Tech On Reg Podcast

On this episode, Dara is joined by two top financial services lobbyists from each side of the aisle, Peter Freeman of FS Vector and Izzy Klein of Klein/Johnston Group, to do a post-election breakdown and discuss what the outcome means for financial services, fintech and technology regulations.

In this episode, Dara discusses the history of the U.S. attempts at federal privacy legislation and the newest bipartisan bill being proposed. What are the obstacles and likely objections to the proposal? Will anything actually get done in an election year? Dara and James discuss these topics and more.

SXSW is a safari to the future according to Todder Moning, Lead Futurist at U.S. Bank. But, as Mike Bechtell, Chief Futurist at Deloitte, pointed out in his Fintech House fireside last year: futurists are always wrong. Why attempt to predict the future if you are likely to be wrong? This year Todder and Eric Schurr, Chief Strategy Officer at Sunrise Banks and host of the Social Currency podcast at Provoke.fm, have a fireside chat with Dara Tarkowski, Founder of Actuate Law and host of the Tech on Reg podcast, about which rules to break and which to keep when thinking about the future. From large bank to small, both use the tools of Foresight to gain a competitive advantage when thinking about a future, even when it is likely wrong. Listen in to learn how to break out of your current mindset and preconceptions, including Todder's favorite: Future Safaris.

Joined by Michael Johnson, CEO of Metrc, we discuss the evolution of regulation in the Cannabis industry. Metrc is a leading platform to track and trace cannabis from seed to sale which allows distributors to maintain compliance across multiple states. As legalization across the country unfolds, technology will be the key to efficiency and compliance.

We sit down with Matthew Gibson, Co-Founder and CEO of Syngrafii, to discuss the digitization and compliance of signatures. Syngrafii has changed the landscape of biometric signature capabilities through virtual signing rooms, secure e-signature links, remote pens and more. While compliance and safety are the main concerns of digital signatures, Matthew tells us how Syngrafii is tackling those challenges head on.

ForUsAll is the first 401 K platform to offer access to cryptocurrency in retirement planning. We sit down with David Ramiriez, CEO of ForUsAll, to talk about investment portfolios, retirement planning, Cryptocurrency entering the industry and what impact this has for regulations on digital assets. 

We welcome Soumyadip Rakshit, Co-Founder and CEO of MysteryVibe. MysteryVibe is a sexual health company that produces smart vibrators toys that address major sexual health issues such as erectile dysfunction, dryness & pain during intercourse. While the health benefits of sexual stimulation are clear, navigating the sex-tech space as a start-up has proven to be quite challenging. From investing to advertising, we learn how MysteryVibe is paving the way for technology and sexual health.

We welcome Federico Baradello, CEO and Founder of Finalis, to discuss disruption in the brokerage industry. Finalis is a platform that helps private securities brokerages to operate legally and compliantly. As technology grabs hold of the finance industry, how can companies be proactive and solve functional problems?

Beni Gradwohl, Co-founder and CEO of Cognovi Labs, joins us to explore emotional artificial intelligence. Cognovi Labs is dedicated to leveraging technology to measure human emotion through an artificial intelligence platform to understand and measure emotional responses. But, if artificial intelligence can measure and even predict human emotional responses, can we influence the masses for the greater good?

We sit down with Amanda Cohen, Director of Products at Resolver to talk about our favorite, Reg-Tech, and risk management. Resolver is changing the landscape of risk management by analyzing risk data in context to use risk as a strategy in business development. By leveraging technology like Resolver, modern businesses are now able to keep a pulse on the regulatory market and transform into risk-intelligent entities.

We welcome Tim Collins, Chief Customer Officer at Indebted, to talk about a modern way of collecting debt. In a historically client focused Industry, debt collection is shifting to the digital world with companies like Indebted that are shifting the focus from client to customer. Digitizing the debt collection  customer experience has paved the way for efficiently managing outstanding accounts and debt recovery.

Colin Gounden, CEO and Co-founder of VIA, joins us to discuss the future of the energy industry. The energy industry, and the data within it, are heavily regulated by the government, which has made it extremely difficult to come up with solutions to improve energy infrastructures across the world. VIA was founded in 2016 to help address this problem by using blockchain and AI to analyze data while keeping it private. Could decentralizing data be the answer to clean energy?

We welcome John Wall, Partner and Head of Business Development at Trust Insights, to help us understand how to gather and use marketing data in a compliant and measurable way. We talk through data collection, privacy regulation (or lack thereof), and how companies are using these to market to consumers. But, when it comes to gathering personal information and marketing data, how far is too far?

