Welcome to your Friday briefing. From recession signals and IPO whiplash to Miami’s tech takeover (see our top Miami Tech Week picks for 2025) and new voices on the speaker circuit, here’s your curated roundup of what’s shaping fintech, innovation, and digital media, plus the award nominations, podcast drops, and client coverage that should be on your radar.
Table of Contents
Major Press Hits
Fintech & Financial Services
- Extend announced a major referral agreement with Visa to expand virtual card access for middle-market businesses, covered in PYMNTS, Finextra, and Business Travel News.
- Fundbox x Franpos: A new capital solution for pet retailers made headlines across Pets+, Fintech Finance, and Pet Age.
- Ansel made waves in Insurance NewsNet with its push to redefine supplemental health insurance: fast cash payouts and wide coverage.
- Daffy continues educating the market on donor-advised funds in crypto (Crypto 101).
Innovation & Venture
- Brightwave’s Mike Conover shared bold AI predictions in Benzinga ahead of his appearance at Startup Grind.
- Portage’s Devon Kirk and Jonathan Metrick unpacked investment and ops strategy on the PE Value Creation podcast.
- Torch and SMC featured in Carta’s roundup of the paradigm-shifting role of AI in healthcare investing.
Workforce, Wealth & Access
- Ashley M. Fox of Empify discussed her Wall Street journey and bold financial lessons on Way Up with Angela Yee.
- Veer Gidwaney, CEO of Ansel, shared insights on the future of insurance in a FINTECHTALK sit-down.
Hot Events & Awards
Happening Now:
- Miami Tech Week (April 6–13) is in full swing, with the scene more buzzing than ever—events from Miami Tech Summit to Possible already stacking up major side event energy.
- DEALMAX, Las Vegas (April 7–9) – The big PE meetup returns.
- Nicole Casperson’s Fintech Is Femme event (April 23) features Kirthiga Reddy—one to watch. See all of our top picks for NY Fintech Week.
- Startup Grind Global (April 29–30) boasts client speakers including Adam Nash (Daffy) and Mike Conover (Brightwave).
- BNEF Summit (April 29–30) returns with energy and sustainability leaders.
- Prometeo, April, and Better were named finalists for the 2025 Banking Tech Awards USA.
News Trends to Watch
Markets & Regulation
- New York Times: Tariffs spark global sell-off as China hits back, Meta tumbles, and recession fears overshadow strong U.S. jobs report
- Business Insider: 44 U.S. states are flashing recession signs.
- The Economic Times: IRS warns DOGE policies may have cost the U.S. $500B.
- Investor’s Business Daily: Alibaba’s chairman warns of an AI data center bubble.
- Barron’s: Time to revisit your tax-loss harvesting strategy—don’t wait for December.
Consumer Behavior & Economy
- McKinsey: Rising consumer uncertainty may be chilling spending plans.
- Yahoo Finance: Mortgage rates hovering at 6.5%—the “new normal”?
- Insurance Business Mag: Health insurance costs are straining SMBs.
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