Global Expansion and Business Building: EVIDENT’s Worldwide Impact
EVIDENT's global events in Hong Kong, London, and India, showcase how our global initiatives are driving growth and impact.
Devanshee Kothari
Growth Analyst
Published
December 14, 2023
As EVIDENT continues to navigate the complexities of global markets, our strategic growth and activities across three continents, such as Hong Kong, London, and India, stand as a testament to our strategic vision and operational excellence. This blog post offers an insightful overview of EVIDENT's diverse range of events and activities, showcasing how our global initiatives are driving growth and impact. We aim to illustrate the depth of our commitment to innovation, collaboration, and market leadership through detailed narratives of our endeavors in these pivotal markets.
Hong Kong
The GREEN VERSE: Redefining Finance for a Greener Future
The GREEN VERSE Summit, featuring insights from notable speakers, including our CEO, Florian M Spiegl, delved into Hong Kong’s potential to lead the global green transition. The summit highlighted challenges like the funding gap and the issue of greenwashing in green initiatives. Discussions promoted the idea of green fintech to stimulate sustainable finance and emphasized product innovation in ESG funds to garner investment and trust.
Florian underscored the importance of private equity and venture capital in spurring research and innovation, particularly in renewable energy sectors. Elsa Pau’s call for fostering creativity and innovation in Hong Kong, aimed at attracting and nurturing young talent, also marked a significant point of the summit.
Gap Between Climate Commitments and Action: Despite widespread net-zero commitments, there’s a significant gap in actual progress, underscoring the need for increased investment and action to meet climate goals.
Public and Private Sector Collaboration: Effective climate action requires collaboration between public initiatives, like Hong Kong’s green bond program, and private sector investment, particularly in innovation and infrastructure.
Rise of Impact-Focused Investors: A new generation of investors prioritizing environmental impact over traditional returns is emerging. This shift and the need for digital market infrastructure innovations are crucial for directing investments toward sustainable practices.
At the “Venture Forward: Game Changing through Innovation” event, Dr. Florian M. Spiegl, Founder & CEO of Evident, provided expert insights during the panel discussion on “How Technology and Emerging Data Allow Us to Navigate Into Extreme Weather and Eventually Support The Development of Transition Finance.” The session, moderated by Ms. Jenny Lee, Deputy Secretary General of the Hong Kong Green Finance Association, brought together notable panelists, including Ms. Vivi Hu, Co-founder & CEO of YoujiVest, Ms. Serena Mak, Executive Director of Sustainable Finance at DBS Bank (Hong Kong), and Mr. Ben Wong, General Manager of Technology Innovation at New World Development.
This forum provided a platform for these thought leaders to delve into the critical role of technology and data in managing extreme weather impacts and advancing Transition Finance. Dr. Spiegl’s contributions were instrumental in shedding light on utilizing physical risk data, modeling techniques, and the tokenization of green project financing, demonstrating Evident’s leadership in driving sustainable financial practices in response to global climate challenges.
Innovation Meets Impact: Web3, AI, and the ESG Equation
At the “AllStarsWomen DAO Presents: Innovation Meets Impact” event, co-organized with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and Jumpstart Media, Dr. Florian M. Spiegl, Founder & CEO of EVIDENT, contributed to the “Innovation Meets Impact: Web3, AI, and the ESG Equation” panel discussion. Dr. Spiegl emphasized the critical role of capital in enabling innovation, infrastructure development, and social impact, particularly highlighting support for female entrepreneurs in developing countries.
He also explored the transformative potential of blockchain in ESG initiatives, focusing on its efficiency through digitalization, decentralization for direct investor connections, and its capacity for ensuring transparent and verifiable impacts. Dr. Spiegl’s insights reinforced EVIDENT’s dedication to leveraging technology for sustainable ESG investments.
