Skip to Content

  • 1000+

    Companies

  • 30+

    Data Points

  • 50+

    Identified Themes

  • 4

    Global Markets

Global view


Access Looks Different Everywhere But AI Is Finding the Gaps

From Southeast Asia to Sub-Saharan Africa to the U.S, AI is changing how financial products reach people and businesses. In each region, the constraints are different — infrastructure, documentation, trust — but the pattern is the same: smarter systems are stepping in where traditional ones fall short.

North America

Pioneering API infrastructure that connects financial institutions with...read more

Latin America

Creating AI-driven alternative credit scoring models using smartphone data...readmore

Africa

Pioneering API infrastructure that connects financial institutions with...readmore

India & Southeast Asia

Developing mobile-first banking infrastructure with emphasis on ...read more

U.S. Focus

AI Is Transforming How Financial Services Scale

In the U.S., access to financial services isn’t limited by a lack of demand — it’s driven by outdated systems and high costs. Small businesses and consumers are locked out because legacy models can’t reach them efficiently. AI is changing that. From underwriting to compliance and payments processing... see more.

1. AI Lending Moves Beyond the Score

AI is reshaping small business lending by shifting from static credit scores to real-time signals like cash flow, sales patterns, and behavioral data. This unlocks capital for thin-file and credit-invisible businesses — the very ones legacy lenders miss.

2. AI Lending Moves Beyond the Score

AI is reshaping small business lending by shifting from static credit scores to real-time signals like cash flow, sales patterns, and behavioral data. This unlocks capital for thin-file and credit-invisible businesses — the very ones legacy lenders miss.

3. AI Lending Moves Beyond the Score

AI is reshaping small business lending by shifting from static credit scores to real-time signals like cash flow, sales patterns, and behavioral data. This unlocks capital for thin-file and credit-invisible businesses — the very ones legacy lenders miss.

Global to Local Echoes

What Worked There, Can Work Here

Across the globe, financial innovations have emerged in markets where traditional systems were either too costly or didn’t exist. These solutions, originally developed out of necessity, are now finding a receptive market in the underserved U.S. financial ecosystem. What was once a critical innovation abroad is now... see more.

Alt-Credit Scoring

In emerging markets, alternative credit signals were developed to assess risk where traditional data was scarce, giving access to underserved consumers.

Contextual Underwriting

In the U.S., these alternative data sources are being refined into AI-powered decision-making models for non-traditional borrowers and small businesses, helping unlock credit access for underserved segments.

Agent Networks

In high-friction markets, trust in financial services grew through human agents acting as intermediaries.

Assisted Distribution

In the U.S., embedded finance is playing a similar role—creating trusted environments for SMBs and consumers to access financial services directly within the platforms they already use (e.g., e-commerce tools, POS systems).

AI for Eligibility

AI expanded financial access in underserved regions by evaluating eligibility beyond traditional infrastructure.

AI for Scalability

In the U.S., AI is being leveraged to make serving previously unprofitable segments—like micro-businesses and high-risk consumers—economically viable and scalable for financial institutions.

Trends We’re Watching

Where AI Is Opening Financial Access

  • Description text goes here

  • Description text goes here

  • Description text goes here

If you are a Spotlight partner, log in to download our latest report