Dorota emphasises the unique contributions of women in cybersecurity and shares advice on starting a career in tech. With a focus on skills beyond technical expertise, Dorota highlights the path to excellence in the dynamic tech and gaming sectors.

Join us to get exclusive insights into her perspective on gender diversity and career advancement!

Expect to Learn:

• Evolving payment solutions to meet diverse customer needs.
• Challenges in navigating different payment regulations across countries and how G2A's comprehensive approach to security and AI-supported systems ensures a smooth payment experience.
• How G2A's hybrid model combines technology with human touch for optimal customer experience.
• Why Apple Pay and Google Pay have become popular payment methods for the masses.

Rusiru sheds light on his goals at The Clearing House, showcasing areas such as real-time payment networks, navigating emerging technologies, and shaping the future of the payment ecosystem.

As we dissect global trends, Rusiru is deeply engaged in addressing the requirements of the Fintech market.

Expect to Learn:

• Rusiru's real-world experiences and learning from challenges that shaped his entrepreneurial journey.
• The challenges of dealing with international clients and diverse payment laws, and when human intervention becomes essential
• The significance of continuous learning and passion in entrepreneurship for growth in the Fintech sector.

Ben outlines the company's goals, including tax coverage, supporting various tax use cases, enhancing year-round services, and embedding in financial platforms. Observing the global trends, Ben is currently focused on addressing the complex needs of the Fintech market.

Understand how Ben's investment experience has influenced his entrepreneurial approach. Exposure to diverse business scenarios, strategic decision-making, team selection, fundraising dynamics, and navigating industry trends have equipped Ben with a unique skill set for building a scalable and successful business like April.

Expect to Learn:

1. Real-world experimentation and learning from mistakes of Ben and the importance of hands-on experience in entrepreneurship.
2. How an entrepreneurial mindset is key in any profession?
3. How April copes with challenges for international clients, handles diverse tax laws, and when human intervention is required.
4. Varied business experience, strategic decisions, team selection, fundraising, and industry trend navigation build a unique skill set for business success.
5. The significance of continuous learning and passion in entrepreneurship for growth.

He explains the stages of the life cycle, including ideation, discovery, design, build, launch, grow, and scale. Jas emphasizes the importance of having a clear mission and vision to guide product development and differentiate in the market.

He also highlights the need for ongoing customer feedback and the role of customer success teams in gathering and prioritizing customer input. Joshua shares examples of fintech companies that have successfully implemented the product development life cycle, such as TransferWise, and provides insights on how to balance customer requests with the overall product strategy.

Expect to Learn

1. Gain insights into the stages of the product development life cycle in fintech.
2. Understand the importance of having a clear mission and vision in product development.
3. Learn how to gather and prioritize customer feedback for product improvement.
4. Discover examples of successful implementation of the product development life cycle in fintech.
5. Gain tips on balancing customer requests with the overall product strategy.

The episode discusses the changing landscape of the card industry over the past 12 years, with a shift from cost-driven decisions to a focus on technology and services. Carl highlights the importance of program managers and orchestration layers in providing a holistic set of services under a single contract, reducing complexity and costs for fintechs. He emphasizes the need for fintechs and established businesses to keep up with customer demand and the role of tech partners in helping them do so. The episode also explores Visa's role as an enabler and gatekeeper of payments, providing infrastructure and support to its members and partners.

What to Expect:

1. Insights into the changing trends in the card industry and the importance of technology and services over cost.
2. The value of program managers and orchestration layers in simplifying the launch of card programs and reducing costs for fintechs.
3. The role of Visa as an enabler and its commitment to providing value and support to its partners.
4. The importance of time to market and customer experience in launching successful card programs.
5. The future of the ecosystem and the potential for more program managers and orchestration layers to enter the market.

In this discussion, we explore the complexities of venture investments within the fintech sphere and discover Cubed's distinctive approach to fostering business growth. We delve into the art of timing in fintech expansion and examine the evolving perspectives of major financial institutions, the role of tech giants, and the centralization vs. decentralization debate.

Expect to learn:

• Causes of High Failure Rate in VC Investments
• How Cubed Aids Businesses
• The Art of Timing
• Big Banks' Perspective on Fintech
• Shaping Future Banking Strategies
• The Future of Banking and Payment Innovations
• Impact of Regulation and Liquidity on Innovation
• The Impediment of Innovation in Consumer Banking
• Integrations: Evolution and Limitations
• Why Tech Giants Hesitate in Banking

Ajit discusses his journey into fintech and the importance of transparency and authenticity in business relationships. He emphasises the need for fintech entrepreneurs to have a long-term perspective and to understand the target customer and their needs. He also highlights the value of combining technology, product, and commercial expertise in the fintech industry. Ajit shares insights on open banking and the opportunities it presents for small businesses. He provides advice on how fintech entrepreneurs can pitch to larger organisations and win deals. He also explores different models of collaboration between fintechs and banks, including supplier relationships, distribution partnerships, and strategic partnerships.

Key Takeaways:

• Transparency and authenticity are core values in business relationships.
• Fintech entrepreneurs should have a long-term perspective and understand the needs of their target customers.
• Combining technology, product, and commercial expertise is important in the fintech industry.
• Open banking presents opportunities for small businesses to simplify payment processes.
• Fintech entrepreneurs should put in the effort to pitch to larger organizations and be clear about their capabilities and roadmap.
• Different models of collaboration between fintechs and banks include supplier relationships, distribution partnerships, and strategic partnerships.

Aaron Carpenter, CEO of Transact Payments Limited, discusses the challenges and opportunities in the Fintech industry. He emphasises the importance of letting go as a founder and the dangers of not doing so. Aaron also talks about the evolution of Transact Payments and its role in supporting fintechs and companies looking to embed financial products into their offerings. He highlights the need for continuous improvement and the value of a good sponsor in launching a successful card program. Aaron also touches on the complexities of compliance and the impact of Brexit on the industry.

Key Takeaways:

• Letting go as a founder is essential for the growth and success of a business.
• Continuous improvement is key to evolving and staying competitive in the fintech industry.
• Choosing the right sponsor is crucial for launching a successful card program.
• Monetising a card program goes beyond relying on interchange fees and requires offering value-added services.
• Compliance and regulatory challenges are significant for fintechs and require thorough due diligence and a consultative approach.

Key Takeaways:

• The banking industry can only make money through risk, particularly in the provision of credit.
• Fintech companies face funding challenges and changes in the market due to new technologies and big sponsors.
• Customer inertia plays a role in the adoption of fintech products, but younger generations may be more open to alternative banking options.
• Traditional banks need to adapt to the threat posed by fintech startups and the changing preferences of customers.
• Friction can have value in financial services, providing security and confidence for customers.
• Fintech startups should focus on listening to customers and building their requirements into products.

Jeff discusses the current market landscape for fintech businesses and the opportunities that arise from the challenges they face. He highlights the importance of embedded finance in providing seamless financial services within non-financial experiences. Jeff also shares his insights on the future of banking, the role of AI in financial services, and the potential for AI to improve efficiency and customer experience.

Key Takeaways:

• The way credit is assessed and the outdated criteria used by traditional banks often exclude individuals and businesses from accessing basic financial services.
• Embedded finance involves integrating financial services into non-financial experiences, creating a seamless user journey and enhancing brand value.
• Marketa serves as an infrastructure platform, enabling its partners to leverage embedded finance and provide tailored financial products and services to their customers.
• AI has the potential to improve efficiency and effectiveness in various areas of financial services, including credit underwriting, customer service, product development, and risk management.
• While AI may replace certain tasks, humans will still be needed to review outputs, derive insights, and take actions. New jobs will also be created as the economy evolves.

Founded in 2015, Näktergal enables banks to scale, boost efficiency and enter new markets – making lending more straightforward and accessible to consumers and more intuitive for bankers. Its products include a business lending platform, a mortgage lending platform, a consumer lending platform and deposits.

In this episode:

1. Erik’s Career in internet banking services, where he built some of the first bank connectivity systems in the world.
2. How Naktergal was formed and how they are scaling
3. Legacy banking and mortgage systems still in place today - including excel.
4. Sweden/ the nordic’s relationship with house owning
5. The buzz of AI in banking, and how Erik see's it the same as the birth of the internet in 1999

Make sure to hit subscribe!

In this interview, Jeff talks about:

• Upstart's mission: making credit more accessible and affordable
• Challenges with the current credit score system
• Using AI to enhance the creditworthiness evaluation process
• Overcoming challenges with AI-based lending platforms
• AI and lending: the future of Fintech
• The importance of building difficult products

Learn more about Upstart here.

Find Jeff on LinkedIn here.

Listen to Jeff's Podcast "Leaders in Lending" here.

______________________________________

Launch and scale your fintech using best-in-class providers and create bespoke payment experiences. Your development team no longer has to waste time setting up each individual connection, they can get on with the developments that add value to your business.

Check out Integrated Finance here.

Thistle Initiatives is a regulatory compliance consultancy that helps businesses navigate the complex regulatory landscape by offering tailored solutions for businesses of all sizes. They guide companies through the process of bringing innovative ideas to market while ensuring compliance with the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulations. Nick and Lorraine have almost 40 years of experience between them, bringing the expertise needed to work in multiple industries to navigate the thorns of compliance.

In this episode expect to learn:

• FCA’s focus on retail consumers and vulnerable customers

The FCA places particular emphasis on retail consumers and vulnerable customers, ensuring that they have access to appropriate financial services and products. By prioritising financial awareness and protecting vulnerable customers, the FCA promotes a more inclusive and responsible financial services industry.

The FCA prioritises consumer protection and ethical conduct in the financial services industry. Drawing on lessons from the 2007-2008 financial crisis, the FCA aims to prevent consumer harm and promote accountability, underscoring the importance of transparency and ethical business practices.

The introduction of the Consumer Duty in July reinforces the FCA's commitment to protecting retail customers. This new regulatory obligation aims to ensure that financial services providers prioritise their customers' best interests and take necessary steps to prevent consumer harm.

Corporate users of financial services face different regulatory expectations compared to retail consumers. The FCA has implemented protections for small businesses and financial services users, ensuring that their interests are safeguarded and that they have access to appropriate services.

• FCA’s concerns about payment services firms

The FCA has expressed concerns about payment services firms, leading to increased scrutiny on previously authorised companies. As regulatory expectations rise, firms may face challenges in meeting these heightened standards, highlighting the need for robust compliance strategies and risk management practices.

