The future of corporate finance is shifting from reactive to predictive, and that’s great news for B2B innovation. This rapid and ongoing shift toward advancements in digitization, real-time payments and next-generation tools such as artificial intelligence (AI)-powered forecasting is redefining how businesses manage core operational elements like liquidity and working capital. For chief financial officers (CFOs) and treasurers, the question is no longer if they should embrace innovation but how quickly they can implement solutions that enhance financial resilience. As uncertainty persists, tomorrow’s corporate giants won’t just be the ones with the biggest balance sheets — they’ll be the ones with the smartest financial infrastructure and operational toolkit

Venture capital and FinTech are known for making big, and often risky, bets. That has been the traditional story for years, and one that kept B2B frequently lagging behind the consumer marketplace in terms of innovation. However, against an uncertain and dynamic operating backdrop, money and innovation are increasingly flowing to the enterprise back office thanks to a rising generation of FinTechs and startups focused on areas like accounts payable and receivable automation, cyber security, working capital solutions and more. Even corporate event planning is getting the startup treatment, with Paris-based business planning startup Naboo announcing a $21 million Series A funding round Wednesday (Jan. 29)

French FinTech Swan has raised €43 million to expand its embedded banking services. The funding will help Swan hire more staff, enter new markets like Belgium and the U.K., and develop products for SMBs. This continues their Series B round from 2023, which raised €39 million. Swan has launched in the Netherlands and Italy, offering local IBANs and payment solutions. The company emphasizes the growing importance of embedded banking for creating competitive advantages and new revenue streams.