Building an API Services Hub for Fintechs

Julian Fayad of LoanOptions.ai chats about Synapses, an API services hub for Fintechs

In this episode of Fintech Chatter, Dexter Cousins interviews Julian Fayad, CEO of LoanOptions.ai about the challenges and advantages of bootstrapping a fintech company from the ground up.

Having experienced the challenges first hand, Julian has built Synapses, an API Services Hub for Fintechs.

LoanOptions.ai aims to revolutionise the loan application process. Julian shares insights into how they’re using AI to build a mobile first loan application process.

Julian first appeared on the show in 2023. We chat about his progress and the lessons he has learned over the past two years. Julian also talks about the transition from a broking business to a technology-focused company, and the launch of Synapses, the API services hub for Fintech!

We also discuss the launch of HAILO and LoanOptions.ai, expansion into New Zealand and future plans for market expansion into the US and UAE.

Find out more: https://loanoptions.ai

Chapters

00:00 The Bootstrap Journey of a Fintech Founder

02:12 Innovating the Loan Application Process

10:45 Transitioning from Broking to Technology

18:04 Launching New Products and Partnerships

25:49 Building an API Services Hub for Fintechs

26:48 Navigating B2B Partnerships and SaaS Pricing Strategies

32:05 Transitioning from Brokerage to Tech: Lessons Learned

35:21 Building a Cohesive Team and Company Culture

39:47 Innovative Talent Acquisition Strategies

41:45 Valuable Lessons in Business Partnerships

46:22 Expanding Horizons: New Markets and Future Plans

The Journey of Athena

Michael Starkey and Nathan Walsh, Co-founders of Athena Home Loans share their remarkable journey!

In this episode of Fintech Chatter Dexter Cousins chats to Nathan Walsh and Michael Starkey, Co-Founders of Athena Home Loans.

Making their long awaited return to the show, Nathan and Michael discuss their journey over the past four years,and the insane challenges they’ve had to navigate as interest rates rose rapidly and funding markets dried up.

According to Wikipedia Athena was the patron goddess of heroic endeavor; she was believed to have aided the heroes Perseus, Heracles, Bellerophon, and Jason. She may have also aided Michael and Nathan over this last few years!

https://youtu.be/a4i8wXv72xo

We ask Nathan and Michael the tough questions like how do you compete with banks, balancing technology with regulatory requirements, navigating the rapid interest rate rises since 2022, and the importance of partnerships.

Nathan and Michael also share their secrets to building a resilient team and maintaining a strong company culture as they aim for the next stage of growth and innovation in the home loan sector.

"This is now an execution story."
Nathan Walsh - CEO, Athena Home Loans

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Athena Home Loans
03:38 Founding Story and Vision
05:48 Tech Fin vs Fin Tech: Athena's Position
07:32 Navigating Regulation and Compliance
11:48 Challenges of Distribution in a Fragmented Market
13:34 Impact of Interest Rate Rises
19:45 Lessons from Big Banks
23:23 Partnerships and Growth Opportunities
29:29 Cultural Alignment in Partnerships
31:41 Frameworks for Evaluating Partnerships
33:47 The Journey of Co-Founders
37:59 Attracting and Retaining Talent
40:51 Navigating Growth and Change
45:09 Reflections on Past Experiences
48:40 Future Aspirations and Growth

Fintech's Most Ambitious Startup - Constantinople.

In this episode of Fintech Chatter, host Dexter Cousins speaks with Di Challenor and Macgregor Duncan, co-founders of Constantinople, about their journey in building the Operating System for banks.

About Constantinople

Constantinople is the most ambitious startup in Fintech, tackling the most complex problem in Fintech, rethinking how banks become fully digital. Constantinople is a banking operating system, the AWS for banking, managing all infrastructure and operational aspects of a bank: from Customer experience, Banking products to Features, Risks etc.

How Do You Build A World Class Fintech From Sydney?

Tune in as Mac and Di discuss the challenges of building a global fintech from Sydney. They share their secrets to winning banking clients, the importance of establishing trust, and the strategies behind their successful capital raising efforts.