We sit down with Evgeny Likhoded, CEO of Clausematch, to address regulatory compliance and how to make it more manageable using technology. SaaS solutions have been very limited in serving the needs of regulatory compliance, but we have seen companies like Clausematch take this challenge head-on to answer the burning question, can you stay compliant with artificial intelligence?

We sit down with Jeannette Spaulding, CEO of Inveniam Asset Management to talk about investing in crypto assets and blockchain. Inveniam Asset Management monitors crypto assets using cutting edge technology to analyze and measure the volatility of cryptocurrency, opening the door for other use cases for blockchain.

We bring back Joseph Borstein, Co-Founder of LexFusion, to give us an update on the adoption of Alternative Legal Service Providers and how the legal space started to incorporate innovative tech to work more efficiently. Catch him on our last episode together, "Pick Up the Pace Already: Speeding Law's Adoption of Innovative Tech" aired November 10, 2020.

We sit down with Cody Owens to talk about the new way of debt collection through streamlined technology service, Equabli. Using predictive modeling, Equabli takes consumer behavior and strategizes how best to engage in debt collection.

On this episode, Dara takes a deep dive on the evolution of artificial intelligence with Peter Voss, founder of Aigo. We discuss the new term "Artificial General Intelligence", how to measure it, and the future of personal assistants, Chat- Bots with brains.

On this episode, Dara sits down with Dr. Eric Daimler, founder of Connexus and Presidential Innovation Fellow during the Obama administration, to discuss the biggest dangers lurking in AI, the first ever spin-out from MIT's math department and how its addressing today's AI challenges, and Eric's views on how the heck we go about trying to regulate an algorithm. 

On this episode, Dara sits down with Manny Newburger, Adjunct Professor of Consumer Law at UT Austin School of Law and VP of Barron and Newburger, to discuss what the CFPB and FTC have been up to the last few months. From the “Holder Rule” to credit reporting and fascination with Buy Now Pay Later, Dara and Manny break down some complex topics and make some predictions for what regulation and enforcement will look like into 2022 and beyond. 

The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) officially launched in 2021. Already dubbed the “mini-CFPB,” on this episode, Dara speaks with two experts and California natives - Mark Naiman, a member of the DFPI's advisory board and financial services professional and Lauren Valenzuela, regulatory counsel at Actuate Law. We discuss the vision for the DFPI, who they are regulating, what they are innovating, developments over the past year, and what it's going to be like for businesses who operate in California in the future.

Recent discussions around data privacy, “fake news”, bots, - not to mention the almost daily revelations about hacks, data and identity theft, have MADE IT CRYSTAL CLEAR that today's Internet has some serious defects.Today it is not the Internet, but the social media platforms, search engines, e-commerce sites or financial institutions built on top of it, that provide us with our online identities, hold our personal data, and act as gatekeepers of information. On this episode, Dara is joined by James Parillo, GM and Lion Tamer at Figment.io - an organization whose mission is to support the adoption, growth and long term success of the Web 3 ecosystem and make it simple to build on the next generation of blockchain technology. Dara and James discuss the history of the internet, what to expect from Web 3.0, and how Web 3.0 can address the privacy and security concerns plaguing today's web.

Diversity, equity and inclusion remain challenging for the fintech community and financial services as a whole. Despite significant strides and efforts being made over the years, the COVID-19 pandemic has unquestionably impacted women in the workplace disproportionately. This week, Dara is joined by Angela Yore, to discuss findexable's Fintech Diversity Radar, what the study hopes achieve and how we continue to address these important issues in the new normal. 

SexTech has seen a massive acceleration in our post pandemic world. Slowly but surely, the industry is moving from vice to mainstream, though the regulatory environment, existing laws, and pre-conceived notions and biases continue to be obstacles. For Tech on Regis fall season opener, Dara is joined by returning guest, Dominique Karetsos, for her take on the future of SexTech, recent progress and achievements in the Healthy Pleasure Group Lab and how we continue to push the industry into the mainstream. 

The ethics of artificial intelligence has been a hotly debated topic for years. With the data science community often torn about the proper uses of AI, many industry participants are left scratching their heads. Until recently, there has been little to no regulatory oversight of the technology. Enter the EU. On this episode, Dara is joined by Clara Durodie, Oxford phD and renowned AI author and thought leader to discuss the European Union's recent proposed AI regulations and share her perspective on what this means for industry and innovation.