Fintech companies must address the growing gap between banks and the regulator's expectations. Failure to do so could have potential consequences on consumer choice and market diversity, as firms struggle to maintain compliance while providing innovative and competitive services.

Another challenge in the ESG space is defining and measuring compliance. Clear specifications for ESG compliance are still in development, and the FCA is actively working on creating criteria for ESG labelling to help businesses and investors better understand and assess ESG performance.

To address regulatory challenges, Fintech companies can explore various solutions, such as absorbing regulatory capacity or leveraging banking-as-a-service (Baas) platforms. These approaches can help businesses navigate compliance challenges more effectively and maintain a competitive edge in the market.

• Approaching ESG compliance in Fintech

To approach ESG compliance in Fintech, companies should start small and set realistic goals. Developing company-specific policies and measuring progress is essential, as is leveraging data to demonstrate compliance and track improvements.

Embracing ESG initiatives can significantly enhance a company's brand value, attracting customers, investors, and talent. Additionally, ESG efforts can boost staff motivation by fostering a sense of purpose and pride in the]]>Part 2 of our conversation with Lorraine Mouat and Nick Hunt from Thistle Initiatives, who are at the forefront of understanding and navigating the latest developments in ESG in the financial sector. 

Thistle Initiatives is a regulatory compliance consultancy that helps businesses navigate the complex regulatory landscape by offering tailored solutions for businesses of all sizes. They guide companies through the process of bringing innovative ideas to market while ensuring compliance with the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulations. Nick and Lorraine have almost 40 years of experience between them, bringing the expertise needed to work in multiple industries to navigate the thorns of compliance.

In this episode expect to learn:

• FCA’s focus on retail consumers and vulnerable customers

The FCA places particular emphasis on retail consumers and vulnerable customers, ensuring that they have access to appropriate financial services and products. By prioritising financial awareness and protecting vulnerable customers, the FCA promotes a more inclusive and responsible financial services industry.

The FCA prioritises consumer protection and ethical conduct in the financial services industry. Drawing on lessons from the 2007-2008 financial crisis, the FCA aims to prevent consumer harm and promote accountability, underscoring the importance of transparency and ethical business practices.

The introduction of the Consumer Duty in July reinforces the FCA's commitment to protecting retail customers. This new regulatory obligation aims to ensure that financial services providers prioritise their customers' best interests and take necessary steps to prevent consumer harm.

Corporate users of financial services face different regulatory expectations compared to retail consumers. The FCA has implemented protections for small businesses and financial services users, ensuring that their interests are safeguarded and that they have access to appropriate services.

• FCA’s concerns about payment services firms

The FCA has expressed concerns about payment services firms, leading to increased scrutiny on previously authorised companies. As regulatory expectations rise, firms may face challenges in meeting these heightened standards, highlighting the need for robust compliance strategies and risk management practices.

Fintech companies must address the growing gap between banks and the regulator's expectations. Failure to do so could have potential consequences on consumer choice and market diversity, as firms struggle to maintain compliance while providing innovative and competitive services.

Another challenge in the ESG space is defining and measuring compliance. Clear specifications for ESG compliance are still in development, and the FCA is actively working on creating criteria for ESG labelling to help businesses and investors better understand and assess ESG performance.

To address regulatory challenges, Fintech companies can explore various solutions, such as absorbing regulatory capacity or leveraging banking-as-a-service (Baas) platforms. These approaches can help businesses navigate compliance challenges more effectively and maintain a competitive edge in the market.

• Approaching ESG compliance in Fintech

To approach ESG compliance in Fintech, companies should start small and set realistic goals. Developing company-specific policies and measuring progress is essential, as is leveraging data to demonstrate compliance and track improvements.

Embracing ESG initiatives can significantly enhance a company's brand value, attracting customers, investors, and talent. Additionally, ESG efforts can boost staff motivation by fostering a sense of purpose and pride in the organisation, ultimately contributing to overall business growth.

• The Elephant Carpaccio approach to compliance

The Elephant Carpaccio approach to compliance involves breaking down complex compliance challenges into smaller, more manageable tasks. By addressing each task individually, companies can make steady progress towards achieving their ESG and compliance goals, ensuring they don't become overwhelmed by the magnitude of the challenge.

Thistle Initiatives is a regulatory compliance consultancy that helps businesses navigate the complex regulatory landscape by offering tailored solutions for businesses of all sizes. They guide companies through the process of bringing innovative ideas to market while ensuring compliance with the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulations. Nick and Lorraine have almost 40 years of experience between them, bringing the expertise needed to work in multiple industries to navigate the thorns of compliance.

• The Organic and Non-organic Move Towards ESG

The financial services industry is witnessing an organic shift towards ESG, driven by a growing sense of social responsibility and increasing regulatory requirements. This is leading businesses to focus more on ESG factors to meet the expectations of shareholders, regulators, and customers.

The FCA's decisive actions on non-compliance, such as issuing strong warnings and imposing penalties, further emphasise the need for businesses to prioritise ESG considerations in their operations.

ESG has emerged as a significant global topic in financial markets, with an increasing focus on standardising environmental, social, and governance concepts across industries. This standardisation is crucial for facilitating comparisons and assessments of ESG performance among businesses.

• The Global Wave of Political Energy Supporting the ESG Movement

The Paris Agreement, signed in 2015 by 196 countries, marked a turning point for global climate action. The legally binding agreement aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, signalling a strong commitment from nations worldwide to address climate change and drive sustainable development.

This global wave of political energy supporting the ESG movement has made it increasingly important for companies to adopt ESG strategies and prioritise sustainability. This shift in focus is essential for businesses that aim to thrive in the long term and maintain a competitive edge in the market.

Despite the growing prominence of ESG, economic challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic have led to mixed growth in ESG adoption. Some businesses have resisted decarbonization efforts due to economic constraints, while others have been forced to prioritise immediate survival over long-term sustainability goals. However, the overall momentum towards ESG remains strong, and businesses that embrace these principles are likely to be better positioned for future success.

• The FCA Dear CEO Letter and ESG’s Role in Fintech 

The FCA's recent "Dear CEO" letter highlights the importance of ESG factors in the Fintech industry and the need for businesses to prioritise these considerations. Fintech plays a vital role in advancing ESG by offering innovative solutions that can help reduce the environmental footprint of financial services. 

However, concerns and debates are ongoing about balancing sustainability efforts with product innovation. Fintech companies must navigate this delicate balance to ensure that their offerings contribute to a more sustainable future without compromising their growth and competitiveness.

The FCA is committed to fostering a thriving and sustainable Fintech market by ensuring diversity in the industry and encouraging businesses to improve their product offerings. Balancing the costs of enhancing sustainability with the need for product innovation is a challenge that the FCA and Fintech companies must address...]]>As sustainability and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors gain prominence in the Fintech industry, experts like Lorraine Mouat and Nick Hunt from Thistle Initiatives are at the forefront of understanding and navigating these developments. 

Thistle Initiatives is a regulatory compliance consultancy that helps businesses navigate the complex regulatory landscape by offering tailored solutions for businesses of all sizes. They guide companies through the process of bringing innovative ideas to market while ensuring compliance with the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulations. Nick and Lorraine have almost 40 years of experience between them, bringing the expertise needed to work in multiple industries to navigate the thorns of compliance.

• The Organic and Non-organic Move Towards ESG

The financial services industry is witnessing an organic shift towards ESG, driven by a growing sense of social responsibility and increasing regulatory requirements. This is leading businesses to focus more on ESG factors to meet the expectations of shareholders, regulators, and customers.

The FCA's decisive actions on non-compliance, such as issuing strong warnings and imposing penalties, further emphasise the need for businesses to prioritise ESG considerations in their operations.

ESG has emerged as a significant global topic in financial markets, with an increasing focus on standardising environmental, social, and governance concepts across industries. This standardisation is crucial for facilitating comparisons and assessments of ESG performance among businesses.

• The Global Wave of Political Energy Supporting the ESG Movement

The Paris Agreement, signed in 2015 by 196 countries, marked a turning point for global climate action. The legally binding agreement aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, signalling a strong commitment from nations worldwide to address climate change and drive sustainable development.

This global wave of political energy supporting the ESG movement has made it increasingly important for companies to adopt ESG strategies and prioritise sustainability. This shift in focus is essential for businesses that aim to thrive in the long term and maintain a competitive edge in the market.

Despite the growing prominence of ESG, economic challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic have led to mixed growth in ESG adoption. Some businesses have resisted decarbonization efforts due to economic constraints, while others have been forced to prioritise immediate survival over long-term sustainability goals. However, the overall momentum towards ESG remains strong, and businesses that embrace these principles are likely to be better positioned for future success.

• The FCA Dear CEO Letter and ESG’s Role in Fintech 

The FCA's recent "Dear CEO" letter highlights the importance of ESG factors in the Fintech industry and the need for businesses to prioritise these considerations. Fintech plays a vital role in advancing ESG by offering innovative solutions that can help reduce the environmental footprint of financial services. 

However, concerns and debates are ongoing about balancing sustainability efforts with product innovation. Fintech companies must navigate this delicate balance to ensure that their offerings contribute to a more sustainable future without compromising their growth and competitiveness.

The FCA is committed to fostering a thriving and sustainable Fintech market by ensuring diversity in the industry and encouraging businesses to improve their product offerings. Balancing the costs of enhancing sustainability with the need for product innovation is a challenge that the FCA and Fintech companies must address together.

Fintech companies have inherent advantages in their ESG efforts, thanks to the digital nature of their services. By leveraging digital technology, Fintechs can eliminate waste, offer eco-friendly payment options, and develop loyalty programs that promote sustainable practices.

To expand their ESG impact, Fintech companies can focus on promoting financial inclusion and literacy initiatives, as well as extending their services to remote and inaccessible areas. By doing so, Fintechs can contribute to social and economic development, empowering individuals and communities while promoting sustainability.

• The Growing Consumer Interest in ESG and Sustainable Investments

As consumer interest in ESG and sustainable investments grows, there has been a surge in responsible investment funds. Consumers are increasingly seeking ESG information and making informed choices about where to invest their money, driving businesses to prioritise sustainability and ethical practices. This leads to opportunities for payment service providers. 

Payment service providers can capitalise on the growing consumer demand for ESG-aligned services by offering innovative and sustainable solutions. Embracing ESG initiatives can serve as a competitive advantage, differentiating providers in the market and positioning them as leaders in the industry.

