Voice of FinTech‪®‬ Voice of FinTech

Patrick Gauthier, Group CEO, Director & Chair Convera USA, Director and Chair Convera Europe Financial S.A., spoke to Rudolf Falat, founder of the Voice of FinTech podcast, about helping SMEs manage cross-border payments and more.
Here is what they covered in more detail:
Patrick, as a key figure in the payments sector, could you share your professional journey and how it led you to your current role at Convera?What problem are you solving at Convera, and why is it worth solving? Why are B2B payments special, and why they have been slower to innovateHow do B2B cross-border payment needs for SMEs differ from individuals or large corporations? How can you help? Who are your key clients?Which supporting technologies do you see as most promising for the payments sector? What’s your technology angle, or do you have more brilliant engineers than other players?Do you see real-time payments on the rise in the coming years? How are they relevant for B2B transactions? Will there be no more trade credit? Looking ahead, what are the key milestones that Convera aims to achieve in the near future, and how do you plan to reach them?Favorite business book: Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap & Others Don't by Jim CollinsWhat’s the best way to reach out: Patrick Gauthier on LinkedIn 

Hana Rolles, CEO of Paynetics UK, spoke to Rudolf Falat, founder of the Voice of FinTech podcast, about B2B payments, embedded finance, and more.
Here is what they covered in more detail: 
Hana's journey from an incumbent (VISA) to a start-up (Paynetics)Why are B2B payments special, and how do they fit into Embedded Finance worldWhat is Paynetics' solution, and what is unique about it? Where do they sit compared to the classic four-party card payment ecosystem?Key clientsTechnology angleWill we see digital payments and e-commerce on the rise in the coming years?Which supporting technologies do you see as most promising for the payments sector? Digital identity, blockchain, crypto, instant payments and moreKey milestones ahead of PayneticsWhat's your favorite business book? What Got You Here Won't GetWon'tThere: How Successful People Become Even More SuccessfulHow to reach out: check out Hana Rolles on LinkedIn.

Sarah Biller, co-founder of Fintech Sandbox, VC investor and board member and American Banker Top 20 Most Influential Women in Fintech, spoke to Rudolf Falat, founder of the Voice of FinTech podcast, about data accessibility and how her initiative, Fintech Sandbox, helps.
Sarah talked about her journey and how she got involved in the start-up ecosystem. During the podcast, she provided an overview of  Vantage Ventures and Fintech Sandbox, including what sets them apart and their unique focuses. She also covered her key themes for investing and helping to build businesses: financial inclusion, diversity, and digital identity. Sarah also shared her best tips for entrepreneurs to grow their companies. Further, Sarah also explained why data accessibility is crucial for scaling up FinTechs and how Fintech Sandbox helps.

Favorite book: The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick RubinThe best way to reach out: check out Sarah Biller on LinkedIn

Greg Palmer, VP and Director of FinTech Strategy at Finovate, a series of FinTech conferences in Europe and the US, spoke to spoke to Rudolf Falat, founder of the Voice of FinTech podcast, about key themes emerging at the recent FinovateEurope in London. 
Here is what they covered in more detail:
Intro - Greg's background, Finovate and Finovate London in particular - unique aspects: live demos, enterprise partners and start-ups in one place. There were more attendees and many new ones in London.Highlights from the Hot or Not session - Open Banking, Hot or not?:-)Meta FinTech –  FinTech aimed at helping banks engage with other FinTechs, which is really interesting. This frequently takes the shape of core service providers, or an add on to it, but it’s helping to enable adoption of other innovations. However, are meta FinTechs another gatekeeper that stands in the way?AI: Enterprise-grade solutions for anti-fraud, customer experience and compliance/regulationTemperature check of incumbents and their take on GenAI as of nowThe funding environment taking a toll, but there are some bright spots on the horizonWhat to expect in 2024 with respect to the aboveUpcoming Finovate editions - Spring in SanFrancisco, Fall in New York and Finovate Awards online

In an engaging episode of the MENA Series hosted by Dorra Mahbouli, Andrew Riabchuk from Akurateco shared insights into the company's foundation and its strategic approach to offering specialized payment solutions in the Saudi Arabian market. 
He highlighted how Akurateco's services are uniquely tailored to meet the nuanced demands of local businesses, effectively addressing their specific challenges. Andrew also shed light on the strategic considerations behind Akurateco's market entry, their vision for future growth in the region, and their commitment to navigating the regulatory landscape with innovative compliance solutions. 
Furthermore, he discussed the importance of partnerships with financial institutions in enhancing the payment ecosystem. He provided valuable advice for fintech startups aiming to succeed in emerging markets like Saudi Arabia.

Bernard Marr, an internationally best-selling author, popular keynote speaker, futurist, and strategic business & technology advisor, spoke to Rudolf Falat, founder of the Voice of FinTech podcast, about what generative AI can mean for all of us!
Here is what they talked about in more detail:
Bernard's story: how he got to do what he does todayMany people recently opened up to AI with the advent of GenAI. But AI has been with us for much longer, right? An overview of AI developments since the Dartmouth Conference in the 1950s till nowWhy has GenAI, in particular, gained such traction?Why does Bernard think GenAI is the most powerful technology humans have ever had access to?How is GenAI changing the game for various industries, including retail, healthcare, finance, education, manufacturing, marketing, entertainment, sports, coding, and more?How will GenAI interact with other transformative technologies (gene editing, immersive internet, conventional AI, blockchain, quantum computing, etc.) to create a world of hyper-innovatiWhat'saGenAI'sAI's impact on everyday activities such as searching for information, cooking, and traveling?How to navigate the unique risks and challenges GenAI poses (including ethical concerns of GenAI such as misinformation, disinformation, and deep fakes, particularly in an election yeaWhat'saBernard'srd's estimateGenAI'sAI’s impact on the job market: what types of work will be replaced or significantly altered by this groundbreaking technologyCheck out his upcoming book, Generative AI in PracticeThe best way to reach out and find out more on Bernard Marr website