Fintech
Utah’s newest fintech startup launchpad: @theU

Entrepreneurs passionate about changing financial services now have a new way to supercharge a business or idea: the Stena fintechXstudio. The studio is an early-stage fintech incubator and accelerator for students and recent graduates from all colleges and universities in the state of Utah.
First of its kind in Utah, the firm offers entrepreneurs access to advisors, office space in the historic Hardware Building in downtown Salt Lake City, startup funding, corporate services and an extensive network of fintech experts to help grow their activities. The program lasts one year and provides the group’s companies with the path to iterate and grow their fintech solution.
The study is part of a larger effort to make Utah a hub for fintech excellence. The study collaborated with the University of Utah Stena Center for Financial Technologylaunched in January 2023 with support from Stena Foundation a total funding commitment of up to $65 million over the next 10 years.
“This incubator and accelerator will build on the success of the fintech community in Utah and become a major hub for continued financial technology innovation and real economic impact,” said Steve Smith, president of the Stena Foundation and an experienced fintech entrepreneur.
“The fintechXstudio combines the energy and creativity of young entrepreneurs with deep fintech expertise to generate high-performing fintech companies,” said Ryan Christiansen, executive director of the Stena Center for Financial Technology. “The study represents a great opportunity to accelerate innovation and place Utah at the forefront of global fintech excellence.”
Over 160,000 people are employed in the financial and technology sectors in Utah. The state has a history of successful fintech innovation with companies like Galileo, Divvy and Finicity all headquartered in Salt Lake City and employing significant numbers of people.
Utah’s government, universities and fintech industry leaders have come together to accelerate the growth of fintech through initiatives like the Stena Center for Financial Technology and fintechXstudio. The hope is that the number of fintech companies created in Utah will increase substantially in the coming months and years.
The firm’s physical office space is an important aspect of the larger mission to build fintech in Utah and Salt Lake City. Over 40% of fintech companies in Utah are located in Salt Lake County. The goal of hosting the studio downtown is to provide a place where founders can expand their businesses and participate in the city’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, thus continuing the growth of fintech in Salt Lake City. The location also offers easy access to the highway, public transportation, restaurants and other businesses.
The inaugural 2024 study group consists of four companies from the fintech ecosystem. From sending healthcare payments around the world to financial tools for nonprofits, the founders are committed to creating innovative and inclusive financial services products. Meet the fintechXstudio 2024 cohort companies:
Benji card
Benji Card simplifies healthcare payments by facilitating direct transactions between health plans, members and providers. With a focus on pricing transparency, it allows health plans and members to negotiate discounted rates through upfront cash payments. Using its platform, health plans can issue pre-funded virtual credit cards to members for approved medical expenses, ensuring immediate payment to providers. This alignment of incentives results in health plan savings, reduced out-of-pocket costs for members, and timely payments for providers.
Founder and CEO Cory Morin is motivated by the opportunity to make a big impact on healthcare. “What drives me every day is to spark change in our complicated healthcare system,” he said. “We want everyone to be able to worry less about money and focus more on giving and receiving great care. Through Benji Card, we are doing this: we hope to have a lasting impact.”
Devote is an all-in-one financial platform tailored for nonprofits. They strive to empower nonprofits by streamlining expense management processes. The devotion card and software makes it easy to track expenses, enable transaction-level spending control, automate sales tax refunds, simplify receipt collection and storage, and more.
CEO and Co-founder Bryce Hansen is driven to provide nonprofits with access to a full suite of financial products, so they can focus on what they do best. “We want to provide nonprofits with a toolkit that simplifies financial services so they can focus on making a meaningful impact,” Hansen said. “Every day I am motivated by our product’s potential to empower and accelerate the growth of a nonprofit organization.”
A digital health pass that allows people to prepay for healthcare in multiple countries, One Health+ was created to make basic healthcare services more accessible. Powered by blockchain technology, the platform is designed to provide transparency, security and efficiency in healthcare payments.
CEO and founder Osei Boateng he started the company inspired by his experiences in rural Ghana, where he witnessed health disparities firsthand. “My goal with OneHealth+ is to eliminate financial barriers to timely access to healthcare, ensuring everyone can get the care they need when they need it,” Boateng said. “The vision behind OneHealth+ is founded on the belief that every life deserves equitable access to rapid, high-quality healthcare.”
Stenaverse, a platform that powers fan engagement experiences for college sports in partnership with universities, is reinventing the college game day experience in more ways than one.
CEO and co-founder Kate Van Wagoner it is driven by the fragmented experiences that exist in the market today regarding collegiate fan engagement. “When you look at current technology, there is nothing that offers the simple and seamless consumer experience that we offer,” he said. “It’s exciting to be a part of changing the user experience for such a large segment of the population.”
To learn more about fintechXstudio or to join the program, visit stenafintechxstudio.com.
About fintechXstudio
Stena fintechXstudio is a startup incubator and accelerator for students and recent graduates from all colleges and universities in the state of Utah. Founded by successful fintech entrepreneurs, the studio is helping the next generation of fintech founders grow faster and sharpen their product vision. FintechXstudio is a separate and independent entity not associated with the University of Utah. The University of Utah assumes no responsibility for the content, practices, or services provided by fintechXstudio, including investment decisions
Find out more about https://stenafintechxstudio.com.
Information about the Stena Center for Financial Technology
The Stena Center for Financial Technology at the University of Utah unites education and industry to accelerate innovation and financial inclusion. It is a collaborative effort between the David Eccles School of Business, the John and Marcia Price College of Engineering, and the SJ Quinney School of Law. Organized as an interdisciplinary effort, the center offers workshops, laboratories, research, an annual conference and other projects and programs for students, faculty and industry partners. The center partners with academics to bring together fintech learning, scholarship, innovation, entrepreneurship and knowledge sharing. Promotes the intersection of education and industry to accelerate fintech advances in research, commercialization, applied learning, and the incubation of new ideas and businesses. The center was launched with the vision and support of the Stena Foundation, founded by University of Utah alumni Steve and Jana Smith to help people thrive by solving big problems. Find out more about stena.utah.edu.
Fintech
US Agencies Request Information on Bank-Fintech Dealings