ESG initiatives are gaining momentum globally, with the UK and EU leading the charge in promoting sustainable practices and policies. The FCA's commitment to ESG reflects its dedication to fostering a sustainable financial services industry, further solidifying its role on the world stage.

Following Brexit, UK regulators are focused on maintaining and enhancing ESG standards to ensure competitiveness within Europe. This commitment demonstrates the UK's determination to remain at the forefront of sustainable finance and regulatory compliance.

• The Importance of Governance in ESG: Senior Managers and Board’s Accountability

Governance plays a critical role in driving ESG initiatives and ensuring ethical business practices. The FCA's focus on governance, particularly within payment services and tech firms, highlights the need for strong oversight and accountability in promoting a sustainable financial services industry.

The FCA's Senior Managers Regime emphasises the importance of holding senior managers accountable for ESG implementation within their organisations. Boards should be prepared for increased scrutiny from the FCA in this area, as regulators look to ensure that ESG factors are fully integrated into business operations.

• Addressing Challenges in the Retail Space

Retailers today face numerous challenges, such as increased complexity due to multiple routes to market and a lack of consumer understanding. Stored. aims to address these challenges by optimizing experiences for consumers and removing friction from the purchasing process.

Danny and Lee noted similarities in the stages of development between the creator economy and the e-commerce economy. Stored. aims to solve problems faced by both creators and retailers, disrupting first-market movers and competitors by offering more flexible and valuable products targeted at the ever evolving creative community.

• Increased Complexity and Multiple Routes to Market

The traditional retail model has evolved dramatically in recent years, with retailers now having to manage various sales channels and customer touchpoints. The growth of e-commerce, social media, and mobile platforms has resulted in an increasingly complex environment for retailers. They must navigate multiple routes to market, including brick-and-mortar stores, online marketplaces, direct-to-consumer websites, and social media platforms.

This increased complexity poses a significant challenge for retailers as they attempt to create cohesive and consistent shopping experiences across all channels. They must also ensure that their supply chain, inventory management, and customer service systems are optimized to cater to these diverse sales channels.

• Absence of Consumer Understanding

Retailers often struggle to understand and cater to the ever-changing needs and preferences of their consumers. With the vast amount of data available through various sources, it can be difficult for retailers to sift through the noise and gain actionable insights into consumer behavior. This lack of understanding can lead to suboptimal decision-making and missed opportunities to connect with customers and drive sales.

• Stored.: A Solution for Consumers

Stored.'s primary goal is to create seamless and engaging shopping experiences for consumers. The platform achieves this by offering a unified interface that allows users to discover, save, and purchase products from multiple retailers in one place. This streamlined approach helps to eliminate the need for consumers to navigate between various websites and apps, simplifying the shopping process and increasing the likelihood of conversion.

One of the key challenges faced by retailers is the friction that consumers often encounter during the purchasing process. This friction can manifest in the form of complicated checkout procedures, slow website load times, and a lack of relevant product information. Stored. addresses these pain points by offering an intuitive and user-friendly platform that simplifies the purchasing process.

By removing friction and streamlining the customer journey, Stored. offers an attractive solution for both retailers and consumers. Retailers can benefit from increased sales and customer engagement, while consumers enjoy a more seamless and enjoyable shopping experience. In this way, Stored. is revolutionizing the retail landscape and paving the way for a more connected and satisfying future in retail.

• Comparing the Creator Economy with the E-commerce Economy

Danny and Lee noted similarities in the stages of development between the creator economy and the e-commerce economy. Stored. aims to solve problems faced by both creators and retailers,...]]>Danny Howe and Lee Hart are co-founders of Stored.: an innovative platform that aims to revolutionize the online shopping experience for creators, consumers, and retailers. Danny and Lee shared their backgrounds, motivations, and how their partnership has been crucial to the development and success of Stored.

• Addressing Challenges in the Retail Space

Retailers today face numerous challenges, such as increased complexity due to multiple routes to market and a lack of consumer understanding. Stored. aims to address these challenges by optimizing experiences for consumers and removing friction from the purchasing process.

Danny and Lee noted similarities in the stages of development between the creator economy and the e-commerce economy. Stored. aims to solve problems faced by both creators and retailers, disrupting first-market movers and competitors by offering more flexible and valuable products targeted at the ever evolving creative community.

• Increased Complexity and Multiple Routes to Market

The traditional retail model has evolved dramatically in recent years, with retailers now having to manage various sales channels and customer touchpoints. The growth of e-commerce, social media, and mobile platforms has resulted in an increasingly complex environment for retailers. They must navigate multiple routes to market, including brick-and-mortar stores, online marketplaces, direct-to-consumer websites, and social media platforms.

This increased complexity poses a significant challenge for retailers as they attempt to create cohesive and consistent shopping experiences across all channels. They must also ensure that their supply chain, inventory management, and customer service systems are optimized to cater to these diverse sales channels.

• Absence of Consumer Understanding

Retailers often struggle to understand and cater to the ever-changing needs and preferences of their consumers. With the vast amount of data available through various sources, it can be difficult for retailers to sift through the noise and gain actionable insights into consumer behavior. This lack of understanding can lead to suboptimal decision-making and missed opportunities to connect with customers and drive sales.

• Stored.: A Solution for Consumers

Stored.'s primary goal is to create seamless and engaging shopping experiences for consumers. The platform achieves this by offering a unified interface that allows users to discover, save, and purchase products from multiple retailers in one place. This streamlined approach helps to eliminate the need for consumers to navigate between various websites and apps, simplifying the shopping process and increasing the likelihood of conversion.

One of the key challenges faced by retailers is the friction that consumers often encounter during the purchasing process. This friction can manifest in the form of complicated checkout procedures, slow website load times, and a lack of relevant product information. Stored. addresses these pain points by offering an intuitive and user-friendly platform that simplifies the purchasing process.

By removing friction and streamlining the customer journey, Stored. offers an attractive solution for both retailers and consumers. Retailers can benefit from increased sales and customer engagement, while consumers enjoy a more seamless and enjoyable shopping experience. In this way, Stored. is revolutionizing the retail landscape and paving the way for a more connected and satisfying future in retail.

• Comparing the Creator Economy with the E-commerce Economy

Danny and Lee noted similarities in the stages of development between the creator economy and the e-commerce economy. Stored. aims to solve problems faced by both creators and retailers, disrupting first-market movers and competitors by offering more flexible and valuable products targeted at the evolving creative economy.

Both the creator and e-commerce economies have experienced rapid growth, fueled by the democratization of technology and the accessibility of online platforms. In their early stages, both economies focused on providing tools and resources for individuals and businesses to create, distribute, and monetize their products and services.

As these economies matured, they began to address more complex challenges, such as providing seamless experiences for consumers, optimizing supply chains, and integrating advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and augmented reality. Consequently, both economies now focus on delivering innovative solutions that empower creators and retailers to thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape.

• How Stored. Empowers Creators, Enhances Consumer Experience, and Overcomes Current Limitations

Stored. is transforming the way we shop on social media by empowering creators, enhancing the consumer experience, and addressing the limitations of current social media shopping behaviors. Stored. enables creators and brands to create shoppable listings instantly, making it easier for their followers to identify and engage with the products they promote. This not only increases customer engagement but also leads to a higher number of product purchases.

Currently, social media shopping is plagued by unconscious browsing, with users often not ready to buy immediately. They may screenshot products, cutting creators out of the buying journey, and reducing potential earnings from sales. Stored. addresses this issue by increasing conversion rates and ensuring creators receive their fair share of the profits.

Stored. acknowledges the importance of influencers and content creators in driving sales. By providing accurate measurements and compensation for their contributions, Stored. promotes the potential growth and future development of its platform, benefiting both creators and brands.

• Creators Becoming More Powerful than Brands

As creators become the entities selling products for brands, Stored. reduces the dependency on tracked links, discount codes, and coupons. This shift in power dynamics allows creators to cater to different buying journeys, whether a consumer wants to purchase a product immediately or save it for later. By removing friction and optimizing purchasing experiences, Stored. ensures a seamless shopping process.

In conclusion, as we consider the rapidly evolving landscape of the metaverse and future consumer behavior, Stored. is well-positioned to adapt and thrive in the AR/VR and metaverse realms. The platform presents numerous opportunities for growth and expansion, particularly as it integrates its core product philosophy with the emerging technologies.

Stored.'s core product philosophy revolves around connecting multiple channels, both online and offline, and focusing on the creator community and economy. This approach enables Stored. to be at the forefront of innovation and remain relevant in the ever-changing digital landscape.

As the line between physical and digital worlds continues to blur, Stored. is poised to capitalize on these future possibilities. By seamlessly adding products from both physical and digital realms, Stored. can integrate with AR experiences and capture real-world admiration, providing an immersive and engaging shopping experience for consumers.

When asked why he started Quetzal, Ed explained that he initially attempted to start his own company but faced several issues. After confirming these issues with his foudner friends, he discovered that there was a real issue with opening a business bank account, especially if you're in an industry considered as "high risk". He naively expected opening a business account would be as easy as opening a personal one, but he ended up dealing with huge forms and long wait times. When he finally received a response, it was often disappointing, such as "sorry not in our risk appetite" or "we need more information to continue with your request." Ed now understands why the background checks are necessary, but he believes the process could be better.

In this episode, expect to learn:

• Why do people underestimate compliance in the startup space?

Daniel asked Ed why he thinks people often underestimate compliance. Ed explained that people are spoiled by their consumer banking experience and fail to realise that businesses are easy to commit financial crimes from. He acknowledges that financial institutions are constrained by KYC requirements but believes they could put more effort into understanding businesses. Ed emphasised that honesty, preparation, and promptness are crucial when starting a business. Being transparent about high-risk business ventures is essential, and having all the necessary documentation ready to show and being quick to provide it will help startups establish trust.

• What does Quetzal Finance do?

Quetzal provides current accounts, debit cards linked to those accounts, and a concierge service that gives personalised responses. Ed created Quetzal to serve honest, high-risk businesses that were not being served by traditional banks. He believes that the effort to do extra compliance is not as high as current neo banks make it seem. By not charging high-risk businesses more than low-risk ones, Quetzal can attract customers that traditional banks cannot.

• How do you monetize a business like Quetzal Finance?

