The FINTECH Book. The Financial Technology Handbook for Investors, Entrepreneurs and Visionaries

The Fintech Entrepreneur’s Guide to Regulation and Regulatory Strategy Fintech has been growing dramatically over the last few years, and it is now an important sector in its own right. This means that Fintech companies, who could so far often rely on a comparatively lenient regulatory regime, will now have to give serious thoughts on compliance with applicable regulatory rules. Operating in a highly regulated environment is tedious, but not all bad—companies that can play the regulatory game well have a strategic advantage, especially with regard to time-to-market and scaling. Nothing spells missed opportunity like a competitor building market share with a copycat product whilst you are still waiting for your license! Written for professionals, this book helps anyone whose job has to do with formulating or executing a Fintech startup strategy or whose job touches financial services regulation, or anyone who simply wants an easy- to-read introduction to financial services and their regulation. Describes the purpose of and principle behind modern financial services regulation Explains how to include regulation into a startup’s strategic planning to optimize time-to-market and scaling Gives an overview of the entire financial services space, and which regulations apply where Gives detailed references to 20 key regulations in the EU regulatory system, including PSD, GDPR, CRD, AMLD, MiFID, UCITSD, AIFMD The first part introduces financial services regulation, its purpose, how it is created (especially in the EU and in the US), and it develops a framework for including regulations into the strategic planning of a company. It also gives a rundown of the current financial services space—players and products—and its key regulations. The second part describes a regulatory system in more detail. The system chosen is the EU because it is more consistent and unified than the US system where a lot of the regulation still is created at the state-level. However, as most financial regulation nowadays is determined at the global level, the principles found in EU regulation will be by and large also be found the US and other systems.

Venture capital demystified, for both investors and entrepreneurs Building Wealth Through Venture Capital is a practical how-to guide for both sides of the table—investors and the entrepreneurs they fund. This expert author duo combines renowned venture capital experience along with the perspective of a traditional corporate executive and investor sold on this asset class more recently to flesh out wealth-building opportunities for both investors and entrepreneurs. Very simply, this book will guide investors in learning how to succeed at making money in venture capital investment, and it will help entrepreneurs increase their odds of success at attracting venture capital funds and then employing those funds toward a lucrative conclusion. The authors explain why venture capital will remain the asset class best-positioned to capitalize on technological innovation in the coming years. They go on to demystify the market for those seeking guidance on reaping its rich returns. Learn what it takes to succeed as an investor or entrepreneur, and gain the wisdom of experience as the authors explain key factors that determine outcomes. Through a relaxed, down-to-earth narrative, the authors share their own experiences as well as those of their nationally-recognized colleagues. Illustrative anecdotes and personal interviews expand upon important points, and case studies demonstrate the practical effect of critical concepts and actions. World-class professional expertise and personal experience come together to help you: Understand the nature of both venture capitalists and successful entrepreneurs Develop wealth-building capabilities in investing in or attracting venture capital Learn how entrepreneurs and investors can work together toward a lucrative conclusion Examine the ways in which recent financial regulatory developments and technological advances already in place are democratizing access to venture capital, enabling unprecedented expansion of venture capital opportunities As the field expands through these regulatory and technological developments, savvy participants will have unprecedented opportunity to benefit. Building Wealth Through Venture Capital explains what you need to know, and shows you how to navigate this arcane but lucrative asset class.

An innovative new valuation framework with truly useful economic indicators The End of Accounting and the Path Forward for Investors and Managers shows how the ubiquitous financial reports have become useless in capital market decisions and lays out an actionable alternative. Based on a comprehensive, large-sample empirical analysis, this book reports financial documents' continuous deterioration in relevance to investors' decisions. An enlightening discussion details the reasons why accounting is losing relevance in today's market, backed by numerous examples with real-world impact. Beyond simply identifying the problem, this report offers a solution—the Value Creation Report—and demonstrates its utility in key industries. New indicators focus on strategy and execution to identify and evaluate a company's true value-creating resources for a more up-to-date approach to critical investment decision-making. While entire industries have come to rely on financial reports for vital information, these documents are flawed and insufficient when it comes to the way investors and lenders work in the current economic climate. This book demonstrates an alternative, giving you a new framework for more informed decision making. Discover a new, comprehensive system of economic indicators Focus on strategic, value-creating resources in company valuation Learn how traditional financial documents are quickly losing their utility Find a path forward with actionable, up-to-date information Major corporate decisions, such as restructuring and M&A, are predicated on financial indicators of profitability and asset/liabilities values. These documents move mountains, so what happens if they're based on faulty indicators that fail to show the true value of the company? The End of Accounting and the Path Forward for Investors and Managers shows you the reality and offers a new blueprint for more accurate valuation.

Tired of new software that doesn’t seem to work in the field? Ready to get your teams up to speed and productive with the latest tools?  The Construction Technology Handbook  takes a ground up, no jargon look at technology in the construction industry. From clear, quickly grasped explanations of how popular software actually works to how companies both large and small can efficiently try out and onboard new tools, this book unlocks new ways for construction field teams, firm owners, managers, leaders, and employees to do business.  You’ll learn about:  Simple frameworks for making sense of all the new options cropping up How software and data work and how they work together to make your job easier and safer What artificial intelligence really is and how it can help real companies today Tools that are just over the horizon that will, one day, make your job just a little bit easier New and practical resources to help you incorporate an attitude of innovation and technology adoption into your workplace Perfect for general contractors and subcontractors,  The Construction Technology Handbook  also belongs on the bookshelves of construction technology vendors and construction workers who want to better understand the needs of the construction industry and the inner workings of construction technology, respectively.

