How to Lend Money to Strangers

Brendan le Grange
  • 4.9 (27)
  • Management
  • Updated Weekly

A podcast about lending innovation and lending leadership in all the markets in which it takes place, however diverse those markets may be. In fact, it’s a case of ‘the more diverse the better,’ with guests from New York to New Zealand discussing everything from crypto-backed mortgages to crowd-funded loans for refugees to gamified loan journeys to AI-powered credit scores. I am the host, Brendan le Grange, and I have spent the last twenty years working in - or alongside - lenders in Africa, Asia, and Europe and I’m using that experience to find and learn from industry insiders in a series of weekly interviews. Sometimes, those interviews discuss the inspiration behind a new start-up, sometimes they look back at a career spent at the lending coal face, and sometimes they explore where the latest technologies might take us. In the end, if it shapes a lending decision, we’ll talk about how. You can join us every Thursday here, or wherever you prefer to find your podcasts. You can find more at www.HowToLendMoneytoStrangers.show Or follow my other projects at https://confirmu.com/, https://www.joinhumoni.com/, https://chaos-out-of-order.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. The AI sales agent that is helping Indonesians get mortgages, with Ilya Kravtsov (Pillar Lab)

    4d ago

    The AI sales agent that is helping Indonesians get mortgages, with Ilya Kravtsov (Pillar Lab)

    Pillar is a vertical AI platform built for financial institutions, deploying product-aware AI sales agents that qualify leads, recommend the right financial products, and drive applications at scale - helping banks, lenders, and fintechs get more Indonesians into homes. We recorded this episode just as they were about to rebrand, so while we spoke about Ringkas, you'll now find everything you need to know over at https://pillarlab.ai/ Ilya is on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilya-kravtsov-/ As is Pillar at https://www.linkedin.com/company/pillarlab/ I'm on LinkedIn, too, at https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanlegrange/ And if you want to get a sneak peek at some of what I'm working on, my website is currently being refreshed (even as some of the projects it mentions lag behind): https://www.brendanlegrange.com/ Other friends of the show include: https://www.ogmara.com/ (customised risk management and analytic consulting) https://www.ontap.co.za/pages/hoedspruit-store-details (for all your Hoedspruit-based bathroom needs) https://flatwhiteorfoff.com/ (ask for anything other than a flat white, the answer is in the name) https://www.joinhumoni.com/ (helping international students find accommodation, work, and financial services on day one) https://www.haboomoney.com/ (making collections personalised, flexible and intelligent) https://beetlesense.ai (AI-powered day one pest detection for forestry) And since you like podcasts, I also co-create HAIghtened Senses with Christo van Zyl, which looks at the intersection between human senses and technology (and this week, flying cars) Keep well, Brendan This is an interview I set up while at Money20/20 Asia, but they have shows around the world. If you want to make similar connections, you can get tickets at https://www.money2020.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    48 min
  2. Flexible smartphone financing in Bangladesh, with Rafsun Faiz (SahajMobile)

    Jun 4

    Flexible smartphone financing in Bangladesh, with Rafsun Faiz (SahajMobile)

    Rafsun Faiz is a former structured finance and credit investor, now turned fintech founder with SahajMobile - a smartphone financing platform that is expanding access to credit in South Asia. The world gets more digital every day, and that's as true in Dhaka as it is in DC, so SahajMobile's mission is to provide affordable access to cutting-edge smartphone technology for everyone in Bangladesh (and they're hiring, too, at https://www.sahajmobile.org/careers). Sahaj Mobile is at home on the internet at https://www.sahajmobile.org/ Or find them on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/sahajmobile/ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SahajMobileBD You can reach out to Rafsun directly on LinkedIn using https://www.linkedin.com/in/rafsunfaiz/ I'm on LinkedIn, too, at https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanlegrange/ And if you want to get a sneak peek at some of what I'm working on, my website is currently being refreshed (even as some of the projects it mentions lag behind): https://www.brendanlegrange.com/ Other friends of the show include: https://www.ogmara.com/ (customised risk management and analytic consulting) https://www.ontap.co.za/pages/hoedspruit-store-details (for all your Hoedspruit-based bathroom needs) https://flatwhiteorfoff.com/ (ask for anything other than a flat white, the answer is in the name) https://www.joinhumoni.com/ (helping international students find accommodation, work, and financial services on day one) https://www.haboomoney.com/ (making collections personalised, flexible and intelligent) https://beetlesense.ai (AI-powered day one pest detection for forestry) And since you like podcasts, I also co-create HAIghtened Senses with Christo van Zyl, which looks at the intersection between human senses and technology (and this week, flying cars) Keep well, Brendan This is an interview I set up while at Money20/20 Asia, but they have shows around the world. If you want to make similar connections, you can get tickets at https://www.money2020.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    51 min
  3. Taking digital lending across Laos, village by village, with Tim Scheffmann (LTS Ventures)

