The Pnyx

Vikas Raj and Alex Lazarow
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Join Vikas Raj and Alex Lazarow as they navigate the defining technology and financial services questions of the 21st Century. From bank collapses in Silicon Valley to crises on Wall Street, people have good reason to question whether or not unending technological change is really a positive force on society. The Pnyx tackles this question head on. From ESG and crypto to remote work and A.I., we assemble leading voices in the technology, venture, and fintech spaces and debate one fundamental question: is this innovation “good” for the world?

Episodes

  1. 01/13/2025

    “One connection, one agreement, one settlement, one API”

    How do you innovate globally? What opportunities do regulatory differences offer? How do you tackle KYC and AML abroad? In this episode, we hear Sergio Fogel’s story of creating dLocal, one of the largest payment processors to come out of Latin America. Learn about payment opportunities and challenges, building customer trust, the difficulty of payment acquisitions, and creating international teams.

    33 min

  2. 10/11/2024

    "The so what question"

    What lessons does the body have to offer fintech? How are we programmed? How do we gather information and build ideas? How should we ideate? In this episode, we speak with Jeff Karp about what makes a founder effective. Listen as we tap into Jeff’s experience from founding 12 different companies, raising over $600M million, and discovering medical breakthroughs. Find Jeff's book LIT: Life Ignition Tools here.

    22 min

  3. 07/30/2024

    “Is my decision fair? If not, why not?”

    Is AI influencing the underwriting process? How do we keep AI on the right track? What are the alarm bells for AI, and what role does regulation play?  In this episode, we sit down with Kareem Saleh, Founder and CEO of Fairplay AI, and discuss how artificial intelligence is currently impacting the credit system. Listen as we discuss the risk of inequitable outcomes, rejection processes, and the evolving impact of AI on low and moderate income Americans’ financial wellbeing.

    27 min

  4. 05/28/2024

    “Part of being an entrepreneur is knowing what to steal”

    What makes people remarkable? How do entrepreneurs figure out what product or service to build? Are startup ideas really that novel? In this episode, we talk to Guy Kawasaki on what makes people remarkable and discuss the corresponding lessons for founders. Listen as we dive into the growth mindset, artificial intelligence, and the common path of remarkable people.  Check out Guy Kawasaki’s recent book Think Remarkable: 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference.

    21 min

  5. 01/25/2024

    “The pendulum of entrepreneurship...can swing widely.”

    Can fintech thrive in a volatile world? How will 2024 compare to 2023? Where will remote work remain? What is the Asian market outlook?  In this episode, the final in our series on reflections on 2023 and the outlook for 2024, we cover challenging questions and market insights with Ganesh Rengaswamy of Quona Capital. Listen as we look to the past and the future, cover entrepreneurial cycles, dive into regulatory trends, and consider which fintech product categories are ripe for future growth

    20 min

  6. 01/22/2024

    “There are going to be places where Fintech is going to thrive"

    What does a tighter macro environment mean for fintech? Is embedded finance a long-term trend or just a fad? How can founders build good partnerships with corporates? In this episode, the second in our series on reflections on 2023 and the outlook for 2024 we discuss these questions and more with Victoria Cheng, Partner at Pruven Capital. Join us as we examine the future of remote work, how the macro environment will create opportunities for new fintech startups, and what founders should look for when evaluating corporate partnerships.

    20 min

  7. 01/17/2024

    "Capital is coward...but there is opportunity for those with appetite"

    Is capital a coward? What is the venture outlook for Egypt and the Middle East in 2024? How are trends from 2023 - from remote work to buy now pay later - going to evolve in the next year? When will later-stage investors return to the market? In this episode, the first in our series on reflections on 2023 and outlook for 2024, we discuss these questions and more with Tamer Azer, Partner at Sharooq Partners in Cairo. We explored Egypt’s potential as a breeding ground for new startups, how to build a sustainable Buy Now, Pay Later product, and the significance of AI in venture’s overall history.

