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On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Colin Hirdman, the antidote to automated mediocrity. As a lifelong entrepreneur and co-founder of Monkey Island Ventures, he has spent two decades scaling SaaS tools, digital agencies, and now Rainmaker – a ‘white-glove’ service that ethically automates LinkedIn outreach to turn connections into revenue. Colin discusses Rainmaker’s ‘Authentic Engine’ framework: 10-30% connection rates, campaigns tailored to micro-audiences, and why human-driven strategies still dominate AI in B2B growth. As well as why he targets 25 people/day — and how even solo founders can replicate this, the ‘criminal justice grad’ who turned entrepreneur, accidently and sold his first startup days after college, and LinkedIn’s automation guardrails: What’s ‘ethical’ vs. what gets you banned. KEY TAKEAWAYS I’ve done a lot of growth hacking through email and LinkedIn, but I got better results through LinkedIn and ended up building out a software and process for myself. Rainmaker was born through me making it available to other businesses. But, you don’t need me or rainmaker to do any of the things we discuss on this podcast, you can do it manually. You have to be authentic on LinkedIn, both as yourself as well as the brands you represent. You should also have an educational mindset – no one wants to be sold to on LinkedIn, but almost everyone is willing to be educated – and an experimentation mindset, trying different features and functions of LinkedIn, stack the things that work and set aside the things that don’t. Understand the pains an barriers that you prospects are trying to overcome and know what it is that you can teach them. Growth hacks: LinkedIn Events – if you have a direct competitor, industry or organisation putting on a LinkedIn Event that your business solves for, if you attend that event you can see everyone else who attended that event and create a prospects list. Use people who are big in your area as proxies – use people’s open connections to see all first connections to her, second connections to you and is in your area, and begin connecting to them Building out your first connections is critical. I reach out to 15 people per day Monday-Friday during normal working hours. That gives you 500 people per month, which is below LinkedIn’s limits. Typically, you’ll get a 20% connection rate. Within 30 days of sending an invite, and they haven’t connected, withdraw the invite. It’s good hygiene, but after 3 weeks you can reach out to them again. Everything you do after that only gets better and has bigger possibilities as your audience grows. BEST MOMENTS ‘There’s lots of opportunity to engage with you prospects on LinkedIn in ways that are valuable for relationship building and set you up as a thought leader.’‘People undervalue the value of being a first connection, when you’re a first connection you can see all kids of information about them, direct message them, and use other features and functions to engage with them.’‘I typically build my audience through Sales Navigator – a tool within LinkedIn that allows you to hone in on audiences..’‘If you’re using automation that is in any way inauthentic it won’t work, you wouldn’t immediately set up a meeting with someone you just met, I wish people would stop, it’s lazy.’ ABOUT THE GUEST Colin Hirdman is a lifelong entrepreneur, startup advocate, and visionary behind Rainmaker, a platform revolutionizing LinkedIn’s growth strategies through its "Authentic Engine." As co-founder of Monkey Island Ventures, a venture studio launched in 2007 with childhood friends, Colin has spent nearly two decades fostering tech innovation and scaling ventures like SaaS tools, digital marketing agencies, and software development firms. His passion lies in unlocking the power of authentic relationship-building—evidenced by Rainmaker’s mission to help founders, coaches, and sales teams expand their networks, generate leads, and close deals ethically on LinkedIn. A Minnesota native, Colin’s journey began with selling his first startup (launched just days after college) and evolved into mentoring entrepreneurs through actionable strategies like LinkedIn automation, audience targeting via Sales Navigator, and educational outreach. His philosophy blends authenticity, experimentation, and a focus on solving audience pain points—principles he shares as a board member of MNblockchain and a sought-after voice in B2B growth. When not advising startups or hosting LinkedIn livestreams, Colin champions the entrepreneurial spirit, proving that even a criminal justice graduate-turned-accidental-founder can redefine 21st-century scaling. Catch his insights on turning connections into revenue—no bots or spam required. LinkedIn ABOUT THE HOST Sabine is a corporate strategist turned entrepreneur. She is the CEO and Managing Partner of Alchemy Crew a venture lab that accelerates the curation, validation, & commercialization of new tech business models. Sabine is renowned within the insurance sector for building some of the most renowned tech startup accelerators around the world working with over 30 corporate insurers, accelerated over 100 startup ventures. Sabine is the co-editor of the bestseller The INSURTECH Book, a top 50 Women in Tech, a FinTech and InsurTech Influencer, an investor & multi-award winner. Twitter LinkedIn Instagram Facebook TikTok Email Website This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
May 28, 2025 – Fintech expert Rich Turrin joins FS Insider to discuss the latest trends and breakthroughs with stablecoins, agentic AI, quantum computing, and how China is taking a lead across industries. He explores stablecoins' role as private...
In this episode of the Grownlearn Podcast, host Zorina Dimitrova talks with Dr. Karen Wendt, President of Swiss FinTech Ladies and CEO of Eccos Impact GmbH, about Impact Investing, tokenization of real-world assets, and how sustainable business growth is reshaping the future of finance. With decades of experience in investment banking, Karen shares how family offices and institutional investors can implement sustainability strategies that align financial returns with real-world impact. We explore how blockchain, tokenized assets, and relationship-based investing open doors for scalable ventures in green energy, FinTech, and innovation ecosystems. Whether you're an entrepreneur looking to scale your business or an investor focused on business transformation, this episode will spark ideas and introduce you to new ways of funding and growing companies that matter.
The Venture Model Broke. But Startups Are Still Building.In this episode, Arjun is joined by Devin Kohli, General Partner at Outward VC, for a candid conversation on what's next for venture capital.They unpack:- Shifting VC trends in Europe, MENA, and the USA- Outward's bets on Curve, Vauban, Bud & more- AI hype vs. real vertical value- Tokenisation, digital assets & future financial infrastructure- Emerging tech hubs across Japan, MENA, Southeast AsiaPlus, Devin shares what conviction really looks like in a post-hype market — and why MENA founders are ones to watch.No pitch decks. No jargon. Just a candid chat about cycles, conviction, and building through uncertainty.
Epicenter - Learn about Blockchain, Ethereum, Bitcoin and Distributed Technologies
We couldn't miss the Avalanche Summit where we sat down with Emin Gün Sirer, co-founder & CEO of Ava Labs, to discuss the evolution of Avalanche's ecosystem and how HyperSDK ushers in a scalable, interoperable, multi-chain future. Join us for a fascinating discussion on Avalanche's approach to decentralisation, scalability & interoperability, and learn why real-world applicability relies heavily on bespoke blockchain solutions.Topics covered in this episode:Gün x Epicenter bromanceHow the Avalanche ecosystem & community evolvedThe future vision for AvalancheScaling Avalanche and the HyperSDKInteroperability and the multi-chain futureDecentralising Avalanche L1sUse cases and institutional adoptionOn-chain privacyAvaCloudThe impact of AI in cryptoGün's focus in the near futureEpisode links:Emin Gun Sirer on XAvalanche on XAva Labs on XSponsors:Gnosis: Gnosis builds decentralized infrastructure for the Ethereum ecosystem, since 2015. This year marks the launch of Gnosis Pay— the world's first Decentralized Payment Network. Get started today at - gnosis.ioChorus One: one of the largest node operators worldwide, trusted by 175,000+ accounts across more than 60 networks, Chorus One combines institutional-grade security with the highest yields at - chorus.oneThis episode is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain.
