Finance Trends

Buy now, pay later (BNPL) is a short-term financing option that allows consumers to make purchases and defer payments to a later date, often without interest. This payment method is typically offered by retailers at the point of sale, both online and in physical stores, and is facilitated by companies such as Afterpay, Klarna, and Affirm. BNPL is particularly popular among younger consumers who prefer to manage their cash flow without using traditional credit cards.

Company offering an AI platform tailored for Advisory and Audit firms to enhance their growth. The platform, developed by former Big Four practitioners and Silicon Valley technologists, digitizes the entire engagement lifecycle to deliver improved results for professionals and their clients. Fieldguide primarily serves Advisory and Audit firms seeking to streamline their processes and achieve better outcomes through digital transformation.

Company that offers technology and tools designed to help financial advisors achieve better outcomes. Altruist provides advisory services and aims to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of financial advising by integrating various financial tools into a single platform. The primary target demographic for Altruist includes financial advisors and wealth management professionals seeking to streamline their operations and enhance client service.

A reserve of money set aside to cover possible unforeseen future expenses or financial emergencies. These funds are typically used by governments, organizations, or individuals to ensure financial stability in the face of unexpected events such as natural disasters, economic downturns, or other emergencies. Contingency funds are crucial for providing a financial safety net, allowing entities to respond quickly to emergencies without having to divert funds from other important areas or incur debt.

Decentralized borrowing protocol that allows users to draw 0% interest loans against Ether (ETH) used as collateral. The loans are paid out in LUSD, a USD-pegged stablecoin, and require a minimum collateral ratio of 110%, offering a unique advantage by providing interest-free loans. This protocol is particularly attractive for users looking to leverage their ETH holdings without incurring ongoing interest costs.

Form of social engineering where an individual lies to obtain privileged data. The pretexter creates a fabricated scenario to engage the target and extract information, often used in identity theft, fraud, and other malicious activities. This technique primarily targets individuals or organizations with valuable or sensitive information.

Unethical or illegal practice where a broker or trader executes orders on a security for their own account while taking advantage of advance knowledge of pending orders from their customers. This practice can occur in various contexts, including the stock market, cryptocurrency, and high-frequency trading, and is considered harmful to market integrity and client interests. Front running primarily affects retail investors and clients who rely on brokers and traders to act in their best interest.

Arbitrage betting is a strategy that involves placing bets on all possible outcomes of an event with different bookmakers to guarantee a profit regardless of the outcome. This method leverages the differing odds offered by various bookmakers to ensure a win. It is primarily utilized by experienced bettors and those looking to exploit discrepancies in betting markets for consistent, risk-free profits.

Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) are mandatory withdrawals that individuals must take annually from their IRA and retirement plan accounts starting at age 72 (or age 73 if they reach age 72 after December 31, 2022). These distributions are designed to ensure that retirement accounts are eventually depleted and taxed, preventing indefinite tax deferral. RMDs primarily affect retirees who have accumulated savings in tax-deferred retirement accounts.

Enterprise-ready, open-source blockchain designed for real-world decentralized finance (DeFi) applications, with a focus on tokenization. It features a developer-friendly hybrid architecture that supports hybrid relay bridges, interoperability, and spontaneous block finality, differentiating it from other blockchain networks. The XDC Network primarily targets businesses and developers looking to implement secure, scalable, and efficient DeFi solutions.

Company that owns and develops real estate properties and holds interests in three main business areas: Real Estate, Steel Services, and Industrial Holdings. Onvest differentiates itself by managing a diverse portfolio that spans across multiple industries, providing stability and growth opportunities through its varied investments. The company primarily targets investors and businesses looking for reliable real estate and industrial investment opportunities.

Venture capital firm that manages a crypto hedge fund, focusing on investments in blockchain technology and early token sales. Polychain Capital differentiates itself by specializing in the cryptocurrency and blockchain sectors, providing strategic investments in innovative blockchain projects and early-stage token sales. The firm primarily targets institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals interested in the burgeoning field of blockchain and cryptocurrency investments.

Insurance company founded in 2016 that offers a unique car insurance model. By Miles differentiates itself by allowing customers to pay an annual fee to cover their car while it's parked and then pay based on the miles they drive each month, providing a cost-effective solution for low-mileage drivers. This model primarily benefits individuals who drive infrequently and are looking for a flexible and economical insurance option.

Professionals who use advanced mathematical and statistical models to solve complex financial problems. Quants are often employed in investment banks, hedge funds, and asset management firms, where they develop algorithms and models to inform trading strategies and risk management. This field primarily attracts individuals with strong backgrounds in mathematics, statistics, and computer science, particularly those interested in finance and quantitative analysis.

Financial technology company that offers a retail finance platform enabling retailers, lenders, and payment providers to provide instant finance options. The platform supports both B2C and B2B transactions, differentiating itself by facilitating seamless integration and quick credit decisions. Divido primarily serves retailers, financial institutions, and payment providers in the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States.

