Finovate Podcast

Finovate Podcast
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Finovate showcases cutting-edge banking and financial technology through a global conference series featuring short-form demos and insightful expert takeaways. The Finovate Podcast, hosted by Greg Palmer, carries those conversations and ideas forward, with a concise, interview-based format based on Finovate’s signature 7-minute demos. Guests include leading fintech innovators, bankers, analysts, and more sharing their thoughts and predictions on the future of financial technology.

  1. 6D AGO

    A conversation around consumer-focused AI in finance and EVA, Experian’s new AI platform

    In this episode, host Greg Palmer sits down with Debbie Hsu, EVP of Product at Experian, to discuss the company’s innovative approach to empowering consumers through technology. Debbie shares insights into her role at Experian, where she leads product development for North America’s consumer services. She highlights Experian’s mission to bring financial power to all by leveraging data and technology responsibly, creating tools that help consumers better understand and manage their financial situations with confidence. Debbie’s passion for solving meaningful problems at scale shines through as she explains how Experian is working to make a real impact on consumers’ financial lives. The conversation focuses on Experian’s virtual assistant, EVA, a consumer-first AI tool designed to simplify complex financial questions and provide actionable guidance. Available through the Experian app and website, EVA helps users navigate tasks like improving credit scores with Experian Boost, freezing credit files during data breaches, and understanding spending and cash flow insights. Debbie emphasizes the importance of finance-specific AI tools like EVA, which are built on trusted data and domain expertise, as opposed to generic AI solutions that may provide misleading or incomplete advice. She also shares how real-world consumer interactions with EVA have revealed a strong need for clarity on financial fundamentals, such as credit scores, debt management, and identity protection. Debbie concludes by discussing the critical role of trust in AI-driven financial tools. She outlines Experian’s commitment to transparency, high-quality data, and strong governance to ensure EVA acts in consumers’ best interests. By empowering users to stay in control of their financial decisions and providing personalized, explainable recommendations, Experian aims to build lasting trust with its customers. This episode offers valuable insights into how consumer-centric AI can address real financial challenges and create a more inclusive financial ecosystem. More info: Experian: https://www.experian.com/; https://www.linkedin.com/company/experian/ EVA: https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/what-is-eva/ Debbie Hsu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-hsu/ Greg Palmer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregbpalmer/ Finovate: https://www.finovate.com; https://www.linkedin.com/company/finovate-conference-series/ FinovateSpring: https://informaconnect.com/finovatespring/ #Finovate #FinovateSpring #Banking #banks #Experian #EVA #consumer #credit #lending #digitaladoption #cx #podcast #fintechpodcast #financialservices #innovation #digitraltransformation #fintech #finserv #modernization

    20 min

  2. APR 10

    Small businesses, credit, and creating opportunity – inside the work being done by the Accion Opportunity Fund

    In this episode, Greg sits down with Luz Urrutia, CEO of the Accion Opportunity Fund (AOF), to explore the critical role of small businesses in the economy and the challenges they face in accessing capital. Luz shares her personal journey as a Venezuelan immigrant and her experience with the U.S. banking system, which inspired her to lead AOF in creating economic opportunities for underserved small business owners. As a digital-first nonprofit lender and community development financial institution (CDFI), AOF provides affordable loans, educational tools, and support networks to help small businesses thrive, particularly those in low-income or distressed communities. Luz delves into the innovative approach AOF takes to bridge the $100 billion capital gap for small business loans. Combining technology, data analytics, and human judgment, AOF ensures that unbankable yet financeable business owners receive the support they need. Beyond lending, AOF emphasizes education, offering free resources, webinars, coaching, and a new digital accelerator program in partnership with Ripple. This initiative equips small business owners with digital tools and skills in areas like payments, automation, and marketing, while also providing grants to help them implement their learnings. Looking ahead, Luz discusses the evolving small business landscape, highlighting the growing importance of AI, the rise of micro-businesses, and the resilience of entrepreneurs in adapting to challenges. She underscores the need for access to capital and support systems as key factors in driving success. With a focus on measurable outcomes, AOF has deployed over $1 billion in loans, created significant economic impact, and helped millions of small business owners improve their financial standing. This episode offers a compelling look at how fintech innovation and intentional support can transform lives and communities. More info: Accion Opportunity Fund: https://aofund.org/; https://www.linkedin.com/company/accion-opportunity-fund/ Luz Urrutia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luz-urrutia/ Greg Palmer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregbpalmer/ Finovate: https://www.finovate.com; https://www.linkedin.com/company/finovate-conference-series/ FinovateSpring: https://informaconnect.com/finovatespring/ #Finovate #FinovateSpring #Banking #banks #SMB #payments #credit #lending #digitaladoption #cx #podcast #fintechpodcast #financialservices #innovation #digitraltransformation #fintech #finserv #modernization