Federal banking regulators have issued a statement reminding banks of the potential risks associated with third-party arrangements to provide bank deposit products and services.
The agencies support responsible innovation and banks that engage in these arrangements in a safe and fair manner and in compliance with applicable law. While these arrangements may offer benefits, supervisory experience has identified a number of safety and soundness, compliance, and consumer concerns with the management of these arrangements. The statement details potential risks and provides examples of effective risk management practices for these arrangements. Additionally, the statement reminds banks of existing legal requirements, guidance, and related resources and provides insights that the agencies have gained through their oversight. The statement does not establish new supervisory expectations.
Separately, the agencies requested additional information on a broad range of arrangements between banks and fintechs, including for deposit, payment, and lending products and services. The agencies are seeking input on the nature and implications of arrangements between banks and fintechs and effective risk management practices.
The agencies are considering whether to take additional steps to ensure that banks effectively manage the risks associated with these different types of arrangements.
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Fintech
What changes in financial regulation have impacted the development of financial technology?

Exploring the complex landscape of global financial regulation, we gather insights from leading fintech leaders, including CEOs and finance experts. From the game-changing impact of PSD2 to the significant role of GDPR in data security, explore the four key regulatory changes that have reshaped fintech development, answering the question: “What changes in financial regulation have impacted fintech development?”
- PSD2 revolutionizes access to financial technology
- GDPR Improves Fintech Data Privacy
- Regulatory Sandboxes Drive Fintech Innovation
- GDPR Impacts Fintech Data Security
PSD2 revolutionizes access to financial technology
When it comes to regulatory impact on fintech development, nothing comes close to PSD2. This EU regulation has created a new level playing field for market players of all sizes, from fintech startups to established banks. It has had a ripple effect on other markets around the world, inspiring similar regulatory frameworks and driving global innovation in fintech.
The Payment Services Directive (PSD2), the EU law in force since 2018, has revolutionized the fintech industry by requiring banks to provide third-party payment providers (TPPs) with access to payment services and customer account information via open APIs. This has democratized access to financial data, fostering the development of personalized financial instruments and seamless payment solutions. Advanced security measures such as Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) have increased consumer trust, pushing both fintech companies and traditional banks to innovate and collaborate more effectively, resulting in a dynamic and consumer-friendly financial ecosystem.
The impact of PSD2 has extended beyond the EU, inspiring similar regulations around the world. Countries such as the UK, Australia and Canada have launched their own open banking initiatives, spurred by the benefits seen in the EU. PSD2 has highlighted the benefits of open banking, also prompting US financial institutions and fintech companies to explore similar initiatives voluntarily.
This has led to a global wave of fintech innovation, with financial institutions and fintech companies offering more integrated, personalized and secure services. The EU’s leadership in open banking through PSD2 has set a global standard, promoting regulatory harmonization and fostering an interconnected and innovative global financial ecosystem.
Looking ahead, the EU’s PSD3 proposals and Financial Data Access (FIDA) regulations promise to further advance open banking. PSD3 aims to refine and build on PSD2, with a focus on improving transaction security, fraud prevention, and integration between banks and TPPs. FIDA will expand data sharing beyond payment accounts to include areas such as insurance and investments, paving the way for more comprehensive financial products and services.
These developments are set to further enhance connectivity, efficiency and innovation in financial services, cementing open banking as a key component of the global financial infrastructure.
General Manager, Technology and Product Consultant Fintech, Insurtech, Miquido
GDPR Improves Fintech Data Privacy
Privacy and data protection have been taken to another level by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), forcing fintech companies to tighten their data management. In compliance with the GDPR, organizations must ensure that personal data is processed fairly, transparently, and securely.
This has led to increased innovation in fintech towards technologies such as encryption and anonymization for data protection. GDPR was described as a top priority in the data protection strategies of 92% of US-based companies surveyed by PwC.
Financial Expert, Sterlinx Global
Regulatory Sandboxes Drive Fintech Innovation
Since the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) pioneered sandbox regulatory frameworks in 2016 to enable fintech startups to explore new products and services, similar frameworks have been introduced in other countries.
This has reduced the “crippling effect on innovation” caused by a “one size fits all” regulatory approach, which would also require machines to be built to complete regulatory compliance before any testing. Successful applications within sandboxes give regulators the confidence to move forward and address gaps in laws, regulations, or supervisory approaches. This has led to widespread adoption of new technologies and business models and helped channel private sector dynamism, while keeping consumers protected and imposing appropriate regulatory requirements.
Co-founder, UK Linkology
GDPR Impacts Fintech Data Security
A big change in financial regulations that has had a real impact on fintech is the 2018 EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). I have seen how GDPR has pushed us to focus more on user privacy and data security.
GDPR means we have to handle personal data much more carefully. At Leverage, we have had to step up our game to meet these new rules. We have improved our data encryption and started doing regular security audits. It was a little tricky at first, but it has made our systems much more secure.
For example, we’ve added features that give users more control over their data, like simple consent tools and clear privacy notices. These changes have helped us comply with GDPR and made our customers feel more confident in how we handle their information.
I believe that GDPR has made fintech companies, including us at Leverage, more transparent and secure. It has helped build trust with our users, showing them that we take data protection seriously.
CEO & Co-Founder, Leverage Planning
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Fintech
M2P Fintech About to Raise $80M