Ed explained that Quetzal will not be using risk-based pricing. Instead, the company will charge based on the size of the business. New startups may bank with Quetzal for free, and as the company grows and requires more services, Quetzal will begin to make money. For example, employee card programs are an additional service that Quetzal could provide for larger businesses.

Daniel added that APIs are changing the Fintech game, allowing startups to take the best of each service and integrate them into a one-stop-shop. When asked about the future of banking, Ed noted that the payments world is already at a very low price point, and being cheaper is not necessarily the best strategy. A clean and user-friendly product will make Quetzal stand out. Ed also predicts that AI will change the way people consume financial information and that automation will replace much of the excel analysis that analysts currently perform.

• How will Quetzal be different from other neo banks?

Ed stated that Quetzal's concierge service will differentiate the company from other neobanks. The concierge will analyse all financial transactions and give suggestions based on the business's needs. Although Quetzal does not have a customer support service yet, Ed personally provides the customer service number, showing Quetzal's...]]>Ed Bramwell has always been an entrepreneur, starting small businesses to earn pocket money. However, after working in consulting and inhouse in other companies, he realised he wasn't satisfied with the lack of autonomy he had. He always wanted to run his own company, and 18 months ago, he finally became a founder. Although that company didn’t work out, it did lay out the foundations for Quetzal.

When asked why he started Quetzal, Ed explained that he initially attempted to start his own company but faced several issues. After confirming these issues with his foudner friends, he discovered that there was a real issue with opening a business bank account, especially if you're in an industry considered as "high risk". He naively expected opening a business account would be as easy as opening a personal one, but he ended up dealing with huge forms and long wait times. When he finally received a response, it was often disappointing, such as "sorry not in our risk appetite" or "we need more information to continue with your request." Ed now understands why the background checks are necessary, but he believes the process could be better.

In this episode, expect to learn:

• Why do people underestimate compliance in the startup space?

Daniel asked Ed why he thinks people often underestimate compliance. Ed explained that people are spoiled by their consumer banking experience and fail to realise that businesses are easy to commit financial crimes from. He acknowledges that financial institutions are constrained by KYC requirements but believes they could put more effort into understanding businesses. Ed emphasised that honesty, preparation, and promptness are crucial when starting a business. Being transparent about high-risk business ventures is essential, and having all the necessary documentation ready to show and being quick to provide it will help startups establish trust.

• What does Quetzal Finance do?

Quetzal provides current accounts, debit cards linked to those accounts, and a concierge service that gives personalised responses. Ed created Quetzal to serve honest, high-risk businesses that were not being served by traditional banks. He believes that the effort to do extra compliance is not as high as current neo banks make it seem. By not charging high-risk businesses more than low-risk ones, Quetzal can attract customers that traditional banks cannot.

• How do you monetize a business like Quetzal Finance?

Ed explained that Quetzal will not be using risk-based pricing. Instead, the company will charge based on the size of the business. New startups may bank with Quetzal for free, and as the company grows and requires more services, Quetzal will begin to make money. For example, employee card programs are an additional service that Quetzal could provide for larger businesses.

Daniel added that APIs are changing the Fintech game, allowing startups to take the best of each service and integrate them into a one-stop-shop. When asked about the future of banking, Ed noted that the payments world is already at a very low price point, and being cheaper is not necessarily the best strategy. A clean and user-friendly product will make Quetzal stand out. Ed also predicts that AI will change the way people consume financial information and that automation will replace much of the excel analysis that analysts currently perform.

• How will Quetzal be different from other neo banks?

Ed stated that Quetzal's concierge service will differentiate the company from other neobanks. The concierge will analyse all financial transactions and give suggestions based on the business's needs. Although Quetzal does not have a customer support service yet, Ed personally provides the customer service number, showing Quetzal's commitment to its clients.

• What are the advantages of first working at a company like McKinsey or Rolls Royce

Ed worked at both Rolls Royce and McKinsey. He loved working at McKinsey and left on good terms. Working at McKinsey taught Ed how to work long hours and create good spreadsheet models and powerpoints. The best part of working at McKinsey was the community, including the ex-McKinsey community, many of whom were Queztal's first clients.

• What Ed envisions for the future of Quetzal Finance

Ed is excited about overcoming compliance issues and serving overlooked, high risk industries such as Web3 and Crypto. These industries face unique challenges that traditional banks and a lot of modern neo-banks aren't equipped to handle. Quetzal's personalised concierge service and commitment to understanding each business's unique needs make it an ideal partner for these types of high-risk ventures. Ed also mentioned that Quetzal plans to expand its services to include loans and credit lines in the future.

Listen in to the latest episode of The Finterview - Fintech Exposed to learn more about Ed’s perspective on the banking industry today and how Quetzal aims to provide a solution to its modern day shortcomings.

This is David Contreras’ conviction as he Co-Founded Zeru.Earth and the battle he has decided to lead. From fossil fuel engineer, through venture capital and eventually finding redemption by founding a startup that will drive real climate change, David now strives to make the world a better place.

In this fascinating episode of The Finterview, David walks us through what led him to abandon the fossil fuel industry and start having a positive impact for the world. He explains what the main challenges of founding a startup are, how surrounding himself with his two co-founders (including one he has never met) helps him overcome his impostor syndrome and continue on his journey… And much more!

Join us and listen to Amar’s interview with our guest: entrepreneur, founder and member of the Fintech Foundation cohort: David Contreras

What to expect:

• The drive to found a startup come at any time in your life, when you are impact driven

David had a promising career in one of the most controversial industries of our time: Fossil Fuel.

With his engineering background, he could have led a comfortable life climbing the corporate ladder. But something felt wrong.

After a few years working in the field, he reflected on how his skills could instead be used to help the climate emergency, being well aware of the situation because of what he saw behind the scenes.

David asked himself the best way to encourage climate action and drive real change for people, and after trying to make a difference as a VC, felt that his Fintech idea would have more of an impact.

Banking is a very opaque industry if someone wants to know their carbon footprint. People are willing to make a change to reduce their environmental impact, but they don’t have access to the data showing them the impact of their actions.

That is where Zeru.Earth comes in.

• How to become a climate super app

Like any startup, making a climate super app starts by partnering up with the right people. There is a huge ecosystem of startups, neobanks, alternative energy providers, carbon reducing and removing companies growing in the industry.

Mainstream companies have understood the critical importance of reducing their carbon footprint, not only for their corporate image, but because they recognise that if they want to be in business over the next few hundred years, they need to act on climate change now.

Zeru.Earth, a BTC (Business To Customer) app will aim at providing a clear, transparent overview of its users footprint, by breaking down after every transaction what the carbon footprint of the purchase was.

Customers will have live access, per category, of what their environmental impact is. Consuming red meat is one of the biggest factors - but transportation, household heating and finance are also huge contributors.

Zeru.Earth will then help the users reduce their footprint by advising on alternative energy providers, neobanks, and much more!

• How to drive a market into mass-adoption

People can be oblivious, and most would rather not face the truth than feel ashamed or guilty about the daily choices they...]]>Slowing down carbon emissions is not enough anymore. Participating in carbon removal is the new priority.

This is David Contreras’ conviction as he Co-Founded Zeru.Earth and the battle he has decided to lead. From fossil fuel engineer, through venture capital and eventually finding redemption by founding a startup that will drive real climate change, David now strives to make the world a better place.

In this fascinating episode of The Finterview, David walks us through what led him to abandon the fossil fuel industry and start having a positive impact for the world. He explains what the main challenges of founding a startup are, how surrounding himself with his two co-founders (including one he has never met) helps him overcome his impostor syndrome and continue on his journey… And much more!

Join us and listen to Amar’s interview with our guest: entrepreneur, founder and member of the Fintech Foundation cohort: David Contreras

What to expect:

• The drive to found a startup come at any time in your life, when you are impact driven

David had a promising career in one of the most controversial industries of our time: Fossil Fuel.

With his engineering background, he could have led a comfortable life climbing the corporate ladder. But something felt wrong.

After a few years working in the field, he reflected on how his skills could instead be used to help the climate emergency, being well aware of the situation because of what he saw behind the scenes.

David asked himself the best way to encourage climate action and drive real change for people, and after trying to make a difference as a VC, felt that his Fintech idea would have more of an impact.

Banking is a very opaque industry if someone wants to know their carbon footprint. People are willing to make a change to reduce their environmental impact, but they don’t have access to the data showing them the impact of their actions.

That is where Zeru.Earth comes in.

• How to become a climate super app

Like any startup, making a climate super app starts by partnering up with the right people. There is a huge ecosystem of startups, neobanks, alternative energy providers, carbon reducing and removing companies growing in the industry.

Mainstream companies have understood the critical importance of reducing their carbon footprint, not only for their corporate image, but because they recognise that if they want to be in business over the next few hundred years, they need to act on climate change now.

Zeru.Earth, a BTC (Business To Customer) app will aim at providing a clear, transparent overview of its users footprint, by breaking down after every transaction what the carbon footprint of the purchase was.

Customers will have live access, per category, of what their environmental impact is. Consuming red meat is one of the biggest factors - but transportation, household heating and finance are also huge contributors.

Zeru.Earth will then help the users reduce their footprint by advising on alternative energy providers, neobanks, and much more!

• How to drive a market into mass-adoption

People can be oblivious, and most would rather not face the truth than feel ashamed or guilty about the daily choices they make.

Making people face the realities of their carbon impact is David’s biggest hurdle to driving mass adoption for his super app.

David points out that the worst enemy of Zeru.Earth is the status-quo itself.

David has found that the financial industry is one of the most opaque when it comes to carbon footprint. People want to make a difference and reduce their environmental impact, but they don’t have access to the data showing them the impact of their actions. 

In addition, Zeru.Earth plans on adding rewards to their offer, in the form of discounts for green goods and services. This will encourage users to take action to reduce their carbon footprint while also saving money. 

Who wouldn’t go for a 20% discount at Patagonia?

• A modern day remote work startup

One of the unique aspects of Zeru.Earth is that it is a fully remote startup, with one co-founder in London, one in Switzerland, and one in Chile. 

Remote work has become an integral part of our current economy after the pandemic accelerated the public’s technical capabilities in the field. 

Now, the modern employee sees hybrid work as something they are entitled to rather than a perk. For companies, this has its pros and cons. While it is important to offer flexibility and improve work-life balance to retain talent, having a strong company culture is much more difficult, and you can’t have the same instantaneous brainstorming session.

