The COVID-19 pandemic has taken the world by storm. In the first half of 2020, the global VC investment in fintech decreased by about 35% year-on-year.
On December 9-11, 2020, EqualOcean will host this year's World Innovators Meet (WIM). WIM2020 will take on a bolder stance and adopt a more global outlook by taking the form of an online conference that will be streamed simultaneously in all countries and regions that champion the realm of technology and innovation.
During the World Innovators Meet, the WIM Committee will release the annual blockbuster WIA list, the World Innovation Awards, based on our annual industry and investment research findings, together with a series of research reports.
The status quo of fintech investment
From the use of communication tools in the 19th century to the application of blockchain as well as artificial intelligence now, the parallel development of finance and technology have already experienced a hundred years of synchronized advances. The thin boundaries between finance and technology are even now being gradually blurred. The convergence of finance and technology has been bringing new opportunities to both technology and financial companies, especially in the past years. The 'fintech' concept provides the category heading for a type of strategic transformation among traditional financial enterprises that is becoming commonplace.
With the policies around Fintech taking shape differently in different countries, the development of the space has taken on extra speed in the past years. Compared with the payments into investment activities in Fintech in 2017, the payments of investment activities were doubled and redoubled in 2018. However, the payments of investment activities in Fintech are gradually decreasing in 2019.
At the beginning of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic took the world by storm. In the first half of this year, the global investment in fintech decreased by about 35% year-on-year. However, the outbreak also brought opportunities to fintech enterprises. The implementation of the 'no touch' concept attracted enterprises to pay attention to digital banking, contactless payment services and other related businesses. In addition, the promotion of digital currency by different policies both promotes the development of digital currency and attracts the attention of investment agencies towards the blockchain industry.
Currently, the patterns of the consumer finance industry are relatively fragmented. Fintech empowers consumer finance, and big data, as well as the AI used in intelligent risk control, is becoming the focus of consumer finance. Moreover, technological elements, such as cloud calculating and AI, empower traditional securities enterprises and allow them to combine technology with multiple scenarios. Relying on the development of blockchain technology, the most popular field – digital currency – will lead to disruptive changes in traditional currencies.
New phase of fintech development
At present, the Fintech industry still in its infancy. The nature of Fintech is that technology service financial agencies and then financial agencies service consumers. This means that traditional financial agencies would like to change themselves to serve consumers better, and technology companies provide solutions for the transformation of financial agencies.
For example, relying on the rapid development of emerging technology, including service infrastructure based on cloud calculating, risk control based on artificial intelligence and digital scenarios based on blockchains, a lot of traditional banking and financial companies have changed from passive actors to impassioned revolutionaries. Digital banking, open banking and smart banking are the general trends. Moreover, ‘intelligent insurance' companies also attract the public’s attention. The most obvious trends here involve the development of 'no touch' smart claims. The insurance technology companies also provide support to insurance service. However, emerging insurance technology companies need flow and capital. Emerging insurance companies obtained huge financing in 2020. This promoted reform of the whole industrial chain connected to traditional insurance industries.
EqualOcean to release fintech innovation awards
EqualOcean is committed to various industries and closely follows the trends of fintech companies. Therefore, the WIM Organizing Committee officially announces that, in the World Innovators Meet 2020, EqualOcean will present the Fintech innovator TOP 50, which hold from 9 December to 11 December.
EqualOcean will evaluate each award by three aspects: the first one is the newest financing of fintech innovators; the second one is the valuation and establishment time of fintech innovators; the last one is the analysis of the internal situation of innovators, such as equity structure. Based on multi-dimensional analyses, EqualOcean will select 50 global fintech innovators and publish its industry analysis report.
About WIM
Hosted by EqualOcean, the World Innovators Meet (WIM) is a world-class event for innovators. It provides limitless opportunities to learn from and connect with the most sought-after technology pioneers.
About WIA
The World Innovation Awards (WIA) are announced at WIM to recognize game-changers across various industries and geographies. Selected by a committee of distinguished experts, entrepreneurs and investors, WIA are designed to acknowledge technology disruptors striving to make a positive impact.
Register for the event
We sincerely welcome you to join WIM2020 on December 9-11, 2020.
Click here to register and you will receive:
[Global Trends] Key insights from 11 Industry and Overseas Chapters made available to you for all three days of WIM2020.
[Insightful Conversation] Connect with 120 top-notch global speakers, listen to their perspectives and interact with them online.
[Innovative Community] Join an exclusive network of 10,000 professionals to participate in discussions and gain first-hand information from fellow participants.
[Business Networking] Gain 1:1 business-connect opportunity to launch or speed up partnerships worldwide.
[Comprehensive Report] Exclusive in-depth research reports will be delivered right to your mailbox.
Free tickets, Premium tickets and Platinum all-inclusive tickets are on sale. Presale and group ticket options are also available, don't miss this opportunity!
Join the WIM2020 family and become a member of the World Innovation Community, participating in a technology and innovation carnival that connects the world right at your doorstep, all while drawing a special end to the extraordinary 2020!
Cooperation
If you would like to become/recommend a speaker, discuss cooperation opportunities or media partnerships, apply for the World Innovators Awards or to be a volunteer, please click here to fill in the WIM2020 Cooperation Form (we recommend you to do so on a computer). We will be in touch as soon as possible. Thank you and welcome!