The fintech industry is reaching an inflection point, driven by the digitization of banking products. This has enabled startups to gain traction by delivering simple digital experiences, but there are still opportunities for innovation in areas such as income smoothing, financial tools for the financially underserved, liquidity for fixed assets, simple tax and estate planning, financial tools for the elderly, consumer-centric loan servicing, micropayments, identity validation solutions, and brokerage-as-a-service. The industry is looking to build on this momentum with a new Request for Startups, which invites companies to submit their ideas and receive support from Plaid.