David likes the fact that Zeru.Earth’s set up is so flexible, and being able to work across different time zones with his co-founders. At the same time, he is also looking forward to having offices set up in London as he feels he is lacking the hustling startup culture in his day-to-day life.

Listen to the full podcast interview with David Contreras from Zeru.Earth on The Finterview - Fintech Exposed episode 9 to learn more about his journey, the challenges of founding a startup, and the future of Zeru.Earth.

Omar Guizani, Founder & CEO of Slide decided to go the extra mile. Not only is he creating a business with heavy constraints when it comes to regulation, he also made his company’s objective to address financial issues faced by those who are often forgotten: migrants.

In this fascinating episode of The Finterview, Omar walks us through why he decided to drop his Law studies and his promising career, to focus on creating a Fintech with purpose.

Join us and listen to Amar’s interview with our guest: entrepreneur, founder and member of the Fintech Foundation cohort: Omar Guizani.

What to expect:

• Best founders are those that experiment the problem themselves the most

Nobody can better understand, relate and tackle a problem than those who face it.

Yes, it is possible to be a successful entrepreneur by bringing value to people, without ever facing their issues yourself. But making it a life mission to solve a problem that you are facing will give you a head start on your industry.

As a student, Omar faced problems when it came to receiving money from his family whilst he was studying in France. Delays, partial payments, compliance checks and hidden fees from money transfer companies were his everyday struggles. He therefore decided to solve it by creating Slides, so no migrant will have to face these issues in the future. 

• Having your own experience is good, interviewing 400 people within your target market is better

Believing in your product and developing a proof of concept is important. But you should always focus first and foremost on your clients. 

Having a clear understanding of who your target is and what their problems are, even in the most minute of details, can be what differentiates a successful Fintech from a failing one.

And there is no excuse not to.

Omar took advantage of his regular visit to his sister in Paris, to interview 400 migrants in Bellevue and understand clearly their financial situation and issues when it comes to sending and receiving money from their home countries.

This is how he was able to create a product that his customers love.

• Building the technical infrastructure is tough, but money transfer regulation is the real challenge

This is, for Omar, the biggest challenge Slide has had to face since day 1. 

Creating a money transfer company not only brings the difficulties of complying with local regulations, but also all the international ones related to international businesses in target countries, the fight against fraud and corruption, anti-money laundering and so on… 

Last but not least, migrants are sometimes "left out" of the laws, especially when it comes to their rights and how to facilitate their access to financial services. 

This can be tackled by bringing in the right people in your team, and surrounding yourself by competent and knowledgeable people. Such as in the Fintech Foundation.

• Monetising money transfer is hard, but not impossible 

It is known that lending is where the cash is. Otherwise monetisation for Fintech is complex. But there are some paths forward. 

When it comes to starting a company, Bobby believes that every great company begins with a great team. The creator economy is a perfect example of that. There are many tools that exist for the creator economy, but none for the financial services that are needed for most of the creators out there. Lobster Money aims to fill that gap by providing financial services to them.

• Why Building a Great Team is Essential for Success

Bobby believes that building a great team is essential for the success of any company. It allows for the sharing of knowledge and the achievement of synergy, enabling the delivery of products much faster and to a greater degree than the sum of the individual pieces alone. Founders need to align on a vision and work towards something great and big with their team.

As a founder, Bobby believes in finding a co-founder who fits and is committed to the process. He uses a list of 50 questions to explore with a co-founder and key partners such as mentors and investors to ensure that they align on skill sets, time commitment, and their personal exit strategy - a variable that Bobby is adamant is the key to aligning expectations in a team. He also believes in being as equal as possible when it comes to equity split, as time may not always be the main value someone brings.

• The Best and Worst Things About Being a Founder

Bobby admits that the hardest thing about being a founder is the fluctuations that can occur day by day. The idea that he had at the beginning of starting his entrepreneurial path was different from what he has now, and end-user engagement/ feedback played a big role in that change. As a founder, Bobby has high expectations for himself, and when he doesn't meet those goals, it can cause issues and make him feel like he's failing.

However, Bobby copes with these issues by using music to disconnect and clear his head or by talking to someone outside of the problem to get a different perspective.

For Bobby, the best thing about being a founder is the flexibility that comes with it. He has the ability to pivot his ideas or products, especially in the early stages when you have not spent too much of investors money or hired highly specialised team members. 

• Servicing The Passion Economy

Bobby is passionate about enabling those people who are part time creators alongside their main job, earning maybe only a few hundred pounds a month to have their side-income recognized by bigger financial institutions. He loves those sharing their passions with the wider world, and wants to encourage it.

Lobster Money aims to help the creator graduate from individual to business by providing financial services that can help them navigate sponsorship deals, payroll, payments and even help them understand the unique tax benefits for creators and understand what they can and cannot write-off.

• The Future of Lobster Money.

Bobby's goal is for Lobster Money to become a specialised bank for the creator economy. This could include retirement schemes for creators, helping them launch more businesses out of their content platform, and becoming an HR and payroll service for them.

With Bobby's passion for the creator economy, the future of Lobster Money looks bright.

Join Richard and Integrated Finance’s own CEO Alistair Cotton as they discuss the journey that he’s been on over the years. From university to working as a real estate agent then a foreign exchange agent to now being the Chief Evangelist at Currencycloud, a company he co-founded with 6 others in 2009. Richard Arundel has seen, and done, it all in the foreign exchange sphere. 

After a few years in the real estate market Richard moved into the finance sphere. His initial role was with a company called HiFX and involved partnership management. Companies would hand over their customers to HiFX to then process international payments for the customers directly. 

Currencycloud’s Beginnings

The idea for Currencycloud came about as a solution to stop taking customers from companies, and instead provide a technology platform to the businesses themselves to provide the cross-border payment services. 

The aim with this was to provide a better experience for the end user. And it worked. Having been in business for almost 14 years, Currencycloud has never been better.

The crux of the service Currencycloud provided was the cost transparency Currencycloud provided, something unique in the FX market. It came as an added bonus that they didn't need to partake in the immense sales grind foreign exchange had previously been for both Richard and Steve. Instead of selling to 100s, they sold to the one who then serviced those 100s. 

When is your Fintech a Success?

Richard can’t identify one specific point where the vision was validated and success became tangible. But he does reflect on the sense of validation the first few customers gave them. And the reassurance that their concept was worthwhile and the API was easy to use. 

Currencycloud slot in between the banks and the corporations offering the service to their customers.  A platform that levels the playing field so everyone has access to the best pricing for foreign exchange. 

Another sense of validation came when they brought in Mike, the CEO, in 2012, who put a team around the idea and helped grow it to what it is today.

Compliance and Regulations in Fintech.

Richard jokingly refers to currencycloud as a compliance company first, as working with other people’s money always comes with a sense of responsibility. On Top of that, banks have always seen them as a high risk business, and the scrutiny they were placed under was always a high bar. Putting technology at the heart of everything they did, internally and externally, enabled them to remain lean whilst dealing with this higher level of scrutiny. It even meant they sometimes had to turn down exciting opportunities in new industries because it might ruin their pristine record; but as Richard mentions it was definitely worth it. 

Should a Startup Build Tools Within or Bring in Partners?

Every startup team is faced with multiple instances where they need to decide which parts of their solution they build inhouse vs bringing in a partner to integrate a solution together. Richard’s advice on this is simple: if you can’t do it better yourself, make those partnerships. 

Technology being the heart of everything they do, Currencycloud has partnered with great companies to make it a success. And Richard says it was worth the money every time, because it means your team of engineers can focus on making products which bring the most value to the market.

What Happens After Visa Acquires you?

Currencycloud was acquired by Visa in...]]>Richard Arundel is the Co-founder and Chief Evangelist at Currencycloud, the Cross border payments experts now owned by Visa.

Join Richard and Integrated Finance’s own CEO Alistair Cotton as they discuss the journey that he’s been on over the years. From university to working as a real estate agent then a foreign exchange agent to now being the Chief Evangelist at Currencycloud, a company he co-founded with 6 others in 2009. Richard Arundel has seen, and done, it all in the foreign exchange sphere. 

After a few years in the real estate market Richard moved into the finance sphere. His initial role was with a company called HiFX and involved partnership management. Companies would hand over their customers to HiFX to then process international payments for the customers directly. 

Currencycloud’s Beginnings

The idea for Currencycloud came about as a solution to stop taking customers from companies, and instead provide a technology platform to the businesses themselves to provide the cross-border payment services. 

The aim with this was to provide a better experience for the end user. And it worked. Having been in business for almost 14 years, Currencycloud has never been better.

The crux of the service Currencycloud provided was the cost transparency Currencycloud provided, something unique in the FX market. It came as an added bonus that they didn't need to partake in the immense sales grind foreign exchange had previously been for both Richard and Steve. Instead of selling to 100s, they sold to the one who then serviced those 100s. 

When is your Fintech a Success?

Richard can’t identify one specific point where the vision was validated and success became tangible. But he does reflect on the sense of validation the first few customers gave them. And the reassurance that their concept was worthwhile and the API was easy to use. 

Currencycloud slot in between the banks and the corporations offering the service to their customers.  A platform that levels the playing field so everyone has access to the best pricing for foreign exchange. 

Another sense of validation came when they brought in Mike, the CEO, in 2012, who put a team around the idea and helped grow it to what it is today.

Compliance and Regulations in Fintech.

Richard jokingly refers to currencycloud as a compliance company first, as working with other people’s money always comes with a sense of responsibility. On Top of that, banks have always seen them as a high risk business, and the scrutiny they were placed under was always a high bar. Putting technology at the heart of everything they did, internally and externally, enabled them to remain lean whilst dealing with this higher level of scrutiny. It even meant they sometimes had to turn down exciting opportunities in new industries because it might ruin their pristine record; but as Richard mentions it was definitely worth it. 

Should a Startup Build Tools Within or Bring in Partners?

Every startup team is faced with multiple instances where they need to decide which parts of their solution they build inhouse vs bringing in a partner to integrate a solution together. Richard’s advice on this is simple: if you can’t do it better yourself, make those partnerships. 

Technology being the heart of everything they do, Currencycloud has partnered with great companies to make it a success. And Richard says it was worth the money every time, because it means your team of engineers can focus on making products which bring the most value to the market.

What Happens After Visa Acquires you?

