Fintech from A to Z: loans tripled in Italy in the first quarter of 2021

From Aim Italia, Blockchain and Cryptoasset, Crowdinvesting and Data Science to Venture, Wealth Tech and Z Generation: the report The Fintech from A to Z, by ItaliaFintech, Politecnico di Milano, Unioncamere and Innext presents an updated overview of a market that , as Andrea Crovetto, President of ItaliaFintech explains, was born “as a niche within financial services.” But “Fintech is now solid and rapidly growing more or less everywhere in the world. A sector with great dynamism which, even during the pandemic, has had and is experiencing a strong acceleration in Italy; here, in the first quarter of 2021, Fintech loans disbursed almost tripled compared to the same period of 2020. The ice has now broken and companies have learned to appreciate and understand the advantages guaranteed by digital offers. Only those who manage to adapt quickly to new changes will be able to transform their opportunities into business successes ”. The report reports that in a year strongly affected by the pandemic like this one, particularly during the months of the first lockdown, consumers had to face “more or less unexpected financial needs, from access to credit to the need to review their coverage. insurance to protect yourself or loved ones. In this period in which traditional interaction was compromised, the peculiarities of Fintech and Insurtech have been greatly appreciated by consumers, who have significantly increased the use of some innovative services. Identity and digital signature services (+ 33% and + 21% on pre-lockdown respectively), robo-advisor (+ 35%) and telemedicine services included in the insurance policy (+ 41%) are those that have received the greatest boost from contingencies, an experience that will remain significantly consolidated for a majority of consumers “. Digital innovation, Fintech and Insurtech are a real opportunity to make the financial system more efficient and stronger, “At the same time as the increase in the use of services, the greater use of digital channels is also evident. The survey by the Fintech & Insurtech Observatory of the Politecnico di Milano shows that in April 2020, compared to the same month of the previous year, there was an average increase in online unique users for the main Italian banks of 17%, with peaks of 62%. ”The Fintech & Insurtech Observatory studied and mapped 2,541 startups in 2020, capable of raising funds for a total of $ 55.2 billion, with an average of $ 22 million and peaks over a billion. “Above all, the Anglo-Saxon world is the birthplace of startups: there are 980 in the United States, capable of raising 21.4 billion dollars (39% of the total) and 296 in the United Kingdom, with funds raised equal to 5 , 3 billion dollars (10% of the total). Although the thrust of these countries makes the American and European continents the main innovation poles, Asia should not be overlooked: 22% of startups are based on the continent, but able to raise 31% of funds, thanks above all to to the strength of the Chinese ecosystem “. One of the most sensitive issues of this period is undoubtedly linked to sustainability,” a true leitmotiv in the last period. Topics that are extremely relevant, being increasingly sought after by end customers and now representing an essential element of a valuable user experience. Italian consumers – for the first time since the findings of the Fintech & Insurtech Observatory – are in fact starting to give importance to sustainability, both in the choice of the bank or insurance company of reference, and in the choice of specific financial and insurance instruments. And it is precisely the innovative offer of startups that increasingly takes these elements into consideration, even well beyond just ESG investments. Worldwide, 27% of startups declare themselves attentive to at least one of the Sustainability Goals identified by the UN (in particular 18% to one, 9% to at least two), with an impact also on the average funds raised “.