Based on interviews with successful biotech entrepreneurs and high-level investors as well as case studies, this title provides a comprehensive overview of current trends in biotech funding. In particular, it illustrates the tensions between both sides based on their different backgrounds and expectations. The book outlines the various funding opportunities for the biotech industry and identifies ways for both sides to overcome their existing prejudices in order to successfully thrive in a competitive environment. A must-have for biotech entrepreneurs and investors, as well as invaluable supplementary reading for students aspiring to a career in the industry.

How to transform your trading results by transforming yourself In the unique arena of professional trading coaches and consultants, Van K. Tharp is an internationally recognized expert at helping others become the best traders they can be. In Trading Beyond the Matrix: The Red Pill for Traders and Investors, Tharp leads readers to dramatically improve their trading results and financial life by looking within. He takes the reader by the hand through the steps of self-transformation, from incorporating «Tharp Think»—ideas drawn from his modeling work with great traders—making changes in yourself so that you can adopt the beliefs and attitudes necessary to win when you stop making mistakes and avoid methods that don't work. You'll change your level of consciousness so that you can avoiding trading out of fear and greed and move toward higher levels such as acceptance or joy. A leading trader offers unique learning strategies for turning yourself into a great trader Goes beyond trading systems to help readers develop more effective trading psychology Trains the reader to overcome self-sabotage that obstructs trading success Presented through real transformations made by other traders Advocating an unconventional approach to evaluating trading systems and beliefs, trading expert Van K. Tharp has produced a powerful manual every trader can use to make the best trades and optimize their success.

Startup money is moving online, and this guide shows you how it works. The Art of Startup Fundraising takes a fresh look at raising money for startups, with a focus on the changing face of startup finance. New regulations are making the old go-to advice less relevant, as startup money is increasingly moving online. These new waters are all but uncharted—and founders need an accessible guide. This book helps you navigate the online world of startup fundraising with easy-to-follow explanations and expert perspective on the new digital world of finance. You'll find tips and tricks on raising money and investing in startups from early stage to growth stage, and develop a clear strategy based on the new realities surrounding today's startup landscape. The finance world is in a massive state of flux. Changes are occurring at an increasing pace in all sectors, but few more intensely than the startup sphere. When the paradigm changes, your processes must change with it. This book shows you how startup funding works, with expert coaching toward the new rules on the field. Learn how the JOBS Act impacts the fundraising model Gain insight on startups from early stage to growth stage Find the money you need to get your venture going Craft your pitch and optimize the strategy Build momentum Identify the right investors Avoid the common mistakes Don't rely on the «how we did it» tales from superstar startups, as these stories are unique and applied to exceptional scenarios. The game has changed, and playing by the old rules only gets you left behind. Whether you're founding a startup or looking to invest, The Art of Startup Fundraising provides the up-to-the-minute guidance you need.

Praise for Earnings Magic and the Unbalance Sheet «Gary Giroux brings a breezy, entertaining writing style that really helps the reader untangle arcane accounting practices, including stock options, pensions, off-balance sheet items, and the rest of his 'dirty thirty.'» —Edward Swanson, Durst Chair and Professor of Accounting, Texas A&M University «Earnings Magic and the Unbalance Sheet provides equity investors with clear explanations of today's financial environment together with specific analysis tools to assess the quality of earnings. Gary Giroux provides a valuable and easy-to-use scoring system where investors assign grades to help them in their investment decisions. Earnings Magic is a must-read for any investor in the Dow Jones Industrial Average (Dow 30). Giroux thoroughly analyzes some of the biggest and best known companies.» —Andrew McLelland, Assistant Professor of Accounting, Auburn University YOUR KEY TO EVALUATING A COMPANY'S EARNINGS QUALITY Wouldn't you like to know as much as you could about a company before you invest in it? Financial information on companies is readily available, but not necessarily easy to interpret. With shrewd tips and state-of-the-art analytical tools, Earnings Magic and the Unbalance Sheet arms you with the key strategies and principles to help you evaluate whether a company's bottom line is headed toward excellence or financial abuse. This eye-opening guide expertly walks you through the tangle of potentially inflated earnings and misleading accounting disclosures to determine a company's financial reality.

Examine the depth and breadth of financial technology This comprehensive, hands-on guide is the go-to source for everything you need to confidently navigate the ever-changing scene of this booming industry.  FinTech For Dummies  will shed light on this rapidly changing landscape making it an invaluable source of information for anybody working in or interested in this space. This book provides insights, knowledge and guidance from industry experts Steve O’Hanlon and Susanne Chishti on the following: Gaining insight fastest growing market segment of the financial markets Learning the core decision making to effect a growth plan Securing knowledge of the fastest growing fintech companies in the world Navigating the fintech world The ingredients into building a FinTech company

While most companies claim to have a brand, only a few make an authentic connection with customers or clients. The rest simply have a logo that gets slapped onto the side of a truck or onto a shirt. Today it's brands that will thrive and survive, and to build a brand, you need to create the right vibe around your business. In The Vibe Gary Bertwistle shares his secrets, stripping away the jargon and highlighting the essential thinking required before you spend time, money and energy on promotion and advertising. Whether you're a commercial, industrial, retail or service company, this book gives you the tools to create a powerful brand in the minds of your customers. Easy to understand, practical and relevant for businesses of all sizes, with real examples of Australian businesses – The Vibe is what every brand needs!