On April 15, 2025, Cassels welcomed a room of founders, investors, and industry leaders for State of Fintech in Canada, an exclusive panel featuring three of the country’s most forward‑thinking CEOs. Together, we explored the trends reshaping financial services, the regulatory headwinds on the horizon, and the bold ideas that will define 2025 and beyond.
The conversation, moderated by our own Max Solomons, included insights from:
- Andrew Graham—CEO of Borrowell
Discussed how open‑banking momentum and AI‑driven credit coaching are expanding access to affordable financial products for more than three million Canadians. - Jennifer Arnold—CEO of Minerva
Demystified anti‑money laundering compliance, showing how advanced risk‑scoring can reduce friction for consumers while giving institutions a stronger line of defence against financial crime. - Justin Herlick—CEO of Pine
Walked us through his journey from Silicon Valley to building Canada’s first end‑to‑end digital home‑ownership platform, and why an integrated, customer‑first model is the future of mortgages.
Core Themes and Event Highlights
The discussion underscored four core themes:
- First, consumer‑centric design wins: Canadians gravitate to seamless, mobile‑first products that solve real pain points.
- Second, compliance is becoming a differentiator: open‑banking rules and forthcoming AI‑governance frameworks are tightening fast, so working with counsel early can turn regulatory hurdles into a strategic advantage.
- Third, data is the new collateral: transparent, ethical data‑sharing agreements are now essential for unlocking next‑generation services while protecting user trust.
- Finally, partnership beats disruption: the most successful fintechs are teaming up with established institutions and regulators to scale efficiently and sustainably.
After the panel, guests enjoyed curated networking, local fare, and a buzzing atmosphere that sparked new collaborations.
Interested in continuing the conversation? Connect with the Cassels Blockchain and Digital Assets Group to see how we can help navigate Canada’s dynamic fintech landscape and capitalize on emerging opportunities.
Thank you to our speakers, partners, and guests for making State of Fintech in Canada an evening of meaningful insight and exceptional energy. We look forward to seeing you at our next event!