    21 min

  3. MAR 26

    EP 290: Payments, SMBs, and fintech adoption across Europe – a talk with Unzer’s CEO

    In this episode of the Finovate podcast, host Greg Palmer sits down with Robert Bueninck, CEO of Unzer, to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing small and medium-sized businesses in the digital payments space. Robert introduces Unzer as a European fintech focused on providing a unified commerce suite for businesses, enabling them to integrate online, in-store, and mobile payments into one ecosystem. He highlights the unique dynamics of the German market, where cash transactions still dominate, and explains how cultural factors, privacy concerns, and banking practices contribute to this trend. The conversation also touches on the differences in payment methods across Europe and the global innovation happening in markets like India, Brazil, and Asia. The discussion shifts to the struggles small businesses face in adapting to the digital economy, particularly in providing seamless customer experiences and accessing financial services. Robert emphasizes the need for tools that help local businesses innovate and compete, especially as the lines between online and offline commerce blur. He also points out the shortcomings of traditional banks in serving small businesses, such as slow processes and poor user experiences, which have opened the door for neo-banks and challenger banks to step in. The impact of COVID-19 on accelerating digital adoption among small businesses is explored, with examples of how local retailers have embraced online transactions and unified payment experiences. Finally, the episode delves into the role of policymakers and regulators in shaping the future of digital payments. Robert critiques the European regulatory environment, calling for a shift in focus from compliance paperwork to solving real-world problems. He uses the analogy of traffic rules to illustrate the complexity of the digital payments landscape and the need for a more pragmatic approach to regulation. The episode concludes with an exciting announcement about Unzer’s launch of Unzer Financial Services, which aims to provide merchants with a complete ecosystem for managing payments, accounts, and spending—all from a single platform. More info: Unzer: https://www.unzer.com/en/ ; https://www.linkedin.com/company/unzer/ Robert Bueninck https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertbueninck/ Greg Palmer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregbpalmer/ Finovate: https://www.finovate.com; https://www.linkedin.com/company/finovate-conference-series/ FinovateEurope: https://informaconnect.com/finovateeurope/ #Finovate #FinovateEurope #Banking #banks #SMB #payments #digitaladoption #cx #podcast #fintechpodcast #financialservices #innovation #digitraltransformation #fintech #finserv #modernization #unzer

    14 min

  4. MAR 20

    EP 289: FinovateEurope Best of Show winner R34DY on reliable AI interactions with legacy systems

    In this episode of the Finovate podcast, host Greg Palmer wraps up conversations with the FinovateEurope Best of Show winners, featuring Márk Hetényi, CEO of Ready. Márk introduces R34DY’s innovative platform, which specializes in context engineering to create deterministic maps of systems for AI agents. This technology enables reliable answers for tasks such as documentation, bug fixing, data mapping, and process modeling, addressing the growing demand for AI solutions in financial institutions.Márk also highlights the evolution of R34DY’s platform since its debut at FinovateEurope last year, emphasizing its ability to deliver precise and reliable results for complex systems. The discussion delves into the increasing adoption of AI in the financial sector, with Márk sharing insights from his global engagements with banks and institutions. He notes the challenges banks face in applying AI to legacy systems and complex architectures, emphasizing the need for deep AI knowledge and deterministic approaches to overcome these hurdles. Márk also highlights the growing belief in AI’s potential to tackle more complex tasks, such as system transformations, while addressing the limitations of traditional AI solutions that often produce unreliable results. Márk concludes by discussing R34DY’s vision for democratizing AI technology, making it accessible to smaller and medium-sized institutions that lack the resources of larger banks. He shares his excitement about helping these organizations achieve the same level of efficiency and innovation as their larger counterparts. The episode also touches on Márk’s advice for fintechs preparing for events like Finovate, emphasizing the importance of engaging demos and genuine networking to make the most of such opportunities. More info: Ablements by R34DY: https://ablements.com/ ; https://www.linkedin.com/company/r34dy/ Márk Hetényi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markhetenyi/ Greg Palmer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregbpalmer/ Finovate: https://www.finovate.com; https://www.linkedin.com/company/finovate-conference-series/ FinovateEurope: https://informaconnect.com/finovateeurope/  #Finovate #FinovateEurope #Banking #banks #llm #legacycode #AI #cx #podcast #fintechpodcast #financialservices #innovation #digitraltransformation #fintech #finserv #modernization #financialrisk #r34dy #ablements #corebanking

