Greg Palmer, VP and Director of FinTech Strategy at Finovate, a series of FinTech conferences in Europe and the US, spoke to spoke to Rudolf Falat, founder of the Voice of FinTech podcast, about key themes emerging at the recent FinovateEurope in London. 

Here is what they covered in more detail:

• Intro - Greg's background, Finovate and Finovate London in particular - unique aspects: live demos, enterprise partners and start-ups in one place. There were more attendees and many new ones in London.
• Highlights from the Hot or Not session - Open Banking, Hot or not?:-)
• Meta FinTech –  FinTech aimed at helping banks engage with other FinTechs, which is really interesting. This frequently takes the shape of core service providers, or an add on to it, but it’s helping to enable adoption of other innovations. However, are meta FinTechs another gatekeeper that stands in the way?
• AI: Enterprise-grade solutions for anti-fraud, customer experience and compliance/regulation
• Temperature check of incumbents and their take on GenAI as of now
• The funding environment taking a toll, but there are some bright spots on the horizon
• What to expect in 2024 with respect to the above
• Upcoming Finovate editions - Spring in SanFrancisco, Fall in New York and Finovate Awards online

In an engaging episode of the MENA Series hosted by Dorra Mahbouli, Andrew Riabchuk from Akurateco shared insights into the company's foundation and its strategic approach to offering specialized payment solutions in the Saudi Arabian market. 

He highlighted how Akurateco's services are uniquely tailored to meet the nuanced demands of local businesses, effectively addressing their specific challenges. Andrew also shed light on the strategic considerations behind Akurateco's market entry, their vision for future growth in the region, and their commitment to navigating the regulatory landscape with innovative compliance solutions. 

Furthermore, he discussed the importance of partnerships with financial institutions in enhancing the payment ecosystem. He provided valuable advice for fintech startups aiming to succeed in emerging markets like Saudi Arabia.

Bernard Marr, an internationally best-selling author, popular keynote speaker, futurist, and strategic business & technology advisor, spoke to Rudolf Falat, founder of the Voice of FinTech podcast, about what generative AI can mean for all of us!

Here is what they talked about in more detail:

• Bernard's story: how he got to do what he does today
• Many people recently opened up to AI with the advent of GenAI. But AI has been with us for much longer, right? An overview of AI developments since the Dartmouth Conference in the 1950s till now
• Why has GenAI, in particular, gained such traction?
• Why does Bernard think GenAI is the most powerful technology humans have ever had access to?
• How is GenAI changing the game for various industries, including retail, healthcare, finance, education, manufacturing, marketing, entertainment, sports, coding, and more?
• How will GenAI interact with other transformative technologies (gene editing, immersive internet, conventional AI, blockchain, quantum computing, etc.) to create a world of hyper-innovatiWhat'saGenAI'sAI's impact on everyday activities such as searching for information, cooking, and traveling?
• How to navigate the unique risks and challenges GenAI poses (including ethical concerns of GenAI such as misinformation, disinformation, and deep fakes, particularly in an election yeaWhat'saBernard'srd's estimateGenAI'sAI’s impact on the job market: what types of work will be replaced or significantly altered by this groundbreaking technology
• Check out his upcoming book, Generative AI in Practice
• The best way to reach out and find out more on Bernard Marr website

In this episode of the Voice of Fintech podcast, Wani Baumgartner sits down with Stevan Bajic, the innovative Founder-CEO behind Manigo, to delve into the intricacies of FinTech orchestration. Discover how Manigo streamlines financial services by seamlessly connecting users to their preferred fintech infrastructure providers via a single API.

Join the conversation as Stevan shares invaluable insights into Manigo's journey navigating the dynamic FinTech landscape. Explore key milestones in their growth, the pivotal role of customer feedback in shaping platform features, and get a glimpse into their ambitious long-term vision.

Through Stevan's entrepreneurial narrative, listeners gain firsthand knowledge of the challenges he's conquered and the relentless drive propelling him towards future success. Tune in for an episode packed with inspiration, innovation, and the future of FinTech.

Nelson Chu, founder and CEO at Percent, spoke to Rudolf Falat, founder of the Voice of FinTech podcast, about the booming Private Credit market and how he built a three-sided platform in this space.

Here is what they discussed in more detail:

• Introduction - Nelson's entrepreneurial journey
• Why did Nelson decide to start his own company
• What is Percent? What is the problem that they are trying to solve
• What is their unique advantage? How are they different from other investment platforms?
• Business model
• Target customers
• Locations
• How to get going with the platform
• Percent's journey until now, and next steps this year and beyond
• Check out Nelson's website here.

In this engaging episode of the Voice of FinTech, MENA Series hosted by Dorra Mahbouli, we delve into the heart of Tunisia's burgeoning startup scene with Amin Ben Abderrahman, a pioneering force in the FinTech industry in Tunisia and beyond.

With a rich history of innovation across global financial capitals and a deep passion for the transformative power of technology in finance, Amin has established himself as a visionary entrepreneur. Through the lens of his latest venture, Konnect Networks, which aims to revolutionize payment solutions in North Africa, we explore Amin's entrepreneurial journey, the challenges and triumphs of launching a startup in the dynamic MENA region, and his strategic vision for the future. 