We revisit our first interview in 2023 and talk through the challenges and learnings of the past two years. As they look to the future, they share their vision for Constantinople and the endless quest for excellence.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Constantinople
04:09 The Evolution of Banking Technology
07:17 Challenges in Client Acquisition
10:10 Building Trust and Credibility
12:53 Creating a New Category in Banking
16:04 Navigating Capital Raising
19:03 The Importance of Execution
25:02 Scaling the Business
34:08 The Importance of Documentation in Scaling
36:49 Driving Excellence in Early Stage Companies
42:45 Commitment to Excellence: Attracting the Right Talent
49:07 Identifying and Filling Skill Gaps
53:15 Future Vision: Building a Multi-Tenanted Banking Platform

The Spriggy Story: The Process To Get One Million Customers.

Alex Badran, Spriggy

The Spriggy story returns to Fintech Chatter Podcast. Five years after his debut, our most-requested guest ever is back sharing his path to one million customers.

Dexter Cousins chats to Alex Badran, the founder of Spriggy, a fintech app designed to help parents teach their children about money management.

Reaching One Million Customers

Spriggy reached the very high bar of one million customers in back in 2022. A massive accomplishment for any Australian consumer focused Fintech App.

This isn't just another success story - it's a masterclass in scaling consumer fintech in a challenging market.

Alex shares his decade-long journey with Spriggy, how they've grown to 1.2 million users, and the importance of real-world financial education for kids.

Join us as Alex walks us through the process of building a category and product that has captured the hearts and minds of millions of Australian families.

Favourite quotes

"We created a category that didn't exist before."

"You can't outsource growth to a partner."

"Your ability to learn is what matters."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background of Spriggy

03:58 The Problem Spriggy Solves

07:13 Understanding User Needs and Early Development

10:10 Adapting to Growing Users and Changing Needs

13:07 The Impact of Technology on Kids' Financial Education

15:57 Growth Strategies and Market Positioning

19:12 Partnerships and Their Role in Growth

22:12 Lessons Learned and Personal Growth as a Founder

29:10 The Importance of Learning and Enjoying Work

30:59 Authenticity in Leadership

33:33 Navigating Team Dynamics and Cohesion

37:00 Adapting to Economic Changes in Hiring

41:49 Future Vision for Spriggy

47:28 Behavioral Education and Parenting

51:56 Podcast intro vid no audio.mp4

About Spriggy

Spriggy is Australia’s #1 Pocket Money app that helps kids learn about money. Spriggy was founded in 2016 with a clear mission to help parents teach their kids about money.

We believe that financial literacy is a crucial life skill, one that lays the groundwork for a secure and confident future.

By learning how to manage money from a young age, kids are empowered to make informed financial decisions as they grow, mastering everything from saving and spending to setting goals and budgeting.

Download Spriggy

Explore Careers at Spriggy

Sean O'Malley, AMP Bank - Evolving Small Business and Personal Banking

Sean O'Malley - AMP Bank

Dexter Cousins welcomes Sean O'Malley CEO of AMP Bank for his Fintech Chatter debut.

It has been a BIG week for AMP Bank as they launched their new digital mobile-first bank aimed at helping small business owners manage their business and personal finances.

Dexter and Sean discuss the role of technology in modern banking and how an established financial institution tackles innovation.

Sean and Dexter uncover AMP’s extensive research on the needs of small businesses and the need for more human support in banking. Sean also shares the thesis on the problem they’re solving and the rapidly evolving nature of how, when and where people work.

And, Sean shares his secrets to successful partnerships showcasing their relationship with UK Fintech Starling Bank and their ‘Engine’ platform.

About Sean O’Malley

Sean O’Malley was appointed the Group Executive of AMP Bank in September 2021, after 11 years at AMP.

He is responsible for the management and growth of AMP Bank, delivering its future growth strategy, uplifting its digital capability and ensuring the ongoing delivery of high-quality products and services to customers.

He has over 25 years of experience in delivering enhanced business results, predominately in the financial services industries.

About AMP Bank

AMP Bank is aiming to disrupt the small business banking market in Australia. They have launched a fully digital, 24x7 human-supported, full-service Bank to help serve the needs of the Australian small business community.

They aim to help Small businesses get started, survive and thrive, embracing the challenge of bringing new thinking, new ways of working and new bold ideas to a 26 year old Bank, inside a 175 year old Super & Wealth business.

Key Takeaways

AMP Bank has launched a fully digital offering for small business owners.
The future of work is evolving, with more emphasis on gig and flexible employment. Sean sees continued growth in small and micro businesses as a result.
The banking industry faces challenges in balancing innovation and risk management.
Brand reputation is crucial for banks, especially in the digital age.
Curiosity and a willingness to learn are key traits for success.
AMP Bank is focused on building a customer-centric culture.
Partnerships are vital for delivering innovative banking solutions.

