Tech’s Transformative Tide - Issue #499 December 19th, 2024

The U.S. tech job market is set to recover in 2025 after a challenging period of layoffs and AI-driven transformations. A report by Karat and Harris Poll shows a strategic shift from volume hiring to targeted recruitment of quality talent. As AI reshapes roles, businesses focus on smarter hiring strategies to meet the demands of an evolving digital economy.

The 18th Asian Financial Forum returns to Hong Kong on 13-14 January 2025 to bring together global business communities, corporate leaders, policymakers and regulators for discussions and exchange of insights on the global economy from an Asian perspective.

This week in fintech: Norway’s Vipps MobilePay challenges Apple Pay, marking a milestone for payment competition. Goldman Sachs withdraws from the Net-Zero Banking Alliance, while Zopa Bank raises £68M in new funding. Additionally, Aviva is poised to acquire Direct Line for £3.6bn, and Vanguard reorganizes its wealth division. Innovation continues to disrupt financial ecosystems worldwide.

Global Partnerships’ mission is to drive non-linear growth for our users and Stripe by developing relationships with external partners that enable Stripe to create, enhance, and drive adoption of innovative, differentiated products.

Passion, excitement & global collaboration are all core to what it means to be a FlyMate. At Flywire, we’re on a mission to deliver the world’s most important and complex payments.

We operate a global, two-sided network at scale that connects hundreds of millions of merchants and consumers. We help merchants and consumers connect, transact, and complete payments, whether they are online or in person. PayPal is more than a connection to third-party payment networks.

Atua AI developer KaJ Labs announced a $100 million fund to accelerate AI innovation on the Ripple platform. The initiative aims to introduce AI-powered tools into decentralized finance (DeFi) and enterprise operations, driving adoption of advanced AI solutions across the Ripple ecosystem. This move reflects growing synergy between blockchain and artificial intelligence.

Fintech companies, like Priority under CEO Thomas Priore, continue to revolutionize payments by offering integrated digital tools for businesses of all sizes. By combining banking solutions, payment systems, and innovative financial features, fintech platforms eliminate the need for multiple providers. This convergence simplifies financial management and transforms traditional banking models.

Warwick Business School has launched a cutting-edge Fintech Innovation Lab with £4.2m of investment. Designed to drive fintech and AI research, the facility features advanced technologies like VR headsets, Voice-to-Text AI, and strategic AI tools. Open to academics, students, and businesses, the lab serves as a global hub to foster fintech excellence and collaboration.

Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski shared insights into the company’s hiring freeze amidst rising AI adoption. While Klarna serves over 575,000 retailers with “buy now, pay later” options, concerns over AI's disruption in the workplace grow. McKinsey estimates that 12 million U.S. workers will need to change occupations by 2030, underscoring the dual nature of AI's promise and challenge.