Paramdeep Singh

How I usually stay updated with trends: 1) Follow industry platforms (FT, CNBC, Pyments.com), blogs (a16z), & research firms like IBS Intelligence, MediCi. 2) Host some of Asia's smartest stakeholders across banking & financial services. 3) Always operate with a 'learning' mindset. Learn about the future of banking & fintech at events like Money20/20, etc. 4) Intellect partners with some of the most-forward thinking financial institutions, globally. We've always invested significantly in R&D (design-thinking DNA) to stay ahead of the curve- while ensuring 100% compliance with ever-changing regulatory standards. This necessitates us to be on top of emerging trends across financial services (even before they're mainstream!)

7 trends across digital payments that we're super-excited about at Intellect: 1) UPI (India's digital payment system) to continue to go global 2) Credit & BNPL wave across South-east Asia (check-out our iKredit360 product). 3) Open-banking helping create a more connected, hyper-personalized consumer experience. 4) Embedded finance in non-financial apps like zomato, grab (for eg. a finserv delivering custom trip financing options on a travel portal, etc). 5) Rise of gen AI, big data, & workflow automation 6) Fintechs to balance sustainable growth with regulatory risk. 7) Shifting approach of regulators (across global financial markets) from 'wait-&-see' to 'test-learn-&-innovate.'

Equity crowdfunding: Pool of investors funding a company in exchange for shares, potentially yielding financial returns upon its success. For eg. platforms like Startengine, Seedrs have gained steam by facilitating such projects. Debt crowdfunding: Investors lend money to a business and receive interest payments, offering predictable returns if the borrower is reliable. Reward crowdfunding: Contributors support a project in exchange for a product or service, foregoing financial returns. Donation crowdfunding: People donating to causes without expecting anything in return, primarily driven by philanthropy. Choice of crowdfunding depends on risk tolerance, financial objectives, and the project/company's requirements.

DPOs in fintech typically assess their effectiveness through KPIs such as compliance with data protection regulations, reduction in data breaches, and successful implementation of data security measures. Demonstration of impact by coming up with improved data protection practices, reduced legal and financial risks related to data breaches, and enhanced trust among customers/stakeholders goes a long way. Plus, DPOs may conduct regular audits, risk assessments, and training programs to ensure ongoing compliance and effectiveness of data protection measures. Collaborating cross-functionally with teams to implement the above and turn regulatory requirements & roadblocks into opportunities for efficiency will help drive tangible value.

I think some critical metrics to consider can be—customer acquisition cost (CAC), lifetime value (CLTV), active users (DAU/MAU), transaction volume (GTV) and value, average revenue per user (ARPU), cash flow, loan-to-deposit ratio (LDR) & default rates for lending platforms, compliance or regulatory breach incidents, among others.

Key data sources in fintech could include regulatory filings, transaction data, user engagement metrics from app analytics, customer feedback, and market reports from pedigreed research firms like Mckinsey, Cedar, MEDICI Global, etc. Also, financial news outlets like Finextra & PYMNTS can help provide more perspectives on real-time market sentiment, fundraise announcements, and trends.