In a new episode of the Disruption Interruption Podcast, host Karla Jo Helms interviews Sean Adler, a trailblazer in the financial technology sector and founder and CEO of GZI, an award-winning alternative data platform that translates scientific innovation into financial technology. They delve into the evolving landscape of alternative data and its increasing prominence in the financial markets. The dialogue sheds light on the trajectory of alternative data from its inception to its potential integration into mainstream financial practices.
Alternative Data refers to non-traditional data sets that investors use to guide investment strategy, examples being credit card transactions, mobile device data, satellite imagery, social media sentiment, product reviews, weather data, web traffic, and app usage. The number of Alternative-data providers is more than 20 times larger now than it was 30 years ago — with more than 400 currently active providers, compared to only 20 in 1990. A survey by the Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA) found that 34 percent of hedge fund managers surveyed said their firms are newly investing in alternative data.1 In an educational discussion with Karla Jo (KJ) Helms, the host of the Disruption Interruption podcast, Sean Adler—a versatile leader with a solid background in international tech startups, biotech, and fintech—offers insights into the intricate world of alternative data and its burgeoning influence on financial markets and biotech sectors. “Analyzing the effectiveness of alternative data is paramount,” Adler emphasizes. “It’s not just about the data itself, but how it’s interpreted and utilized.” He alludes to the fact that, while alternative data has gained traction, it is still in the process of being integrated more deeply into financial operations.
Fintech and Alternative Data
Fintech is a combination of the words “financial technology”—a catch-all term for technology used to augment, streamline, digitize, or disrupt traditional financial services.2 It refers to software, algorithms, and applications for both desktop and mobile.
With an astute focus on fintech’s revolution, Adler and KJ navigate the complex terrain of alternative data, from satellite imagery to mobile app analytics. They unpack the challenges of defining this emerging field, emphasizing the imperative of effective utilization.
Adler sheds light on the significance of alternative data in the financial services industry and how it presents a paradigm shift in decision-making processes, drawing from diverse sources such as tweet scores and credit card data.
Reshaping FinTech through Alternative Data
With a keen eye on the future, Adler unveils the transformative potential of alternative data in reshaping the fintech landscape and revolutionizing traditional investment strategies. In discussing the tokenization of assets to the emergence of asset-backed cryptocurrencies, he hints at a future where data-driven innovation reigns supreme and becomes a cornerstone of decision-making across industries. He discusses the potential applications of alternative data beyond the financial sector, suggesting its relevance for enterprise expansion and analysis. He emphasizes the importance of understanding client needs to tailor data offerings effectively.
Reflecting on the future of his company GZI Finance, he expressed openness to exploration and collaboration, inviting feedback and engagement from interested parties with a focus on building mutually beneficial relationships. “We anticipate alternative data becoming more prevalent in the coming years,” shared Adler. “Understanding the market needs and designing products accordingly will be instrumental in this transition.”
About Disruption InterruptionTM:
Disruption is happening on an unprecedented scale, impacting all manner of industries— MedTech, Finance, IT, eCommerce, shipping, and logistics, and more—and COVID has moved their timelines up a full decade or more. But WHO are these disruptors and when did they say, “THAT’S IT! I’VE HAD IT!”? Time to Disrupt and Interrupt with host Karla Jo “KJ” Helms, veteran communications disruptor. KJ interviews badasses who are disrupting their industries and altering economic networks that have become antiquated with an establishment resistant to progress. She delves into uncovering secrets from industry rebels and quiet revolutionaries that uncover common traits—and not-so-common—that are changing our economic markets… and lives. Visit the world’s key pioneers that persist to success, despite arrows in their backs at www.disruption-interruption.com.
About Sean Adler:
Sean Adler is a dynamic figure at the intersection of academia and entrepreneurship. As the Founder and CEO of GZI, an esteemed alternative data platform, Sean pioneers the translation of scientific innovation into the realm of financial technology. Through GZI, he empowers users to navigate the evolving landscape of the ‘next normal’ by harnessing the power of synthetic AI to provide invaluable alternative data. Beyond his role as CEO of GZI, Sean actively engages in mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs through programs such as the NASDAQ Entrepreneurial Center and Founder Institute. His expertise spans a diverse array of domains, from international tech startups to biotech and fintech, augmented by his proficiency in data science, statistical programming, managerial acumen, genomic data analysis, and fluency in Mandarin Chinese. Sean’s impact reverberates far beyond the confines of GZI, earning him recognition as one of the Top 10 Most Influential Leaders in Biotechnology for 2021. His remarkable achievements include scaling and successfully selling a company he founded at the age of 25, a testament to his visionary leadership and entrepreneurial prowess.
About Karla Jo Helms:
Karla Jo Helms is the Chief Evangelist and Anti-PR® Strategist for JOTO PR Disruptors. Karla Jo learned firsthand how unforgiving business can be when millions of dollars are on the line — and how the control of public opinion often determines whether one company is happily chosen, or another is brutally rejected. Being an alumnus of crisis management, Karla Jo has worked with litigation attorneys, private investigators, and the media to help restore companies of goodwill into the good graces of public opinion — Karla Jo operates on the ethic of getting it right the first time, not relying on second chances and doing what it takes to excel. Helms speaks globally on public relations, how the PR industry itself has lost its way, and how, in the right hands, corporations can harness the power of Anti-PR to drive markets and impact market perception.
The post Alternative Data Rise: FinTech Innovation with Sean Adler, GZI Finance first appeared on FinTecBuzz.
