New Era FinTech Podcast

0.0 (0)
BUSINESS

A podcast about FinTech, banking, digital transformation and the world around it, with a strong focus on the Middle East region

JAN 17

Episode 58: How good is Google's Gemini?

Here's a quick episode focusing on a quick experience I had this morning with Google's Gemini AI -- suffice to say, I don't think it met my expectations!

4 min
07/29/2024

Episode 57: Sal Ghaznavi, former CFO at Careem (Uber)

In this episode, I meet Sal Ghaznavi, an executive with 18 years of cross-sectoral work experience, spanning across the UAE, Ireland, Bermuda, and Pakistan, with experience working within FinTech and tech startups. Sal has held key finance and commercial leadership positions at Careem (Uber) - the Middle East, North Africa, and Pakistan’s first and largest unicorn, operating in the ride-hailing, food and grocery delivery, and digital payments space. Sal shares valuable insights into the business environment and opportunities in the Middle East, particularly in the UAE. He highlights the region's high smartphone and internet penetration rates, the approachable regulators, and the government's focus on making the UAE a leader in various industries. Sal also discusses the safety and security of living in the UAE, the cost of living, and the growth potential for businesses. He advises individuals interested in working in the UAE to network, conduct thorough research, and understand the cultural dynamics of the region. For FinTech companies looking to expand into the UAE, Sal emphasises the importance of having 'boots on the ground', building relationships, and understanding the regulatory landscape. You can find out more and connect with Sal via his LinkedIn profile. Takeaways The UAE offers tremendous growth opportunities for businesses, with a welcoming and approachable regulatory environment. The region has high smartphone and internet penetration rates, making it conducive for internet-based companies. Living in the UAE is safe and secure, with a diverse and multicultural environment. For individuals interested in working in the UAE, it is important to network, do thorough research, and understand the cultural dynamics of the region. Fintech companies looking to expand into the UAE should have boots on the ground, build relationships, and understand the regulatory landscape. Chapters 00:00 Remote Recording and Audio Quality 01:49 Sal's Background and Experience in the Middle East and Europe 04:46 Tech Startups and Super Apps in the Middle East 09:42 Living in the UAE: Safety, Diversity, and Growth Opportunities 14:18 The Cost of Living in Dubai 18:25 Finding Job Opportunities in the UAE 20:46 Advice for Moving to the UAE 24:28 Expanding Fintech into the GCC Market 28:48 Approaching the GCC Market as a Supplier or Vendor 31:53 Sal Ghaznavi's Move to London and Opportunities in the Fintech Industry 32:35 Contacting Sal Ghaznavi on LinkedIn Keywords UAE, Careem, Uber, Middle East, Europe, business expansion, fintech, opportunities, safety, security, cost of living, growth potential, networking, relationships, regulatory landscape

33 min
07/26/2024

Episode 56: Santander UK's chatbot walkthrough

In this episode, I show you a series of screenshots I took as I walked through the process of requesting a replacement debit card using Santander UK's chatbot, Sandi. This might be one of those episodes that you might want to watch, rather than just listen to -- you can watch on Spotify, or you can watch the video on the podcast's YouTube channel. Summary Ewan reviews the chatbot capabilities of Santander UK. He compares it to other banks and highlights the strengths and weaknesses of their chatbot systems. Ewan is impressed with Santander's chatbot, called Sandi, as it efficiently handles a simple task of replacing a damaged debit card. He praises Santander for its user-friendly interface, quick response time, and seamless process. Ewan encourages other banks, such as NatWest and Lloyds, to improve their chatbot capabilities to match Santander's level of efficiency. Sound Bites "This is best in class. Absolutely best in class." "NatWest, read this and weep." "Santander, thank you very much for making such a great capability." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Chatbots and Santander UK 02:17 Comparing Chatbot Capabilities: Santander vs. NatWest vs. Lloyds 06:09 The Importance of Simplicity in Chatbot Interactions 09:03 Santander UK's Best-in-Class Chatbot Experience 10:31 Encouraging Banks to Improve Chatbot Capabilities Takeaways Santander UK's chatbot, Sandi, provides a best-in-class user experience for replacing a damaged debit card. Santander's chatbot is efficient, user-friendly, and provides quick responses. Other banks, such as NatWest and Lloyds, have room for improvement in their chatbot capabilities. Ewan MacLeod encourages banks to prioritize user experience and streamline their chatbot processes. Keywords chatbots, Santander UK, Sandi, customer service, banking, user experience