Currencycloud was acquired by Visa in 2021. Richard loves working there now, as they have a common vision and purpose behind everything they do. Simply put, their joint focus is to “uplift everyone, everywhere, by being the best way to pay and be paid.”

A lot of trust is required to facilitate the success of technology when working with people’s money. Each team member needs to be motivated by, inspired by and fully understanding of what they do therefore so they can achieve this goal. Currencycloud is proud of their role as a trusted advisor in the foreign exchange market. 

Make sure you’re subscribed to the show on your favourite Podcast app.

This started Fiona’s passion for the niche of financial regulations and her inner nerd, who loves the latest regulatory updates as her bedtime reading, flourished.  

From here Fiona moved onto City Bank before deciding she wanted something more purpose driven and flexible. Not something you can find in a role with big investment banks. 

So she moved on to work at Transfer Lab. As a young startup themselves at the time, this meant Fiona wore many hats and got to have a taste of many of the different aspects of being a founder.

She saw the 10,000 foot perspective of working in a small company and loved it. It was very exciting for her. 

In this episode we walk through her story and the things she saw from a corporate position, with an entrepreneur view. 

Expect to learn:

• The importance of having immense passion as a founder

If you start your own company, you will spend a tremendous amount of intense hours in whatever you do. Because there is no way around. 

This is what getting a company off the ground means. It takes a lot of energy to kick things off, and it doesn’t stop when you start being successful. 

Therefore, if you are not totally sold on your vision, things might not play out well.

Many entrepreneurs look back at when they started and realize how little they knew about the troubles they were getting into, which would have probably restrained them from beginning in the first place if they had any idea. 

But this is what you need as a founder, believing in your vision, with sometimes an inch of boldness. 

• Big risks can work out, and it is ok they don’t.

You can either spend your life waiting to be perfectly ready, analyzing the nitty gritty details of the problem you are trying to solve and never get started. 

Or you can take the plunge. 

Sometimes this also means you need to take the risk that could pay big. 

Just bear in mind that failures are only learning opportunities. As is common to hear from founders, it is thanks to their previous companies that the one they are known for is a success. 

Fiona decided to take the risk of getting out of a corporate career and found ComplyFirst. 

• Solving a problem is much easier than finding the problem to a product/ service you have made

Too often founders are going the opposite direction and have a solution that they are trying to reverse engineer the problem for. According to Fiona it is much wiser to start from the problem and then find a solution. 

ComplyFirst came from Fiona recognising the pain point that all founders experienced trying to keep on top of the FCA regulations and requirements. The immense hours needed gathering data from different silos and collaborating with so many different areas could be done so much better. So Fiona set about finding a way to reduce this discomfort.

Taking her extensive understanding of the regulatory requirements, Fiona broke the information down into plain language everyone can understand and codified it to build the ComplyFirst platform. Ready to help new founders struggling to swim upstream in amongst all the confusing regulations from the...]]>Fiona Jelly is Founder and CEO of ComplyFirst. Looking back it was obvious from the get go that Fiona’s career was never going to take a ‘typical’ trajectory.  Fiona started her career out of university (after studying law) working at Goldman Sachs, in the compliance department. A perfect fit really since they were targeting lawyers for their natural understanding of the regulations at the time. 

This started Fiona’s passion for the niche of financial regulations and her inner nerd, who loves the latest regulatory updates as her bedtime reading, flourished.  

From here Fiona moved onto City Bank before deciding she wanted something more purpose driven and flexible. Not something you can find in a role with big investment banks. 

So she moved on to work at Transfer Lab. As a young startup themselves at the time, this meant Fiona wore many hats and got to have a taste of many of the different aspects of being a founder.

She saw the 10,000 foot perspective of working in a small company and loved it. It was very exciting for her. 

In this episode we walk through her story and the things she saw from a corporate position, with an entrepreneur view. 

Expect to learn:

• The importance of having immense passion as a founder

If you start your own company, you will spend a tremendous amount of intense hours in whatever you do. Because there is no way around. 

This is what getting a company off the ground means. It takes a lot of energy to kick things off, and it doesn’t stop when you start being successful. 

Therefore, if you are not totally sold on your vision, things might not play out well.

Many entrepreneurs look back at when they started and realize how little they knew about the troubles they were getting into, which would have probably restrained them from beginning in the first place if they had any idea. 

But this is what you need as a founder, believing in your vision, with sometimes an inch of boldness. 

• Big risks can work out, and it is ok they don’t.

You can either spend your life waiting to be perfectly ready, analyzing the nitty gritty details of the problem you are trying to solve and never get started. 

Or you can take the plunge. 

Sometimes this also means you need to take the risk that could pay big. 

Just bear in mind that failures are only learning opportunities. As is common to hear from founders, it is thanks to their previous companies that the one they are known for is a success. 

Fiona decided to take the risk of getting out of a corporate career and found ComplyFirst. 

• Solving a problem is much easier than finding the problem to a product/ service you have made

Too often founders are going the opposite direction and have a solution that they are trying to reverse engineer the problem for. According to Fiona it is much wiser to start from the problem and then find a solution. 

ComplyFirst came from Fiona recognising the pain point that all founders experienced trying to keep on top of the FCA regulations and requirements. The immense hours needed gathering data from different silos and collaborating with so many different areas could be done so much better. So Fiona set about finding a way to reduce this discomfort.

Taking her extensive understanding of the regulatory requirements, Fiona broke the information down into plain language everyone can understand and codified it to build the ComplyFirst platform. Ready to help new founders struggling to swim upstream in amongst all the confusing regulations from the FCA. 

• Why Comply First decided to team with up with Integrated Finance 

Giving back to the next wave of founders in the industry is their responsibility, having benefited so much from the learnings and knowledge of the founders before them.

This is why the team backing Integrated Finance are so passionate about seeing the next generation succeed. 

Not only is there the potential for some epic new ideas and solutions to come to fruition, but they thrive on the opportunity to help and support new founders in the unknown world they were once in themselves.

“Pay it forward” is a given in the Silicon Valley. And this is an attitude that Fiona and Amar share, as well as more and more founders of the ecosystem. 

Listening to this episode, you will also get first-hand insights and experience on the FCA regulations and how Fiona thrives into this world. 

And to hear about their views on the FCA, what’s working and what is... not. Sometimes the FCA’s desire to avoid consumer harm can result in a stifling of Fintechs, so how does Fiona see this improving?

It’s not about waiting to be perfect before jumping. It is about doing it and trusting you bring your own value to the table.

Yes, working in a Corporate environment might have some advantages. Such as Stakeholder management - a skill Denise credits to her success in business - both vertically as well as horizontally.

But being an entrepreneur also means starting before you are ready. When she started, Denise struggled trusting her own story and values. Which led her and her co-founder to question themselves every time somebody would challenge their idea or business. 

Trust and self-confidence come by doing, and becoming an expert in your field. And there is no faster way to become an expert than by starting a business that you strive to turn into a success story and live day in, day out.

At The Finterview, we love to talk to successful entrepreneurs. And we are very pleased to be joined by a successful female entrepreneur and co-CEO in this episode!

What to expect from our conversation with Denise:

• Your relationship with your investor is like a marriage

Customers are the most important part of your business.

But when you’re choosing an investor, you are almost choosing someone to marry. A customer can leave without causing any trouble. Troubles with an investor means a lot of legal paperwork, loss of assets and sometimes even ongoing joint custody… so you better make sure you are right for each other for the next 5+ years. 

When going for their series C funding, Denise and her team went on many “dates” with potential investors before closing the deal. You wouldn’t marry somebody without discussing prenups, how to deal with the kids or how you would tackle hard times together. 

You should have the exact same approach when choosing an investor. The only difference is, you can have multiple investors! 

• You can share the CEO position

In the beginning, when the line is still a bit blurry, it’s common for investors to want to know who is in charge. Aka, who is the CEO. 

For Denise and Monica, co-founders and co-CEOs of Enfuce, it naturally leaned towards a shared title as they were the “dynamic duo” from the start. 

If you and your co-founder see the future exactly the same, maybe you should consider it. 

The perk of that set-up is the tremendous level of support co-CEOs are able to give to each other. Especially in tough times, being together, at the same level, is life-saving. 

At some point, you will question the journey and wonder if being a founder is worth it. But unlikely at the same time as your co-CEO will. One will always have the energy to push the other, and vice-versa.

And the best part: the opportunity to also share the joy. Being an entrepreneur is a lonely journey. Being a co-founder can be your way of avoiding doing it alone.

But do not force yourself into this set-up, it will come naturally if it is the right one for you. 

• Surviving COVID taught Denise how to deal...]]>Denise Jonhasson, Co-founder and co-CEO at Enfuce reflects on how she joined the Fintech world. As someone who always challenged the status-quo and wasn’t afraid to put forward new ideas, she was almost destined to become an entrepreneur.

  
  

  It’s not about waiting to be perfect before jumping. It is about doing it and trusting you bring your own value to the table.

  Yes, working in a Corporate environment might have some advantages. Such as Stakeholder management - a skill Denise credits to her success in business - both vertically as well as horizontally.

  But being an entrepreneur also means starting before you are ready. When she started, Denise struggled trusting her own story and values. Which led her and her co-founder to question themselves every time somebody would challenge their idea or business. 

  Trust and self-confidence come by doing, and becoming an expert in your field. And there is no faster way to become an expert than by starting a business that you strive to turn into a success story and live day in, day out.

  At The Finterview, we love to talk to successful entrepreneurs. And we are very pleased to be joined by a successful female entrepreneur and co-CEO in this episode!

  
  

  What to expect from our conversation with Denise:

  
  
  • Your relationship with your investor is like a marriage
  
  
  

  Customers are the most important part of your business.

  
  

  But when you’re choosing an investor, you are almost choosing someone to marry. A customer can leave without causing any trouble. Troubles with an investor means a lot of legal paperwork, loss of assets and sometimes even ongoing joint custody… so you better make sure you are right for each other for the next 5+ years. 

  
  

  When going for their series C funding, Denise and her team went on many “dates” with potential investors before closing the deal. You wouldn’t marry somebody without discussing prenups, how to deal with the kids or how you would tackle hard times together. 

  
  

  You should have the exact same approach when choosing an investor. The only difference is, you can have multiple investors! 

  
  
  • You can share the CEO position
  
  
  

  In the beginning, when the line is still a bit blurry, it’s common for investors to want to know who is in charge. Aka, who is the CEO. 