    May 28

    Taking digital lending across Laos, village by village, with Tim Scheffmann (LTS Ventures)

    With 10,000 transactions processed a day across 900+, often remote, villages, LTS Ventures is one of the more impactful operations I've had the pleasure of featuring on this show. But when you build the digital infrastructure needed for core banking, you're also building an ecosystem of trust and technology that other innovators can leverage in the future, so the incredible work already being done is just the start of a financial inclusion explosion in Laos (and beyond). You can learn more about LTS Ventures and their village banking solutions at https://www.ltsventures.com/ Or reach out to Tim directly on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/scheffmann/ I'm on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanlegrange/ Please also follow, share, and talk about the show using https://www.linkedin.com/company/how-to-lend-money-to-strangers/ And if you want to get a sneak peek at some of what I'm working on, my website is currently being refreshed (even as some of the projects it mentions lag behind): https://www.brendanlegrange.com/ Other friends of the show include: https://www.ogmara.com/ (customised risk management and analytic consulting) https://www.ontap.co.za/pages/hoedspruit-store-details (for all your Hoedspruit-based bathroom needs) https://flatwhiteorfoff.com/ (ask for anything other than a flat white, the answer is in the name) https://www.joinhumoni.com/ (helping international students find accommodation, work, and financial services on day one) https://www.haboomoney.com/ (making collections personalised, flexible and intelligent) https://beetlesense.ai (AI-powered day one pest detection for forestry) And since you like podcasts, I also co-create HAIghtened Senses with Christo van Zyl, which looks at the intersection between human senses and technology (and this week, flying cars) Keep well, Brendan This is an interview I set up while at Money20/20 Asia, but they have shows around the world. If you want to make similar connections, you can get tickets at https://www.money2020.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    43 min
  4. Crowdfunding the fintech revolution, with Leonard Burger

    May 21

    Crowdfunding the fintech revolution, with Leonard Burger

    Crowdfunding has always been an interesting option, but now, with AI changing how quickly and cheaply ideas can become startups, we're standing on the brink of a new golden age. I'm chatting to a crowdfunding veteran, go-to-market expert, startup advisor, and all-around fintech geek, Leonard Burger. You can find Leonard on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonardburger/ But he has too many advisory roles to add here, so just go to https://lift.bio/burger if you want to reach out with something specific in mind I'm on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanlegrange/ Please also follow, share, and talk about the show using https://www.linkedin.com/company/how-to-lend-money-to-strangers/ And if you want to get a sneak peek at some of what I'm working on, my website is currently being refreshed (even as some of the projects it mentions lag behind): https://www.brendanlegrange.com/ Other friends of the show include: https://www.ogmara.com/ (customised risk management and analytic consulting) https://www.ontap.co.za/pages/hoedspruit-store-details (for all your Hoedspruit-based bathroom needs) https://flatwhiteorfoff.com/ (ask for anything other than a flat white, the answer is in the name) https://www.joinhumoni.com/ (helping international students find accommodation, work, and financial services on day one) https://www.haboomoney.com/ (making collections personalised, flexible and intelligent) https://beetlesense.ai (AI-powered day one pest detection for forestry) And since you like podcasts, I'm also co-create hAIghtened senses with Christo van Zyl, which looks at the intersection between human senses and technology (and this week, flying cars) Keep well, Brendan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 1m
  5. Expanding the Agentic AI use case, with Daniel Yoo (Finmate AI)

    May 14

    Expanding the Agentic AI use case, with Daniel Yoo (Finmate AI)

