The Monday Roundup: what we are watching this week | March 2nd

By Puja Sharma

The Monday Roundup sets the scene for the week’s biggest news stories, industry deals, and upcoming events. For Prime subscribers only.

Broader effort to modernise advisor workflows

The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America has partnered with Avantos, an AI-native operating system provider, as part of a broader effort to modernise advisor workflows and strengthen its wealth management capabilities through artificial intelligence.

The collaboration will introduce next-generation technology designed to help Guardian’s financial advisors streamline client onboarding, improve operational efficiency, and enhance client engagement. In the initial phase, the Avantos platform will enable advisors to connect data, teams and workflows within a unified system, aimed at delivering more consistent and compliant onboarding experiences while reducing administrative friction.

Over time, the partnership is expected to expand to include additional AI-driven tools to support a wider range of client needs across investment planning and protection strategies. The initiative is intended to improve advisor productivity and enable more personalised financial guidance. Guardian has also made an early-stage investment in Avantos and will serve as a strategic insurance partner, signalling confidence in the role of AI-native infrastructure in reshaping client servicing and operational models across wealth and insurance.

Jaipur-based startup Finanjo has raised approximately $180k in a pre-seed funding round backed by early-stage venture capital firm AJVC, led by investor Aviral Bhatnagar, as the company looks to strengthen its artificial intelligence capabilities and scale its presence among young Indian users.

The capital will be deployed across product development, infrastructure, and AI enhancement, with a focus on improving the company’s financial assistant, “Jo”. The tool is designed to deliver data-driven insights, goal-based planning, and credit optimisation using user-consented financial data. Finanjo also plans to upgrade its integration with India’s Account Aggregator framework to provide a consolidated, real-time view of users’ financial positions across institutions.

Founded by Prithviraj Singh Chauhan and Pankaj Singh Chauhan, Finanjo positions itself as a behaviour-first financial management platform targeting digitally native users. By combining behavioural insights with AI-driven analytics, the platform aims to move beyond expense tracking to provide personalised financial decision support aligned with users’ goals and spending patterns.

Expanding global payment coverage

Amsterdam-based Onramper has integrated Payward Ramp, a fiat-to-crypto service developed by cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, into its aggregation platform, expanding global payment coverage and giving partners access to liquidity across more than 600 digital assets.

The integration adds Payward Ramp to Onramper’s network of more than 30 onramp providers, enabling crypto platforms, wallets, and FinTechs to let customers buy and sell digital assets with cards and local bank transfers. The service supports payment methods including Apple Pay and Google Pay across the US, UK, and European markets and operates on Kraken’s regulated infrastructure, which includes money transmitter and crypto asset service provider (CASP) licences in multiple jurisdictions.

The move reflects ongoing efforts across the digital asset sector to simplify fiat-to-crypto access, an area often constrained by fragmented payment rails, regional compliance requirements, and complex technical integrations. By aggregating multiple providers through a single API, Onramper aims to reduce the operational and regulatory burden for businesses seeking to launch compliant crypto services.

Statrys, a Hong Kong FinTech firm, has introduced a flexible, transaction-based accounting plan for SMEs, startups, and entrepreneurs. Instead of fixed fees, costs are tied to the number of monthly transactions, offering transparency and adaptability for businesses with fluctuating activity. The service covers bookkeeping, audited statements, tax filings, and offshore tax claims, with each client supported by a dedicated accountant year-round. This model helps early-stage and seasonal businesses manage expenses more predictably, aligning fees with actual operations. Statrys aims to reduce friction, provide visibility, and empower founders to focus on growth while staying compliant with Hong Kong regulations.

What is the Buzz

The recent arrest of a senior executive at a leading payments bank under GST provisions has raised concerns within India’s FinTech community. Industry stakeholders worry that such actions may create uncertainty for entrepreneurs and investors, potentially slowing the momentum of digital finance. The Payments Council of India has reached out to the Finance Ministry, urging a balanced approach that safeguards compliance while maintaining confidence in regulated institutions.

The bank clarified that the matter relates to external program managers working with multiple institutions, rather than its own internal operations. In the interim, leadership responsibilities have been reassigned to ensure continuity. While the incident has unsettled the sector, it has also sparked dialogue on the need for clearer regulations and proportionate enforcement. Many see this as an opportunity to strengthen governance frameworks, ensuring FinTech innovation continues while reinforcing accountability and trust in India’s evolving financial ecosystem.