The Crucial Role of Capital in Enabling Positive Change: Capital is indispensable in transforming ideas into real-world solutions, especially in technology and sustainability. It’s critical for innovation, allowing for persistent experimentation essential for breakthroughs. Capital navigates complex logistical and bureaucratic challenges in infrastructure, particularly for renewable energy integration. Additionally, capital kickstarts ventures in social entrepreneurship, especially in developing nations, notably empowering female entrepreneurs, thereby enabling substantial social and economic impacts.
Blockchain’s Potential in Enhancing ESG Efforts: Blockchain technology stands out in the ESG sector due to its efficiency, decentralization, and transparency. It streamlines transactions through digitalization, eliminating redundant intermediaries and directly linking investors with purpose-driven projects. Its transparent nature allows for precise tracking of funds and verification of real-world impacts, making it more than just a financial ledger but a tool for ensuring genuine investment impacts.
Interoperability and Ecosystem Growth as Key Benefits of Blockchain in ESG: Blockchain’s standardization promotes interoperability and ecosystem growth, which is crucial in the ESG landscape. Its capacity as a standardized platform allows for developing innovative, complementary solutions, enhancing the ESG infrastructure. This fosters an environment conducive to new tools and approaches, accelerating capital allocation towards impactful and sustainable initiatives.
ETH Hong Kong Event: Opportunities for RWA Tokenization and Institutional Adoption
At the ETH HK event in Hong Kong, our CEO, Florian M Spiegl, contributed as a speaker, emphasizing the significant impact of asset tokenization in reshaping the investment sector. This approach is increasingly recognized as a practical solution within traditional finance, creating a bridge between real-world assets and the crypto world through smart contracts and SPVs. It effectively addresses critical challenges such as efficiency, distribution, and transparency, leading to notable reductions in costs and processing times while enhancing data reliability. The future trajectory of asset tokenization is focused on high-quality assets, with an anticipated increase in adoption and an integration of traditional and DeFi financial services. This progression offers decentralized control and innovative investment product development, marking a pivotal shift in investment strategies and opportunities.
Asset Tokenization Transforming Investment Landscape: The transformative power of asset tokenization is reshaping the investment world, offering new opportunities for institutional investors and innovative asset creators. At the ETH HK event, discussions highlighted the shift from theoretical to applied aspects of asset tokenization. This approach is not just about converting real-world assets into crypto formats but applying Web 3 solutions to traditional finance. The increasing demand from established institutions to digitize high-quality assets is evident, signifying a new era in traditional asset management.
Driving Factors Behind Institutional Demand for Asset Tokenization: The core of tokenization is the digital representation of assets on the blockchain, offering multiple methodologies for implementation. To encourage adoption, a pragmatic approach is being used, aligning with established financial market frameworks. For instance, tokenizing tangible assets through special purpose vehicles (SPVs) is a familiar and comfortable method for institutional clients. This approach is solving significant efficiency and distribution challenges in the traditional asset management sector.
Problems Solved by Tokenization and Future Prospects: Tokenization addresses key pain points in asset management, such as inefficiencies and distribution limitations. It leads to a significant reduction in costs, faster asset marketing, and instantaneous transaction processes. The approach also empowers the primary market by enhancing issuer-investor connections and expanding fundraising horizons. Drawing parallels to the e-commerce revolution, asset management is moving towards digital infrastructure, opening up investment in niche assets and reaching new investor segments. Furthermore, blockchain’s inherent transparency offers a trusted audit trail, enhancing accountability and reducing investment risks.
Emerging Advantages and Future of Tokenized Assets: Looking ahead, tokenization will continue to innovate the financial sector. Decentralization grants investors more control over their assets, and the creation of novel investment products diversifies investment options. The convergence of traditional finance and DeFi spaces is expected to enrich liquidity pools. Over the next year, the focus will be on high-quality assets for tokenization, reflecting industry maturity. Progress might seem slow, but it’s leading to a more profound, widespread transformation. EVIDENT’s vision aligns with this growth, focusing on long-term innovation and strategic industry evolution.