So what does crypto have to do with opportunity zones? Join host Dara Tarkowski, guest host Randy Rivera, executive director of FinTEx and co-founder of keen advisors and Jimmy Odom, co-founder of Bit Capital Group to discuss the current state of the crypto markets, the future of blockchain, and some new investment opportunities and incentives available through qualified opportunity zones through qualified opportunity funds - with some spirited debate along the way. 

NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, are presently all the rage. Is this newest blockchain application the future of collection and distribution of digital assets or just more hype? Blockchain professor, Lamont Black, of DePaul University joins host Dara Tarkowski to discuss just that. What is an NFT? What do you actually own? How will the regulators treat this new asset? Commodity? Security? Substituted value? It depends. Listen now to learn more. 

What do you get when you combine determined retail investors on Reddit, hedge funds and an easy to use trading app? Look no further than the GameStop trading frenzy of January 2021. On this episode, we unpack the events that led to Robinhood's suspension of trading activity, the Congressional testimony and to-be-expected inquiry from the Securities Exchange Commission. What will the regulatory impact be? What does this mean for fintech? Jennifer Tescher and Carl Volz help hash it out. 

Many of us have heard the term. Fewer of us know about how the cottage industry of patent trolls operate. Dara sits down with Michael Switzer, Head of the Intellectual Property practice group at Actuate Law, to discuss some recent trends we're seeing in the payments space and how organizations and industry can fight back against costly litigation. 

Is synthetic data the silver bullet for our growing list of struggles with the massive amounts of data we create? Join Dara Tarkowski as she hosts Nicolai Baldin, CEO and Founder of Synthesized.io, a UK based company who has built a one-stop data sandbox powered by AI. Does synthetic data provide users with the true essence of data without the regulatory headaches, privacy concerns and worry about bias?

What does 2021 have in store for Bitcoin and crypto assets? Will the regulatory environment finally allow us to fully embrace this market and technology? On this episode, Dara Tarkowsku hosts Colleen Sullivan, Co-Founder and CEO and CMT Digital, who operates a crypto asset trading desk and has invested in numerous blockchain and crypto asset ventures, to discuss recent rulemaking, new regulators and regulatory agendas, and the future of crypto markets as we look to 2021 and beyond. 

What were some of the most interesting regulatory observations from 2020? What can we expect from 2021 and a transition to a Biden administration? In our last episode for 2020, join Dara and as she discusses these topics with Joann Barefoot, CEO of Alliance for Innovative Regulation and Jason Henrichs, CEO of Alloy Labs Alliance. 

Did you know your personal health information is worth way more on the dark web than your financial  information? On this episode, Dara talks with Alissa Knight, renowned hacker, investor and entrepreneur to discuss vulnerabilities of APIs, what that means for the world of telemedicine, and steps organizations should be taking to keep customer information safe.

Dara Tarkowski hosts Joe Borstein, legal innovation veteran, investor, and co-founder of LexFusion, a company that Joe believeswill change the way law firms and legal departments purchase technology — and thereby turbocharge the adoption and use of innovative technologies in an industry traditionally hostile to change. They discuss the changing legal innovation industry, what Jow is seeing in the market and how LexFusion wants change the model of technology adoption for this highly regulated industry.

This special episode highlights some of the incredible work the fintech community has undertaken to serve consumers and small businesses during COVID-19. Join a conversation with Abe.ai, Cross River and Envestnet Yodlee to discuss some groundbreaking work that has earned organizations recognition at the Benzinga Global Fintech Awards powered by Envestnet Yodlee.

As the U.S. barrels towards the final stretch of the 2020 presidential election, chaos, conflict and questions abound. How will a divided versus unified government impact the regulatory environment? What happens to markets, the technology sector and fintech in particular if one party sweeps all three branches? On this episode of Tech on Reg, host Dara Tarkowski games out possible scenarios with Gary Rozier, Managing Director of Oak Street Real Estate Capital and, prior to that, the Senior Vice President of Institutional Marketing at Ariel Investments. Together they explore the election's effect on markets, managing political gridlock and why there is room for optimism no matter which party wins in November.

This month the CFPB filed suit against Encore Capital Group, five years after the company became subject to a consent decree. Was this a political move by the director or simply CFPB enforcing the rules? The CFPB's Office of Innovation has grown leaps and bounds since 2016. Why and will that change if the White House switches leadership in November? On this episode of Tech on Reg, Dara Tarkowski chats with attorney Joann Needleman of Clark Hill PLC about consent decrees, 10 years of Dodd-Frank and whether an archaic financial framework can handle what will soon become the largest transfer of wealth the country has ever seen. 

