IFZ Fintech Study 2019 an Overview of Swiss Fintech
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IFZ FinTech Study 2019 An Overview of Swiss FinTech Editors Prof. Dr. Thomas Ankenbrand, Prof. Dr. Andreas Dietrich, Denis Bieri Institute of Financial Services Zug IFZ www.hslu.ch/ifz Platinum Sponsors 190114_w_ifz_stu_fintech_a4.indd 1 31.01.19 10:12 1 Table of Contents IFZ FinTech Study 2019 Table of Contents 1. Preface 2 2. Definition & Framework of the FinTech Ecosystem 3 3. The Global FinTech Environment 7 4. Global FinTech Companies 22 5. The Swiss FinTech Environment 26 6. Swiss FinTech Companies 43 7. Banks and FinTech 81 8. Conclusion & Outlook 89 9. Factsheets of Swiss FinTech Companies 90 Authors 167 References 168 Appendix 178 2 Preface 1. Preface FinTech companies are increasingly becoming an integral part of the financial industry. By providing innovative solu- tions, they are able to support established financial institutions in their digital transformation. After years of steady growth, the growth rate of the Swiss FinTech sector accelerated significantly in 2018, not only in terms of the total amount of companies but also in terms of the venture capital invested. As of the end of 2018, there were a total of 356 FinTech companies in Switzerland, corresponding to a growth rate of 62 percent compared to the year 2017. Also, the maturation of the sector observed in the previous year, measured by the average number of full-time equivalents and the average capitalisation of Swiss FinTech companies, continued in 2018. The increasing maturity of FinTech companies in combination with their promising internationally oriented business models could make FinTech solu- tions the key for the Swiss financial industry to survive the digital evolution. This fourth edition of the IFZ-FinTech study aims to show the developments in the FinTech sector in 2018 and to re-evaluate the trends observed in our previous studies. In contrast to last year's study, this edition contains two major innovations. Firstly, we include a secondary categorisation system, the FinTech grid. The grid allows for an al- ternative classification of FinTech companies based on a company’s product orientation and the solution’s techno- logical backbone. The second innovation comprises the analysis of the FinTech ecosystem and corresponding compa- nies not only on a national but also on a global level. Specifically, for the first time, this study includes an analysis of the global FinTech ecosystem based on the PEST-approach as well as an assessment of companies considered to be leaders in the sector. In addition to these two innovations, the study deals with the question of how banks position themselves towards FinTech. On the one hand, the CIO Barometer survey presents information about the current trends and developments in the IT departments of Swiss banks. On the other hand, an analysis of the annual reports of banks seeks to capture the perceived importance of digitalisation and FinTech in the banking industry. The chapters 2 to 8 cover the main part of this study. Chapter 2 provides a definition of the term “FinTech” and pre- sents the framework of the subsequent analysis of the Swiss FinTech ecosystem. In chapter 3, the global FinTech environment is examined with the help of the PEST-approach, followed by a FinTech hub comparison. Chapter 4 gives an overview of the characteristics of 403 worldwide leading FinTech companies. Chapter 5 is dedicated to the Swiss FinTech sector and, in line with chapter 3, examines the political/legal, economic, social, and technological environ- ment on a national level. The subsequent chapter 6 focuses on analysing the Swiss FinTech sector on a company level. The analysis is based on a proprietary database, sourced from publicly available data and a survey conducted in the Swiss FinTech sector, and provides some insights into the business models of Swiss FinTech companies and their most pressing challenges. In addition, the relevant developments, as well as an outlook on all of the FinTech product areas are summarised. The second last chapter from the main part, chapter 7, takes a look at how banks position themselves towards digitalisation, innovation, and FinTech. Chapter 8 contains the conclusion of the study and is followed by chapter 9, which includes the factsheets of the 149 Swiss FinTech companies that participated in the survey. The factsheets present the business models of the participating companies, including information such as their value propositions, market orientation, and resources. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all parties who have contributed to the fourth edition of the IFZ Fin- Tech study. A very special thanks goes to our sponsors Finnova, Inventx, SIX, Swiss Bankers Prepaid Services, and Swisscom for their financial and content-related support. We would also like to express our appreciation for the effort all the participants invested in our survey. Finally yet importantly, a special thanks goes to all the authors for their important contribution to this study. Prof. Dr. Thomas Ankenbrand Prof. Dr. Andreas Dietrich Denis Bieri Head of the Competence Centre Head of the Institute of Financial Research Associate for Investments Services Zug Institute of Financial Services Institute of Financial Services Institute of Financial Services Zug IFZ Zug IFZ Zug IFZ 3 Definition & Framework of the FinTech Ecosystem 2. Definition & Framework of the FinTech Ecosystem By Prof. Dr. Thomas Ankenbrand & Denis Bieri, In comparison to the definition from the Oxford Dic- Institute of Financial Services Zug IFZ tionary, our definition does not only focus on the technological aspect of FinTech and the financial sec- In this chapter, the definitions and frameworks ap- tor as its target industry, but also highlights the inno- plied in this study are described. Firstly, the term “Fin- vative nature of FinTech solutions. This requirement Tech” and its six product areas are defined. We also of having some degree of innovation leads to a some- introduce an alternative classification framework of what blurred distinction between FinTech solutions FinTech in which we distinguish between the product and other software solutions in the financial industry. areas of FinTech solutions and their underlying tech- Comparison and information platforms, for example, nology. Secondly, the PEST-approach, which serves as are excluded from this study due to the lack of inno- a framework for analysing the general factors of the vation from a technological point of view. In addition FinTech ecosystem, is explained. Sections 2.3 and 2.4 to the solutions with only a small amount of innova- cover the methodologies focused on structuring Fin- tive power, this study also excludes technological Tech business models and capturing current chal- solutions focusing on the insurance and real estate lenges in the sector. industry, i.e. InsurTech and PropTech solutions. One exemption hereof are crowdfunding platforms for real estate, which constitute an alternative to the tra- 2.1. Definition of FinTech ditional real estate investment and are thus clearly linked to the financial industry. On the other hand, The renowned Oxford Dictionary defines FinTech as companies providing compliance solutions, so called “computer programs and other technology used to “RegTechs”, are included in this study if their business support or enable banking and financial services” model mainly targets the financial sector. (Oxford Dictionary, online). This definition of the term “FinTech” is similar to the definition applied in this In contrast to other definitions of FinTech companies, year’s IFZ FinTech study, which, in order to stay con- the definition applied in this study differs in two main sistent, remains the same as in the previous editions, aspects. First, we also include incumbents that qualify and reads as follows: under our definition of FinTech. Second, the start-up definition isn’t as narrow as, for instance, in the Swiss FinTech is defined as software solutions for inno- Startup Radar 2018/2019 report from Kyora et al. vative products, services, and processes in the fi- (2018), in which start-ups are defined by the following nancial industry, improving, complementing, and/ characteristics: or disrupting existing offerings. Hence, FinTech companies are firms whose main activities, core – International distribution competencies, and/or strategic focus lie in devel- – Focus on innovation oping those solutions. – Ambitious growth plans – Scalable business model – Science- and technology-based approach – Professional investors 4 IFZ FinTech Study 2019 • Mobil ayment • Bi • Online ayment • Machi ng • er • Artificial telligence Payment Analytics • Robo Advisor • terface • Social ading Investment Banking Management Infrastructure • Processing ncement • Hybri s • Infrastruct ogy • Advice-supported gital vesting Distributed Deposit & Lending Ledger Technology • Crowdinvesting • Cryptocurrency • Crowdlending • Blockchain • Invoic ading Figure 2.1: Taxonomy of FinTech business models Our definition of FinTech companies does not impose aspects of FinTech, as described in our definition. In any of these restrictions. However, we only include particular, the product areas Banking Infrastructure, companies that were legally incorporated in Switzer- Deposit & Lending, Investment Management, and land as of the end of 2018. Payment have a clear focus on providing alternative or improving existing banking processes and prod- Analogous to our previous studies, our taxonomy ucts, whereas Analytics and Distributed Ledger Tech- illustrated in Figure 2.1