Chapters

00:00 The Launch of AMP Bank's New Platform

03:39 Targeting Small Businesses & Personal Banking Customers

06:03 Insights on the Future of Work

11:13 Viewing Business Failures as Learning Opportunities

14:18 Embracing the Challenges of Modern Workforces

17:31 Lessons from Fintech Startups and Neobanks

23:00 Navigating Change and Innovation at AMP

27:28 The Importance of Strategic Business Relationships

31:53 Risk Management in Fintech Partnerships

35:58 Talent Acquisition and Staff Retention

38:59 Managing Stress and Building Resilience

43:50 Future Outlook for AMP Bank

The Future of Cross-Border Payments

Tristan Dakin - Wise

About this Episode

Dexter Cousins welcomes Tristan Dakin, Country Manager at Wise on this week's Fintech Chatter Podcast. They chat about the innovative solutions Wise provides in the payments technology space and the complexities of instant payments. Tristan speaks about the company's growth and the challenges of operating in a highly regulated environment.

He shares insights into Wise's culture, the importance of transparency in financial services, and the future of fintech in Australia.

About Wise

Wise launched in 2011 making international money transfers cheap, fair, and simple their Vision. Today, their multi-currency account helps millions of customers and businesses manage their money globally.

Their story started in London with Taavet (paid in Euro's) & Kristo (paid in Pounds) solving the issue of making money in one country but needing to meet payment commitments in their home country. Expensive fees and bad exchange rates each month led them to make a simple workaround. Taavet would pay Kristo's mortgage in Estonia and Kristo would pay him back in pounds.

No waiting, no stress, and no extra cost, they quickly realised that they had hit upon a great idea and TransferWise was born. They have since added a multi-currency account, a debit card, and a business account, and changed their name to Wise.

About Tristan

Tristan joined Wise in 2020, and since 2022, has been leading Wise in Australia and New Zealand as country manager. Before joining Wise, Tristan worked in the financial services industry, including Lombard Securities in the UK.
He is skilled in FX, Banking, Management, Financial Markets, Trading, Structured Products and Derivatives, and Financial Risk.

Key Takeways

Wise aims to build the best way for people to move money globally.
The company focuses on transparency in fees and payment processes.
Instant payments are achieved through advanced technology and infrastructure.
Wise's growth has been significant, with millions of active customers.
The complexity of regulatory compliance is a major challenge for fintechs.
Tristan's background in financial services shaped his approach at Wise.
The culture at Wise emphasizes autonomy and problem-solving.
Australia's fintech landscape is evolving, with increasing competition.
Regulatory changes could enhance transparency in the financial sector.
Wise is committed to empowering customers and improving financial services.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Fintech Chatter and Wise

01:15 Wise's Mission and Products

03:27 Challenges of Cross-Border Payments

07:09 The Complexity of Instant Payments

09:10 Wise's Growth and Market Presence

10:54 Wise's Centralised Infrastructure and Competitive Advantage

12:32 Australia's Unique Remittance Landscape

13:18 Tristan's Background and Attraction to Wise

16:25 The Role of Country Manager at Wise

17:55 Inspiration and Motivation in Fintech

19:43 Cohesion and Culture at WISE

26:51 Navigating the FinTech Landscape in Australia

30:18 The Future of FinTech: Trends and Innovations

38:36 Download the Wise App

Links & Resources:

Visit Wise website
Connect with Tristan Dakin
Connect with Dexter Cousins
Learn more about Tier One People

Special Episode! Paul Roos, Building High-Performance Cultures in Fintech

In this special episode of Fintech Chatter, host Dexter Cousins speaks with Paul Roos, AFL legend and founder of Performance by Design. They explore the parallels between elite sports and startup culture, discussing how founders and leaders can build high-performance teams on a budget!

About Paul

Paul shares insights from his trophy-winning coaching career, steering the Sydney Swans to their first title in 72 years! The culture Roosy built at the club is still legendary 20 years later. He's spent the past decade advising startups and executives at some of Australia's largest companies on building high-performing cultures and unique challenges Fintech founders face.

In the interview Dexter and Paul discuss the importance of self-awareness, the role of leadership in shaping culture, and the challenges startups face as they grow. The conversation also touches on the significance of health and wellbeing in leadership, and how small companies can create a positive culture that drives success.