HEADLINES:• Fact Check: Is Saudi unbanning Alcohol in 600 Tourist Locations?• Omani Huda Al Lawati Raises $200M for Gulf's First Woman-Led Equity Firm• Tabby and Tamara Report Strong Profits as Saudi Fintech Sector Surges• UAE Citizen Pavel Durov's Telegram Posts $540M Profit in 2024 Newsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModrWhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLUInstagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQTiktok: https://aug.us/4lnV0D8Smashi Business Show (Mon-Friday): https://aug.us/3BTU2MY
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Renegade Thinkers Unite: #2 Podcast for CMOs & B2B Marketers
Everyone wants to be in a category of one. But until analysts acknowledge it, customers search for it, and competitors show up, it's not quite a category—more a call you made before the market did. Creating one means walking a line between leading the story and waiting for the market to catch up. In this episode, Drew Neisser is joined by Bernd Leger of Cornerstone OnDemand, Charles Groome of Biz2Credit, and Jakki Geiger to share their insights into building a category from scratch. In this episode: Bernd shares how Cornerstone moved beyond LMS into “workforce agility,” backed by acquisitions, analyst engagement, and full-team alignment. Charles explains how Biz2Credit is carving out a new lane in FinTech by naming the problem and using familiar language to build demand. Jakki outlines what separates true category creation from disruption, and why team-wide clarity is the hidden work that drives both. Plus: Why a real customer problem should shape your category narrative How to bring analysts in without losing control of the story What it takes to bring your team along when the category doesn't exist yet Tune in to learn how category creation starts, builds, and earns its place in the market! For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/
In This Episode This week on Breaking Banks host Brett King is joined by Chris Hayward, Policy Chairman of the City of London Corporation. As Political Leader of the City of London Corporation, Chris acts as a principal spokesperson and advocate for London as a global financial and professional services capital. In the segment, Brett and Chris discuss The impact to date of the Trump presidency on the UK financial services sector. Wider US-UK relations and the City's view of the prospect of a UK-US free trade deal especially in services and tech. How the UK is a global gateway for US companies to access capital and advice, and Ongoing work with the UK Government to create an investment hub (a concierge service) to make it easier to channel foreign investment into the UK economy, and ongoing conversations on regulatory reform Then, sister podcast, Finovate host Greg Palmer interviews Nick Evens, President and CEO of Curql. Nick shares his journey from working within credit unions to leading Curql, a strategic investment fund focused on credit union innovation. Curql invests in startups and fosters an ecosystem where over 130 credit unions collaborate and share resources, often co-investing in companies that serve both banks and credit unions. Born from a need to support credit unions in staying competitive with big banks by pooling resources to invest in transformative financial technology, Curql bridges a gap between fintech and credit unions, helping credit unions gain access to tech solutions they otherwise couldn't afford on their own. More on the topic at FinovateSpring.
Braden DiCristofano and Joe Lynch discuss RocketFuel: Fintech for fulfillment. Braden is the Co-founder and CEO of Launch Fulfillment and RocketFuel, two high-growth companies transforming the logistics and fintech landscapes. About Braden DiCristofano Braden DiCristofano is the Co-founder and CEO of Launch Fulfillment and RocketFuel, two high-growth companies transforming the logistics and fintech landscapes. Raised in Pleasant Grove, Utah, he served a two-year mission in Jacksonville, Florida, before attending Ensign College. Braden began his career in sales, gaining nine years of experience in sales and leadership—skills that laid the foundation for his entrepreneurial ventures. At Launch Fulfillment, he leads a tech-driven logistics company focused on premium, scalable fulfillment solutions for ecommerce brands. Through RocketFuel, he's addressing one of the industry's biggest challenges: cash flow. By integrating fintech with fulfillment operations, RocketFuel helps merchants unlock working capital and streamline growth. Braden's leadership is defined by strategic vision, operational rigor, and a relentless focus on solving real-world problems for modern ecommerce businesses. His mission is clear: build industry-defining platforms that power sustainable growth across the logistics and financial ecosystems. About Launch Fulfillment Launch Fulfillment Inc. operates as a premier third-party logistics (3PL) provider, offering comprehensive ecommerce fulfillment services that empower businesses to scale their operations without needing significant infrastructure investments. Recognized as the 10th fastest-growing logistics company on the 2024 Inc. 5000 list, its smart warehousing and 3PL fulfillment solutions enable same-day order processing, streamlined Amazon FBA prep services, and a robust global shipping network that virtually guarantees on-time delivery. The company takes a technology-driven approach, featuring real-time inventory tracking integrated with over 150 ecommerce platforms. Specialized offerings include subscription box fulfillment, custom kitting and assembly, and eco-friendly packaging solutions for D2C brands. By leveraging its cloud-based software and automated shipping rate optimization, clients can experience up to a 40% reduction in shipping costs while maintaining seamless omnichannel fulfillment capabilities for both B2B and retail distribution channels. Key performance indicators for Launch Fulfillment include a 99.998% accuracy rating and a 98.2% on-time delivery dispatch for B2C orders. It maintains fulfillment locations in Utah, Kentucky, and the U.K., and operates with 7-day-a-week fulfillment, reflecting its commitment to efficiency and client success. About RocketFuel Parcel Recharge RocketFuel Parcel Recharge helps 3PL providers and Fulfillment Centers address cash flow challenges by offering innovative solutions that ensure consistent revenue streams. Through automated parcel auditing, RocketFuel keeps 3PLs whole on the back end, identifying discrepancies and securing that money. This approach not only provides 3PLs with the cash flow and solutions needed for continued growth, but it also enhances the experience for the brands they serve. Key Takeaways: RocketFuel: Fintech for Fulfillment Braden DiCristofano and Joe Lynch discuss RocketFuel: Fintech for fulfillment. Braden is the Co-founder and CEO of Launch Fulfillment and RocketFuel, two high-growth companies transforming the logistics and fintech landscapes. Global Ecommerce Powerhouse: Launch Fulfillment provides end-to-end ecommerce fulfillment, from secure, climate-controlled warehouses to rapid worldwide shipping, driving your business forward. Streamlined Logistics, Effortless Growth: Launch Fulfillment's proven four-step process—from manufacturer receipt to advanced warehousing, seamless platform integration, and precise pick, pack, and ship—ensures products reach customers efficiently, every time. Scale Your Brand, Your Way: Launch Fulfillment offers flexible solutions, including Amazon FBA prep, intricate subscription box fulfillment, custom kitting, and eco-friendly packaging, all designed to grow with your brand. Strategic Locations, Unmatched Reach: With facilities in Utah, Kentucky, and the UK, Launch Fulfillment establishes a powerful global presence, providing strategic advantages and expansive reach for diverse ecommerce operations. The advantages of working with RocketFuel, the fintech solution for fulfillment companies: Optimizes 3PL Cash Flow: RocketFuel offers a modern solution for Third-Party Logistics (3PL) providers. Its "rechargeable" metering system enables customer prepayments, eliminating 3PL capital outlays and ensuring consistent cash flow. Automates Revenue Enhancement: The platform automates parcel auditing to recover lost revenue from adjustments and facilitates easy rate markups. This allows 3PLs to customize shipping rates and maximize profitability across all carriers. Seamless Integration and Analytics: RocketFuel integrates with over 40 WMS, OMS, and shipping systems, ensuring smooth operations. It also provides vital analytics for both 3PLs and their customers, aiding growth. Proven, Industry-Specific Solution: Developed from a 3PL's own experience, RocketFuel addresses common challenges like late payments. It has processed millions of shipments, significantly boosting cash flow for users, demonstrating its commitment to 3PL financial success. Learn More About RocketFuel: Fintech for Fulfillment Braden DiCristofano | Linkedin Launch Fulfillment | Linkedin Launch Fulfillment Launch Fulfillment | Who They Are RocketFuel Parcel Recharge | Linkedin RocketFuel Parcel Recharge The RocketFuel Story with Josh Beatty The Logistics of Logistics Podcast If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a positive review, subscribe, and share it with your friends and colleagues. The Logistics of Logistics Podcast: Google, Apple, Castbox, Spotify, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Tunein, Podbean, Owltail, Libsyn, Overcast Check out The Logistics of Logistics on Youtube
In this episode of the Revenue Builders Podcast, hosts John McMahon and John Kaplan are joined by Matt Maloney, SVP of Global Sales at Fireblocks. The discussion dives deep into Matt's background in B2B sales, his journey into the world of cryptocurrency, and how Fireblocks is revolutionizing blockchain security. Matt shares insights on the importance of adaptable, coachable sales teams and the application of traditional sales disciplines to new and emerging markets. The conversation also touches on strategic decision-making when entering new markets, the relevance of a strong ideal customer profile, and how foundational sales processes like MEDDPICC contribute to scaling success. The episode concludes with a nod to the influential book 'Inside the Tornado' by Geoffrey Moore and its relevance to Fireblocks' strategy.ADDITIONAL RESOURCESLearn more about Matt Maloney:https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-maloney-75698/Read Force Management's Guide to Embedding AI In Your B2B Sales Organization: https://hubs.li/Q03ldrzD0Download the CRO Strategy Checklist: https://hubs.li/Q03f8LmX0Enjoying the podcast? Sign up to receive new episodes straight to your inbox: https://hubs.li/Q02R10xN0HERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT[00:02:13] Matt Maloney's Journey into Crypto[00:02:55] Understanding Fireblocks and Blockchain[00:06:36] The Role of Stablecoins[00:10:28] Security Challenges in Crypto[00:23:18] Adapting Traditional Sales Disciplines to Emerging Markets[00:34:44] Mitigating Risk in Emerging Markets[00:35:07] The Importance of Continuous Development[00:37:11] Building Trust and Credibility[00:38:07] Characteristics of Successful Salespeople[00:39:41] Company Responsibility in Employee Development[00:41:02] Aligning Company Goals with Sales Strategies[00:46:05] Avoiding Shiny Object Syndrome[00:48:36] The Role of Ideal Customer Profiles[00:49:43] Lessons from Mentorship and Experience[00:58:00] The Innovator's JourneyHIGHLIGHT QUOTES"Your job is to figure out hitting the number and making sure you're calibrating your resources, that you hit the number, because that's foundation to our jobs as sales leaders.""If you can be part of a disruptive movement... it could be game-changing.""You need people that are coachable that will take the time to listen and learn about what this market is."