  
  

  For Denise and Monica, co-founders and co-CEOs of Enfuce, it naturally leaned towards a shared title as they were the “dynamic duo” from the start. 

  
  

  If you and your co-founder see the future exactly the same, maybe you should consider it. 

  
  

  The perk of that set-up is the tremendous level of support co-CEOs are able to give to each other. Especially in tough times, being together, at the same level, is life-saving. 

  
  

  At some point, you will question the journey and wonder if being a founder is worth it. But unlikely at the same time as your co-CEO will. One will always have the energy to push the other, and vice-versa.

  
  

  And the best part: the opportunity to also share the joy. Being an entrepreneur is a lonely journey. Being a co-founder can be your way of avoiding doing it alone.

  
  

  But do not force yourself into this set-up, it will come naturally if it is the right one for you. 

  
  
  • Surviving COVID taught Denise how to deal with tough times
  
  
  

  Being a founder is tough. Being the (co-)CEO of a young company is tougher. Being a mother isn't exactly a walk in the park. 

  
  

  Being all three at the same time could seem close to impossible. Add a global pandemic to the mix and you get the perfect storm! 

  
  
  

  As a parent and the founder of a Fintech startup, you will always question whether you give enough to the kids or enough to the business. Having to deal with struggling employees, investors who think about leaving and customers struggling to pay definitely puts you in a rocky position.

  
  

  For Denise and Monica, this is the only time they both questioned their path at the same time.

  
  

  This is where believing in your ideas at all costs and relying on your founding team will get you where you need to go. Resilience is a key skill all entrepreneurs need to have if they want to be successful.

  
  

  Also, do not hesitate to speak up and voice your concerns with your close ones. Articulating the fear of whatever you are facing is what might just give you the strength to pull through. And you might realize that it is not as bad as it was playing in your head.

  
  
  • Denise’s take on how to be a successful female founder
  
  
  

  An opportunity for female founders is definitely networking in Denise’s eyes. 

  
  

  Needing help is not a bad thing, and it might come with amazing opportunities. If you are in such a situation, speak up and go through your network. This seems to come easier for men than women, but things are changing. 

  
  

  Daring to ask and believing in yourself will open doors for you. There is room for everyone’s success stories, especially for women who dare to raise their hand and transform their ideas into a real, tangible business.

  ]]>697ef019-7bbe-4a3d-879c-d185c1dfe440Wed, 07 Dec 2022 07:45:00 +000001:03:10falsefull14141Integrated FinanceEp 3. Being an Investor and Founder with ComplyAdvantage’s Charles DelingpoleCharles Delingpole is the Founder, Executive Chairman and former CEO of ComplyAdvantage. His previous entrepreneurial ventures also include The Student Room and MarketFinance, and he has impressively been an angel investor to over 150 companies.

  Charlie shares what he thinks should be the number one motivator for founders, how to build an A-class team (which he calls out as the most difficult part of being an entrepreneur), executing an idea it in a way that will be hard to replicate or copy, the thrill of becoming the chairman of your own company and invest in others people ideas… and much more!

  At The Finterview, we love to talk to successful entrepreneurs, investors and partners. Charles is all three! 

  What to expect:

  
  

  • Having an idea is not the number one criteria for success
  
  

  People have good ideas all the time. What makes an idea into a successful business is the way people execute it in order to provide value to their clients. 

  
  

  When striving to transform an idea into a company, Charles strives to identify how to both provide value as of day one to his clients, whilst making the business model hard to replicate. 

  The product marketing pitch is rather straightforward, it is delivering the service with premium quality that is challenging. 

  
  

  Why? Because you need to hire and nurture the right team for it. 

  
  

  • Building a team is the most complicated (and important) part of an entrepreneur’s life
  
  

  Even after having founded 3 companies, Charles still considers hiring and nurturing an A-class team as the biggest challenge of a founder. 

  
  

  The reason is simple: you need the right people, with the right skills, at the right time, with the right mindset, at the right place. Lacking any of those will lead to failure as a startup, especially in the world of Fintech which is such a fast paced environment. 

  
  

  But there is some good news, you can try, fail, and iterate. Hiring the wrong person doesn’t have to mean the downfall of your company. But you need to exit the person with grace in a timely manner, and keep the superstars. 

  
  

  A good hack is to benchmark between people within the same role, and identify the ones which will 10x your development. 

  
  
  • Passion is key
  
  

  As a business owner, or a pillar member of a startup, you are very likely to spend 95% of your time doing relentless, mind-numbing hard work, with occasional novelty and success. 

  
  

  You better be enjoying what you do, or other people that do enjoy it will do it better than you. 

  
  

  This is one of the easy pitfalls to run into. Founding a company requires you to focus on that one thing, for a (very) long time. 

  
  

  If you are able to intrinsically enjoy the day to day - whether that is customers, investors or employees driven - then you are on the right track. 

  
  

  Once successful and wealthy, you will have all the time in the world to invest in others’ ideas, and that will allow you to keep your interests sporadic. Until you start investing, as a founder you need to be single minded in your focus. 

  
  
  • Investors bet on you, not your business
  
  

  At least at the beginning. 

  
  

  When you don’t have financial statements, nor growth to demonstrate, but you need investors’ money, the only metric they can base themselves on is...]]>Charles Delingpole is the Founder, Executive Chairman and former CEO of ComplyAdvantage. His previous entrepreneurial ventures also include The Student Room and MarketFinance, and he has impressively been an angel investor to over 150 companies.

  Charlie shares what he thinks should be the number one motivator for founders, how to build an A-class team (which he calls out as the most difficult part of being an entrepreneur), executing an idea it in a way that will be hard to replicate or copy, the thrill of becoming the chairman of your own company and invest in others people ideas… and much more!

  At The Finterview, we love to talk to successful entrepreneurs, investors and partners. Charles is all three! 

  What to expect:

  
  

  • Having an idea is not the number one criteria for success
  
  

  People have good ideas all the time. What makes an idea into a successful business is the way people execute it in order to provide value to their clients. 

  
  

  When striving to transform an idea into a company, Charles strives to identify how to both provide value as of day one to his clients, whilst making the business model hard to replicate. 

  The product marketing pitch is rather straightforward, it is delivering the service with premium quality that is challenging. 

  
  

  Why? Because you need to hire and nurture the right team for it. 

  
  

  • Building a team is the most complicated (and important) part of an entrepreneur’s life
  
  

  Even after having founded 3 companies, Charles still considers hiring and nurturing an A-class team as the biggest challenge of a founder. 

  
  

  The reason is simple: you need the right people, with the right skills, at the right time, with the right mindset, at the right place. Lacking any of those will lead to failure as a startup, especially in the world of Fintech which is such a fast paced environment. 

  
  

  But there is some good news, you can try, fail, and iterate. Hiring the wrong person doesn’t have to mean the downfall of your company. But you need to exit the person with grace in a timely manner, and keep the superstars. 

  
  

  A good hack is to benchmark between people within the same role, and identify the ones which will 10x your development. 

  
  
  • Passion is key
  
  

  As a business owner, or a pillar member of a startup, you are very likely to spend 95% of your time doing relentless, mind-numbing hard work, with occasional novelty and success. 

  
  

  You better be enjoying what you do, or other people that do enjoy it will do it better than you. 

  
  

  This is one of the easy pitfalls to run into. Founding a company requires you to focus on that one thing, for a (very) long time. 

  
  

  If you are able to intrinsically enjoy the day to day - whether that is customers, investors or employees driven - then you are on the right track. 

  
  

  Once successful and wealthy, you will have all the time in the world to invest in others’ ideas, and that will allow you to keep your interests sporadic. Until you start investing, as a founder you need to be single minded in your focus. 

  
  
  • Investors bet on you, not your business
  
  

  At least at the beginning. 

  
  

  When you don’t have financial statements, nor growth to demonstrate, but you need investors’ money, the only metric they can base themselves on is you, and your team. 

  
  

  Hence the importance of your CV, your drive, your passion, and the same of the people that are doing it with you. 

  
  

  What is your vision? How well do you convince others of our company’s mission? Are the individuals in your team up to the task?

  
  

  Your ability to thrive in the niche you have chosen, may it be boring in the eyes of the investor’s eye, is what will make them invest in your company. 

  
  

  _______________________________________

  Links toward the topics we discussed during this interview:

  Charles Delingpole's LinkedIn Profile

  The Fintech Foundation

  Reach out to us at Integrated Finance! Integrated Finance Contact form

  ]]>71fff60a-6ffd-470a-987a-c6db78b0d067Wed, 30 Nov 2022 07:30:00 +000051:30falsefull13131Integrated FinanceEp 2. Fintech Super Apps with Currencycloud's Richard StockleyRichard Stockley is Director of Partnerships at Currencycloud, the cross boarder payment experts.

  
  

  Richard shares all - starting with his insights into the super app business model, the hardest parts and surprising benefits of being a founder, what the “North Star” of business should be, all the way to ideas on how to monetise a B2C digital bank business.

  
  

  This episode is filled with golden advice on how to approach the founder life-style and understand the ecosystem we evolve in as Fintechs. 

  
  

  Expect to learn about:

  
  

  • The struggles of banking throughout the world as an expat
  
  

  Richard’s journey made him live in most of the continents in the world, and we go back to his banking experience then. 

  
  

  From the post-dated cheques practice in Vietnam to the Grab super app in Indonesia. We talk about how we take certain services delivered in the UK and Europe for granted, when there are prominent places in the world where you still need to sign the receipt when you pay by credit card. 

  • The struggles and amazing journey of being a CEO
  
  

  Richard bought a small company that he ended up selling to Procter and Gamble. 

  
  

  This experience of being a founder is one of the most beneficial ways to learn more about yourself, and the importance of surrounding yourself with (smart) people to advise you. 

  
  

  Richard also shared his story about how he pivoted from being a civil engineer to a founder. It came from his fascination in the non-linear business models - optimising for 1 unit of effort in creating multiple units of results out. Something you just can’t do as an engineer/ consultant selling your time. 

  
  
  • What Currencycloud does, and why they partnered-up with the Fintech Foundation
  
  

  
  

  Working with people you love. Sharing a common company culture. Partnering with best in class founders and start-ups. 

  
  

  These are all the motives that pushed Richard and Currencycloud to team up with us at Integrated Finance. In the Fintech world, going into a niche is super important to ensure you understand your customers intimately. For Currencycloud, that’s being the best at cross border payments and FX.