    The team that pioneered AI-powered workflows for financial advisors, are now sharing their knowledge of agentic AI systems with the industry as a whole. If you've played around with Claude Code, you'll know how much you can now do with just an idea and some well-thought-out prompts... but you'll also know that there are still limits. Building a bank ready system requires more than just code, it needs experience and that's what they can bring. Finmate AI is at home on the internet at, not surprisingly, https://finmate.ai/ They're also on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/finmate-ai/ Look for Daniel there, too, with one of the cooler profile pictures on the site: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smyoo/ I'm there, too, at https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanlegrange/ Please also follow, share, and talk about the show using https://www.linkedin.com/company/how-to-lend-money-to-strangers/ Oh, and if you remember Suren Rastogi from episode 174 of this show, the Kickstarter for Burnout is ending this week. Already oversubscribed many, many times over, this is your chance ot snap it up at launch prices. Other friends of the show include: https://www.ogmara.com/ (customised risk management and analytic consulting) https://www.ontap.co.za/pages/hoedspruit-store-details (for all your Hoedspruit-based bathroom needs) https://flatwhiteorfoff.com/ (ask for anything other than a flat white, the answer is in the name) https://www.joinhumoni.com/ (helping international students find accommodation, work, and financial services on day one) https://www.haboomoney.com/ (making collections personalised, flexible and intelligent) https://beetlesense.ai (AI-powered day one pest detection for forestry) And since you like podcasts, I also co-create hAIghtened senses with Christo van Zyl, in which looks at the intersection between human senses and technology (and this week, flying cars) Keep well, Brendan This episode was set up by Sabrina Campbell from PodcastTalentForYou, if you'd like to get onto shows like mine, reach out to her at sabrina @ podcasttalentforyou.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    40 min
  6. Coaching beyond the models, with Marc Gaudart (Trent Advisory Services)

    May 7

    Coaching beyond the models, with Marc Gaudart (Trent Advisory Services)

    Models are important and all, but you don't build great businesses by building great models, you build great businesses by building great people - because great people build the right models and leverage them strategically. To better understand the challenges facing credit risk leaders today, Marc Gaudart and Elizabeth Reed surveyed leaders from large global banks, growing fintechs, and specialist service providers, and presented the results at The University of Edinburgh's Credit Scoring and Credit Control Conference. Key takeaway: technical excellence is essential, but today’s credit risk leaders also need: ·       🤝 Interpersonal effectiveness ·       🗣️ Business-focused communication ·       🌐 Stakeholder engagement ·       🎯 Strategic perspective with a business-wide focus ·       🌱 Ability to build resilient teams for a rapidly evolving, AI-driven world You can find Marc on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-gaudart-168339/ Trent Advisory Services is there, too, at https://www.linkedin.com/company/trent-advisory-services/ I'm on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanlegrange/ Please also follow, share, and talk about the show using https://www.linkedin.com/company/how-to-lend-money-to-strangers/ And if you want to get a sneak peek at some of what I'm working on, my website is currently being refreshed (even as some of the projects it mentions lag behind): https://www.brendanlegrange.com/ Oh, and if you remember Suren Rastogi from episode 174 of this show, the Kickstarter for Burnout went live a week or so ago and is already massively oversubscribed. Head on over, take a look at the final product, and if it appeals to you, order your copy - mine's already in the production queue. Other friends of the show include: https://www.ogmara.com/ (customised risk management and analytic consulting) https://www.ontap.co.za/pages/hoedspruit-store-details (for all your Hoedspruit-based bathroom needs) https://flatwhiteorfoff.com/ (ask for anything other than a flat white, the answer is in the name) https://www.joinhumoni.com/ (helping international students find accommodation, work, and financial services on day one) https://www.haboomoney.com/ (making collections personalised, flexible and intelligent) https://beetlesense.ai (AI-powered day one pest detection for forestry) And since you like podcasts, I'm also co-create hAIghtened senses with Christo van Zyl, which looks at the intersection between human senses and technology (and this week, flying cars) Keep well, Brendan Marcand Elizabeth first presented their findings at the University of Edinburgh's CRCC Conference, the call for papers of which ends this month, so head here quickly if you'd like to do the same: https://crc.business-school.ed.ac.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    46 min
  7. Lending without guessing, with Christo Georgiev (Lender Link)

    Apr 30

    Lending without guessing, with Christo Georgiev (Lender Link)

