Holli Lillick

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The fintech ecosystem explained

Shutterstock

We’ve entered the most profound era of change for financial services companies since the 1970s brought us index mutual funds, discount brokers and ATMs.

No firm is immune from the coming disruption and every company must have a strategy to harness the powerful advantages of the new financial technology (“fintech”) revolution.

The battle already underway will create surprising winners and stunned losers among some of the most powerful names in the financial world:  The most contentious conflicts (and partnerships) will be between startups that are completely reengineering decades-old practices, traditional power players who are furiously trying to adapt with their own innovations, and total disruption of established technology & processes:

Traditional Retail Banks vs. Online-Only Banks: Traditional retail banks provide a valuable service, but online-only banks can offer many of the same services with higher rates and lower fees


Traditional Lenders vs. Peer-to-Peer Marketplaces: P2P lending marketplaces are growing much faster than traditional lenders—only time will tell if the banks strategy of creating their own small loan networks will be successful


Traditional Asset Managers vs. Robo-Advisors: Robo-advisors like Betterment offer lower fees, lower minimums and solid returns to investors, but the much larger traditional asset managers are creating their own robo-products while providing the kind of handholding that high net worth clients are willing to pay handsomely for.

As you can see, this very fluid environment is creating winners and losers before your eyes…and it’s also creating the potential for new cost savings or growth opportunities for both you and your company.

After months of researching and reporting this important trend, Evan Bakker, research analyst for BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service, has put together an essential briefing that explains the new landscape, identifies the ripest areas for disruption, and highlights the some of the most exciting new companies. These new players have the potential to become the next Visa, Paypal or Charles Schwab because they have the potential to transform important areas of the financial services industry like:

Retail banking


Lending and Financing


Payments and Transfers


Wealth and Asset Management


Markets and Exchanges


Insurance


Blockchain Transactions


If you work in any of these sectors, it’s important for you to understand how the fintech revolution will change your business and possibly even your career. And if you’re employed in any part of the digital economy, you’ll want to know how you can exploit these new technologies to make your employer more efficient, flexible and profitable.       

Among the big picture insights you’ll get from this new report, titled The Fintech Ecosystem Report: Measuring the effects of technology on the entire financial services industry:

Why financial technology is so disruptive to financial services—it will soon change the nature of almost every financial activity, from banking to payments to wealth management.

The basic conflict will be between old firms and new—startups are re-imagining financial services processes from top to bottom, while incumbent financial services firms are trying to keep up with new products of their own.

Both sides face serious obstacles—traditional banks and financial services firms are investing heavily in innovation, but leveraging their investments is difficult with so much invested in legacy systems and profit centers.

Meanwhile, startups are struggling to navigate a rapidly-changing regulatory landscape and must scale up quickly with limited resources.

The blockchain is a wild card that could completely overhaul financial services. Both major banks and startups around the world are exploring the technology behind the blockchain, which stores and records Bitcoin transactions. This technology could lower the cost of many financial activities to near-zero and could wipe away many traditional banking activities completely.

This exclusive report also:

Explains the main growth drivers of the exploding fintech ecosystem.

Frames the challenges and opportunities faced by incumbents and startups.

Breaks down global and regional fintech investments, including which regions are the most significant and which are poised for the highest growth.

Reveals which two financial services are garnering the most investment, and are therefore likely to be transformed first and fastest by fintech

Explains why blockchain technology is critically important to banks and startups, and assesses which players stand to gain the most from it.

Explores the financial sectors facing disruption and breaks them down in terms of investments, vulnerabilities and growth opportunities.

And much more.

The Fintech Ecosystem Report: Measuring the effects of technology on the entire financial services industry is how you get the full story on the fintech revolution.

To get your copy of this invaluable guide to the fintech revolution, choose one of these options:

Subscribe to an ALL-ACCESS Membership with BI Intelligence and gain immediate access to this report AND over 100 other expertly researched deep-dive reports, subscriptions to all of our daily newsletters, and much more. >> START A MEMBERSHIP

Purchase the report and download it immediately from our research store. >> BUY THE REPORT

The choice is yours. But to stay on top of the breaking developments in fintech—positive and negative—the ALL-ACCESS Membership is your best choice.  It gives you a wealth of digital information, including the daily Fintech Briefing, which gives you all the latest news and analysis on the world of fintech.   

But however you decide to acquire this report, you’ve given yourself a powerful advantage in your understanding of the fast-moving world of financial technology.