In this episode of FinTech Layer Cake, host Reggie Young speaks with Michele Alt, Co-Founder of Klaros Group, about new opportunities in fintech bank charters.They unpack the recent SmartBiz approval, what it signals for the industry, and the realities of the charter process—from regulatory hurdles to risk management. Michele also shares why now might be the best time in years to act—and why ILC charters could be the next big thing.If you're thinking about chartering, partnering, or future-proofing your fintech, this episode is a must-listen.
Frank Arellano, founder and CEO of Revolv3, peels back the curtain on a staggering $600 billion problem plaguing the payments industry that few executives fully understand. False declines - legitimate transactions incorrectly rejected by payment processors - account for a shocking two-thirds of all credit card declines. For subscription-based businesses, this translates into devastating levels of involuntary customer churn.Drawing from his 25 years of experience at companies like Ingram Micro and Experian, Frank explains how Revolv3's intelligent payment optimization platform tackles this challenge head-on. Unlike traditional payment gateways, Revolv3 analyzes over 100 different data elements in every transaction to build trust with issuers and dramatically improve approval rates. The results speak volumes: merchants using Revolv3's platform achieve an average 14% increase in approval rates and nearly 30% growth in total revenue from decline management alone.What sets this conversation apart is Frank's holistic view of the payments ecosystem and its future trajectory. He predicts embedded finance and predictive capabilities will dominate the next few years, with increased focus on tokenization and regulatory compliance over the next decade. For professionals entering the fintech space, Frank offers invaluable advice: understand how money moves throughout the entire ecosystem, rather than focusing on just one aspect.
Libertad financiera para mujeres y madres en América Latina: desafíos y oportunidades La libertad financiera aún es un reto para muchas mujeres y madres en América Latina, debido a brechas de género como la salarial y el acceso limitado al empleo formal. En países como Colombia y México, las mujeres ganan menos y enfrentan mayores tasas de desempleo. Esta desigualdad, impulsada por labores no remuneradas como el cuidado del hogar, frena su desarrollo económico. Cerrar esta brecha podría aumentar hasta en un 6% el PIB regional, según ONU Mujeres. Para avanzar, se recomienda que las mujeres comiencen con acciones prácticas como mejorar la gestión de sus finanzas, emprender con apoyo institucional y aprovechar las herramientas digitales y Fintech para ahorrar, invertir e independizarse económicamente.
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Georgiana ‘Gia’ Laudi, a strategic advisor, keynote speaker, and co-founder of Forget The Funnel, a consultancy focused on helping B2B SaaS companies drive predictable, recurring revenue through a truly customer-led approach. In this episode, Gia and I will explore why so many companies get stuck throwing “spaghetti at the wall,” instead of researching who their best customers really are. We’ll look at the common pitfalls teams face when relying solely on funnel-based thinking—plus the steps any organization can take to cultivate a thriving, customer-centric culture. Gia will also share highlights from the remarkable work she’s done with various SaaS brands, as well as tips you can put into practice right away. KEY TAKEAWAYS Two years after drafting up a customer experience map for our company, through the lens of the customer, we grew revenue by 900%. We’d aligned the team and the company, and it facilitated more streamlined conversation, more alignment, more understanding cross-departmentally making things much easier. It gave us a tool and a shared language for operationalising around customer experience. A big reason for forgetting the funnel and leveraging a more customer-led approach is through the lens of recurring revenue businesses. Even if you don’t have a recurring revenue business model most businesses agree that customer retention, expanding existing accounts vs finding new customers contains a lot of value. This serves all kinds of businesses very well. Customer research is often equated with long, drawn-out projects that are very costly and leave you with more questions than answers. There’s a lot of resistance when we use the term ‘customer research’, we tend to use the term ‘customer insights’. We use targeted, streamlined and intentional research via ‘jobs to be done’ which reveal meaningful patterns from as little as 10-12 people which can identify what leads people to seek your business out. Not all customers are created equally, you shouldn’t try to serve every customer, narrow your focus on who really, really cares about the problem that you solve, has a high willingness to pay, deeply understands the value in what you provide and would sing your praises from the mountain tops. BEST MOMENTS ‘If you orient your operations around the customer experience it becomes easy to make all kinds of decisions.’ ‘Existing customers are worth more and are less costly to us as a business vs finding new customers.’ ‘Your relationship with your customer does not end with the purchase, it begins with the purchase.’ ‘Early stage companies should focus on one customer and do a really good job, later stage companies shouldn’t conflate all customers into a homogenous group but think of segmentation in a meaningful way so you can still provide high-converting and resonating experiences even for multiple segments.’ ABOUT THE GUEST Georgiana (“Gia”) Laudi is a strategic advisor, keynote speaker, and co-founder of Forget The Funnel, a consultancy specializing in customer-led growth for B2B SaaS companies. With over 20 years of experience in marketing and product strategy, she’s helped high-growth businesses such as Unbounce, Calendly, and Sprout Social deepen customer insights, align teams around customer value, and drive predictable, recurring revenue. As co-author of the book “Forget The Funnel,” Gia advocates a practical, step-by-step approach to uncovering why the best customers buy—and how to ensure more of them succeed post-purchase. Based in Montreal, Gia is passionate about turning real customer needs into clear messaging, frictionless onboarding, and expansion strategies that empower businesses to scale sustainably. She joins Scouting for Growth to share her journey, discuss common growth pitfalls, and offer actionable tactics any organization can use to become truly customer-led. LinkedIn ABOUT THE HOST Sabine is a corporate strategist turned entrepreneur. She is the CEO and Managing Partner of Alchemy Crew a venture lab that accelerates the curation, validation, & commercialization of new tech business models. Sabine is renowned within the insurance sector for building some of the most renowned tech startup accelerators around the world working with over 30 corporate insurers, accelerated over 100 startup ventures. Sabine is the co-editor of the bestseller The INSURTECH Book, a top 50 Women in Tech, a FinTech and InsurTech Influencer, an investor & multi-award winner. Twitter LinkedIn Instagram Facebook TikTok Email Website This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
Rodney Hood, Acting Comptroller of the Currency, chats about bank innovation, digital assets, and tech's role in financial inclusion. He shares insights on modernizing regulation and how the OCC supports fintech partnerships.