15 min
07/12/2024

CVC Series: Episode 2 - Simon Hardie from Findexable

Welcome to the second episode in our dedicated Corporate Venture Capital ("CVC") series here on New Era FinTech Podcast. Today we're meeting Simon Hardie, CEO and founder of Findexable. Simon discusses the importance of innovation in the CVC space and. emphasizes the need for organizations to have a clear understanding of what innovation means to them and to measure its impact. Hardie also highlights the opportunities in emerging markets, particularly in the Middle East and Africa, where there is still significant room for growth in the fintech sector. Simon advises organizations to conduct deep research and gain insights into the market and potential investment opportunities. Additionally, he stresses the importance of having the right team, stakeholders, and decision-making processes in place for successful CVC initiatives. If you'd like to find out more about Simon, he's available on LinkedIn. His company website is http://www.findexable.com. Chapters 00:00 Background and Introduction to Findexable 06:12 Challenges and Tensions in Financial Services Innovation 09:13 Success Factors for Corporate Venture Capital 11:28 Opportunities in the Marketplace and Middle East Africa 20:17 Working with Findexable and Best Practices 25:43 Conclusion and Contact Information Takeaways Organizations need to have a clear understanding of what innovation means to them and measure its impact. Emerging markets, particularly in the Middle East and Africa, offer significant opportunities for growth in the fintech sector. Deep research and insights are crucial for identifying market opportunities and potential investments. Having the right team, stakeholders, and decision-making processes in place is essential for successful corporate venture capital initiatives. Keywords simon hardie, findexable, innovation, corporate venture capital, CVC, financial services, emerging markets, Middle East, Africa, research, insights, team, decision-making

33 min
07/10/2024

CVC Series: Episode 1, Grant Niven from Mingzulu

Welcome to the first episode in our dedicated Corporate Venture Capital ("CVC") series here on the New Era FinTech Podcast. In today's episode, Grant Niven, founder and partner of Mingzulu joins me to discuss the role of CVC in the fintech and financial services ecosystem. Grant gives us an overview of his background in financial services as well as his experience working with growth-stage founders, established banks, and the investment community. Together we define the concept of CVC and explore the different types of CVC methodologies generally in use. We set out the main drivers behind why financial institutions choose to engage in CVC, (i.e. maximizing returns, strategic alignment, speed to market) -- and we discuss the challenges and considerations in setting up a CVC unit within an organization such as a bank. Grant shares insights on the questions and concerns financial institutions have when considering CVC and the need for a clear understanding of the value CVC can bring to the organization. If you'd like to discuss financial services CVC with Grant and the team, reach out to him directly on LinkedIn here: Grant Niven. His company website is here: Mingzulu.com. Standby for the next CVC series episode coming very shortly! If you've any recommendations for individuals we should be featuring across the CVC series, please send me a note to ewan@ned.partners. Takeaways Corporate venture capital (CVC) is a strategic investment by a corporation in external startups or ventures, with objectives that go beyond financial returns. CVC allows established organizations to innovate, partner with startups, and gain access to new technologies and markets. The main types of CVC methodologies include financial returns-focused, strategic-focused, and hybrid models that balance both objectives. Organizations engage in CVC to maximize returns, achieve strategic alignment, and gain speed to market. Setting up a CVC unit within an organization requires careful consideration of the strategic intent, operationalization, and governance. The founder community in the Middle East is generally open to the idea of corporate venture capital (CVC) and sees it as an opportunity for growth and scaling. Speed and alignment are crucial in CVC partnerships, and founders look for organizations that can move quickly and provide long-term support. Clear strategy and top-down support from the organization are essential for successful CVC initiatives. Diversity in cap tables and collaboration with other investors can be attractive to founders. Financial institutions considering CVC need to have a clear understanding of the value it can bring to the organization and align it with their strategic goals. Internal processes and governance can be a challenge in implementing CVC, and organizations may need to consider external partnerships. The Middle East offers significant opportunities for growth and innovation in the CVC space, particularly in sectors like e-commerce and telecommunications. Governments and central banks play a role in supporting the CVC ecosystem through initiatives like sandboxing and regulatory transformation. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to CVC in Fintech 02:50 Understanding CVC: Strategic Alignment and Financial Gain 07:35 Differentiating CVC from Traditional Venture Capital 13:49 CVC as a Tool for Innovation and Brand Enhancement 22:49 CVC's Need for Speed and Operationalization 24:01 Engaging with Founders in the CVC Journey 24:57 The Challenges of Funding for Founders 26:41 Strategic Alignment and Acceleration Opportunities 27:36 Diversity of Cap Tables and Complementary Investors 28:10 The Appeal of CVC for Founders 29:50 Setting Up a Successful CVC 35:31 Outsourcing CVC to Established Players 41:16 The Growth Potential of CVC in the Middle East and Africa

