Apostolos Chardalias

November 13, 2025

Subtitle: Key moves in global fintech, major startup trends, breakthrough technology announcements and macroeconomic shifts shaping the first half of November. Introduction

The first two weeks of November 2025 brought a flurry of activity across the innovation ecosystem. From fintech firms eyeing IPOs to unicorn valuations surging on AI momentum, and from regulatory milestones to macroeconomic shifts, this period set the tone for what lies ahead. Below are the most significant stories that caught the market’s attention. Startup & fintech highlights

One of the standout stories came from Saudi Arabia, where Lean Technologies – a fintech start-up based in Riyadh – announced it was exploring new strategic investments ahead of a possible public listing. The company aims to expand its product offerings beyond open banking into broader financial services. (Bloomberg)

Meanwhile, a major analysis revealed that the top 100 unicorn companies globally saw their combined valuation leap by 44%, driven largely by artificial intelligence (adoption), reaching nearly US$ 3 trillion. This highlights how startup valuations are increasingly tied to AI-enabling capabilities. (consultancy.uk)

In the Southeast Asia region, a report found that fintech deal-making has hit a decade-low: in the six largest ASEAN economies, funding fell 36 % and deal volume plunged 60 % year-on-year to about US$ 835 million for the first nine months of 2025. The shift underscores greater investor prudence and a tilt toward later-stage deals. (PR Newswire) Technology & innovation trends

On the tech front, the surge in unicorn valuations closely tied to AI platforms clearly signals that companies which incorporate AI are commanding premium valuations – reflecting investor belief in the strategic importance of AI capabilities rather than just growth potential. (consultancy.uk)

Also, in Singapore, the Singapore FinTech Festival 2025 (SFF) announced its upcoming edition (12–14 November) would explore the “technology blueprint for the next decade of finance”, including AI, digital assets and infrastructure. This serves as a platform to watch for the next wave of fintech innovation. (mas.gov.sg) Macro-economic & sectoral implications

From a macro perspective, these developments highlight several key themes:

The increased premium on AI and tech-enabling capabilities is pushing valuations up, but also raising the bar for what gets funded.
Fintech funding is becoming more selective: fewer rounds, larger size, later stage.
Regional divergences matter: while some markets are cooling (ASEAN fintech), others are seeing concentration of capital in fewer winners.
Events like the Singapore FinTech Festival signal that regulators and industry are gearing up for a new phase of digital finance infrastructure.

What to watch

Going forward, watch for:

The outcome of Lean Technologies’ strategic investments and possible IPO: will they translate into new global fintech players?
The companies entering the unicorn top 100 and their ability to deliver value beyond hype – especially in AI.
Whether fintech ecosystems in regions like ASEAN rebound, and if global capital flows refocus to other geographies.
Take-aways from major industry gatherings (SFF, etc.) on regulation, digital assets and infrastructure shifts.

Conclusion

The period from 1 to 13 November 2025 may be short, but it already underscores some clear directional signals: innovation continues at pace, but investors are more discerning; AI is no longer optional – it is essential; fintech is evolving from pure disruption to digital infrastructure; and macro-economic and regional contexts remain decisive in shaping outcomes. For businesses, investors and professionals alike, being alert to the interplay of technology, finance and regulation is more important than ever.

(Disclaimer: The information presented is based on publicly available sources as of 13 November 2025.)