From portfolio management to AI copilots
ani.tech, a UK fintech startup led by former portfolio manager Samantha McBride, is aiming to modernize how wealth managers run day-to-day operations by replacing spreadsheet-centric processes with AI “teammates.” In an interview highlighted as an editor’s pick, McBride said the company began with a personal turning point: a New Year’s resolution that pushed her to act on a long-held idea.
Why wealth managers still rely on spreadsheets
Despite widespread digitization across financial services, many advisory and wealth teams continue to depend on Excel for workflows such as reporting, client updates, and internal coordination. Spreadsheets remain flexible and familiar, but they can also introduce version-control issues, manual errors, and time-consuming upkeep—especially as client portfolios and compliance demands grow more complex.
AI “teammates” as workflow support
ani.tech positions its product as a set of AI assistants designed to collaborate with wealth professionals, taking on routine tasks and helping teams move faster without rebuilding their entire tech stack. The concept of AI “teammates” reflects a shift toward AI agents that can handle multi-step work—rather than single prompts—while keeping humans in control of final decisions.
A broader trend in financial operations
The startup’s pitch lands as firms across the industry experiment with AI automation to improve productivity. Yet many organizations are also learning that deploying AI tools requires careful attention to data quality, governance, and integration with existing systems. For wealth managers—where accuracy, auditability, and client trust are paramount—any AI-driven workflow must be demonstrably reliable.
McBride’s bet is that wealth teams are ready for a practical alternative to spreadsheet sprawl: AI support that reduces manual work while fitting into how advisors already operate.
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