EVIDENT Partners with PropCap Technologies to Tokenize Green Mortgages
EVIDENT and PropCap Technologies signed a Memorandum of Understanding facilitated by Cyberport to collaborate on tokenizing green property mortgages using Web 3 technology. As both Hong Kong startups, EVIDENT and PropCap will build on each other’s strengths, bundling EVIDENT’s state-of-the-art tokenization technology with PropCap’s unique product offering.
Tokenizing Real-world Assets of Green Property Mortgages: This collaboration combines EVIDENT’s asset tokenization expertise with PropCap’s innovative mortgage solutions, focusing on sustainability. Supported by Cyberport, this partnership represents a significant advancement in sustainable finance by introducing green mortgages to the blockchain, aiming to revolutionize real estate lending and promoting environmentally responsible financial practices.
Synergy in Sustainable Finance and Real Estate Investment: The MOU signifies a strategic alignment of EVIDENT’s capabilities in transforming traditional financial products into digital assets with PropCap’s mission of providing sustainable mortgage solutions. This joint venture seeks to develop a transparent, efficient blockchain system to tokenize green mortgages, fractionalizing these assets into digital investment products. The initiative aims to broaden access to sustainable real estate investments, aligning with global trends in green finance. EVIDENT CEO Florian Spiegl highlights the partnership as a commitment to more inclusive, sustainable, and technologically advanced capital markets. At the same time, PropCap CEO Neo Cheung emphasizes their shared vision for a sustainable financial future.
Impact and Support for the Initiative: This partnership is poised to innovate in the mortgage sector by leveraging Web 3 technology to enable investment in sustainable housing loans. The collaboration is supported by key figures from Cyberport and the Fintech Association of Hong Kong, acknowledging its potential to reshape how people invest in and finance property. This agreement marks a pivotal step for EVIDENT in its mission to leverage technology for a sustainable financial future. The initiative underscores the potential of blockchain solutions in addressing climate change and democratizing access to purpose-driven investment opportunities, setting a precedent for future green finance endeavors.
EVIDENT and Ben McQuhae & Co collaborated to host an event titled “Mobilizing Capital for Impact: Public Finance, Private Capital, Technology & Governance,” focusing on directing capital towards impact investing and sustainability. The event covered various panels where industry leaders shared their insights and experiences with the audience.
Hong Kong’s Ambition in Green FinTech and Decentralized Networks: At the event, King Leung of InvestHK emphasized Hong Kong’s goal to become a major international finance and fintech hub, focusing on decentralized networks like DPIN for innovations in renewable energy generation. He highlighted the Greater Bay Area’s manufacturing capabilities, particularly for IoT devices, which could play a role in emissions tracking and sustainability applications. Leung’s remarks underscored Hong Kong’s potential to lead the green fintech space by leveraging its finance industry, tech innovation ecosystem, and blockchain networks.
Discussions on Mobilizing Capital for Impact and Sustainable Investing: The first panel session, moderated by Ben McQuhae, explored mobilizing capital towards sustainability, featuring insights from Alexandra Tracy, Sandeep Sethi, Jessica Ha, and Isabella Kong. Discussions included transitioning to sustainable finance, the role of transition finance in corporate sustainability, private investment in impact, and tangible examples of technology-driven environmental impact.
Mikro Kapital’s Microfinance and Blockchain Technology Integration: Michele Mattioda of Mikro Kapital engaged in a discussion with Florian Spiegl about Mikro Kapital’s microfinance operations and exploration of blockchain technology. Mattioda elaborated on their lending criteria, impact goals, and tokenization efforts to decentralize banking, potentially dispersing loans in crypto to enhance financial accessibility for local entrepreneurs.
Technological Transformation in Sustainable Investing: The second panel, moderated by Victor Yim, delved into how technology is reinventing sustainable investing. Julien Martin discussed blockchain’s role in green bond offerings, Florian Spiegl presented a shipping vessel tokenization pilot, and Elsa Pau explored retail investor capital channeling towards social and environmental causes. Jenny Lee and Ben McQuhae contributed insights on sustainable finance taxonomy and the need for clear standards in the sector. Victor Yim highlighted the potential of AI in revolutionizing impact investing and sustainability finance.