Key Takeaways

The culture built at the Sydney Swans is a model for startup success.
Leadership behaviours directly influence organisational culture.
Self-awareness is crucial for effective leadership.
Startups must define their culture early to avoid fragmentation.
Investing in culture can prevent costly turnover.
High-performance teams require clear role definitions.
Remote work challenges can be overcome with a team-first mindset.
Health and well-being are essential for leadership effectiveness.
Leaders should model the behaviours they want to see in their teams.
Incremental changes can lead to significant improvements in culture.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Guest Background
04:38 Transition from Sports to Corporate Culture
09:30 Building a High-Performance Culture
14:11 Leadership and Self-Awareness in Startups
18:44 The Importance of Foundational Culture
23:25 Role of Leaders in Shaping Culture
27:16 Navigating Growth and Leadership Challenges
30:13 The Shift to Remote Work and Team Dynamics
33:11 Hiring for Culture and Team Cohesion
36:32 The Importance of Defining Company Culture
39:07 Mental Health and Personal Wellbeing in Leadership
42:02 Looking Ahead: Commitment to Growth in 2025

Links

Visit Performance by Design website

Connect with Paul Roos

Connect with Dexter Cousins

Learn more about Tier One People

Send us a text

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Connect on Linkedin: https://bit.ly/3DsCJBp

Rob Lincolne - Paydock Ep. 201

About this Episode

Dexter Cousins welcomes Rob Lincolne, Founder & CEO of Paydock to the latest episode of the Fintech Chatter Podcast.

Rob shares Paydock's unique position in the payments ecosystem with a deep-dive into payments orchestration and the importance no-code solutions provide in Fintech innovation.

He discusses the challenges of attracting top talent, emphasising the complexities of building a global team operating on opposite sides of the world. He also highlights the resilience of the tough conditions his team in Ukraine has endured over the last few years.

Rob shares with Dexter his daily routines and the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance as a founder of a global Fintech venture.

About Rob Lincolne

Rob Lincolne is an accomplished entrepreneur with extensive experience in the payments industry. As Founder and Co-CEO of Paydock, Rob is dedicated to transforming the way we transact through the creation of the world’s most trusted payment orchestration platform.

His entrepreneurship journey began in Sydney 2007 when he founded a digital marketing agency specialising in the not-for-profit sector.

The Paydock vision arose when he identified the need for better integration between financial institutions and their merchant clients. Paydock's innovative approach is aimed at unlocking the fintech market's true benefits.

Before founding Paydock, Rob worked in merchant payments across retail and charitable sectors. A self-taught software engineer, he is known for developing cutting-edge payment and propensity modelling software. He has pioneered various digital and experience design systems.

Rob has also founded a successful "near-shore" talent placement agency in Ukraine, connecting software engineers with fintechs around the globe.

About Paydock

Paydock is a payments orchestration platform, leading the way in resolving costly issues for merchants who navigate disparate, fast-moving and fragmented payment service (and related) providers. Our innovative API-first technology harmonises payment, fraud, identity and other vendors (such as Stripe, PayPal, etc.) through a single interface while satisfying compliance, security, technical and other functional needs.

Key Takeaways

PayDock addresses the technology gaps between large banks and fintech.
Adopting a no-code solution within the payments industry is essential for merchant adoption of fintech.
Orchestration should be about enabling merchants, not commoditising services.
Building a global team has been crucial for scaling the business.
Customer relationships are vital in the fintech space.
The future of payments is modular and interoperable.
Attracting talent requires offering challenging problems to solve
Character and resilience are more important than skills.
The hype in fintech is over; it's time for real business.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Fintech Chatter

01:59 Understanding PayDoc and Its Unique Position

06:06 Innovation and the No-Code Approach

10:58 Defining Payments Orchestration

14:58 The Journey of PayDoc: From Australia to the UK

19:09 Building a Global Team and Talent Acquisition

21:54 Supporting Teams During Crisis: The Ukraine Experience

25:32 Attracting Top Talent in Fintech

29:26 The Importance of Character in Hiring

33:56 Resilience and Overcoming Adversity

38:33 Current Trends in Fintech

42:14 Daily Routines and Habits of Founders

45:06 Looking Ahead: PayDoc's Future Plans

Links

Visit Paydock website

Connect with Rob Lincolne

Connect with Dexter Cousins

Learn more about Tier One People

Simon Schwarz - FreightInsure Ep. 200

About this Episode

In episode 200 of Fintech Chatter, host Dexter Cousins chats to Simon Schwartz, Co-Founder and CEO of FreightInsure, about his journey from fintech to insurtech.