On this episode of Tech on Reg, Dara discusses the long-awaited settlement between Avant and Marlette Funding and the Colorado Attorney General. Among other things, the AG's lawsuit centered around the relationships between these online lenders and the banks funding the loans originated on the platforms and questioned who the “true lender” really was. Dara is joined by Mary Jackson, CEO of the Online Lenders Alliance, and Ed Gehres, an experienced financial services and fintech attorney. We dive into the settlement and explore what it means for the entire financial services industry. Will other states follow suit and what will this mean for fintech/bank lending partnerships? Tune in to find out.

U.S. District Judge James Donato's recent decision to decline the appointment of a list of all male lawyers to lead a class action lawsuit sent a much-needed jolt through the industry this summer. Law firms may tout diversity, equity and inclusion in their glossy brochures. But the numbers and pay inequality speak to a different reality for many women. How can we convince those in power, who are mostly men, to view gender parity as a competitive advantage? How much of our efforts should be spent on encouraging men to identify disparities and speak up? On this episode of Tech on Reg, I discuss this and more with one of my early mentors, attorney and change-agent Nicole Auerbach of ElevateNext Law and Valorem Law Group. Sponsor: Envestnet Yodlee

Consumers today expect call technology to feel human and easy. Are businesses up for the challenge and can they implement Voice AI in a way that keeps regulators from knocking on their doors? On this episode of Tech on Reg, Dara speaks with Jim Freeze, CMO of Boston-based AI company Interactions, about how call technology increases profitability and mitigates risk. A conversational experience that makes customers happy and meets compliance needs: find out if human assisted Voice AI delivers on that promise.

Find cannabis laws and regulations confusing? Guess what: it's not you. From seed to sale, federal, state and municipal governments create different frameworks and those who learn how to navigate the system win. How can businesses and investors get it right without wasting time and money? How can governments use data to make policy? Dara Tarkowski breaks it down with guest Amanda Ostrowitz, Chief Strategy Officer at Fyllo, and founder of RegTech, CannaRegs, on this episode of Tech on Reg.

On this episode, Dara is joined by two former CFPB professionals. Professor Paul Kantwill, Distinguished Professor at Loyola University Chicago School of Law and former Assistant Director of CFPB and Dr. Ling Ling Ang, Associate Director at NERA Consulting and one of the CFPB's first economists. We tackle the Seila Law decision and what it means for the future of the agency, rulemaking, the Office of Innovation, and what's to come in the agency's tumultuous ride.

Dara Tarkowski hosts three diverse financial services professionals to tackle the subject of diversity and inclusion in financial services. Gary Rozier, Oak Street Real Estate Capital LLC, Bevon Joseph, Co-Founder of The Greenwood Project, and Randy Rivera, Executive Director of FINTEX, each share their unique perspectives on what it means to be a person of color in the financial services industry, what's being done to foster change, and share insights on how to make meaningful change within the industry.

Dara Tarkowski welcomes guest host Randy Rivera, Executive Director of FinTEx, for a discussion with Daniel Rogers, Founder of Fintech student loan company AM Money, to discuss the systematic and institutionalized challenges that students of color face when financing the pursuit of higher education, despite laws and regulations designed to prevent predatory and discriminatory lending, and how AM Money is aiming to solve the problem.

The past months in quarantine and isolation have resulted in sextech companies seeing a surge of sales, clicks, and downloads. Many say sextech is paving the way for how to responsibly share and protect personal health information. Dara sits down with Dominique Karetsos, CEO of the Healthy Pleasure Group, who went from marketing executive and fintech investor to sextech, or in her words “sexual health and wellness technology” expert. This episode navigates the current sextech boom, current regulatory and investment challenges and opportunities in this growing technology sector.

Dara Tarkowski chats with Roger Manu from Australia-based automation experts Cloudcase, where they discuss the rapidly evolving landscape of automation and digitization prompted by both the pandemic, good business sense and a compliance need.

This episode explores what one company, TrueAccord, is doing to harness the power of AI in collections, what a digital strategy means for receivables companies, and what impact (if any) the CFPB rulemaking may have on companies “going digital.”

Dara Tarkowski hosts Clara Durodié to talk Artificial Intelligence, the disruption it has caused and the how it will transform the future.

Dara Tarkowski hosts Randy Rivera, Executive Director of FINTEX, to discuss the changes happening around us, how the FinTech Ecosystem is responding (and helping), and whether #COVID-19 will be a catalyst for #innovation.

Dara Tarkowski hosts Brian Costello of Envestnet | Yodlee to discuss the current state of open banking in the United States! What does our regulatory environment look like? What should it look like?

Dara Tarkowski hosts Adam Parks to talk accounts receivables recovery and the management of debt.