“From Elite to Street: Consumerizing Private Markets for Everyday Investors” – HKFTW 2023
At Hong Kong FinTech Week 2023, EVIDENT’s CEO, Florian M Spiegl, was honored as a panelist discussing “Consumerizing Private Markets for Everyday Investors.” The event focused on the need for more open private markets, emphasizing investors’ desire for portfolio diversification and societal impact. Key topics included blending traditional finance with DeFi and Web3 (‘Web 2.5’), leveraging blockchain for broader access to alternative assets, and Hong Kong’s regulatory advancements in finance. The event echoed a sentiment of optimism and collaborative innovation within the blockchain and financial communities.
Investor Interest in Open Private Markets and Blended Capital:The discussion emphasized the growing investor interest in alternative assets for a truly diversified portfolio. This interest isn’t just about accessing a wider range of investments, like private equity, venture capital, art, and carbon credits, but also about democratizing investment opportunities regardless of wealth. There’s a critical need to direct private capital towards impactful ventures and founders. Blended capital, merging public and private funds, is seen as a key strategy to unlock urgently needed solutions.
Integration of Web 3 and Blockchain into Traditional Finance (Web 2.5):The concept of ‘Web 2.5’ was introduced, representing the integration of DeFi and web3 innovations into traditional finance (TradFi). This integration is not about simply transferring real-world assets into DeFi; rather, it’s about bringing the principles and technology of Web 3 into the realm of traditional finance. Blockchain is highlighted as a crucial infrastructure in this process, widening investor access to alternative assets and paving the way for truly global private markets.
Regulatory Progress and Opportunities in FinTech:During Fintech Week, the government and regulators demonstrated their commitment to enhancing Hong Kong’s position as a premier global center for asset and wealth management, energized by innovative technology. This strategic direction offers unique opportunities for regulatory enhancements, like revising rules for retail and professional investors or streamlining remote account opening processes, which can further drive financial innovation and inclusivity.
At the recent Solana x Circle HackerHouse event, held in the impressive sky100 space, Dr. Florian M. Spiegl, Founder & CEO of EVIDENT, shared insightful perspectives on the burgeoning web3 sector in Hong Kong. He highlighted the current momentum in Hong Kong’s web3 scene, noting its resurgence after challenging years and its translation into increased activities and projects. A key observation from Dr. Spiegl was the emerging convergence of traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi), driven by traditional institutions’ growing interest in the space.
Looking ahead, he anticipates significant developments for the coming year, including the launch of regulated Hong Kong Dollar stablecoin projects, which he believes will revolutionize real-time peer-to-peer settlements in alternative asset transactions, and the emergence of a landmark project in real-world asset tokenization in Hong Kong. These initiatives, he suggests, will act as catalysts for the next growth phase in the ecosystem. Dr. Spiegl’s participation at the event, alongside esteemed co-panelists and under the guidance of astute moderators, underlines his and EVIDENT’s active role in shaping Hong Kong’s dynamic web3 landscape.
Hong Kong’s Unique Momentum in Web3 Development: The discussion highlighted Hong Kong’s timely momentum in the web3 space, particularly after a challenging period in recent years. This resurgence is marked by increasing activity, projects, and traction, signifying a pivotal moment for entrepreneurship and innovation in Hong Kong. The renewed energy in the region is translating into tangible developments and growing enthusiasm for new ventures.
Convergence of Traditional Finance and DeFi as a Key Trend: One of the main themes identified is the convergence of traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi). This trend is significantly driven by traditional financial institutions showing increased interest in entering the DeFi space. Beyond general enthusiasm, early, interesting use cases are being developed, often discreetly, signaling a shift in the financial landscape as these two worlds intersect more frequently.
Emergence of Regulated Hong Kong Dollar Stablecoin Projects: A significant development expected is the introduction of regulated Hong Kong Dollar stablecoin initiatives. These are predicted to revolutionize the real-time peer-to-peer settlement of alternative asset transactions, leading to what is referred to as ‘Private Markets 2.0’.