Simon shares how his career from investment banking, to fintech, to insurtech (working with SocietyOne, Zip and BizCover along the way) has shaped his current scaleup, FreightInsure.

We take a deep dive into Simon’s strategy to build FreighInsure and how the MGA (Managing General Agent) model has enabled the distribution of embedded insurance products.

Simon reflects on the dual responsibilities as Co-Founder and CEO, and his life hacks for balance and well-being.

About Simon

Simon is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of FreightInsure, Australia’s leading platform for embedded freight insurance.

He started his career at Investec Bank in Australia, holding roles as Head of Investments, Head of Credit and Head of Board Risk and Capita. Simon has sat on boards as a Non-Executive Director and Chairman at several investee companies. He has also acted on advisory boards at Zip Co and Middle, and is a Board member of Insurtech Australia and the Regulatory and Compliance Working Group.

Simon is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, holds an MBA (Exec), Masters of Applied Finance, and is the recipient of the University Medal for pure mathematics from the University of Sydney. He was an Honorary Fellow at Macquarie University’s Applied Finance Centre and a member of the Menzies School of Health Research Development Committee.

About FreightInsure

FreightInsure offers embedded goods-in-transit insurance directly from a transport company's booking platform. Shippers no longer need to buy annual marine insurance policies, but can simply purchase insurance on a needs basis, when booking their freight, within less than a minute.

Key Takeaways

How the MGA model allows for rapid growth without the need for capital reserves
How distribution innovation is big Insurtech opportunity
How AI applications are being developed to enhance underwriting processes
Freight and logistics market isn’t sexy but it presents vast opportunities for growth
Identifying profitable market opportunities is crucial for business success
The quality of founders is the key to a startup's success
Focus on distribution to solve market problems effectively
The role of a founder differs significantly from that of a CEO
InsurTech in Australia is gaining momentum and attracting capital

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

05:54 The Birth of FreightInsure

12:01 Innovation in Distribution

17:57 Future Innovations and AI Applications

25:15 Identifying Market Opportunities

30:54 The Dual Role of Founder and CEO

39:00 The InsurTech Landscape in Australia

Links & Resources:

Visit FreightInsure website
Connect with Simon Schwarz
Connect with Dexter Cousins
Learn more about Tier One People

Exploring Fintech with Joel Yarbrough: Moment's Impact on Africa's Digital Payments Ep. 198

In Episode 198 of the Fintech Chatter podcast, Dexter Cousins chats with Joel Yarbrough, CEO of Moment. Joel, an OG fintech leader, discusses his global journey with roles at PayPal, Grab, and now Moment, where he's tapping into Africa's vast fintech opportunities.

About This Episode

Dexter and Joel discuss the qualities of successful individuals in startup environments, emphasizing the importance of passion, collaboration, and a growth mindset.

Joel talks about the importance of giving back and building diverse teams, as well as the challenges of hiring in a rapidly changing market. He also provides insights into the future of Moment and the importance of being mission-driven in the business world.

About Joel Yarbrough

Joel is a passionate leader whose love of technology drives him to deconstruct complex systems and rebuild them to solve real problems. He has spent most of my career helping strategise, design, product manage, and deliver multi-channel solutions in and around the intersections of financial services, commerce, and technology.

He's built a reputation as an evangelist and dot connector, working with partners to understand their strategies and solve their problems. The delight of leading product teams to make the vision a reality is a real joy.

Joel's core belief is that together we can make the world a better place - even if it's through our own enlightened self-interest. By doing things well, and being decent to each other we will all keep pushing to a brighter place together.

About Moment

Moment is an integrated payments platform for Africa, incubated as a joint venture by MultiChoice, Rapyd, and General Catalyst. We connect businesses and consumers in over 40 African countries. We're able to do so through our broad network that aims to cover over 100 payment providers, 200 local payment methods, and 40 currencies.