46 min
07/08/2024

Episode 53: Eric Fulwiler of Rival on better FinTech marketing

In today's episode, I'm sitting down with Eric Fulwiler, Co-Founder and CEO of Rival, the digital marketing powerhouse. Eric's storied background with the likes of 11:FS (he was CMO) and VaynerMedia (the GaryV company) means he's precisely the guy I wanted to put in front of you to discuss your marketing. FinTech companies tend to really struggle with Sales and Marketing. I know dozens who find it such a hard nut to crack. So I spent this episode firing questions at Eric about how FinTech CEOs should really be thinking about managing their Marketing -- and by extension, their sales. Eric gives nugget after nugget of perspective that I think will be useful for almost every FinTech leader. In more detail In this conversation, Ewan and Eric discuss the challenges that fintech companies face when it comes to marketing and engaging with banks. Eric emphasizes the importance of crafting a differentiated narrative and focusing on relevant, authentic, and differentiated content experiences to earn the attention of the target audience. He also suggests that marketing should be more like a media company, with a focus on collecting, retaining, and monetizing attention. Eric highlights the need for marketing to generate future demand and tells a story that is different and adds value to the audience. He also mentions some companies that are doing good work in this space, such as Strise and Move. Takeaways Craft a differentiated narrative and focus on relevant, authentic, and differentiated content experiences to earn the attention of the target audience. Marketing should function more like a media company, with a focus on collecting, retaining, and monetizing attention. Tell a story that is different and adds value to the audience, rather than just focusing on the features of the product or technology. Build a brand that is recognized and trusted by the target audience, which can lead to warm leads and stronger relationships. Consider innovative and differentiated approaches to marketing, such as hosting unique events or partnering with mini media companies. Utilize paid advertising effectively to distribute content and experiences to the target audience. Consider acquiring or partnering with mini media companies to leverage their existing awareness and trust with the target audience.

29 min
07/03/2024

Episode 52: HSBC's chatbot walkthrough

Here's a screenshot walkthrough of the HSBC UK chatbot -- calling it Conversational AI is somewhat of a stretch. I've also recorded this for my other project, Conversational AI News. I would recommend you watch this one on Spotify so you can follow along with the screens, or you can find it on my LinkedIn profile or directly on the Conversational AI post.

12 min
07/01/2024

Episode 51: Chatbot head-to-head (Lloyds vs NatWest)

In this episode, I'm putting the Lloyds Bank chatbot head-to-head with the NatWest chatbot and see how both systems handle the same enquiry. At the start of the episode, I begin by outlining the concept of Conversational AI chatbots and then I do a screenshot walk-through of each chatbot's responses as I experienced it. This episode is best watched, rather than listened to - so I would recommend checking it out via Spotify so you can see the video.

28 min

See All (58)

A podcast about FinTech, banking, digital transformation and the world around it, with a strong focus on the Middle East region

Creator

New Era FinTech Podcast
Years Active

2023 - 2025
Episodes

58
Rating

Explicit
Show Website

New Era FinTech Podcast

New Era FinTech Podcast

Episodes

Episode 58: How good is Google's Gemini?

Episode 57: Sal Ghaznavi, former CFO at Careem (Uber)

Episode 56: Santander UK's chatbot walkthrough

CVC Series: Episode 2 - Simon Hardie from Findexable

CVC Series: Episode 1, Grant Niven from Mingzulu

Episode 53: Eric Fulwiler of Rival on better FinTech marketing

Episode 52: HSBC's chatbot walkthrough

Episode 51: Chatbot head-to-head (Lloyds vs NatWest)

About

Information