Landmark Project in Real-World Asset Tokenization: There is anticipation for a groundbreaking project in real-world asset tokenization in Hong Kong. This project is expected to involve high-quality assets, top issuers, and trusted parties, ideally featuring the robust collaboration between TradFi and DeFi. Such a project is seen as another major boost for the local ecosystem, enhancing Hong Kong’s position in the web3 and digital finance arena.
Hong Kong Aviation Finance Forum 2023 “Rise & Fly”
EVIDENT’s CEO Florian M Spiegl, was invited to speak on the forum’s panel, “Alternative Financing: A New Source of Fund Raising and Investment Wellspring.” He shared his expertise on “Asset Tokenization as a Modern Infrastructure in Asset Management,” highlighting its crucial role in facilitating private wealth investment in aviation finance. The forum emphasized the sector’s significant growth, particularly in Asia, and the challenges in meeting the demand for new, more sustainable aircraft. This scenario presents unique investment opportunities for private wealth investors in transition finance, enabling them to contribute to sustainable aviation advancements while achieving financial goals in a high-growth sector.
Massive Scale and Growth of Aviation with a Shift to Asia: The Hong Kong Aviation Forum 2023 highlighted the aviation industry’s enormous scale and its significant growth, particularly with a shift in focus towards Asia. It was noted that over 15,000 commercial aircraft are currently in operation, and there is a projected demand for over 40,000 new aircraft in the next two decades. This demand significantly surpasses current production capabilities, presenting unique investment opportunities. The increasing centrality of Asia in this demand marks a pivotal shift in the global aviation and finance landscape.
Green Transition in Aviation: Challenge and Opportunity: The forum addressed the environmental impact of aviation, acknowledging that while the desire for air travel persists, it’s crucial to address its ecological footprint. Recognizing that the development of sustainable solutions like electric or hydrogen-powered aircraft is still in the early stages, there’s an immediate need to support the aviation industry’s gradual decarbonization. Transition finance is seen as a key enabler in this process, helping to bridge the gap between traditional and sustainable technologies. This includes investments in sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), more efficient aircraft technologies, and fleet modernization.
Role of Private Wealth in Aviation Transition Finance: The need for transition finance in aviation presents a novel opportunity for private wealth investors, who currently represent an underutilized capital source in this sector. These investors now have the chance to engage in high-growth, attractive investment opportunities while aligning with responsible investing trends. The forum discussed the importance of creating better access for this investor segment to participate in the aviation industry.
Modern Infrastructure Facilitating Investor Participation: The role of modern infrastructure in asset management, such as asset tokenization, was underscored as crucial for enabling private wealth investors to access previously inaccessible asset classes. Tokenization simplifies private market participation, allowing more investors to contribute to positive industry changes while meeting their financial objectives. This innovation is viewed as an opportunity for global financial hubs like Hong Kong to attract dynamic private capital and establish leadership in sustainable and innovative financial solutions.
Celebrating Success and Innovation: Cyberport Hong Kong 20th Anniversary Celebration cum Cyberport Entrepreneurship Programmes Graduation Ceremony 2023
EVIDENT proudly congratulates Thomas Gijsels, MANTON WAI, and Kenneth L. on graduating from the Cyberport Entrepreneurship Programmes. This achievement coincides with Cyberport’s 20th Anniversary and its recognition as a ‘State-level Scientific and Technological Enterprise Incubator.’ With over 2000 nurtured community companies, Cyberport’s impact on Hong Kong’s tech scene is significant. EVIDENT appreciates Cyberport’s role in fostering startup growth and driving innovation in Hong Kong’s vibrant business landscape.
The Emergence of Asset Tokenization in Digital Securities and Private Wealth Management
EVIDENT’s CEO, Florian M. Spiegl, was invited as a speaker at The University of Hong Kong to speak with MBA students in a class lead by Prof Henri Arslanian on tokenization. He detailed how assets are converted into digital securities using blockchain, emphasizing the significant potential in Private Wealth Management and the transformative shift towards efficient, automated processes. He also addressed the evolving financial landscape, highlighting the increasing institutional recognition and adoption of blockchain and how EVIDENT is strategically positioned to capitalize on these emerging opportunities in the financial sector.
