment to change. As generative AI matures, the competitive advantage will go to those who embed it deeply and intelligently across their organizations. For banks and credit unions ready to move from hype to impact, this generative AI playbook provides a valuable guide. For a complimentary copy of the report The Playbook for Generative AI-Driven Productivity Improvement, click here.
Qatar Tribune
3 days ago
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar Central Bank grants sandbox entry approval to TrustIn Limited
Doha In line with the Third Financial Sector Strategy, the FinTech Strategy, and Qatar Central Bank's efforts to develop and regulate the FinTech ecosystem in the country, the Qatar Central Bank (QCB) has granted sandbox entry approval for Trustln, which offers a Digital Escrow Platform. This step highlights QCB's commitment to fostering the financial sector and advancing the objectives of the Third Financial Sector Strategy. It is important to note that entry into the regulatory sandbox does not equate to full-scale licensing approval; however, the applicant is considered an Authorised FinTech Sandbox Participant for regulatory activities by the FinTech entity.
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Qatar Central Bank grants sandbox entry approval to TrustIn Limited
Doha: In line with the Third Financial Sector Strategy, the FinTech Strategy, and Qatar Central Bank's efforts to develop and regulate the FinTech ecosystem in the country, the Qatar Central Bank (QCB) has granted sandbox entry approval for Trustln, which offers an Digital Escrow Platform. This step highlights QCB's commitment to fostering the financial sector and advancing the objectives of the Third Financial Sector Strategy. It is important to note that entry into the regulatory sandbox does not equate to full-scale licensing approval; however, the applicant is considered an Authorized FinTech Sandbox Participant for regulatory activities by the FinTech entity. © Dar Al Sharq Press, Printing and Distribution. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
XS.com scored a hat-trick of awards & crowned as Most Popular Broker in MENA
the leading global FinTech and financial services provider, solidified its position as a key industry player at the African FinTech Summit by The Trading Show held on July 12–13, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency in Casablanca, Morocco. The multi-asset broker was proudly recognized with three major awards at the summit: Most Popular Broker – MENA, Best Finfluencers Support, and Best Gold Trading Conditions. These accolades reinforce position as a fintech leader across the MENA region and Africa, recognizing its excellence in trading services and digital innovation. They demonstrate the broker's commitment to empowering traders and investors with cutting-edge technology and a service model centered on innovation and client needs. The summit brought together thousands of fintech leaders, investors, and financial experts, fostering an environment of collaboration and forward-thinking strategies. booth was a focal point, highlighting its advanced multi-asset trading platforms, real-time market insights, and innovative fintech solutions designed to elevate the trader experience. Shadi Salloum, Regional Director for commented: " Winning not one, but three awards at this year's African FinTech Summit is a proud moment for our team. It reflects the hard work and creativity of our team, and our ongoing dedication to delivering innovative solutions that empower traders and support financial inclusion across Africa and the MENA region. Our role as Global Sponsor reinforces our commitment to leading fintech transformation in these vital markets." This recognition highlights expanding influence in the region, where innovation, transparency, and trader-centric service remain core to its strategy. By combining localized support, expert education, and institutional-grade infrastructure, continues to build a resilient financial ecosystem that drives growth and confidence. Aicha Fadhel, Managing Director at The Trading Show Company, commented: 'We are thrilled to crown with three major awards at the summit, namely Most Popular Broker – MENA, Best Finfluencers Support, and Best Gold Trading Conditions. These awards stand as a testament to unparalleled efforts to set new benchmarks for quality in online trading'. The multi award winning broker remains focused on empowering traders, institutional investors, and brokers with access to deep institutional liquidity, advanced trading technology, and exceptional customer support. has recently been recognized with a range of awards that have validated its mission to empower traders with the knowledge and tools they need to thrive in the dynamic world of trading. About The XS Group (operating under brand name 'XS' or ' is a Global Multi-Asset Broker providing access to trade a wide range of financial products. Established in Australia in 2010, has grown into a global market leader in the FinTech, financial services and online trading industry with licences in various jurisdictions and offices in different locations around the globe. offers traders, institutional investors and brokers worldwide access to deep institutional liquidity and advanced trading technology, combined with an efficient user experience, high-quality relationship management and excellent customer support. Risk Warning: Our products are traded on margin and carry a high level of risk and it is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved.