The venture capital landscape is evolving fast, and founders who don't adapt will be left behind. Roy Luo, General Partner at ICONIQ Growth, shares insights on the shifting dynamics of startup funding and what it takes to scale in 2025. With investments in companies like Figma, Canva and Ramp, Roy breaks down key trends in fintech, AI-driven business models and the future of venture capital.Specifically, Roy discusses: (06:46) TCV provided key lessons in investing, founder relations and tech disruption.(11:25) How AI is transforming startups and the VC landscape.(17:00) How to evaluate product-market fit beyond just revenue metrics.(24:45) The importance of strong investor-founder alignment in building long-term partnerships.(37:44) Buyer pain points and trends guide investment decisions.(41:03) Lessons from high-growth investments like Ramp and FloQwcast.(53:04) The characteristics of successful startups and the importance of founder-market fit.(57:06) How identity and anti-fraud solutions are shaping the next wave of fintech.Resources Mentioned:Roy Luohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/roybluo/ICONIQ Growth | LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/iconiq-capital-llc/ICONIQ Growth | Websitehttps://www.iconiqcapital.com/growthThis episode is brought to you by:Leverage community-led growth to skyrocket your business. “From Grassroots to Greatness” by author Lloyed Lobo will help you master 13 game-changing rules from some of the most iconic brands in the world — like Apple, Atlassian, CrossFit, Harley-Davidson, HubSpot, Red Bull and many more — to attract superfans of your own that will propel you to new heights. Grab your copy today at FromGrassrootsToGreatness.com.Each year the US and Canadian governments provide more than $20 billion in R&D tax credits and innovation incentives to fund businesses. But the application process is cumbersome, prone to costly audits, and receiving the money can take as long as 16 months. Boast automates this process, enabling companies to get more money faster without the paperwork and audit risk. We don't get paid until you do! Find out if you qualify today at https://Boast.AI.Launch Academy is one of the top global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada's Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch's programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://LaunchAcademy.ca.Content Allies helps B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. We recommend them to any B2B company that is looking to launch or streamline its podcast production. Learn more at https://contentallies.com.#VentureCapital #StartupFunding #Fintech #Product #Marketing #Innovation #StartUp #GenerativeAI #AI
Modernizing Appraisals & Leading with Purpose in Mortgage | FinTech Hunting w/ Cindi HarrisIn this episode of the FinTech Hunting Podcast, host Michael Hammond welcomes appraisal innovator and leadership advocate Cindi Harris, owner of Harris Real Estate Valuation and Consulting and founder of People Move Mountains.
Inside the minds of fintech disruptors. OneChronos is rethinking trading from the ground up. OneChronos founders Stephen Johnson & Kelly Littlepage join us to break down alt trading, fintech startup life, and combinatorial auctions (yep, it’s a thing) https://www.onechronos.com Click Subscribe to keep up to date on the world of fintech! Reach us at info@fintechnewscast.com or on BlueSky (https://bsky.app/profile/fintechnewscast.bsky.social)
The world of payments is undergoing a radical transformation, and at the heart of this revolution stands Wix Payments. In this compelling conversation with co-heads Vova Tsukur and Amit Sagiv, we uncover how this powerhouse is reshaping financial services for small businesses across 190 countries.What makes Wix Payments truly special? It's not just another payment processor. By leveraging deep user knowledge gathered through their platform, they've crafted a frictionless onboarding experience that allows merchants to start accepting payments almost immediately. This approach has become a lifeline for small businesses often rejected by traditional providers despite being legitimate operations."We see the customer in a holistic way," explains Amit. "We understand their identity really well and can assess risk more accurately than standalone payment providers." This insight enables their unique multi-processor strategy, intelligently routing transactions across various payment partners to optimize approval rates and performance.The future vision they share is equally fascinating. From AI-powered risk management that's already transforming their operations to a world of "real-time everything" where payments, settlements, and payouts happen instantaneously. Vova even predicts a future where "payments become naked, free from UX," with AI agents autonomously conducting transactions based on predefined parameters.Both leaders emphasize that embracing AI isn't optional in today's payment landscape. "The fraudsters don't wait to adapt—they adapt fast," Amit warns. "By the time you catch up to one threat, they've already moved on to something more sophisticated."
Welcome to Episode 146 of The Liquidity Event! This week AJ and Shane talk FinTech corporate espionage and then focus on the proposed GOP tax plan. To wrap things up, they address a listener's concern about preparing for a "coming economic storm," offering insights on why fear-based financial decisions are rarely the best approach. Key Takeaways: 00:00 - Intro & What's Shane doing in AJ's house? 01:52 - Spies Are Everywhere: The Cutthroat FinTech Industry 04:54 - Remote Work & Cybersecurity: The New Frontier of Corporate Risk 06:07 - Non-Competes: Enforceable or Not? 06:33 - Decoding the New House GOP Tax Plan (Draft Details!) 06:53 - AJ's Favorite: 529 Plan Expansions for Certifications! 08:14 - Shane's Take: Standard Deductions, AMT, and the SALT Cap Saga Continues 12:23 - No Tax on Tips? Or Overtime? The Complications! 15:14 - Radical Tax Idea Corner: Capital Gains & Lifetime Exclusions 18:58 - Estate Tax Exclusion: Permanent and Higher? 19:48 - Listener Question: Preparing for the "Coming Economic Storm" 21:26 - AJ's Hot Take: Don't Make Decisions Based on Fear! 25:01 - Outro
Au programme :Microsoft accélère l'intégration de l'IA agentique à WindowsGrok met en lumière l'importance des "system prompts"Entretiens d'embauche par IA: du vrai au fauxLe reste de l'actualitéInfos :Animé par Patrick Beja (Bluesky, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok)Co-animé par Damien Licata Caruso (Bluesky).Co-animé par Titouan Gourlin (Bluesky)Produit par Patrick Beja (LinkedIn) et Fanny Cohen Moreau (LinkedIn).Musique libre de droit par Musicincloud.Le Rendez-vous Tech épisode 619 - Les entretiens d'embauche par IA, what could go wrong? - Microsoft Build, Grok sur GitHub, Samsung Galaxy Edge, Computex, Audible par IA, Tesla sur l'Étoile---Liens :
Phygital is the new digital.On Episode 2 of Couchonomics with Arjun Season 4, we sit down with Coenraad Jonker — Founder & Group CEO of Tyme — a digital banking pioneer who's built real scale across emerging markets.Tyme raised $250M in Series C. Reached a $1.5B valuation. Signed up 17M+ customers across South Africa and the Philippines. All while keeping CAC at one of the lowest levels globally.This isn't hype. This is hard-earned traction. We break down regulation, scale, AI-native banks & why incumbents can't keep up.If you want to understand the next decade of retail banking — this is the conversation.