Enhancement of Asset Management through Digitalization: The process of asset tokenization involves the conversion of rights associated with an asset into a digital format, utilizing blockchain technology. This innovation leads to the creation of digital securities, offering improved efficiency, flexibility, and trust. The digital transformation is complemented by the dematerialization of contracts, where legal rights are embedded within smart contracts, potentially surpassing the efficacy of traditional contract forms. The application of statutory frameworks, exemplified by the Hong Kong Limited Partnership Fund, demonstrates the practical utilization of blockchain for maintaining transparent and secure asset records.
Potential Growth in Alternative Assets within Private Wealth Management: The private wealth sector currently exhibits a significant gap in exposure to alternative assets. Tokenization could be a pivotal factor in bridging this gap by enhancing process automation, thus reducing operational inefficiencies and costs. This modernization is crucial, particularly in addressing the needs of the next generation of investors who are set to inherit substantial wealth and are likely to demand more technologically advanced and engaging investment opportunities.
Evolution of Blockchain in the Financial Sector and Institutional Engagement: The initial period of heightened speculation surrounding blockchain has transitioned into a phase of practical, innovative applications within the financial industry. This evolution marks a growing acknowledgment and acceptance by established financial institutions and regulatory bodies of the technology’s potential. Such a shift indicates a readiness for the development and implementation of robust use cases for blockchain in asset tokenization, signaling a move towards broad-scale adoption and institutional support.
The ‘Meet Funders’ event, attended by Global Partnerships Manager Emma Collier, showcased the diversity and innovation in finance, emphasizing the growing impact of tokenization across sectors like healthcare, agriculture, arts, and manufacturing. This process is democratizing finance, creating new opportunities for creators and communities. It’s enhancing efficiency and cost-effectiveness, leading to greater accessibility and engagement in various industries.
Algorand Impact Summit 2023 by Algorand Foundation
EVIDENT’s India team, comprising Vandana Jain (Director of Emerging Markets), Aishwarya Rathi (Investment Management Associate), and Tejas Parikh (Blockchain Developer), represented the organization at the summit.
The Algorand Impact Summit in India’s capital brought together blockchain industry leaders for insightful sessions and a notable UNDP announcement. Highlights included discussions on blockchain’s potential in emerging markets, its role in democratizing access to services, and its contribution to carbon neutrality. A major announcement was UNDP’s launch of the Algorand Blockchain Academy for sustainable development education. Day two focused on tokenizing real-world assets to democratize investment opportunities and the Algorand Women’s Breakfast Club, emphasizing women’s empowerment in technology and blockchain’s social impact.
Blockchain’s Expanding Role in Emerging Markets and Carbon Neutrality: The Algorand Impact Summit highlighted the growing importance of blockchain in emerging markets and its potential for innovation and growth. A session on blockchain’s role in achieving carbon neutrality discussed challenges in the carbon market, such as offset provenance and verification. The session emphasized the use of blockchain for transparent asset verification and automating renewable energy credit issuance, underlining the need for global standards and consumer education in carbon footprint quantification.
UNDP and Algorand Foundation’s Blockchain Academy for Sustainable Development: A significant announcement at the summit was the UNDP’s partnership with the Algorand Foundation to launch a Blockchain Academy. This initiative, set to begin in 2024, aims to train UNDP staff in blockchain technology, focusing on financial inclusion, supply chain transparency, real-world asset tokenization, and digital identity. This partnership marks a milestone in blockchain education and its application in sustainable development.
Democratizing Investment Through Tokenization of Real-World Assets: A panel discussion titled “Tokenizing Real World Assets – Democratizing Access to Investment Opportunities” explored how blockchain can reduce economic disparities by democratizing finance. The panelists discussed fractionalizing ownership in assets like real estate and renewable energy projects to make high-return investments accessible to more people. Vandana Jain from EVIDENT emphasized the role of tokenization in providing access to diverse asset classes and enhancing liquidity, crucial for attracting investors to these new opportunities.
