Once a signifier of luxury or novelty, custom products and services are now within reach of the everyday consumer, thanks to the rise of artificial intelligence, algorithm-led platforms, and the COVID-era digitisation boom. Today, everyone wants to be the main character of their brand experience.

As the cost of living continues to rise, people are returning to using cash in an attempt to help them budget more tangibly. With digital spending often all too easy to lose track of, there are opportunities to help people looking to track their spending, as well as increase access to cash.

Young people want to save and budget in a way that isn’t boring. Cleo provides a smart AI bot that delivers financial services in a fresh and disruptive way. With $44 million in funding, Cleo is one of the fastest-growing fintech brands catering to a younger audience: Gen Zers.

In the post-pandemic ‘new normal’, many Americans are facing significant financial pressures, fueling the demand for actionable budgeting guidance. How are personal finance communities on social media meeting this need? And why are old-school tricks winning over tech-savvy savers?

Amid rising inflation and stagnating wages, people in the UK are avoiding bill payments as they scrape together what they have for day-to-day spending. With many in need of urgent support, pressure is growing on brands as well as governments to step up and help consumers make ends meet.