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Here comes Markit manufacturing PMI ...

Bill Pugliano/Getty

Markit Economics will publish its preliminary report on US manufacturing during July at 9:45 a.m. ET. 

Economists forecast that the flash purchasing manager's index strengthened to 51.5 from 51.3, according to Bloomberg.  Above 50, the index indicates that the manufacturing sector remains in expansionary territory. 

The final report for July put the index at a three-month high, and showed a renewed rise in production volumes and hiring. 

But it also indicated that the overall pace of growth remained relatively slow.

"The lacklustre performance of the manufacturing economy adds to signs from the flash services PMI surveys that the underlying pace of economic growth in the second quarter remaind subued after a disappointing start to the year," said Markit chief economist Chris Williamson. 

More to come ...

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Here are the star traders trying to become the hedge fund honchos of tomorrow

Wikimedia Commons

It may be tough to run a hedge fund, but that isn't stopping senior-level folks from trying to branch out on their own.

Here's a short, and non-exhaustive, list of some of the top new funds to have come across our radar.

The competition to raise assets is steep, particularly for start-ups that don't have long performance track records to woo investors. Instead, new managers often rely on the pedigrees of their previous employers and the backing of high-and-mighty investment titans to sway potential investors to open their checkbooks.

Recent data is not the most promising, however, with more hedge funds closing than opening. In 2015, 979 hedge funds closed their doors while 968 opened. This year through the first quarter, 291 have shut while just 206 opened, Hedge Fund Research data shows.

But the glory of raising assets, running one's own proper business and investment strategy, alongside the (potentially very lucrative) benefit of charging high fees, are alluring. At the moment, the global hedge fund industry is managing close to its peak in assets, at about $2.9 trillion, HFR says.

To the new start-ups, bon courage. 

Samantha Greenberg - Margate Capital

LinkedIn

Samantha Greenberg, one of the hedge fund industry's most senior women, left Paulson & Co. and is starting a long/short equity fund, Margate Capital. She recently hired Jared Weisfeld from Balyasny Asset Management as a partner and is targeting $500 million when the firm launches later this year.

Ben Melkman

Thomson Reuters

Ben Melkman, a former partner at Brevan Howard Asset Management, is launching a macro hedge fund in New York. The fund is targeting $400 million and a launch date in the first quarter of next year. The firm is bringing on Joe Mauro, a former Goldman Sachs partner.

Melkman was the lead manager on the Brevan's $500 million Argentina fund, which delivered 18% since inception.

Josh Donfeld and Dave Rogers - Castle Hook Partners

Daniel Hartwig /Flickr

Legendary investor Stan Druckenmiller is backing duo Josh Donfeld and Dave Rogers in their new launch. It will be Druckenmiller's second largest investment in a new hedge fund since he backed PointState Capital with $1 billion in 2011.

Dornfeld and Rogers previously worked at George Soros' family office as portfolio managers. They are planning to launch New York-based Castle Hook partners later this year or in the first part of next year.

Castle Hook will invest in equity, credit, commodities, interest rates, and foreign exchanges.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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Here's how to see how much you've walked playing 'Pokémon GO'

"Pokémon GO" has us all going the distance.

The wildly popular mobile game has people walking all over the place to hunt for Pokémon. But unless you have a fitness tracker, it can be hard to keep track of just how much you've moved.

Thankfully, there's any easy way to find how much you've walked playing "Pokémon GO." First, click your avatar on the lower left corner of the game.

Screenshot

Once your avatar page opens, scroll down a bit to see the first line of medals. Click on the very first medal you see titled "jogger."

Screenshot

Once that opens up, you can see exactly how far you have walked.

Screenshot

Keep hunting and building those leg muscles while you're at it!

NOW WATCH: How to tell if the 'Pokémon GO' servers are down

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Minnesota United FC makes awesome video spoofing their goalie after his horrific own goal went viral

Via Twitter/Minnesota United FC

Sammy Ndjock is the goalie for Minnesota United FC, a second-division North American Soccer League team moving up to MLS next season.

On Thursday, Ndjock saw his popularity rise, albeit for an unfortunate reason, after video of his horrible own goal from a Wednesday night game went viral.

In the 23rd minute, Ndjock corralled the ball and went to throw it back onto the field. The ball, though, appeared to stick to his hands, and he threw it directly into his own goal. He futilely chased after the ball, but didn't come particularly close to stopping it from rolling into his own net.