    17 min

  5. MAR 11

    EP 288: FinovateEurope Best of Show winner Tweezr on updating legacy systems through LLMs and AI

    In this episode of the Finovate Podcast, host Greg Palmer interviews Ohad Kotler, co-founder and CEO of Tweezr, one of the Best of Show winners at FinovateEurope. Ohad shares insights into Tweezr’s innovative approach to addressing legacy systems in banking, emphasizing the importance of understanding and reverse-engineering existing systems rather than replacing them outright. He explains how Tweezr combines bottom-up analysis of source code with top-down perspectives on banking operations to create robust capability maps, enabling businesses to design effective changes and evolve their systems. Ohad’s firsthand experience with legacy system challenges at ING has shaped Tweezr’s AI-native solution, which leverages large language models (LLMs) to provide meaningful insights and facilitate decision-making. The conversation delves into the technical aspects of Tweezr’s solution and its unique ability to bridge the gap between deterministic code analysis and business-oriented frameworks. Ohad highlights the importance of clarity, safety, and human oversight in managing legacy systems, especially in the context of AI-driven modernization efforts. He also discusses the recent announcement by Anthropic regarding Cloud Code’s ability to modernize systems, noting its impressive speed but emphasizing the need for complementary solutions like Tweezr to ensure stability and meaningful change. The discussion underscores Tweezr’s focus on enabling businesses to understand and evolve their systems effectively, while addressing the inherent challenges of legacy code. As the episode concludes, Ohad reflects on Tweezr’s momentum following back-to-back Best of Show wins at FinovateEurope. He shares how the event has facilitated valuable conversations with major banks and core banking solution providers, opening doors for collaboration and growth. With plans to continue evolving their solution and engaging with the banking industry, Tweezr aims to play a key role in the global transition toward modernized banking systems. This episode offers a fascinating look at the intersection of AI, legacy systems, and the future of banking technology. More info: Tweezr: https://www.tweezr.io/ ; https://www.linkedin.com/company/tweezr/ Ohad Kotler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ohad-kotler/ Greg Palmer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregbpalmer/ Finovate: https://www.finovate.com; https://www.linkedin.com/company/finovate-conference-series/ FinovateEurope: https://informaconnect.com/finovateeurope/ #Finovate #FinovateEurope #Banking #banks #llm #legacycode #AI #cx #podcast #fintechpodcast #financialservices #innovation #digitraltransformation #fintech #finserv #modernization #financialrisk #tweezr #corebanking

    9 min

  6. MAR 5

    FinovateEurope Best of Show winner Serene on behavioral intelligence and early risk indicators.

    In this episode of the Finovate Podcast, host Greg Palmer interviews Savannah Price, founder and CEO of Serene, one of the Best of Show winners at FinovateEurope 2026.

