Welcome back. Dan DeFrancesco checking in from NYC and hoping that you didn't already break your New Year's resolution.
The first working week of the year is always a weird one. While many are spending time catching up on emails missed over the holidays, there's usually one bit of news that typically breaks and gets us right back into the swing of things.
In an effort to get you up to speed, we compiled a bunch of our stories that identify big themes and storylines for this year.
But first, Wells Fargo takes a new approach to tech.
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1. Wells' new-look tech teams.
When building a banking tool or feature, do you have the people leading the project come from the tech or business side?
On the one hand, people with a background in finance need to play a key role in the buildout to make sure the product is doing what it's supposed to do. But at the same time, you need the people who actually know the tech, and understand what is and isn't possible, to have a seat at the table.
It's a conundrum that banks across the Street grapple with.
Ather Williams III, who heads the Strategy, Digital, and Innovation team at Wells Fargo, spoke to Insider's Carter Johnson and Bianca Chan about how the bank is trying to address that issue by creating so-called "garages" as part of a multi-year reorganization focused on tech development.
And while this might sound like the type of stuff consultants typically pitch you that hardly leads to results, the proof is in the pudding. This setup allowed the bank to roll out a new banking app in less than half the time it normally would have taken, Williams said.
The change in approach comes at a critical juncture for the bank, which was fined nearly $4 billion by regulators at the end of the year.
Click here to read more about Wells Fargo's new approach to tech development.
In other news:
2. Wall Street's big bet on the public cloud enters a new chapter. Finance firms have fully embraced the cloud, which means the fun is about to really begin. Nearly a dozen tech execs from top firms like Citadel, Goldman Sachs, and Blackstone share their predictions for the top trends in the cloud.
3. The key players in the red-hot private-credit market. As interest rates remain sky high, borrowers will continue to look for alternative avenues to borrow money. Insert private credit, a market that has already ballooned to $1.2 trillion. Meet the 20 key executives powering the space.
4. Venture capitalists look for a bounce-back year in tech. Tech startups had a brutal 2022, but all is not lost. From a surge in dealmaking to the rise of superpowered software, these are the key trends top VCs are eyeing this year. And while we are here, get to know these 71 rising-star VCs.
5. Payments rule fintech in 2023. Fintechs were forced to navigate a market recalibration in 2022. But top investors are still bullish on the power of the payments space. These are the five types of fintechs they are most excited about.
6. These are the tech companies PE firms are eyeing. We identified 34 tech companies that seem primed for a deal. These are the companies that could be in the crosshairs of investment firms, according to bankers and market data.
7. Hollywood dealmaking in 2023. There are plenty of deals on horizon for Tinseltown. We've got an inside track on the top media targets and buyers. Meanwhile, here are 21 production companies that could be acquired as streams look to build out their libraries.
8. Inside the future-of-work. The workplace faced more disruption over the past three years than anywhere else. And the changes aren't going to stop anytime soon. Here's what to expect in the new year, according to top VCs.
9. Yes, crypto will still be a thing in 2023. Love it or hate it, crypto isn't going anywhere. These are the trends investors are most excited about in the space.
10. Everyone's buying the creator economy. As consolidation hits the space, expect more deals. Here's where bankers should be looking.
Curated by Dan DeFrancesco in New York. Feedback or tips? Email ddefrancesco@insider.com, tweet @dandefrancesco, or connect on LinkedIn. Edited by Jeffrey Cane (tweet @jeffrey_cane) in New York and Hallam Bullock (tweet @hallam_bullock) in London.