Minnesota went on to lose the game, 4-0, but Ndjock and his team appear to have a good sense of humor over the whole incident.

On Thursday, the team later released a "PSA," explaining the reason for Ndjock's own goal. Watch it below:

Tweet Embed: https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/756230013633044480 PSA: always wait at least 30 minutes after eating jelly sandwiches before hitting the pitch... #BlameItOnTheJelly http://pic.twitter.com/sGDKxfvLNE

Give credit to Ndjock and the club for laughing at the incident.

Watch the own goal below:

RAW Embed 

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Officials are now investigating what might be the first 2 cases of Zika from a mosquito in Florida

Thomson Reuters

As summer continues to heat up, the US might be facing its first two cases of mosquito-transmitted Zika.

Florida's Department of Health is investigating one case of Zika in Miami-Dade County and another in Broward County that was not related to travel.

In statements issued on Wednesday and Thursday, the department didn't clarify whether that meant the case could have been contracted sexually, which has happened before in the US. The department also didn't specify whether this meant the cases were caused by an infected mosquito.

Zika, which is transmitted mainly by mosquitoes, has been spreading around the Americas over the past year, though local transmission by mosquitoes hasn't been reported in the US. Officials have warned that mosquito transmission could be possible in the US, especially in the summer months. Only about 20% of people who are infected with Zika ever show symptoms, which most commonly include fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes. No vaccine or treatment is available for the virus.

Here's a map of all the places Zika has spread locally so far:

Thomson Reuters

NOW WATCH: 4 ways aliens could be contacting Earth without us knowing

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Season 3 of 'Silicon Valley' was almost completely different

It turns out, "Silicon Valley" season three pivoted in more ways than one.

At the show's first ever panel at San Diego Comic-Con on Thursday, writer Alec Berg revealed that the season's storyline was almost entirely different from what viewers saw.

When the newly transplanted CEO of Pied Piper, Jack Barker, steered the team toward a piece of hardware — called "the box" — rather than the compression platform they dreamed of, Richard set a mischievous plan into motion.

HBOHBO

He encouraged the guys to appear as though they were working on the box, while readying the compression platform in secret. It's a covert strategy known across Silicon Valley as skunkworks.

"Originally the plan for the season was that they were going to do the skunkworks thing and that was going to last eight or nine episodes," Berg said. "We started writing the first episode ... and we just got stuck in the mud for three weeks."

He described the writing team's endless struggle to make the plot work. Eventually, they trashed the skunkworks plan and decided the CEO would find out about Richard's scheme. Richard dropped a folder containing details about the plan, which were quickly revealed to Jack.

HBOHBO

"That whole idea of skunkworks blowing up — that was the first good day we had in the writer's room," Berg said.

Many twists and turns later, Jack was removed from the CEO chair and Pied Piper pivoted to video compression. While it would have been fun to watch the gang try to keep a secret for longer than — what? — 30 seconds, things are definitely looking up for Pied Piper.

NOW WATCH: These real-life robocops are patrolling the streets of Silicon Valley

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Ivanka Trump stole the show at the GOP convention on its final night — here are 12 things you might not know about her

Christopher Gregory/Getty Images

Unlike Donald Trump's wife, Melania, Ivanka Trump has been at the forefront of her father's campaign from the onset — gracing numerous news networks and voicing her opinion in editorial pieces.

If Trump is elected president, Ivanka would be placed in a unique position. As a former model, philanthropist, business mogul, and a mother of three, she would assume numerous roles — in addition to her one in the first family.

Raised under her father's spotlight, she has founded various organizations, spreading her influence beyond the high-profile real-estate acquisitions that The Trump Organization is known for.

Here are 12 facts about Ivanka:

Born in 1981, Ivanka Trump is the daughter of former model and Donald's first wife, Ivana Trump.

ivankatrump/Instagram

Ivanka went to the exclusive Chapin School in Manhattan. She eventually went on to Georgetown and the University of Pennsylvania, where she graduated summa cum laude with a degree in economics.

AP

Ivanka has two immediate siblings, Donald Jr. and Eric. Here, they pose after a wedding ceremony at the Mar-a-Lago Club in November 2005 in Palm Beach, Florida.

Carlo Allegri/Getty Images See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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The 'Silicon Valley' cast reveals the origins of the infamous Pied Piper jacket

On stage at the first ever "Silicon Valley" panel at San Diego Comic-Con, actor Zach Woods slipped on a green and gold jacket, with multi-colored buttons running down the front and rats on the sleeves. A smile broke out on his face.

