Your Weekly Fintech Sales Intelligence Newsletter | Volume 19

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TODAY’S PICK 🎯

The Sales Reality Check from Shoptalk 2025

What we heard from sales leaders at Shoptalk 2025 and what you should be doing about it.

Sales Intelligence were on the ground in Vegas last week, speaking to sales reps and leaders from some of the world’s most recognised brands. Common themes were that pipeline pressure is real, CRMs aren’t showing the full picture and the buyer’s journey is a whole new kind of chaos. But there’s a clear pattern emerging across the best-performing teams who are closing faster, forecasting smarter and staying aligned under pressure.

Inside our insights with Hive Perform:

→ What’s slowing deals down (and how to fix it).
→ Where your CRM is leaving your deals exposed.
→ How sales and marketing misalignment could be costing you 10%+ in revenue.
→ What the top-performing reps are doing differently and why it’s working.
→ The cost of waiting too long to adapt.

EDITOR’S INSIGHT 💭

How Fintech Can Win in the Inflation-Tariff Crossfire

The tug-of-war between tariffs and inflation isn’t just playing out on trade floors—it’s reshaping how consumers spend and how fintech firms grow. As import duties rise, so do the costs of goods. Inflation follows, tightening household budgets and driving behavioral shifts that fintech can’t afford to ignore.

For most consumers, rising prices mean fewer discretionary purchases—and that translates into fewer transactions, smaller basket sizes, and slower growth for digital payment providers, neobanks, and embedded finance platforms. But while this economic squeeze hits traditional sectors hard, fintech’s advantage lies in adaptability.

This is the moment for fintech companies to go beyond transactional value and lean into utility. The best players aren’t just processing payments—they’re helping consumers manage uncertainty. Think built-in budgeting tools, dynamic savings nudges, and AI-driven financial health scores that give users real-time clarity in an unstable economy.

We’re already seeing forward-thinking fintechs roll out tiered service models to accommodate shifting price sensitivities, or integrating financial education directly into their apps to increase engagement and trust. These aren’t side features—they’re strategic responses to a changing consumer psyche.

But adaptability requires visibility. Fintech leaders must embed real-time economic signals—like inflation indexes and tariff trends—into their product and GTM strategy. Understanding how macro forces shape consumer sentiment is no longer optional; it’s foundational to retaining wallet share and building resilient growth paths.

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS 🌐

Bitcoin Volatility Awaits April's Trade Policy and Growth Drivers

Bitcoin's performance in April is under scrutiny as traders consider the impact of trade policies and search for growth catalysts. This period is critical for the cryptocurrency market as participants weigh macroeconomic factors. The anticipation around regulatory developments in stablecoins further complicates the landscape, offering both challenges and opportunities.

Investors should be aware of Bitcoin's volatility, often comparable to tech stocks, rather than serving as a reliable market hedge. Understanding the complex dynamics of trade policies and regulatory frameworks is essential for navigating this uncertain environment. As growth drivers remain ambiguous, the prudent approach involves staying informed and cautiously optimistic, highlighting the importance of financial literacy in decision-making processes.

Abound Raises $14 Million to Enhance Financial Services for NRIs in the US

Abound, a fintech platform designed for Indian expatriates in the United States, has secured $14 million in seed funding, primarily led by the NEAR Foundation. This fresh capital, its first since being nurtured by Times Internet, promises to accelerate Abound's mission to bridge financial gaps faced by non-resident Indians (NRIs). The platform aims to provide a comprehensive solution where users can manage financial activities such as sending money, saving, investing, and borrowing through a single digital application. With a history of processing $150 million in remittances and $87 million in rewards, Abound is well-positioned to expand its offerings and technological capabilities.

As the Indian-American community enjoys a higher household income compared to the average American household, there remains a pressing need for tailored financial services that cater to their specific cross-border needs. With a robust product suite planned, including digital investments and a rewards ecosystem, Abound seeks to eliminate barriers that NRIs face in accessing seamless banking services. The platform aspires to be the preferred financial partner for Indian professionals in the U.S., ensuring they can efficiently manage their finances across borders.

eToro Prepares For Nasdaq IPO With $5 Billion Valuation Estimate

Klarna's CEO Embarks On The Crucial Challenge Of A U.S. IPO

Sebastian Siemiatkowski, Klarna’s CEO, is poised for the critical challenge of steering the company towards its U.S. IPO. After establishing Klarna as a fintech leader in the buy now, pay later segment, Siemiatkowski now aims to rebuild its significantly reduced valuation and propel it back to grand heights. Facing fierce competition and macroeconomic pressures, his leadership is under scrutiny as the firm reported $2.8 billion in revenue last year.

Siemiatkowski’s proactive embrace of AI, especially after the launch of ChatGPT, marks a strategic pivot to reduce costs and elevate profitability. Even amidst backlash over AI replacing jobs, he remains unapologetic and transparent about industry shifts. With the upcoming IPO anticipated to significantly boost stakeholder values, Siemiatkowski’s strategy, focusing on long-term growth, aims to redefine Klarna’s market standing, encouraging investors' confidence in the company's resilient future.

Quantum Computing Enhances RegTech Risk Modeling and Fraud Detection Capabilities

Quantum computing holds transformative potential for RegTech, heralding a revolution in risk modeling and fraud detection. By leveraging quantum mechanics, it accelerates computations, enabling financial institutions to perform intricate risk analyses in real-time, rather than over hours or days. Quantum algorithms are set to improve fraud detection by identifying subtle patterns and nonlinear relationships in transaction data, a crucial development in combating evolving financial threats.

However, this technological advancement doesn't come without risks. Quantum computing could undermine traditional encryption methods, necessitating investment in post-quantum cryptography to safeguard sensitive financial data. As the technology matures, collaboration between regulatory bodies and industry players becomes essential for creating standards and frameworks to secure digital infrastructure. Despite its early implementation stage, quantum computing promises unparalleled computational power, potentially revolutionizing financial crime prevention in RegTech.

Robinhood's Subscription Model Aims to Build Amazon-Like Loyalty in Finance

Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev is actively enhancing the company's $5-per-month subscription model, likened to Amazon Prime, to foster customer loyalty in the financial services sector. By bundling a comprehensive suite of digital investment products, including wealth management and tax advice, Robinhood aims to extend its appeal and perceived value to investors. Gold subscribers benefit from features like a 4% interest on savings, curated ETFs, and private banking services, reinforcing the attractiveness of the subscription.

Robinhood's expanding subscriber base of 3.2 million, generating at least $100 million annually, underscores the success and potential of this model. Tenev emphasizes that sustained subscriber loyalty can increase wallet share, a critical metric in financial services. Moving beyond fractional shares and cryptocurrency, Robinhood aspires to offer a seamless platform for a range of financial transactions, ensuring it remains at the forefront of financial innovation. This strategy not only enhances the user experience but also establishes Robinhood as a comprehensive financial hub.

Taylor Lauber Takes Helm at Shift4, Expanding International Clientele

Shift4's incoming CEO, Taylor Lauber, discusses the company's recent client acquisition and its implications for international clients and consumers. This development is relevant for stakeholders seeking insight into Shift4's expansion strategies. By understanding these client dynamics, businesses can better navigate international eCommerce markets.

LEADING VOICES📣