Vandana Jain, Director of Emerging Markets at EVIDENT, attended the Business Standard BFSI Insight Summit 2023, where key financial experts discussed India’s economic landscape, industry evolution, and technological advancements. Christopher Wood and Sajjid Chinoy highlighted India’s economic potential and job market challenges, while Ananth Narayan and Radhika Gupta focused on the regulatory landscape and industry growth. The summit also featured insights on technological impacts, particularly in digital transformation and AI, from Rajesh Mirjankar and Sharath Bulusu. Furthermore, finance and investment perspectives were shared by CIOs from top mutual funds and Rakesh Singh of Aditya Birla Finance, emphasizing balanced growth strategies and customer experience.
Importance of Private Equity and Job Creation in India’s Economy: Christopher Wood and Sajjid Chinoy highlighted India’s growing private equity and private credit sectors as key drivers of its economic landscape, parallel to the cycle from 2002 to 2009. Chinoy emphasized the crucial need for creating blue-collar jobs in India for the next decade.
Evolution of India’s Financial Industry and Regulatory Landscape: Speakers like Ananth Narayan and Radhika Gupta underlined the evolution of India’s financial industry and regulatory landscape, noting significant progress in retail investment and advocating for continuous dialogue and adjustments in regulations to expand the AIF ecosystem.
Digital Transformation and Investment Strategies in Finance: Technological advancements in finance, particularly generative AI’s impact likened to smartphones by Rajesh Mirjankar, and the digitalization of supply chains discussed by Sharath Bulusu, were major themes. CIOs from leading mutual funds provided insights into the current investment landscape, including market outlooks and investment strategies.
Future of Fintech: Delving into Digital Transformation and Financial Literacy at IFTA 2023
At the India Fintech Awards (IFTA) 2023 in Mumbai, Vandana Jain, Director of Emerging Markets at EVIDENT, gained valuable insights from industry leaders on critical fintech topics. The first panel, featuring experts like Nilesh Shah and Aashish Somaiyaa, focused on enhancing financial literacy in the digital age, discussing the need for education on digital payments and cryptocurrencies. The second panel, with Deepak Sharma and Aparna Kumar, delved into the future of banking, highlighting how generative AI and emerging technologies are transforming customer experience and operational efficiency. These discussions underscored the importance of adapting to technological advancements in fintech and the imperative of financial literacy.
Financial Literacy in the Digital Age: The panel emphasized the critical need for financial literacy in today’s digital world, especially in India with its vast internet user base. With only 27% of the population financially literate, the panelists discussed the importance of understanding digital payments, online banking, cryptocurrencies, and digital assets, highlighting the urgency of educational initiatives in this field.
Impact of Generative AI on the Future of Banking: The second panel focused on how generative AI and emerging technologies are transforming the banking sector. They discussed the potential of these technologies to enhance customer experiences, improve operational efficiency, and ensure transaction security. The conversation also touched on the challenges and opportunities these technologies present, including implications for regulatory compliance and workforce transformation.
A Glimpse into the Web3 Revolution: Insights from the Pi42 PiCON Web3 Future Summit
Our Investment Management Associate, Aishwarryaa Rathi, had the privilege of attending the esteemed Pi42 PiCON Web3 Future Summit on the 3rd of November, held at the vibrant HustleHub Tech Park in Bangalore. The summit gathered experts like Edul Patel, Avinash Shekhar, and Mohammed Roshan to discuss Web3’s future, highlighting trends in financial transactions, regulatory challenges, stakeholder engagement, and market dynamics. Key insights included India’s growing role in crypto adoption, strategies for entrepreneurs in Web3, the importance of ethical and community-focused approaches, and the potential of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). The summit concluded with a focus on protocols as future revenue generators in the evolving Web3 landscape.