Recapping this month's Finovate Spring event, Glen connects with Steven Ramirez (Beyond the Arc) and Elias Kruger (Long Range AI) to compare notes on the standouts and key takeaways- such as agentic AI- from San Diego. Also- Coinbase packs a year's news into a single week, and Nevada looks to enter the payments fray. Links related to this episode: Finovate Spring demo videos: https://finovate.com//videos/?filtertype=&showtypes=FinovateSpring&videostartyear=2025&showletters=A-Z Beyond the Arc: https://beyondthearc.com/blog/category/fintech Long Range AI Consulting: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekruger1/ Our 2023 interview with Crissi Cole of Penny Finance: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7tFFHhmaXPlPO2TbjobAEw Glen's blog on Coinbase's wild week: https://www.big-fintech.com/a-tale-of-two-coinbases/ Payments Dive's coverage of Nevada's proposed legislation to create “Payments Banks”: https://www.paymentsdive.com/news/nevada-bill-would-charter-new-payment-banks-retailers-swipe-fees/748041/ Join us for our next CU Town Hall- Wednesday May 21 at 3pm ET/Noon PT- for a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing credit unions today. This session will feature a crowdsourcing of takeaways from spring's credit union/ fintech conference season. The Town Hall is free to attend, but advance registration is required: https://www.cutownhall.com/ Join us on Bluesky! @bigfintech.bsky.social @154advisors.bsky.social (Glen) @jbfintech.bsky.social (John) And connect on LinkedIn for insights like the Friday Fintech Five: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/ Thank you to our friends at William Mills Agency for providing this week's featured image. *Image source: William Mills Agency
Running an agency can feel like shouting into the void—hours spent on content, pitch decks, and proposals that never land. It's frustrating when you know you're good at what you do but can't seem to cut through the noise. A lot of the time, it's not about effort—it's about missing the mark on what really speaks to the people you want to work with. Without that connection, growth stays slow no matter how hard you push. Bill Rice is a FinTech marketing expert with 20+ years in sales strategy and a background as a U.S. Air Force officer. He now runs Bill Rice Strategy, helping startups grow through smart lead generation. Today, he breaks down how FinTech companies can connect with customers by focusing on relatable content, using AI to assist (not replace) creativity, and building personal brands that earn trust. His approach is clear: be human, be strategic, and stay authentic. Stay tuned! Resources: My Executive Brief Bill Rice Strategy YouTube Channel Bill Rice Strategy Group The B2B Growth System: Your 90-Day Marketing Plan for Predictable Revenue Connect with Bill Rice on LinkedIn
Lex chats with Avlok Kohli - the CEO of AngelList, about the company's significant evolution. Initially a platform for startups to connect with venture capitalists, AngelList has transformed into a comprehensive fintech entity encompassing private equity and cryptocurrency. Avlok discusses the strategic pivots, including the introduction of syndicates and rolling funds, that have redefined the company's business model. The episode also explores the broader implications of crowdfunding and the unique challenges in the crypto space, offering a deep dive into AngelList's impact on the financial services industry. Notable discussion points: 1. AngelList's Second Founding: Reinvention as a Fintech Platform: Since 2019, AngelList has transformed from a mixed-use startup platform into a focused fintech infrastructure business for fund managers. Avlok Kohli spun out the syndicates arm and built a scalable product offering that includes SPVs, venture funds, and innovative structures like Rolling Funds and Roll Up Vehicles. This pivot catalyzed explosive growth—from ~$1B in AUM in 2019 to $171B+ today—by enabling fund creation and deployment at scale. 2. Product Innovation as a Strategic Advantage: Instead of competing with well-capitalized incumbents like Carta on sales and marketing, AngelList focused on building category-defining products. The launch of Rolling Funds—allowing fund managers to raise publicly and continuously—was a breakout moment. It created viral word-of-mouth growth and redefined how emerging fund managers could access capital, illustrating the principle: “You can't win by playing someone else's game.” 3. AI and the Future of Private Markets Infrastructure: AngelList is embedding AI across three strategic layers: (1) Back-office automation, replacing manual workflows, (2) Customer service enhancement, enabling agents to respond to LPs with real-time data, and (3) Data reasoning products, like Fin, which analyzes anonymized fund and secondary data to deliver actionable private market insightsThis positions AngelList not only as an admin platform but as a data intelligence layer over the private capital markets. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Topics: Fintech, Web3, Venture, VC, Venture capital, private markets, fundraising, crowdfunding, crypto, web3, AI, Angellist, Coinlist, Carta, Gumroad ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT
We've all heard about NFTs, AI, crytpo, and all those buzzwords... but do we really know what financial technology is, and how prevalent it is in our daily lives? Producer Faith spoke to Dr. Chanelle Duley from the University of Auckland about financial technology– or the “fintech” frontier.
En Empresas con Identidad conocemos a Héctor Mata, CEO y cofundador Shaker. Plataforma tecnológica que permite a las empresas crear y gestionar equipos híbridos de talento freelance en cuestión de minutos gracias a la inteligencia artificial. Y en Digital Business hablamos de financiación alternativa Fintech con Diego Azorín, CEO de Lea Bank; Patricia López, Direstor de Marketing de Sego Finance; Carlos García Casas, Secretario General de la Asociación Española de Factoring y con Salvador Molina, presidente de ECOFIN y MADFinTech.
Let us know your thoughts. Send us a Text Message. Follow me to see #HeadsTalk Podcast Audiograms every Monday on LinkedInEpisode Title:
Epicenter - Learn about Blockchain, Ethereum, Bitcoin and Distributed Technologies
Blockchain architecture is constantly being forced to adapt to new technologies, as well as to meet new demands from users and builders. While the idea of apps building their own chains was first explored by Cosmos, it lacked the support and tooling to see it succeed. Later on, rollups also took the centerstage of Ethereum's scaling roadmap, but due to their general purpose design, it led to a cannibalistic ecosystem. Initia learned from these 2 models and combined the best of both worlds: it built a full-stack framework for a seamless DevEx from the get-go and, more importantly, it designed its tokenomics in order to ensure maximum incentive alignment for its appchains. While the former decision removed the need for each separate chain to reinvent the wheel and risk ending up ‘a jack of all trades, master of none', the latter ensured that appchains would not extract value away from the L1.Topics covered in this episode:Ezaan's backgroundFrom building on Terra to InitiaHow Initia is rewriting the appchain thesisInitia's enshrined liquidity & vested interest program (VIP)Metrics & Initia's bet on crypto innovationSolving liquidity fragmentationDelphi's involvement in InitiaFuture roadmapEpisode links:Ezaan Mangalji on XJose Maria Macedo on XAnil Lulla on XInitia on XDelphi Digital on XDelphi report on InitiaSponsors:Gnosis: Gnosis builds decentralized infrastructure for the Ethereum ecosystem, since 2015. This year marks the launch of Gnosis Pay— the world's first Decentralized Payment Network. Get started today at - gnosis.ioChorus One: one of the largest node operators worldwide, trusted by 175,000+ accounts across more than 60 networks, Chorus One combines institutional-grade security with the highest yields at - chorus.oneThis episode is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain.
Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel.
Discover more inspirational stories at Rocket Pod: https://rocketpod.uk- - -Ever wondered what it takes to build a successful FinTech marketplace from the ground up, navigate funding rounds, and expand internationally? James and Zander sit down with the inspiring Karen Barrett, founder of UNBIASED, for an incredible deep-dive into her entrepreneurial journey.Karen shares the raw and real story behind Unbiased.co.uk – from her early entrepreneurial sparks (including a pony ride business!) and career in traditional finance, to the personal "aha!" moment that led to creating a platform connecting millions with financial advisors.This is a must-listen for aspiring entrepreneurs, business leaders, anyone in the FinTech space, and those curious about what it really takes to build a resilient and impactful company.
In this episode of the Wharton Fintech Podcast, host Sabrina Fathi speaks with Catherine Porter, Chief Business Officer at Prove, a leading platform in digital identity verification and authentication. Catherine shares her journey from Silicon Valley to spearheading innovation in identity security. They explore how AI is reshaping fraud prevention, the future of portable identity, and how Prove is helping companies build trust in an increasingly digital world.
