Fintech and Entrepreneurship
Chapter from the book: Kaplan, F. (ed.) 2026. FinTech and the Future of Finance: Innovations, Risks, and Regulations .

Gaye Onan
Mersin University

Synopsis

FinTech is defined as a comprehensive transformation process that involves the redesign of financial services through the use of technology. This transformation not only enables financial services to become faster, more cost-efficient, and more accessible to broader populations, but also creates new opportunity spaces for the entrepreneurial ecosystem. In particular, its disruptive innovation potential, low entry barriers, and scalable business models enhance the significance of FinTech within the entrepreneurial landscape. In this context, entrepreneurs develop innovative solutions by targeting inefficiencies in the traditional financial system, leading to the emergence of a dynamic, multi-actor ecosystem characterized by interactions among banks, regulatory authorities, technology providers, and investors. This chapter adopts a holistic perspective to examine the multidimensional relationship between financial technologies (FinTech) and entrepreneurship. It first outlines the definition and historical evolution of FinTech, and subsequently analyzes the relationship between FinTech and entrepreneurship within the context of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. In addition, the chapter addresses the paradigm shift in entrepreneurial finance, elaborating on the innovative solutions offered by crowdfunding, peer-to-peer (P2P) lending, and alternative credit scoring models in comparison to traditional financing methods. Furthermore, the concept of FinTech entrepreneurship is discussed, identifying the strategic challenges and opportunities faced by entrepreneurs in this domain, while the lifecycle of a FinTech venture is evaluated as a multi-layered process. In conclusion, FinTech is emphasized not merely as a field of technological innovation, but as a strategic lever that transforms the entrepreneurial ecosystem, enhances financial inclusion, and reshapes the traditional financial architecture. In this regard, FinTech is considered a structural transformation tool that redefines the fundamental dynamics of entrepreneurship.

How to cite this book

Onan, G. (2026). Fintech and Entrepreneurship. In: Kaplan, F. (ed.), FinTech and the Future of Finance: Innovations, Risks, and Regulations . Özgür Publications. DOI: https://doi.org/10.58830/ozgur.pub1272.c5184

License

Published

March 19, 2026

DOI