    9 min

  7. FEB 4

    EP 286: Bridging the wisdom gap: AI in the investment space

    In this episode of the Finovate Podcast, host Greg Palmer sits down with Dor Eligula, co-founder and Chief Business Officer at Bridgewise, to explore how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the investment and wealth management industries. Dor shares insights into his personal journey, the founding of Bridgewise, and the company’s mission to bridge the wisdom gap in financial services. With a focus on enabling smarter investment decisions, Bridgewise leverages cutting-edge AI technologies to serve a diverse range of clients, from retail investors to brokers, advisors, and quant hedge funds. Dor delves into the transformative impact of AI on both individual and institutional investors. He explains how Bridgewise uses AI to analyze 70,000 financial instruments daily across 18 languages, providing detailed insights into stocks, ETFs, ESG factors, and more. The platform’s ability to convert unstructured data into actionable intelligence empowers users to make informed decisions, while its agentic AI layer orchestrates portfolio management at an unprecedented scale. Dor also highlights the psychological benefits of informed investing, emphasizing how better tools and processes can enhance investor confidence—even in the face of losses. The conversation concludes with a look at global trends and the future of AI in wealth management. Dor discusses regional differences in AI adoption, comparing markets like the US and Japan, and predicts the rise of niche-focused AI applications as the next wave of innovation. He shares his vision for Bridgewise as a leader in AI for wealth and offers insights into the broader economic implications of AI advancements. Packed with valuable perspectives, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of technology and finance. More info: Bridgewise: https://bridgewise.com/; https://www.linkedin.com/company/bridgewise/ Dor Eligula: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doreligula/ Greg Palmer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregbpalmer/ Finovate: https://www.finovate.com; https://www.linkedin.com/company/finovate-conference-series/ FinovateEurope: https://informaconnect.com/finovateeurope/ #Finovate #FinovateEurope #Banking #banks #investing #wealthmanagement #AI #research #podcast #fintechpodcast #financialservices #innovation #digitraltransformation #fintech #finserv #modernization #businessintelligence #capital #wealth

    18 min

  8. JAN 28

    EP 285: A VC perspective on fintech investment trends and advice on how to stand out from the crowd

    In this episode of the Finovate podcast, host Greg Palmer sits down with Matt Ober, Managing Partner at Social Leverage, to discuss the dynamic world of venture capital in the fintech space. Matt shares insights into Social Leverage’s focus on seed-stage investments, highlighting their success as early investors in companies like Robinhood, eToro, and Alpaca. With the recent close of their fifth fund, an $85 million venture, Matt reflects on the current investment landscape, emphasizing the influx of capital into AI-driven solutions and the evolving opportunities in financial services driven by regulatory changes and technological advancements. The conversation delves into the role of AI in reshaping industries, particularly in financial services. Matt discusses how AI is enabling companies to streamline operations, reduce costs, and rethink traditional business models. He highlights the importance of leveraging AI for tasks like data collection, organization, and analysis, which can significantly enhance decision-making processes. While acknowledging the imperfections of AI, Matt stresses the importance of transparency, auditability, and critical thinking when utilizing AI tools. He also shares his perspective on the future of financial services, predicting the rise of super apps, tokenization, and global investment opportunities that will simplify access to private and public markets. Finally, Matt offers valuable advice for fintech founders looking to stand out in a crowded space. He emphasizes the importance of networking, securing warm introductions, and targeting the right investors who align with their vision. He also warns against common mistakes, such as raising money from unsuitable investors or structuring teams ineffectively. The episode concludes with Matt’s predictions for the next five years, including the blending of investing, gambling, and prediction markets, as well as the global expansion of investment opportunities. With San Diego hosting FinovateSpring, Matt also shares his enthusiasm for the city’s vibrant business ecosystem and lifestyle, making it an ideal destination for innovators and investors alike. More info: Social Leverage: https://www.socialleverage.com/; https://www.linkedin.com/company/socialleverage/ Matt Ober: https://www.linkedin.com/in/obermattj/ Greg Palmer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregbpalmer/ Finovate: https://www.finovate.com; https://www.linkedin.com/company/finovate-conference-series/ FinovateSpring: https://informaconnect.com/finovatespring/ #Finovate #FinovateSpring #Banking #banks #venturecapital #fintechVC #AI #SMEfintech #podcast #fintechpodcast #financialservices #innovation #digitraltransformation #fintech #finserv #modernization #diversity #capital

    18 min
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About

Finovate showcases cutting-edge banking and financial technology through a global conference series featuring short-form demos and insightful expert takeaways. The Finovate Podcast, hosted by Greg Palmer, carries those conversations and ideas forward, with a concise, interview-based format based on Finovate’s signature 7-minute demos. Guests include leading fintech innovators, bankers, analysts, and more sharing their thoughts and predictions on the future of financial technology.

Information

  • Creator
    Finovate Podcast
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    291
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Finovate Podcast
  • Show Website
    Finovate Podcast

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