    16 min

  8. 07/24/2023

    “The advice I would give is, one, don't expect to be successful off the top.”

    What makes a good investor? And what makes an investor good? Whether impact investing or driving above-market returns, David Rubenstein has done it all.   In this episode, we interview the formidable Rubenstein, co- founder of The Carlyle Group. We explored the qualities of successful investors and venture capitalists, as well as what qualities make an investor similar to an artist. While this episode deviates from our usual debate format, it offers considerable insights into the world of successful VC investing. Rubenstein noted that some of the most successful investors often have a few things in common: they challenge conventional wisdom, share blue-collar backgrounds, have great educations, and have a penchant for making the final decision. Join us as we delve into the minds of exceptional investors from an exceptional investor himself. Show Notes & Links https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/How-to-Invest/David-M-Rubenstein/9781982190309 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Iq51NdatuM https://givingpledge.org/pledger?pledgerId=275 https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexlazarow/2023/04/18/how-to-become-the-greatest-venture-capitalist-lessons-from-the-masters/?sh=7576e98432a0

    27 min

  9. 07/19/2023

    “We need to buy less and sell less, and we need to pay people more.”

    Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)-based investing: just more Wall Street bullsh*&t or a way to finally hold polluters accountable for their actions? This week, we're diving into the controversial topic of ESG investing, and we have two deeply knowledgeable debaters who will present their perspectives. Hans Taparia, a professor at NYU Stern and a critic of ESG, argues that ESG systems have been designed for profit rather than creating real change. On the other side, Charlotte Degot, CEO of C02 AI, emphasizes the need to measure impact accurately and to make ESG investing a force for good. The conversation revolves around the challenges of measurement, the pace of progress, and the role of regulations. Join us as we delve into this thought-provoking discussion and explore the complexities of ESG investing with our esteemed guests. Show Notes & Links https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/29/opinion/esg-investing-responsibility.html  https://www.stern.nyu.edu/experience-stern/faculty-research/world-may-be-better-without-esg-investing https://www.stern.nyu.edu/experience-stern/faculty-research/one-of-the-hottest-trends-in-the-world-of-investing-is-a-sham https://co2ai.com/ https://www.innovatorsunder35.com/the-list/charlotte-degot/

    28 min
  10. “In theory, it's a great product…in practice, it's quite dangerous…”

    07/11/2023

    “In theory, it's a great product…in practice, it's quite dangerous…”

    You’ve seen them in your checkout carts and they follow you online shopping: Buy-Now-Pay-Later companies have become significant players on the fintech scene. In the inaugural episode of “The Pnyx”, your hosts Alex and Vikas discuss Affirm, Klarna, Afterpay and all the other actors that constitute the Buy-Now-Pay-Later (BNPL) phenomenon. Joined by panelists Marshall Lux and Jeremy Solomon, we dive deep into the pros and cons of BNPL, exploring its potential benefits for consumers, the inherent risks, and the implications for financial transparency and inclusion. This episode sheds important light on the complexities surrounding this popular, but still nascent financing model. Show Notes & Links https://www.cnbc.com/video/2023/01/10/harvard-senior-fellow-mashall-lux-calls-buy-now-pay-later-financial-dynamite.html https://fintechfundamentals.substack.com/p/how-bnpl-really-works https://www.forbes.com/sites/vikasraj/2020/11/30/embedded-inclusive-fintech/?sh=795ae50310cc

    23 min
  • 10 Episodes

About

Join Vikas Raj and Alex Lazarow as they navigate the defining technology and financial services questions of the 21st Century. From bank collapses in Silicon Valley to crises on Wall Street, people have good reason to question whether or not unending technological change is really a positive force on society. The Pnyx tackles this question head on. From ESG and crypto to remote work and A.I., we assemble leading voices in the technology, venture, and fintech spaces and debate one fundamental question: is this innovation “good” for the world?

Information

  • Creator
    Vikas Raj and Alex Lazarow
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Vikas Raj and Alex Lazarow
  • Show Website
    The Pnyx