Darryl Hicks, founder and CEO of FlexPay, takes us behind the scenes of a problem costing subscription businesses millions each month – failed payments and the resulting involuntary customer churn. From his early days cleaning toilets in his parents' commercial cleaning business to consulting for major telecom companies in the Twin Towers, Darryl shares his unique journey to founding a company that's now processing billions of transactions using sophisticated AI. What began as a solution he built for his own subscription businesses has evolved into a mission to fundamentally transform how payments work.FlexPay stands apart through deep partnerships with financial institutions, sharing crucial data that has traditionally been siloed between merchants and issuers. This approach allows their machine learning models to continuously improve. For subscription businesses experiencing millions in monthly failed payments, even small improvements in recovery rates translate to substantial revenue.The conversation reveals how payment system opacity creates unnecessary friction for legitimate commerce. When issuing banks make decisions without transparency – whether declining transactions due to suspected fraud or based on undisclosed policies against certain merchant categories – both businesses and consumers suffer. While excited about innovations like stable coins, Darryl remains pragmatic about the future of payments: "I would not bet against Visa and Mastercard." Rather than trying to replace traditional rails, he's focused on reducing friction within existing systems through better data sharing and transparency. For entrepreneurs, he emphasizes the importance of building strong advisory boards and following your natural passions.
with @rhhackett @smc90 @DarenMatsuoka @SamBronerWelcome to web3 with a16z, a show about the next generation of the internet. I'm Robert Hackett.There has been a flurry of stablecoin news lately, so we're doing a special bonus episode to cover everything that's been going on. Sonal and I are joined by a16z crypto's Data Science lead Daren Matsuoka who shares the actual data behind the stablecoin trend. Then we have Sam Broner — who is a Deal Partner here and our frequent author on stablecoins — to analyze the news, and help highlight the signal versus the noise.Here's a selection of the news:USDC issuer Circle filed to go public on the New York Stock ExchangeCoinbase released an agentic payments standard with support for stablecoin paymentsVisa and Mastercard enhanced stablecoin supportStripe announced stablecoin financial account balances, a programmable stablecoin (via Bridge), a stablecoin-backed card, and moreMeta is reportedly in talks to introduce stablecoins as a means for payoutsAnd much moreWe also have one of our regular episodes covering the broader stablecoins trend and big picture, dropping separately in the feed, also with Sam and a16z crypto Founder Chris Dixon, so be sure to check that out next.Timestamps:(0:00) Introduction(1:30) Stablecoin Data Overview(3:55) Stablecoin Adoption and Infrastructure(4:24) Market Share of Issuers and Blockchains(6:10) Stablecoin Growth vs. Crypto Market Cycles(7:45) Stablecoin News and Developments(9:44) Fintech Embraces Stablecoins(12:44) Legacy Payment Systems vs. Stablecoins(17:04) The Future of Stablecoins and Open Networks(22:11) ConclusionLinks to related resources:Everything stablecoins: Big picture, deep dive with Chris Dixon, Sam Broner, and Robert Hackett (a16z crypto, May 2025)A chart of stablecoin usage growth vs. crypto market cyclicality (@DarenMatsuoka on X)The month fintechs embraced stablecoins by Sam Broner (a16z crypto, May 2025)What Stripe's acquisition of Bridge means for fintech and stablecoins by James da Costa and Sam Broner (a16z crypto, April 2025)A guide to stablecoins: What, why, and how by a16z crypto editorial (a16z crypto, April 2025)As a reminder, none of the content should be taken as investment, business, legal, or tax advice; please see a16z.com/disclosures for more important information, including a link to a list of our investments.
with @cdixon @SamBroner @rhhackettStablecoins are quietly transforming how money moves — faster, cheaper, and more globally than ever before. In this episode, we take a deep look at why stablecoins have emerged as one of the most promising applications in crypto today — and how they could reshape global payments.I'm joined by Chris Dixon, founder and managing partner of a16z crypto and author of the New York Times-bestselling book Read Write Own, and Sam Broner, a deal partner at a16z crypto who focuses on stablecoins. Together, we unpack the technical and regulatory foundations of stablecoins, explore the cracks in the current payments system, and look ahead to what becomes possible once digital dollars go mainstream. We also dig into the current state of regulation — and why the future of money might end up looking a lot more like email or the web than a bank.Check out the show notes for links and resources that we reference throughout this episode. Also be sure to listen to the episode we dropped just before this one where we analyze all the recent stablecoin news.Timestamps:(0:00) Introduction(1:45) Payments, Finance, and the Internet(4:03) The Promise and Potential of Stablecoins(9:02) Global Financial System and Its Shortcomings(11:29) The WhatsApp Analogy(15:38) The Read Write Own Thesis(19:15) The Power of Blockchains(21:06) Venmo's Business Model(23:17) Stripe's Opportunity(25:11) Backwards Compatibility (Like Skype)(28:13) The Role of Stablecoin Regulation(34:36) Political Realities (vs. Big Banks)(38:11) The Business Implications of Stablecoins(40:31) The Stablecoin Investment Paradox(47:07) Why Blockchains?(51:11) Tech Marketing: Words vs. Products(54:28) What Happens Next(57:26) Global Demand for Stablecoins(59:37) Learning from the Past(1:05:06) ConclusionLinks to related resources:A guide to stablecoins: What, why, and how by a16z crypto editorial (a16z crypto, April 2025)Stablecoins: Payments without intermediaries by Chris Dixon (a16z crypto, April 2025)The month fintechs embraced stablecoins by Sam Broner (a16z crypto, May 2025)What Stripe's acquisition of Bridge means for fintech and stablecoins by James da Costa and Sam Broner (a16z crypto, April 2025)How stablecoins will eat payments, and what happens next by Sam Broner (a16z crypto, December 2024)A useful framework for understanding stablecoins: Banking history by Sam Broner (a16z crypto, November 2024)Read Write Own: Building the Next Era of the Internet by Chris Dixon (Random House, January 2024)A Piece of the Action: How the Middle Class Joined the Money Class by Joe Nocera (Simon & Schuster, October 1994)All about airdrops [podcast] by Eddy Lazzarin, Daren Matsuoka, Andrew Hall, and Robert Hackett (a16z crypto, April 2025)As a reminder, none of the content should be taken as investment, business, legal, or tax advice; please see a16z.com/disclosures for more important information, including a link to a list of our investments.
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Ron Rock, Managing Director for the Financial Services Sector at JobsOhio. When you think "FinTech hub," your mind might automatically jump to Silicon Valley or New York. But there’s a powerhouse in the heartland that's giving these coastal giants a run for their money: Ohio. In our conversation today, we'll unpack why Ohio – a state that puts you within a two-hour flight of 75% of the U.S. and Canadian financial services industry – might just be the strategic move your startup needs to make. KEY TAKEAWAYS Ohio has the 4th largest financial services economy in the US, so if you’re looking for partnerships, the market, people that’ll have a conversation with you, the operating costs will be a lot less than they are on the coasts in New York and California. If you’re a graduate in IT thinking about going into an IT profession, maybe it’s time to think about financial services. If you can do that kind of developing, programming or coding there’s a lot of opportunity in InsurTech and FinTech. There are a few different pillars you have to have for growth. The first is the economy in the state, which we do. Then, you have to have the ecosystem of players – the investors, large companies, startups that have found footing, and then the talent in that ecosystem has to be there as well. When we look at the talent that needs to fill the jobs of the future in financial services, we have to make sure the curriculums are up to par, including AI and low-code environments. We’re not a one-size-fits-all, we have programmes that didn’t fit earlier stage companies. We looked at that and how we could support formally and informally and now we have 3 innovation across the state. These give support whether that’s proximity to other innovators to incentives like JobsOhio growth Cap to support earlier state companies. BEST MOMENTS ‘London and Mid-Western states have similar mentalities with amicable relationships. We find a way to make something happen.’ ‘Startups have found footing in Ohio because of the climate we’re in, we don’t have large catastrophes or losses, so if you’re testing a new product or company you have that in your favour.’ ‘Ohio is a microcosm of a larger market, almost like a sandbox in which you can pay before you launch.’ ‘I call myself a connector, or facilitator, it’s the core of my job. I have to know the industry but I’ll never get deep into knowing exactly what the industry is doing. So I stay in my lane and make connections to the right individuals, listen to companies, and introduce people.’ ABOUT THE GUEST Ron Rock is a forward-thinking business management executive and Managing Director of JobsOhio’s Financial Services Sector. With over two decades of experience spanning financial services, insurance, economic development, and process improvement, Ron is renowned for creating and executing strategic growth plans that boost market share, elevate customer loyalty, and broaden service offerings. A dynamic leader, innovator, strategist, and connector, Ron bridges the gap between traditional institutions and emerging technology ventures. He regularly partners with founders, investors, and corporate stakeholders to identify opportunities for expansion into Ohio—home to the nation’s fourth-largest financial services economy. Under Ron’s guidance, JobsOhio provides tailored incentives and support, empowering promising fintech and insurtech startups to flourish while meeting the needs of major banks and insurers throughout the state. Known for his collaborative style and commitment to continuous innovation, Ron’s work centers on connecting bright ideas with meaningful partnerships, ultimately creating jobs and sparking economic growth. His deep understanding of market dynamics, coupled with his emphasis on data-driven strategy, has positioned him at the forefront of Ohio’s rise as a nationwide hub for financial technology and insurance innovation. LinkedIn ABOUT THE HOST Sabine is a corporate strategist turned entrepreneur. She is the CEO and Managing Partner of Alchemy Crew a venture lab that accelerates the curation, validation, & commercialization of new tech business models. Sabine is renowned within the insurance sector for building some of the most renowned tech startup accelerators around the world working with over 30 corporate insurers, accelerated over 100 startup ventures. Sabine is the co-editor of the bestseller The INSURTECH Book, a top 50 Women in Tech, a FinTech and InsurTech Influencer, an investor & multi-award winner. Twitter LinkedIn Instagram Facebook TikTok Email Website This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
The Business Method Podcast: High-Performance & Entrepreneurship
Today we're diving into a conversation about one of the most important shifts happening in business right now. Did you know the fastest-growing segment of entrepreneurship and business ownership is actually women? And at the forefront of that movement is today's guest, a true powerhouse whose story is as inspiring as it is game-changing. Our guest is Suneera Madhani — a visionary entrepreneur, FinTech innovator, and champion for women in business. Suneera is the trailblazing founder of Worth, a revolutionary platform that uses patent-pending AI technology to help small businesses gain fair access to capital. It's a bold, brilliant idea that's leveling the playing field for entrepreneurs everywhere. But her story didn't start at the top. Before founding Worth, Suneera built Stax Payments from the ground up, transforming a simple idea into a multibillion-dollar company with over $140 million in recurring revenue. Along the way, she made history as one of the first female CEOs to build a unicorn — a rare feat in the male-dominated world of FinTech. Her journey is one of resilience, grit, and relentless ambition. From selling credit card machines out of the trunk of a Volkswagen Beetle to being laughed out of boardrooms, she's faced every challenge head-on and proved the doubters wrong time and again. Today, she's not only a successful entrepreneur but also an angel investor, advisor to more than a dozen boards, and a sought-after speaker who's shared her wisdom on some of the world's biggest stages — from Meta and Harvard Business School to South by Southwest and beyond. In this episode, we'll unpack Suneera's incredible rise, her mission to shatter ceilings for women in business, and the lessons she's learned while bootstrapping billion-dollar ventures, navigating biases in leadership, and balancing the demands of entrepreneurship with family life. It's a masterclass in leadership, resilience, and what it takes to redefine an entire industry — and you're going to want to hear every word. Episode Highlights: 00:22:00 Who is Suneera Madhani? 02:30:00 Suneera Madhani's Early Entrepreneurial Journey 05:08:00 The Game-Changing Idea and Rejection 08:22:00 Building a Billion-Dollar Company 14:10:00 Key Components of a Billion-Dollar Business 18:40:00 The Importance of Team and Culture 21:13:00 Building a Winning Team 22:09:00 The Importance of Networking 22:30:00 Hiring Strategies and Challenges 25:41:00 Reflecting on the Journey 31:39:00 Challenges for Women Entrepreneurs 38:50:00 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Contact Info: Website: https://suneeramadhani.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suneeramadhani/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suneeramadhani/ Subscribe to the Podcast:
Jenna Griffith, VP of global ad operations at PayPal, shares how the fintech giant is using shopper insights to power a new kind of media network.
Episode overview: In this conversation, Verto co-founder and CEO Ola Oyetayo shares the journey of building a cross-border payments platform that tackles the unique challenges African businesses face when making international transactions. Since graduating from Y Combinator in 2019, Verto has established itself as what Oyetayo describes as a profitable and cashflow positive fintech serving multiple African markets. Incidentally, the company recently made headlines after winning the prestigious $1 million Milken-Motsepe Prize in FinTech. He discusses his team's pragmatic approach to addressing payment barriers in emerging markets, why traditional financial institutions have failed to serve these regions effectively, and how technology can disrupt traditional banking networks that have historically excluded certain markets. Andile Masuku engages Oyetayo on the evolution of fintech in Africa, the role of privilege and networks in business success, and the future potential of stablecoins to revolutionise cross-border payments in ways that might prove more transformative for emerging markets than developed ones. Key topics: - Verto's position in the cross-border payments landscape - The strategic decision to focus on B2B rather than consumer payments - The untapped $286 billion trade flow between Africa and China - Why 96-97% of business cross-border payments still go through traditional banks - The innovator's dilemma Verto faces with the rise of stablecoins Notable points: 1. In 2018, Oyetayo launched Verto's business model alongside his co-founder Anthony Oduu after spotting a solutions gap for African businesses making international payments outside of traditional banks 2. Verto has been profitable and cash flow positive for approximately 18 months 3. How a chance meeting with legendary VC Vinod Khosla at YC in 2019 first turned him on to the stablecoin investment opportunity—years before they became mainstream 4. The company operates in Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and the Francophone region 5. Despite previous experience in institutional finance, Oyetayo admits "ignorance is bliss" helped him tackle a problem others saw as too risky 6. The potential of stablecoins to solve liquidity, volatility and capital control challenges in emerging markets Listen out for Oyetayo's take on Paystack's B2C play Zap, the fintech ecosystem implications of Moniepoint's "unicornification," and his contrarian insight that stablecoins will revolutionise emerging markets while having minimal impact in developed economies: "This is not a popular opinion... There's just no case for stablecoins in developed markets. People talk about, oh, it's going to disrupt Visa and MasterCard... I don't see that coming anytime soon." Image credit: Verto
In today's 40 Minute Mentor episode, we're joined by Nicky Goulimis and Nico Barawid, the Founders of early-stage FinTech Tunic Pay, the only fraud vendor designed specifically for scams. Prior to building Tunic Pay, Nicky scaled Nova Credit, the credit infrastructure and analytics company that enables businesses to grow responsibly by harnessing alternative credit data. And Nico built Casai, which was Latin America's largest short-term rental operator. With so much experience in building successful FinTech ventures, this episode is a great listen for anyone thinking about starting a FinTech, or for anyone currently in the thick of scaling.
Terry Mendez, the new CEO of Safe Harbor Financial, the newly appointed CEO of Safe Harbor Financial, emphasizing their experience in the cannabis industry and business transformation . We discussed Safe Harbor's success in processing over $25 billion in cannabis-related funds, their strategies for navigating industry challenges (including regulatory hurdles and taxation), and their vision for expanding into a multifaceted fintech company offering various services beyond banking. Mendez highlighted several new initiatives, such as debt restructuring, new programs (employee banking, Safe Harbor Connects), and the development of a lending platform, while emphasizing the company's NASDAQ listing and data-driven approach to addressing industry pain points. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Hear from author and business creator Derrick Girard as he speaks with Osaic's Mark Matheny about the challenges that he faced on his career path. Derrick shares his thoughts on the powers of adaptation, and also dives into the disputes and lawsuits that he faced. Learn how goals can empower you for success and what it means to "figure it out" in the workforce.