The conversation also covers the types of investors and talents Konnect Networks seeks to attract, its target clientele, and a practical use case, providing a comprehensive look at the company's efforts to navigate and shape the FinTech landscape. This episode offers invaluable insights into financial technology innovation, underscored by Amin's personal experiences and aspirations for making a lasting impact in the region.

Tess Bloch, co-founder of Spade, a provider of merchant intelligence solutions, spoke to Rudolf Falat, founder of the Voice of FinTech podcast, about enriching payment transaction data to facilitate better anti-fraud solutions and more.
 
Here is what they talked about in more detail:

• Tess's backstory
• What problem are you solving at Spade, and why is it worth solving?
• Why is merchant intelligence critical for optimal fraud detection?
• What are new use cases for merchant intelligence?
• What is your solution and your unique selling point?
• What has the feedback from customers been like?
• What's your technology angle, or do you have more brilliant engineers than other players?
• Who are your key clients?
• Recent series A and Spade's plans
• Favorite business book: Scaling People: Tactics for Management and Company Building by Claire Hughes
• What is the best way to reach out: [email protected]

Today,  in another episode of the MENA series hosted by Dorra Mahbouli, we have the privilege of hosting Faraz Amjad, an industry leader in FinTech with an impressive trajectory in payments, technology consulting, and venture building. Over 25 years of experience, he has architected 12+ ventures, served in 7+ corporate leadership roles, and delivered 6+ successful M&A deals.

Today's discussion promises to be enlightening as we dive deep into the FinTech scene of the MENA region, with a spotlight on the rapidly evolving Saudi Arabian market.

The podcast delved into the FinTech landscape in Saudi Arabia and the MENA region, particularly within Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. The discussion encompassed the current state and potential of the market, addressing regulatory challenges faced by startups and offering navigation strategies. We drew comparisons between the FinTech ecosystems of the UK and the MENA region, extracting valuable lessons from both. The conversation also focused on the challenges of entering the MENA market, highlighting key players in the Saudi FinTech scene and their unique attributes. Corporate innovation was a notable topic in response to FinTech advancements, including collaborations and initiatives. The podcast explored opportunities and challenges in the Kingdom's rapidly digitalizing landscape, investors' perspectives on the Saudi FinTech market, and the trends attracting investment. Looking forward, we discussed predictions for the market's future trajectory over the next 5-10 years, influencing corporate innovation. Finally, considering its unique market dynamics, we explored strategies for supporting FinTech startups in Saudi Arabia. We concluded by thanking your guest, Faraz, for his deep insights into these sectors and acknowledging his contributions to the field.

Deniz A. Johnson, COO at Stratyfy, an ethical artificial intelligence (AI) company that offers predictive analytics software for credit and risk teams spoke to Rudolf Falat, founder of the Voice of FinTech podcast, about transparency solutions for AI, biases, diversity and more.

Here is what they talked about in more detail:

• Deniz's background
• What is Stratyfy – what’s the problem you are solving and the outline of its solutions
• How do you define successful digital transformation? 
• What’s the role of AI in digital transformation? 
• What about Finance and AI?
• How would you advise corporates leveraging AI to tackle the biases issue?
• One of the ways to deal with biases is to promote diversity – how do you go about it?
• Can AI and sustainability co-exist?
• What are the milestones you want to achieve next?
• Favorite business books: Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequality and Threatens Democracy and Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn't
• What’s the best way to reach out: [email protected] or Stratyfy website 

Daniel Yubi, CEO of Payable, headquartered in London, spoke to Rudolf Falat, founder of the Voice of FinTech podcast, about improving Treasury operations through their software. 

Here is what they talked about: 

• Daniel's backstory - how he got to do what he does today
• What problem is Payable solving, and why is it worth solving?
• What is their solution and their unique selling point
• What’s their technology angle
• Who are Payable's key clients
• What is the role of the finance team in scaling FinTechs?
• What is the CFO stack, and what is the FinTech market opportunity?
• What’s Daniel's advice on how to build and develop FinTech propositions the market wants and needs?
• What are the milestones Daniel wants to achieve next
• What’s your favorite business book? The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers and Marcus Aurelius works
• What’s the best way to reach out: Daniel Yubi on LinkedIn

Tonya Evans, professor, expert in crypto policy and law, and Board Member at Digital Currency Group, spoke to Rudolf Falat, founder of the Voice of FinTech podcast, about her new book, Digital Money Demystified, and hot issues still surrounding the crypto world.

Here is what they talked about in more detail:

• Tonya's journey into the crypto world
• You have written the book 'Digital Money Demystified.' Isn't most of the money digital already?
• Let's talk fact vs. fiction: What are the most common cryptocurrency myths?
• What are the hot legal and regulatory issues around this emerging asset class? 
• Do you see a future for crypto as a means of payment, or do you find other use cases more likely to succeed?
• How can the crypto-curious onboard & safely – and why should they do it?
• How can we empower women and diverse entrepreneurs for the future of Web3, blockchain, and cryptocurrency?
• What is your view on continued issues with crypto exchanges?
• Recommended reading: Choke Point 2.0, We Should All Be Millionaires: A Woman's Guide to Earning More, Building Wealth, and Gaining Economic Power, and It's About D*mn Time: How to Turn Being Underestimated into Your Greatest Advantage
• Best way to reach out: digitalmoneydemystified.com