?? Explore the key moments of 2024
Vacuumlabs
Product development services with a focus on fintech - encompassing strategy, design, engineering, and data science.
Hello, folks!
As the year comes to a close, our final newsletter is a special one. ??
Hear from our CEO, Tomas Masek, who reflects on the past year and shares insights into the opportunities ahead.
Furthermore, have a look at the highlights of 2024, the key fintech topics we’ve covered, what our audience taught us in 2024 and much more.?
"We dedicated 2024 to exploring concrete topics for fintechs and traditional banks. Through deeper research and cross-department collaboration, we published a series of whitepapers highlighting market gaps and offering tangible first steps for navigating the current market landscape. Specifically, we focused on the growing adoption of blockchain in banking and AI integration - two technologies that made remarkable leaps this year, opening up exciting opportunities for everyone.
The potential to continue innovating and modernizing financial services in 2025 and beyond is huge, and we’re eager to embrace the challenge. From integrating core banking systems to building neobanks from the ground up, we’ve been at the forefront, helping businesses de-risk bold advancements to achieve a variety of goals."
Tomas Masek, CEO Vacuumlabs
Investment apps have been around, but we built an idea for this specific solution: fully digital, aimed at the mass affluent. This expands investment opportunities especially in the EU/UK, where investing still lags behind the US. Read a guide containing 19 unique pages, packed with target audience insights, data goldmines, and potential product features information.
Our research indicated a need for more modern family banking solutions, beyond the usual joint accounts. This includes expanded shared financial planning - but also meeting the banking needs of specific demographics like kids, teens, and the elderly that may need accounts attached to primary holders or specific accommodation.?
Is BNPL falling out of favor with consumers? Not necessarily—there are options to build transparent BNPL services managed directly by traditional banks. Banks have a competitive advantage with BNPL; they have all the tools they need to succeed where others struggle.?Here?are two ways of building a new BNPL service. Learn how to start and how we can help.?
SME banking and banking for freelancers still lag behind. We looked into this gap in the market and delved into the critical role business banking plays in supporting SMEs in Europe and the UK. Download the whitepaper to explore the current landscape, key players, innovative solutions and possibilities for financial institutions.
Does traditional car leasing work for everyone??
By 2030, the European car subscription market is expected to reach €20 billion. The shift is driven by the need for flexible, innovative mobility solutions, especially among younger generations. Our research shows that this fintech innovation is open to not just banks, but also car manufacturers, leasing and rental companies, offering unique value in a crowded market.
??? Technologies You Can’t Miss
Core banking implementation represents a critical digital transformation for financial institutions. There is no single best way to implement core banking and tackle the difficulty and expense of a change, but here are a few points that may help you find a solution.?
AI is changing the way we live, and the way we work. Oasis is a specialized offering designed to guide you through the growing field of artificial intelligence. A free AI prompt creation guide can help you enhance productivity, cut operating costs, brainstorm and much more.?
??Highlights of 2024 From Around the World
As 2024 wraps up, let’s spotlight the news that captured our attention.
?? Revolut unveiled an innovative travel eSIM plan for UK customers.
?? Mastercard launched an open banking-powered solution to simplify subscription management.
?? GoHenry teamed up with Google Wallet to bring Tap to Pay to children’s smartwatches in the US.
?? Apple introduced Tap to Cash, a feature that allows people to pay by touching their iPhones.?
?? Stripe confirmed $1.1 billion acquisition of stablecoin start-up Bridge.?
?? Thunes and Circle launched a stablecoin-powered solution to streamline cross-border payments.
?? Jason Oakley, CEO of Afin Bank, sat down with us to talk about their mission to make banking simpler and more accessible for Africans living in the UK.
?? In this conversation, Jason shares more about:?
- Unique services Afin Bank provides for the African diaspora living in the UK,
- Behind-the-scenes look at the development of their digital platform,
- The bank’s vision for the future,
- The collaboration with Vacuumlabs and using Thought Machine’s Vault,
and more.
?? Watch the full interview to see how Afin Bank is bringing real change to the banking world.
TOP 10 Fastest Growing Fintech Companies of 2024
The fintech world saw revolutionary innovations and partnerships in 2024. Here are some highlights that caught our attention:
?? Learn more about the fintech companies with rapid growth and innovation in 2024.
What Did Our Audience Teach Us in 2024??
If you follow us here, you’ve definitely seen that we are learning from our audience via a weekly #MondayPulseCheck. This started as a fun way to interact with our audience, but it turned into an insightful display of people’s thoughts on technology, finances, and even which products they would like to use.
?? As an end of the year gift for you, we’ve picked out the most popular responses and even some of the more surprising ones. Take a look.?
Your feedback inspires us, and we look forward to creating even more engaging discussions in 2025.
Wishing you a joyful holiday season!??
We look forward to continuing our journey of innovation and collaboration in the new year. Have big plans for 2025?
Reach out to collaborate with us.?