"The truth is, I actually really like it," Woods, who plays Jared on the HBO show, told the Comic-Con crowd. "I know the joke is that it's ugly, but I think it's just a blind spot of mine.

Melia Robinson/Tech Insider

The infamous Pied Piper bomber jacket debuted on season three of "Silicon Valley," much to the startup's dismay and audience's delight. It is by all accounts, except Jared's, a crime of fashion.

Melia Robinson/Tech InsiderMelia Robinson/Tech Insider

At the panel on Thursday, the show's cast revealed the origins behind the jacket.

Thomas Middleditch, who plays Richard, warned his castmates might deny it, but the jacket was actually inspired by their on-set escapades.

"We thought it would be pretty cool to officially declare ourselves a gang," Middleditch said, half-jokingly. "Our gang name was called the Rude Boys. Of course, any Rude Gang would need a jacket."

The guys found a custom printing company online and ordered sweatshirt-material jackets emblazoned with bicycles on the back, according to Middleditch and Woods. They geared up and rode out into the studio lot on small electric scooters.

"For obnoxious jackets, we needed an even more obnoxious vehicle," Woods said.

Sadly, the gig was up after the group's first outing.

"We were not rude because we were like, 'Let's take these scooters out for a spin on the Sony's Pictures lot because whatever, we're rude.' We started doing it and within 30 seconds, a security guard was like, 'You can't ride those here,' and we said, 'We're sorry, we're so sorry,'" Middleditch said, in his most earnest voice.

Melia Robinson/Tech Insider

The experience made for good inspiration for "something terrible on the show," he shared.

Indeed, it was Martin Starr's character Gilfoyle who said, "If my mother was naked and dead in the street I would not cover her body with that jacket."

NOW WATCH: Bumble founder: Here's what's seriously wrong with the growing trend in Silicon Valley called 'brogramming'

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These Silicon Valley stars over 50 are proving that experience trumps youth

BI

Flickr via Fortune Live Media

Silicon Valley is a revolving door of startups, big tech companies, VCs, and innovation — things are always changing. 

But there are those that have weathered these transitions and changes year-in and year-out, becoming the most seasoned and experienced in the tech world. 

Business Insider recently released its annual Silicon Valley 100 list, highlighting the people in tech who have made a difference this past year, of which many are longtime tech veterans over the age of 50.

They've seen the boom and bust of many technological feats and can feel where the industry is going.

Read on to learn about some of the most experienced people in the business over 50.

Additional reporting by Julia Naftulin, Tanza Loudenback, and Alexa Pipia.

Edited by Alex Morrell and Matt Rosoff.

David Boies, 75

Jay Janner-Pool/Getty Images

Lawyer and board member, Theranos

Boies has provided legal counsel for a slew of troubled tech startups, ranging from Napster to Hampton Creek and now Theranos. The legal expert is defending the company from inquests by several government agencies and is considered a force to be reckoned with — he helped the US win the 1998 case United States v. Microsoft Corporation, in which the government accused Microsoft of becoming a monopoly.

David Drummond, 53

Andreas Rentz/Getty Images

Senior VP of corporate development, Alphabet

With Google's restructuring into Alphabet, Drummond was pulled up to the top to oversee mergers and acquisitions for all of Alphabet's ventures. He previously acted as Google's first outside lawyer, working with Larry Page and Sergey Brin to secure Google's earliest financing rounds. Drummond also still sits on the board of Uber.

Tom Reilly, 54

Cloudera

CEO, Cloudera

Cloudera, a software company launched in 2008 that aims to help businesses — more than 20,000, in fact — make sense of huge data sets, has raised more than $1 billion in private funding. Investors include Intel, Google Ventures, and MSD Capital.

The company has been considering an initial public offering for more than a year to maintain its dominance in the market, but Reilly said in April that Cloudera would enter the public market only "when we've reached the right scale, when the business is more predictable, when there's greater visibility." They may have good reason to wait a while longer: Fidelity, another investor in the company, marked down the value of its Cloudera stake, along with stakes in several other startups, by 37% in March.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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Wall Street is pumped about blockchain — here's a definitive list of every project out there

Flickr / Raúl Hernández González

Blockchain enthusiasts believe that the technology can change the future of how we do things.