An app-based platform that offers a range of financial services including money management, fund transfers, online payments, and fee payments. YPAY differentiates itself by providing a user-friendly interface that simplifies financial transactions, making it easier for users to handle their finances efficiently. The platform primarily targets individuals seeking a convenient and efficient way to manage their financial transactions through a mobile application.

Leading provider of cloud-based security and compliance solutions. The company offers a wide range of services, including vulnerability management, policy compliance, web application scanning, and malware detection, helping organizations identify and manage security risks across their IT infrastructure. Qualys primarily serves businesses and organizations seeking to ensure compliance with regulatory standards and enhance their cybersecurity posture.

A term used in financial and legal contexts to refer to the person or entity that ultimately owns or controls an asset, such as a company, property, or financial instrument, even if the asset is held in another name. The beneficial owner enjoys the benefits of ownership, such as income or dividends, and has the power to make decisions regarding the asset. This concept is crucial for compliance with financial regulations and ensuring transparency in financial transactions.

Investment platform that offers a mobile application for online trading. The platform provides services such as account management, fractional shares, and access to global stocks, differentiating itself with a user-friendly interface and commission-free trading. Freetrade primarily targets individual investors and traders looking for an accessible and cost-effective way to manage their investments.

Decentralized protocol used for indexing and querying data from blockchains. It helps in retrieving blockchain data efficiently, which is particularly useful for Web3 applications, and allows developers to pay usage-based query fees to indexers who perform index lookups of blockchain data. The Graph is beneficial for developers and businesses seeking a cost-effective solution for accessing and managing blockchain data.

Software tool that helps businesses take control of their finances through clear and flexible forecasts. Dryrun allows users to forecast their cash flow, revenue, and profit, providing them with a powerful scenario-modelling tool to gain confidence, clarity, and insight into their business operations. It is particularly beneficial for business owners, financial planners, and accountants who need detailed financial projections and scenario analysis to make informed decisions.

The term 'allotment' refers to the action of distributing or allocating something. In the context of gardening, it is a plot of land rented by an individual for growing vegetables or flowers, providing a space for personal cultivation and local food production. Allotments are typically utilized by urban residents who lack private garden space and seek to engage in gardening activities.

Italian-American intra-urban transportation company headquartered in New York City, focusing on solving first mile/last mile transportation issues. It offers a range of mobility solutions including electric scooters, bicycles, and mopeds, differentiating itself through its emphasis on sustainability and innovation in urban mobility. Helbiz primarily targets urban commuters and city dwellers seeking convenient and eco-friendly transportation options.

A professional who advocates for the policyholder in appraising and negotiating insurance claims, ensuring that the policyholder receives the maximum compensation for their loss. Public adjusters handle tasks such as evaluating the policy, documenting the loss, estimating costs, negotiating with the insurer, and assisting with paperwork, differentiating themselves from company adjusters who represent the insurance company's interests. They are particularly beneficial for policyholders who have experienced significant property damage and need expert assistance in navigating the complex claims process.

Fintech platform offering access to decentralized finance (DeFi) services and applications. Cake DeFi provides users with the ability to generate returns from their crypto and digital assets through various DeFi products, distinguishing itself with a focus on transparency and innovation. The platform is aimed at both retail and institutional investors looking to leverage DeFi for financial growth.

Optimization algorithm used to minimize functions by iteratively moving towards the minimum value. Widely utilized in machine learning, it adjusts model parameters to minimize the cost function, with variants like Batch, Stochastic, and Mini-batch Gradient Descent offering different advantages and trade-offs. Primarily benefits data scientists and machine learning practitioners who need efficient methods for training models.

Undergraduate degree focusing on commerce and related subjects, designed to provide students with a broad range of managerial skills. The curriculum typically includes courses in accounting, finance, business management, economics, marketing, and business law, with some programs offering specializations in areas such as international business and human resource management. This degree is aimed at individuals seeking careers in accounting, finance, marketing, human resources, and management, and is globally recognized.

Global payments enablement and software company that combines a proprietary global payments network with a next-gen payments platform and vertical-specific software. Flywire differentiates itself by managing important and complex payments for its clients and their customers, offering a streamlined and efficient payment process. The company's services are primarily targeted at businesses and institutions that require robust payment solutions, such as those in education, healthcare, travel, and B2B sectors.

Personal detection and alert system designed to monitor and protect individuals from scams, fraud, and identity theft. It allows users to designate family members or trusted individuals to help monitor their accounts and alert them to any suspicious activity, thereby preventing financial exploitation and safeguarding their savings. Eversafe is particularly beneficial for elderly individuals and those who are vulnerable to financial exploitation, providing them with an added layer of security and peace of mind.

A major player in the global spirits industry, known for its extensive portfolio of over 50 premium and super premium brands. These brands are categorized into Global, Regional, and Local priorities, and include well-known names such as Campari, Aperol, Skyy Vodka, Wild Turkey, and Grand Marnier, differentiating the company through its diverse and high-quality offerings. The Campari Group primarily targets consumers of alcoholic beverages across various markets around the world, focusing on production, marketing, and distribution.