Application Programming Interface (API) Infrastructure Platform M2P Financial Technology has reached the final round to raise $80 million, at a valuation of $900 million.
Specifically, M2P Fintech, formerly known as Yap, is closing a new funding round involving new and existing investors, according to entrackr.com. The India-based company, which last raised funding two and a half years ago, previously secured $56 million in a round led by Insight Partners, earning a post-money valuation of $650 million.
A source indicated that M2P Fintech is ready to raise $80 million in this new funding round, led by a new investor. Existing backers, including Insight Partners, are also expected to participate. The new funding is expected to go toward enhancing the company’s technology infrastructure and driving growth in domestic and international markets.
What does M2P Fintech do?
M2P Fintech’s API platform enables businesses to provide branded financial services through partnerships with fintech companies while maintaining regulatory compliance. In addition to its operations in India, the company is active in Nepal, UAE, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Bahrain, Egypt, and many other countries.
Another source revealed that M2P Fintech’s valuation in this funding round is expected to be between USD 880 million and USD 900 million (post-money). The company has reportedly received a term sheet and the deal is expected to be publicly announced soon. The Tiger Global-backed company has acquired six companies to date, including Goals101, Syntizen, and BSG ITSOFT, to enhance its service offerings.
According to TheKredible, Beenext is the company’s largest shareholder with over 13% ownership, while the co-founders collectively own 34% of the company. Although M2P Fintech has yet to release its FY24 financials, it has reported a significant increase in operating revenue. However, this growth has also been accompanied by a substantial increase in losses.
Fintech
Scottish financial technology firm Aveni secures £11m to expand AI offering

By Gloria Methri
Today
- To come
- Aveni Assistance
- Aveni Detection
Artificial intelligence Financial Technology Aveni has announced one of the largest Series A investments in a Scottish company this year, amounting to £11 million. The investment is led by Puma Private Equity with participation from Par Equity, Lloyds Banking Group and Nationwide.
Aveni combines AI expertise with extensive financial services experience to create large language models (LLMs) and AI products designed specifically for the financial services industry. It is trusted by some of the UK’s leading financial services firms. It has seen significant business growth over the past two years through its conformity and productivity solutions, Aveni Detect and Aveni Assist.
This investment will enable Aveni to build on the success of its existing products, further consolidate its presence in the sector and introduce advanced technologies through FinLLM, a large-scale language model specifically for financial services.
FinLLM is being developed in partnership with new investors Lloyds Banking Group and Nationwide. It is a large, industry-aligned language model that aims to set the standard for transparent, responsible and ethical adoption of generative AI in UK financial services.
Following the investment, the team developing the FinLLM will be based at the Edinburgh Futures Institute, in a state-of-the-art facility.
Joseph Twigg, CEO of Aveniexplained, “The financial services industry doesn’t need AI models that can quote Shakespeare; it needs AI models that deliver transparency, trust, and most importantly, fairness. The way to achieve this is to develop small, highly tuned language models, trained on financial services data, and reviewed by financial services experts for specific financial services use cases. Generative AI is the most significant technological evolution of our generation, and we are in the early stages of adoption. This represents a significant opportunity for Aveni and our partners. The goal with FinLLM is to set a new standard for the controlled, responsible, and ethical adoption of generative AI, outperforming all other generic models in our select financial services use cases.”
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