Not only is Wall Street excited about its potential, but industries as diverse as media, real estate and healthcare are looking at its uses. You can get a detailed look at some of its practical applications here.  

Moody's Investor Services released an in-depth report of the sector earlier this week that includes the most comprehensive list we have seen of every blockchain project going on in the world.

We warn you, this list is seriously long, and it highlights just how many parties are excited about blockchain's potential. The survey identifies more than 120 ongoing projects spanning investments and partnerships with start-ups, internal projects, and industry collaborations. 

Here is the complete list of ongoing projects below:

Moody's Moody's Moody's See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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NASA just released a time-lapse from space showing a year on Earth

Thanks to NASA, we can now see what a year on Earth looks like from outer space.

Follow BI Video: On Twitter

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After one day of 'Comic-Con,' 'Pokémon GO' in San Diego may be better than NYC

Yep. That's right. Playing "Pokémon GO" at Comic-Con may be better than playing in New York City.

That's saying something because if you live in or around New York City, you know it looks like this on a daily basis:

Niantic/The Pokémon Company

And no matter what day or time of the week, you can always count on hundreds of people gathering together outside the southeast entrance to Central Park where five Pokéstops are conveniently located atop one another. There's always a lure module attached to each and it's quite the Poké haven.

Niantic/The Pokémon CompanyNiantic/The Pokémon Company

You may even get Justin Bieber (the self-proclaimed rarest Pokémon of them all) or John Mayer show up to try and catch 'em all too. The only time you have to leave is for sleep, to recharge your phone and external battery pack, or for work.

And while I've begun to exhaust the selection of Pokémon up for grabs around Central Park and New York City — I'm currently at level 19 and have caught 83 different types of Pokémon — I figured it couldn't get any better than that.

Oh how I was wrong. 

Welcome to San Diego where the Pokéstops are plentiful and the lure modules go on as far as the eye can see.

Niantic/The Pokémon Company

I'm visiting this week with my colleague Melia Robinson for the annual pop culture and comic book convention and in between snapping photos, running around from panel to panel, and scooping up some swag, we've been trying to fit in some "Pokémon GO." (It comes in hand when you're waiting in line!)

While the Pokéstop situation is a gold mine in New York City as well, the real plus to playing "Pokémon GO" at the Con is the selection of Pokémon themselves. 

Here's a look at what I've caught since I've been here Wednesday afternoon:

Niantic/The Pokémon CompanyNiantic/The Pokémon Company 

And here are some Pokémon we've been coming across.

Niantic/The Pokémon Company 

After chatting with some fellow Pokémon trainers from across the nation at the convention, the consensus is that San Diego has some pretty uncommon Pokémon. 

Cubone, Machop, Clefairy, Ryhorn, Sandshrew, and Growlithe are all pretty common to see in downtown San Diego. Vulpix has been floating around but has evaded me. I scooped up my first Onyx Thursday afternoon along with a Graveler. A Charmeleon (the evolution of Charmander) even popped up on my radar at one point, but because of that three-step glitch I had no idea how far, or in what direction, he was. 

Niantic/The Pokémon CompanyNiantic/The Pokémon Company

We haven't found any big Pokémon gatherings like the one in NYC I've grown accustomed to yet; however, we still have a few days left to go (and we're also on a tight schedule that makes playing "Pokémon GO" a little more challenging). 

Niantic/The Pokémon Company

By the time Monday rolls around and lure mods pack up and disappear along with the over 135,000 or so people at the convention hall, Pokémon'ing may not be as fun. But for now, in between panels and capturing cosplay photos, we're going to try and catch 'em all.

NOW WATCH: This Easter egg lets you pick what your Eevee evolves into in 'Pokémon GO'

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Here’s the moment a protester interrupted Trump’s convention speech

A protester had to be removed during Donald Trump's convention acceptance speech, on July 21. The protester was Medea Benjamin, founder of CODEPINK.

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REPORT: Verizon is in 'one on one' talks to acquire Yahoo (VZ, YHOO)

AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

Verizon is close to acquiring Yahoo, according to a report from Bloomberg.

Bloomberg reports that Verizon is in "one on one" talks with the search giants to acquire the company and that an announcement could come in days.

The report cautioned, of course, that talks could still fall apart.

Earlier this week Yahoo reported second-quarter earnings in what was widely seen as CEO Marissa Mayer's last report at the head of the company.

