How many Fintech ventures are there globally?

About 6 months ago, I started to ask that question, thinking that maybe 100 was about the right number – at the time I worried that there would not be enough happening in Fintech to give me the material to write a daily blog -:)

When a couple of people started to say that I should be thinking more like 10x that number,  I was surprised,  but I started compiling the database.

Today, I am pleased to announce that I have got to over 1,000 in a database where I can search by the market segment, by location, by stage of venture and other criteria. I use this database to do consulting projects. It is a bit like a headhunter’s database. I won’t make it generally available, but in the coming weeks I do plan to post market reports where I list ventures in interesting market segments.

From what I am hearing, 2,000 or even 3,000 might be closer to the real universe. Fintech 3,000 has a good ring to it, so I am really announcing the “Fintech 1,000 and growing,” as I will be adding new ventures as I find them.

Even if 90% of startups fail, a total universe of 3,000 would mean 300 successful Fintech ventures changing the world. That is a big deal.