    This episode was recorded live at Money20/20 in Bangkok, so first and foremost, a huge thanks to the team there that are always exceptionally professional. If it weren't for them, there is no way you'd be getting this episode just a day after it was recorded. Still, it's no substitute for being there, especially now with shows in Europe, Asia, America, and the Middle East, so head on over to https://www.money2020.com/ to get yourself a pass for the one closest to you. Earlier in my career, I spent 5 years flying in and out of Manila, helping to build the country's first comprehensive credit bureau... and then it seems, the very day I left, Christo Georgiev arrived on the local credit scoring scene wth a pioneering alternative data product.  Years have passed and jobs have changed since then, but credit information in the Philippines is still dispersed across multiple ecosystems, and lenders and borrowers are both still paying the price. So, to put things right, Christo has spent the last year-and-a-half building LenderLink to aggregate and standardise credit data, and to make it available via a unified API. We'll be discussing Christo's path to this point; the Philippine lending landscape, then and now; the data gaps that still persist and how LenderLink will help to close them; and Christo's vision for the future. You can find Christo on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/christo-georgiev-40bb0156/ LenderLink is at home at https://lenderlink.ph/ I'm there, too, at https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanlegrange/ Please also follow, share, and talk about the show using https://www.linkedin.com/company/how-to-lend-money-to-strangers/ Oh, and if you remember Suren Rastogi from episode 174 of this show, the Kickstarter for Burnout went live this week. Head on over, take a look at the final product, and if it appeals to you, order your copy - mine's already in the production queue. Other friends of the show include: https://www.ogmara.com/ (customised risk management and analytic consulting) https://www.ontap.co.za/pages/hoedspruit-store-details (for all your Hoedspruit-based bathroom needs) https://flatwhiteorfoff.com/ (ask for anything other than a flat white, the answer is in the name) https://www.joinhumoni.com/ (helping international students find accommodation, work, and financial services on day one) https://www.haboomoney.com/ (making collections personalised, flexible and intelligent) https://beetlesense.ai (AI-powered day one pest detection for forestry) And since you like podcasts, I'm also co-create hAIghtened senses with Christo van Zyl, which looks at the intersection between human senses and technology (and this week, flying cars) Keep well, Brendan For more info on Money20/20 and their shows around the world, check out https://www.money2020.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    49 min
  8. The house that bitcoin bought, with Josip Rupena (Milo)

    Apr 23

    The house that bitcoin bought, with Josip Rupena (Milo)

    Life got in the way of my episode release schedule for a bit there, and so a few months have passed since I sat down with Josip Rupena to discuss crypto-backed mortgages. In the world of crypto, a few months can be a lifetime, and, in this case, not the easiest lifetime, and yet, Milo has just issued its largest single transaction ever: a $12 million crypto mortgage. The demand is real, from high net worth individuals buying homes with Bitcoin to clients tapping home equity to buy more, and, if anything, the recent dips in crypto prices reflect a story of growing resilience rather than one of growing volatility, and that's a very good thing for the industry. Jospi Rupena is the founder and CEO of Milo, a financial technology company and pioneer in crypto lending You can learn more about Milo at https://www.milo.io/ Josip is on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/josiprupena/ Milo is there at https://www.linkedin.com/company/startmilo/ I'm there, too, at https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanlegrange/ Please also follow, share, and talk about the show using https://www.linkedin.com/company/how-to-lend-money-to-strangers/ Oh, and if you remember Suren Rastogi from episode 174 of this show, the Kickstarter for Burnout is going live on the 21st of April, head on over, take a look at the final product, and if it appeals to you, order your copy - I did Other friends of the show include: https://www.ogmara.com/ (customised risk management and analytic consulting) https://www.ontap.co.za/pages/hoedspruit-store-details (for all your Hoedspruit-based bathroom needs) https://flatwhiteorfoff.com/ (ask for anything other than a flat white, the answer is in the name) https://www.joinhumoni.com/ (helping international students find accommodation, work, and financial services on day one) https://www.haboomoney.com/ (making collections personalised, flexible and intelligent) https://beetlesense.ai (AI-powered day one pest detection for forestry) And since you like podcasts, I also co-create hAIghtened senses with Christo van Zyl, in which looks at the intersection between human senses and technology (and this week, flying cars) Keep well, Brendan This episode was set up by Kirstin Robison from Pitch PR, a boutique firm specializing in national media for consumer and business-to-business companies. If you'd like to get onto shows like mine, reach out to them at https://pitchpublicrelations.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    43 min
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Trailer

4.9
out of 5
27 Ratings

About

A podcast about lending innovation and lending leadership in all the markets in which it takes place, however diverse those markets may be. In fact, it’s a case of ‘the more diverse the better,’ with guests from New York to New Zealand discussing everything from crypto-backed mortgages to crowd-funded loans for refugees to gamified loan journeys to AI-powered credit scores. I am the host, Brendan le Grange, and I have spent the last twenty years working in - or alongside - lenders in Africa, Asia, and Europe and I’m using that experience to find and learn from industry insiders in a series of weekly interviews. Sometimes, those interviews discuss the inspiration behind a new start-up, sometimes they look back at a career spent at the lending coal face, and sometimes they explore where the latest technologies might take us. In the end, if it shapes a lending decision, we’ll talk about how. You can join us every Thursday here, or wherever you prefer to find your podcasts. You can find more at www.HowToLendMoneytoStrangers.show Or follow my other projects at https://confirmu.com/, https://www.joinhumoni.com/, https://chaos-out-of-order.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Brendan le Grange
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    199
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    How to Lend Money to Strangers

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