Regulatory Challenges and Opportunities in Web3: Avinash Shekhar of Pi42 highlighted the regulatory complexities surrounding Web3, underscoring India’s unique position in this evolving field. Despite the lack of regulatory clarity fostering rapid development, there are emerging opportunities for smaller players in the Web3 space, suggesting an optimistic outlook for the industry’s future.
The Importance of Market Education and Stakeholder Engagement: The summit emphasized the need for comprehensive market education to transition cryptocurrency from speculative trading to a more substantial investment avenue, addressing India’s third rank in crypto adoption—additionally, strategies for engaging stakeholders in Web3, as shared by Md. Roshan from GoSats, stressed the significance of starting with smaller collaborations to develop complete FinTech solutions.
Future Trends in Web3 Revenue Generation and Currency Forms: The summit’s discussions projected that protocols, rather than apps, will be the main revenue generators in the Web3 era, with examples like UPI and CBDCs. Subhendu Panigrahi’s perspective on Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) as a significant future currency form, particularly in countries like China, signifies a major shift in how monetary systems might operate in the near future.
EVIDENT’s Engagement at the FinTech Festival India 2023 in Bangalore
The FinTech Festival India 2023 in Bangalore, attended by EVIDENT’s Growth Analyst Devanshee Kothari, focused on the evolving FinTech landscape. Highlights included discussions on asset tokenization, digital governance in Karnataka, and the collaboration between banks and FinTech for entrepreneurship. Key speakers like Shri Saurabh Bhattacharya and Siddharth Sehgal emphasized digital transformation and user-centered design in FinTech. The event showcased innovative ideas and solutions in financial technology. A highlight was the interaction with Sharat Chandra, Blockchain & Emerging Tech Evangelist and Co-founder of the India Blockchain Forum. The event also featured the launch of the Comprehensive Regulatory Framework for Asset Tokenization in India, a collaborative effort by Purushottam Anand and Sharat Chandra.
State’s Role in Driving Digital Transformation: Shri Saurabh Bhattacharya, Additional Executive Director of the Centre for Smart Governance, Government of Karnataka, delivered a special address. He elaborated on the Karnataka government’s journey towards digital governance, with a focus on financial management and digital payments. This transition includes the shift from traditional financial processes to a digital system, highlighted by the development of a treasury payment gateway. The impact of this digital transformation is evident in the government’s increased efficiency and revenue, as seen in property registrations and tax payments. Furthermore, initiatives like property tokenization and trading development rights showcase the state’s dedication to ongoing digital innovation and governance standardization.
Collaboration between Banks and FinTech in Supporting Entrepreneurship: In a panel moderated by Sharat Chandra, insights were shared by Nilufer Mullanfiroze from Groww and Vipul Saini from HDFC Bank. Nilufer emphasized the maturity of India’s FinTech ecosystem, underscoring its focus on profitability and sustainability. She pointed out the importance of strategic alignment between banks and startups in problem-solving and efficient project planning. Vipul Saini discussed the evolving synergy between banks and FinTechs, highlighting the significance of regulatory compliance and rapid market response as key performance metrics for this collaboration.
Principles of Designing FinTech Companies: Siddharth Sehgal, Senior Director at PayU Payments, discussed critical aspects of designing FinTech companies. He emphasized the necessity of humanizing products and prioritizing user experience. The three main pillars he identified – cost, time, and transparency – are tied to fundamental principles vital for product success. Siddharth stressed the importance of building user trust and confidence through accuracy, compliance, and adherence to ethical practices.
As we reflect on EVIDENT’s journey across Hong Kong, London, and India, it is clear that our global expansion and business-building endeavors have broadened our operational horizons and significantly contributed to our stature as an industry leader. The events and activities detailed in this blog post underscore our unwavering commitment to innovation, strategic partnerships, and market adaptability.
Moving forward, EVIDENT will continue to leverage these experiences to further our mission of delivering exceptional value and service in every market we touch. We remain dedicated to fostering sustainable growth, embracing new challenges, and setting new benchmarks in our relentless pursuit of excellence. Thank you for joining us on this exciting journey, and we look forward to sharing more milestones with you as we continue to make a global impact.
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