In the second quarter Yahoo missed on profits but beat expectations on the top line, though Wall Street wasn't much interested in the company's core results as most all of the focus around the company in recent months has been on its sale process. 

Mayer told investors the company had made "great progress" in pursuing strategic alternatives.

Back in February the company formally launched the process of selling its core business. Final bids for the company's core business were reportedly due this past Monday, July 18.

The auction attracted a diverse array of bidders ranging from Japanese online retailer Rakuten to Yellow Pages owner YP, which is backed by AT&T, Reuters reported in April. Several private-equity firms also made early bids.

Exactly what bidders had sought varied, with reports earlier this week indicating bids for Yahoo ranged from $4-$6 billion depending on whether patents and real estate were included.

Verizon, along with Quicken Loans founder Dan Gilbert and Vector Capital Management, had been seen as the three favorites to acquire the company, Bloomberg's Alex Sherman reported. 

NOW WATCH: We asked a Navy SEAL what he ate during training, and his answer shocked us

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The 21 best used cars for first-time drivers

Ford

For most young people and their parents, buying a first car is a major step.

One great option is to look at used cars, which can often be had for a fraction of the cost of brand-new versions.

We came up with 20 used cars we think are the best for the young car buyer on a budget.

To make our list, we focused on cars that are available on the market right now for under $20,000. We looked for ones that are reliable, fun to drive, comfortable, attractive, economical, practical, and most of all, safe.

For safety, we checked out the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) moderate front overlap crash test ratings for the cars we selected. Prices are based on current prices on Autotrader.com and reflect the lowest price we think a decent example may cost.

2005-present Honda Civic

Honda

Starting price: $7,000 and up

IIHS crash test rating: Good

Why buy it: The Honda Civic is bulletproof. If properly maintained, the car can go for well over 250,000 miles without any issues.  However, at this price point, it shouldn't be hard to come across examples will far fewer than 100,000 miles on the odometer. As one of the most popular cars in the world, spares are easy to come by and repairs are relatively affordable.

Being popular means that there is large aftermarket support for the car, so kids can customize a Civic to their liking for not much money. Also, the sporty and practical Si hatchback from the early 2000s is now available for under $10,000. And since it was only available with a manual gearbox, it teaches a good lesson.

2009-Present Honda Fit

Honda

Starting price: $7,000 and up

IIHS crash test rating: Good

Why buy it: The Honda Fit has been an unqualified success across the globe for the automaker. The Fit offers fun, versatility, and reliability in a compact package. 

Honda's second generation Fit, sold from 2009 to 2012, is powered by the company's trusty 1.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine producing 117. Since 2013, the third-gen Fit has been offered with a 130-horsepower, 4-cylinder unit. 

2009 to Present Mazda 3

Mazda

Starting price: $8,500 and up

IIHS crash test rating: Good

Why buy it: The Mazda 3 is one of the most popular and well-liked compact cars on sale today. Models equipped with the company's SkyActiv engines are some of the most fuel-efficient,non-hybrid cars around. For those looking for more zoom-zoom, Mazda also offers the high-performance Mazdaspeed3. 

  See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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Jump-start your coding career by learning one of the most widely used programming languages on the web

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships so we may get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

Flickr / VFS Digital DesignFor anyone pursuing a career as a programmer, there are a lot of different options in terms of what coding language to focus on and gain proficiency in; the languages you end up learning should be dictated by what you want to create as a coder.

If you hope to focus on web development, strongly consider learning PHP as a tool to help you get jobs and fill out your skills as a coder. PHP is incorporated as a server-side programming language on over 80% of all websites where that information is known. And for the past few years, PHP has regularly been one of the top ten in-demand programming languages for careers, up with the likes of Java, Python, and iOS.

To those who are new to coding and hoping to learn a necessary skill, Udemy is currently offering a course entitled Introduction to PHP Programming Language that can help get you deeply familiar with PHP, as well as build a foundation of general programming knowledge to help you learn more languages moving forward.

Through a series of lectures and articles, students will learn the syntax of PHP and get a clearer picture of what the language is capable of, before moving on to working with arrays, defining loops, and learning object-oriented development. By the end of the course you’ll be ready to go out and pitch yourself as a PHP developer. With over 20,000 students enrolled and a 4.1/5 star rating, it clear that most are pleased with their investment.

Introduction to PHP Programming Language, $12 (originally $20), available at Udemy. [40% off with the code INSIDERPICKS40]

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