The financial sector is one of the most cautious industries when it comes to tech adoption, especially regarding artificial intelligence. Yet, the collaboration between Disseqt AI, HCLTech, and Microsoft is pushing boundaries in a calculated manner, focusing on the safe and scalable integration of AI into financial operations.
As someone who has worked with countless startups in STEM fields, I’ve seen how partnerships act as both catalysts and safeguards for leveraging new technologies. Here, the emphasis on “agentic finance” caught my attention. It offers autonomy to AI systems while sticking closely to governance, a critical aspect in avoiding mistakes that could lead to systemic issues.
Main Features of Agentic AI in Finance
Disseqt AI has stepped into the scene with a framework built around efficiency, adaptability, and responsibility. Their platform uses innovative methods to detect and mitigate risks early, including simulations and live observability. Financial processes often involve extensive compliance layers, and introducing AI without proper oversight would be disastrous. You can read more about their platform directly on Disseqt AI’s official page.
Let’s talk numbers. The platform promises up to:
- 80% reduction in operational costs thanks to simplified IT workflows.
- 70% faster production cycles, solving challenges many startups face during scaling.
- A 40% boost in testing productivity , a benefit that startups would love to integrate into their daily operations.
These claims are tempting, and while I am naturally skeptical of big promises, the combination of Disseqt AI, HCLTech’s expertise, and Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure adds credibility.
How Responsible AI Plays a Role
AI development often moves faster than regulators can manage. As someone deeply familiar with intellectual property and compliance, I find the focus on governance particularly reassuring. The roundtable discussions, held in Dublin, revolved around how agentic tools, paired with structured oversight, could transform financial institutions without introducing chaos.
This responsibility reminds me of challenges entrepreneurs face when dealing with security and scalability during technology adoption. If you're a startup founder with plans to implement AI, understanding how governance fits into your roadmap is non-negotiable. Learn more about Microsoft's approach to compliance frameworks at their official Azure AI page.
A Quick Guide: Adopting AI in Financial Organizations
For startups that are banking on AI for financial products, here is a simplified step-by-step guide inspired by the Disseqt collaboration:
- Start with Audits: Analyze existing processes. Figure out where AI can bring real value instead of forcing it.
- Choose Compatible Platforms: Use tools that integrate with existing tech ecosystems. Disseqt's platform is a good example for those in finance.
- Prioritize Security: AI adoption without hard criteria for data protection will lead to catastrophic issues that go beyond simple glitches.
- Iterative Testing: Testing cycles are everything. Tools that offer live monitoring and “red teaming” help prevent system drift.
- Learn Governance Principles: Partnering with firms like HCLTech could provide your team foundational training in applying governance to AI systems.
Typical Mistakes to Dodge
- Skipping Early Risk Assessment: Entrepreneurs tend to move fast without considering all vulnerabilities. Gather data on risks before deployment.
- Blind Trust in AI: It’s easy to rely on automated agents, but remember that human oversight remains essential.
- Ignoring Cost vs Value Analysis: You might see reduced costs but neglect long-term scalability concerns.
- Weak Team Buy-in: AI changes workflows. If your team doesn’t understand its functionality, adoption will miss its mark.
Make a habit of reviewing your AI implementation strategy often, especially in industries prone to regulatory flux.
Insights from a Serial Startup Founder
At its core, this partnership isn’t just about tech. It’s a teaching moment for entrepreneurs. Whether you’re launching your first startup in fintech or iterating on your business model, the concepts of contextual simulations or live observability should influence how you approach your product’s reliability and compliance.
Disseqt AI’s platform seems to reduce unnecessary labor cycles, freeing teams to focus on innovation. As I’ve often told my mentees at accelerators like Startup Leap, saving effort on repetitive tasks can be transformative, especially for early-stage businesses strapped for time and resources. Interested in platform specifics? Check out Disseqt AI’s announcement.
Conclusion
Agentic finance, as framed by the union of Disseqt AI, HCLTech, and Microsoft, isn’t just about adopting intelligent tools. It focuses on structured governance and the promise of safer tech integration for financial institutions. Startups can borrow heavily from this approach, particularly when dealing with regulated industries.
If you're looking at incorporating autonomous systems into your operations, deliberate partnerships like these serve as a valuable template. The success lies in scaling securely while managing compliance, areas where entrepreneurs often find themselves lost. This partnership provides a North Star for navigating AI in finance. It may not simplify the task completely, but the roadmap is clearer.
FAQ
1. What is Agentic AI and how is it used in finance?
Agentic AI refers to autonomous systems capable of performing tasks and complex decisions, designed to boost efficiency and adaptability while adhering to strict governance. Disseqt AI, HCLTech, and Microsoft deploy Agentic AI to transform financial processes securely. Check out Disseqt AI, HCLTech and Microsoft's collaboration
2. How does Disseqt AI improve operational efficiency?
Disseqt AI employs contextual simulations, red teaming, and live observability to flag risks early, streamline testing, and maintain system alignment with Responsible AI frameworks. Explore Agentic AI solutions from Disseqt
3. What are the reported benefits of using Disseqt AI's platform?
Disseqt AI claims its platform can reduce operational costs by up to 80%, accelerate production cycles by 70%, and boost testing productivity by 40%. Learn about Disseqt AI benefits
4. How does governance play a role in Agentic AI adoption?
Disseqt AI integrates strict governance principles to ensure responsible AI use, reducing risks associated with system drift and enhancing compliance in highly regulated industries like finance. Discover more on governance integration
5. How do startups benefit from Disseqt AI's collaboration with HCLTech and Microsoft?
Startups can adopt lean agentic AI tools to enhance scalability, testing, and monitoring while reducing costs, making it easier to innovate in compliance-heavy industries. Check out Disseqt AI’s startup-friendly approach
6. What challenges does Agentic AI help overcome for financial institutions?
Agentic AI offers solutions for overcoming production bottlenecks, compliance hurdles, and security vulnerabilities in complex financial services workflows. Explore solutions for banks with Agentic AI
7. How is Microsoft involved in the partnership for Agentic AI?
Microsoft provides cloud infrastructure and compliance frameworks essential for the scalable adoption of Agentic AI in financial systems. Learn more about Microsoft's role in Agentic AI
8. What role does HCLTech play in transforming financial processes?
HCLTech uses its industry expertise to guide the secure and responsible integration of AI tools into bank operations and IT ecosystems. Explore HCLTech's contributions to Agentic AI
9. What is the significance of the roundtable event in Dublin for Agentic AI adoption?
The event showcased AI deployment strategies, emphasizing governance and collaboration among technology providers, financial institutions, and regulatory bodies. Read about the roundtable insights
10. What is Disseqt AI’s approach to risk management in financial systems?
Disseqt AI employs live monitoring and simulations to detect vulnerabilities early, preventing system drift and ensuring alignment with ethical frameworks. Discover Disseqt AI's risk management strategies
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