In today's short mini-episode FinTech expert and speaker, Sameer Gahlot, discusses cybersecurity and safety in the FinTech sector while discussing the future of blockchain and crypto in India and Asia. Follow Sameer on IG @phirseuddchalaaLinkedin @Sameer GahlotFollow host King Jewelz as he interviews financial influencers and entrepreneurs on financial education and budget tips to help singles and married couples break cycles of living paycheck-to-paycheck, so they can begin a new legacy of financial freedom for future generations.Today's episode has been sponsored by: Join our debt freedom community of singles and married couples who are achieving financial freedom by "smart tracking" their finances monthly. You can become one of our "Smart Jewelz" by subscribing and registering for our Smart Financial Jewelz program today! Smart Financial Jewelzhttps://www.smartjewelzenterprises.org/financial-freedom-begins-nowSmart Jewelz Network Join our network for entrepreneurs, professionals and content creators to go on customized creator retreats, summits and trips along with checking out our media essential services with the link in the belowhttps://www.smartjewelzenterprises.org/start-podcast-now Today's episode has been powered by: StreamYard
Dan Battista, CEO and Partner at Factor4, takes us on an journey through the rapidly evolving gift card landscape. With genuine passion and deep industry knowledge, Dan reveals how Factor4 has grown from just 3 employees to 22 staff serving over 21,000 merchants in just a decade.The conversation illuminates Factor4's remarkable approach to customer service – answering emails within 10 minutes and phones within two rings – which has become their true competitive advantage. Unlike competitors owned by large payment processors, Factor4 focuses exclusively on gift and loyalty solutions, allowing them to devote 100% of their investment and attention to perfecting these offerings.Dan walks us through the transformation of gift cards during the pandemic era – from traditional plastic cards to essential digital solutions delivered via email and SMS. What was once a "nice-to-have" became a critical business necessity, pushing Factor4 to develop comprehensive omnichannel capabilities that seamlessly connect online and in-store experiences.Particularly compelling is Dan's insight into loyalty programs as customer relationship management tools. When pandemic restrictions hit, merchants suddenly realized they had no way to communicate with their regular customers about changing hours, outdoor dining, or reopening plans. Factor4's customized loyalty solutions filled this gap, helping businesses build valuable customer databases while driving repeat business.The conversation also explores Factor4's innovative approach to technology, including their development of iOS and Android apps that enable gift card transactions without additional hardware – simply using a smartphone camera to read barcodes. This adaptability has allowed them to integrate with over 50 different POS systems and expand internationally across ten countries.
Au programme :Apple se prend une claque légale dans son procès contre EpicOpenAI contraint de pivoter à 90° sur son changement de statutQui doit vérifier l'âge des enfants, Meta ou Apple?Le reste de l'actualitéInfos :Animé par Patrick Beja (Bluesky, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok)Co-animé par Melinda Davan-Soulas (Twitter).Produit par Patrick Beja (LinkedIn) et Fanny Cohen Moreau (LinkedIn).Musique libre de droit par Musicincloud.Le Rendez-vous Tech épisode 618 – Le RDV Argent, au bonheur des milliardaires – Apple vs Epic, OpenAI Bcorp, Meta vs Apple, Galaxy S25 Edge---Liens :
Season 4 of Couchonomics with Arjun kicks off with a venture builder shaking up the system — Gautam Jain from SC Ventures by Standard Chartered.From launching digital banks in Asia to building full-stack ventures in the GCC, Gautam's now part of a team transforming how venture-building happens inside a bank.In this episode:
Let us know your thoughts. Send us a Text Message. Follow me to see #HeadsTalk Podcast Audiograms every Monday on LinkedInEpisode Title:
Epicenter - Learn about Blockchain, Ethereum, Bitcoin and Distributed Technologies
As society evolves, so do its values and principles, but is that desirable for technology that seeks to build the most reliable, trustless and censorship resistant global settlement layer? Ever since the rise in popularity of Solana with its inflow of retail capital in a memecoin gold rush, Ethereum became even more criticized for sticking true to its core values despite the completely divergent demands of market participants. Moreover, the rollup centric scaling roadmap seemed to further silo attention and cause liquidity fragmentation, driving away value from Ethereum mainnet. As institutional demand is expected to grow with the introduction of staking ETFs, a new executive leadership took charge of Ethereum foundation to help steer the protocol's narrative at the intersection between community demands and Ethereum's ethos.Topics covered in this episode:Hsiao-Wei's & Tomasz' backgroundsHow they became co-executive directors of Ethereum FoundationEthereum Foundation's role moving forwardDecision making in Ethereum FoundationShaping Ethereum's narrativeThe layer 2 landscapeScaling Ethereum as the global settlement layerShardingRollup scalability & their trade-offsWhat values drive adoptionL2 interoperabilityFuture goalsEpisode links:Hsiao-Wei Wang on XTomasz Stanczak on XEthereum Foundation on XEthereum on XSponsors:Gnosis: Gnosis builds decentralized infrastructure for the Ethereum ecosystem, since 2015. This year marks the launch of Gnosis Pay— the world's first Decentralized Payment Network. Get started today at - gnosis.ioChorus One: one of the largest node operators worldwide, trusted by 175,000+ accounts across more than 60 networks, Chorus One combines institutional-grade security with the highest yields at - chorus.oneThis episode is hosted by Friederike Ernst.
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Alon Kaufman, CEO and Co-Founder of Duality Technologies, a company that is revolutionising the way organisations collaborate on data while preserving privacy and security. During today’s conversation, we’ll explore the vision behind Duality Technologies, the real-world problems it is solving, and how organisations can future-proof themselves against risks by adopting privacy-preserving technologies. We’ll also dive into Alon’s inspiring journey as a technology leader and his perspective on the ethical and strategic aspects of data collaboration in the age of AI and Big Data. KEY TAKEAWAYS Combining and enhancing data sets is becoming more and more challenging in a world where privacy, security, regulations and data protection are becoming more critical. This is a good thing. What inspires us at Duality is to find a way to allow organisations to unlock the challenges around working together on data in a way that both protects the data and allows you to get the utility out of it. At the source of Duality is: How can we work on data sets without leaking or sharing the data. That’s where homomorphic encryption comes in. This allows us to work on and analyse data while it remains protected or encrypted. Two companies each have a list of customers and they both want to understand how many customers they have in intersection. The way you did this before is for company A to disclose it’s list of customers to company B which does the analysis and fins the intersection or go to a trusted third party. With duality, the two companies can use our software platform to run a computation that comes up with the intersection without either company seeing each other’s data. We all want our governments and law enforcement to be able to do their work, but we don’t want them to pull in every data point that we leave outside. Duality allows law enforcement investigations to run queries and analytics only on data that is allowed and only giving the insights that are needed. Government and healthcare – where data sets are large an sensitive – are big places where Duality has been successful. BEST MOMENTS ‘In order to get the most value out of data, the more you can bring data sets together and enhance them the better off you are.’ ‘Duality’s mission is to run AI data science analytics on data sets that cannot simply be centralised, and doing it where ethe data is while making sure the data isn’t exposed, privacy isn’t leaked or challenges of data localisation and regulation are not violated.’ ‘Companies that already know to work on their own data, and control it, can now go to the next step and do it in a collaborative way.’ ‘Insurance companies need to work together around fraud because the fraudsters utilise the fact different companies don’t talk and will attack one and then the other because they know the level of data shared between them is limited.’ ABOUT THE GUEST Alon Kaufman is the CEO and Co-Founder of Duality Technologies, a pioneering company at the forefront of data encryption and privacy technologies. With over 20 years of experience in technology leadership, Alon has a rich background that spans across Big Data, Data Science, Machine Learning, and Cybersecurity. As a thought leader, Alon frequently speaks on topics related to Big Data, Cybersecurity, and Innovation. He is committed to advancing the conversation around data privacy and security. LinkedIn ABOUT THE HOST Sabine is a corporate strategist turned entrepreneur. She is the CEO and Managing Partner of Alchemy Crew a venture lab that accelerates the curation, validation, & commercialization of new tech business models. Sabine is renowned within the insurance sector for building some of the most renowned tech startup accelerators around the world working with over 30 corporate insurers, accelerated over 100 startup ventures. Sabine is the co-editor of the bestseller The INSURTECH Book, a top 50 Women in Tech, a FinTech and InsurTech Influencer, an investor & multi-award winner. Twitter LinkedIn Instagram Facebook TikTok Email Website