  
  

  However, your customers will come back and ask you how you can help them achieve the next step. That’s where having a network of amazing fintechs in other niches will help. The Fintech Foundation can help you surround yourself with the best-in-class Fintech partners to deliver best-in-class services to your customers.

  
  
  • The criticality of continuing innovation
  
  

  
  

  The times ahead will be filled with pitfalls, the end of “no-strings attached” money and a huge talent shortage for Fintechs and startups at large. But thanks to all of that, it will be an amazing time for innovation. 

  
  

  Richard explains why these circumstances are the best to drive novelty, because the environmental pressures will bring new solutions into the light and foster a new wave of development and problem solving.

   

  • The North Star of business is understanding your customer, in the most...]]>Richard Stockley is Director of Partnerships at Currencycloud, the cross boarder payment experts.

    
    

    Richard shares all - starting with his insights into the super app business model, the hardest parts and surprising benefits of being a founder, what the “North Star” of business should be, all the way to ideas on how to monetise a B2C digital bank business.

    
    

    This episode is filled with golden advice on how to approach the founder life-style and understand the ecosystem we evolve in as Fintechs. 

    
    

    Expect to learn about:

    
    

    • The struggles of banking throughout the world as an expat
    
    

    Richard’s journey made him live in most of the continents in the world, and we go back to his banking experience then. 

    
    

    From the post-dated cheques practice in Vietnam to the Grab super app in Indonesia. We talk about how we take certain services delivered in the UK and Europe for granted, when there are prominent places in the world where you still need to sign the receipt when you pay by credit card. 

    • The struggles and amazing journey of being a CEO
    
    

    Richard bought a small company that he ended up selling to Procter and Gamble. 

    
    

    This experience of being a founder is one of the most beneficial ways to learn more about yourself, and the importance of surrounding yourself with (smart) people to advise you. 

    
    

    Richard also shared his story about how he pivoted from being a civil engineer to a founder. It came from his fascination in the non-linear business models - optimising for 1 unit of effort in creating multiple units of results out. Something you just can’t do as an engineer/ consultant selling your time. 

    
    
    • What Currencycloud does, and why they partnered-up with the Fintech Foundation
    
    

    
    

    Working with people you love. Sharing a common company culture. Partnering with best in class founders and start-ups. 

    
    

    These are all the motives that pushed Richard and Currencycloud to team up with us at Integrated Finance. In the Fintech world, going into a niche is super important to ensure you understand your customers intimately. For Currencycloud, that’s being the best at cross border payments and FX.

    
    

    However, your customers will come back and ask you how you can help them achieve the next step. That’s where having a network of amazing fintechs in other niches will help. The Fintech Foundation can help you surround yourself with the best-in-class Fintech partners to deliver best-in-class services to your customers.

    
    
    • The criticality of continuing innovation
    
    

    
    

    The times ahead will be filled with pitfalls, the end of “no-strings attached” money and a huge talent shortage for Fintechs and startups at large. But thanks to all of that, it will be an amazing time for innovation. 

    
    

    Richard explains why these circumstances are the best to drive novelty, because the environmental pressures will bring new solutions into the light and foster a new wave of development and problem solving.

     

    • The North Star of business is understanding your customer, in the most intimate way
    
    
    

    Don’t get too academic. 

    
    

    You need to understand your clients’ needs, ideally even before they have them. 

    
    

    This is enabled by having a clear, identifiable niche (such as the FX cross border payments niche for Currencycloud) that you clearly understand the customer for. That intimate understanding then needs to be mapped to your philosophy as a firm. 

    
    

    In this episode, you will also learn more about Richard’s view of how to monetise a B2C banking business in Europe (or not). How he began his career and ended up in the Fintech world. We of course discuss what he does at his company and how Currencycloud positions itself in the industry and towards startups. 

    
    

    ________________________________________

    Links toward the topics we discussed during this interview:

    Richard Stockley's Linkedin profile

    Currencycloud - Partners Portal

    
    

    Reach out to us! Integrated Finance Contact form

    
    ]]>45984de2-fa16-45fd-a6a6-ecf770355cd4Wed, 23 Nov 2022 07:30:00 +000056:23falsefull12121Integrated FinanceEp 1. Collaboration in Fintech with Mastercard’s Derren PowellDerren Powell is Vice president of Business Development for Fintechs at Mastercard and a LinkedIn influencer.

    The world of Fintech is one of the most challenging, thrilling and dynamic environments there is.

    One might also think that it's a highly-competitive place, where winner-takes-all. 

    Derren thinks otherwise. 

    
    

    In this episode of The Finterview, we discuss how Fintech founders and entrepreneurs should focus on partnerships and collaboration. Being clear on what you want to excel at and be known for is one of the key insights shared by Derren to be successful in the Fintech industry. 

    
    

    There is so much to still do in the Fintech startup world, that anyone can find their place by specialising and offering the best quality of service to their clients in their Fintech niche. 

    
    

    Derren also shares gold dust to help you grow and thrive in the Fintech start-up environment. 

    
    

    • Being active on LinkedIn is not important, it’s critical.
    
    

    
    

    Whether it is through sharing thoughts, business advice, funny memes, or with the sole purpose of making somebody smile, LinkedIn is a wonderful outlet and platform to liaise with people.

    
    

    It allows Derren to stay connected with the Network, and has brought him a tremendous amount of value and business opportunities.

    
    

    This is a result of the approach Derren has taken on this social media. But he emphasises the importance of never forcing an agenda. 

    
    

    People will reach out because you are authentic, not because you have something to sell them. 

    
    

    • People don’t buy from companies, they buy from other people.
    
    

    
    

    Authenticity, humility, integrity and transparency are the golden rules Darren applies in his day-to-day life. 

    
    

    Personal branding is often overlooked, as we focus on companies. But consumers buy from somebody, not from something. 

    
    

    Striving to grow your personal branding will inevitably allow you to harvest the fruits of your authenticity in the long term.

    
    

    • You can’t be fantastic at everything. Embrace partnerships. 
    
    

    
    

    The competition between Fintechs is nothing compared to all the creation of value that can be shared. 

    
    

    As a Fintech founder, you should aim to collectively blossom with your peers. Not grow alone. 

    
    

    Be very good at something. And partner up with somebody who thrives in your blind spots. 

    You will not only find best in class partners; you will also have a 360 degree offer and attract best in class clients. 

    
    

    Acknowledging your competition is important. But competition is critical to ensure that clients have choice and can make an informed decision. 

    
    

    • Circumvent the pitfalls that people who went before you fell for
    
    

    
    

    Working with Mastercard or joining the Fintech Foundation will allow you to benefit from the experience of dozens if not hundreds of founders who went through the same journey you are starting. 

    
    

    This is also the opportunity to be part of a movement that is bigger than yourself - at least at the beginning until you become the next Fintech unicorn. 

    
    

    In this episode, you will also learn more about Derren’s view of the banking industry, where he began his career, versus the world of Fintech today. We of course discuss what he does at his company and how Mastercard positions itself in the industry and towards Fintech startups. 

    
    

    Can’t wait to hear about all these topics and more? Then listen on!

    
    

    _______________________________________

    Links toward the topics we discussed during this interview:

    Derren Powell is Vice president of Business Development for Fintechs at Mastercard and a LinkedIn influencer.

    The world of Fintech is one of the most challenging, thrilling and dynamic environments there is.

    One might also think that it's a highly-competitive place, where winner-takes-all. 

    Derren thinks otherwise. 

    
    

    In this episode of The Finterview, we discuss how Fintech founders and entrepreneurs should focus on partnerships and collaboration. Being clear on what you want to excel at and be known for is one of the key insights shared by Derren to be successful in the Fintech industry. 

    
    

    There is so much to still do in the Fintech startup world, that anyone can find their place by specialising and offering the best quality of service to their clients in their Fintech niche. 

    
    

    Derren also shares gold dust to help you grow and thrive in the Fintech start-up environment. 

    
    

    • Being active on LinkedIn is not important, it’s critical.
    
    

    
    

    Whether it is through sharing thoughts, business advice, funny memes, or with the sole purpose of making somebody smile, LinkedIn is a wonderful outlet and platform to liaise with people.

    
    

    It allows Derren to stay connected with the Network, and has brought him a tremendous amount of value and business opportunities.

    
    

    This is a result of the approach Derren has taken on this social media. But he emphasises the importance of never forcing an agenda. 

    
    

    People will reach out because you are authentic, not because you have something to sell them. 

    
    

    • People don’t buy from companies, they buy from other people.
    
    

    
    

    Authenticity, humility, integrity and transparency are the golden rules Darren applies in his day-to-day life. 

    
    

    Personal branding is often overlooked, as we focus on companies. But consumers buy from somebody, not from something. 

    
    

    Striving to grow your personal branding will inevitably allow you to harvest the fruits of your authenticity in the long term.

    
    

    • You can’t be fantastic at everything. Embrace partnerships. 
    
    

    
    

    The competition between Fintechs is nothing compared to all the creation of value that can be shared. 

    
    

    As a Fintech founder, you should aim to collectively blossom with your peers. Not grow alone. 

    
    

    Be very good at something. And partner up with somebody who thrives in your blind spots. 

    You will not only find best in class partners; you will also have a 360 degree offer and attract best in class clients. 

    
    

    Acknowledging your competition is important. But competition is critical to ensure that clients have choice and can make an informed decision. 

    
    

    • Circumvent the pitfalls that people who went before you fell for
    
    

    
    

    Working with Mastercard or joining the Fintech Foundation will allow you to benefit from the experience of dozens if not hundreds of founders who went through the same journey you are starting. 

    
    

    This is also the opportunity to be part of a movement that is bigger than yourself - at least at the beginning until you become the next Fintech unicorn. 

    
    

    In this episode, you will also learn more about Derren’s view of the banking industry, where he began his career, versus the world of Fintech today. We of course discuss what he does at his company and how Mastercard positions itself in the industry and towards Fintech startups. 

    
    

    Can’t wait to hear about all these topics and more? Then listen on!

    
    

    _______________________________________

    Links toward the topics we discussed during this interview:

    Derren Powell's Linkedin

    Mastercard - Fintech Community

    The Fintech Foundation

    
    

    Reach out to us at Integrated Finance! Integrated Finance Contact form

    ]]>0348edbd-2b05-45b8-b100-9cfeb395dccdWed, 16 Nov 2022 07:00:00 +000049:29falsefull11111Integrated Finance