Key Takeaways -

How Africa's projected population growth presents unique opportunities for fintech.
Moment's aims to build a comprehensive payment network for Africa, as the trend towards digital payments grows.
Regulatory changes are shifting towards enabling innovation rather than just consumer protection.
Australia's fintech scene is strong but needs to leverage its geographic and cultural assets more effectively.
Regional trade clusters are more valuable than cross-oceanic trade relationships.
The gig economy has empowered individuals in emerging markets, changing their economic prospects.
The diversity in teams provides greater problem-solving capabilities and drives a growth mindset for individuals.
Navigating hiring challenges requires clear communication to achieve high standards and cultural fit.
Giving back creates a positive network effect and greater sense of fulfillment.

Chapters
00:00. Introduction to Joel Yarbrough and Moment

05:42. The Unique Opportunity in Africa's Fintech Landscape

14:01. The Impact of Fintech on Personal Agency

19:44. Australia's Fintech Identity and Global Positioning

25:08. Understanding Human Capital in Startups

30:32. Passion vs. Mission-Driven Work

39:01. Navigating Hiring Challenges in a Changing Market

Links & Resources:

Visit Moment website
Connect with Joel Yarbrough
Connect with Dexter Cousins
Learn more about Tier One People

Send us a text

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Liam Millward - Instant Ep 197

About this Episode

In episode 197 of the Fintech Chatter Podcast, host Dexter Cousins reconnects with Liam Millward, CEO and Co-Founder of Instant. They discuss the remarkable growth and evolution of Instant since their last conversation. Liam shares insights on shifting from a product-focused mindset to a revenue-driven approach, navigating challenges in a competitive landscape.

He shares the importance of building a high-performance team. Liam emphasises the significance of leadership, decision-making, and the role of personal experiences in shaping his entrepreneurial journey. The conversation also touches on the future of Instant and the strategies for market expansion.

The Instant Journey

As CEO and Co-founder of Instant; Liam is on a mission to power the world's most innovative brands, helping to drive their revenue and retention on autopilot. He launched his first funding round led by Blackbird, at age 17, generating $7.5m, the biggest pre-seed to date in Australia.

As the business grew to $1.5m in annualised revenue, they have raised an additional $30m across Seed and Series A rounds. Hitting a healthy 1 million shoppers within 12 months of their launch.

Since Instant launched its Checkout product, they have gone on to develop Audiences and Targeting offering their 3 product across the US and Australia.

This is a triple-pronged approach to customer retention and greater outcomes for business revenue.

About Liam Millward

Liam started his first venture aged 13 in a caravan, travelling around Australia and the world with his family. His love of travel resulted in him curating and developing a well-known travel magazine, Navigate Australia with a monthly readership of 50,000+.

Key Takeaways

Liam reflects on the rapid growth of Instant since its inception.
The importance of focusing on revenue rather than just product development.
Building a strong sales strategy is crucial for startup success.
Creating a high-performance culture is essential for team motivation.
Leadership requires transparency and accountability within the team.
Identifying and nurturing talent is key to sustaining growth.
Travel and personal experiences can significantly influence an entrepreneurial mindset.
Having a clear vision can inspire teams to achieve ambitious goals.
Market expansion requires understanding and adapting to new environments.
Failing as a company is not an option; resilience is vital.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Instant and Liam's Journey

05:28 Shifting Focus: From Product Obsession to Revenue

11:04 Sales Strategies for Rapid Revenue Growth

16:40 Leadership and Transparency in Startups

22:27 Creating an Inspiring Vision for the Team

27:00 High Performance Work Environments

34:26 The Impact of Life Challenges on Entrepreneurship

42:13 Setting Ambitious Goals

49:14 The Realities of Starting a Business

Links & Resources:

Visit Instant website
Connect with Liam Millward
Connect with Dexter Cousins
Learn more about Tier One People

Graham Strain - Citoplus Ep 196

About this Episode

In Episode 196 of the Fintech Chatter podcast, Dexter Cousins is joined by Graham Strain, Co-Founder of Citoplus a digital platform for commercial broking.

The Citoplus Journey

Dexter and Graham look back at their first meeting and discuss Graham's journey from traditional Banking to Start up. His recognition that he was a transformation guy at heart and wanting to do "cool stuff for customers" was the driver behind founding Citoplus.

He chats about support from great shareholders, and how they funded Citoplus through, what he calls the "Friends, Families & Fools" model, who have shown great faith in their vision.

Graham outlines the plans for the future and how Citoplus aims to reach 100% of the digital broking market through partnerships with Banks and Non-Banks. Watch out for lots of new announcements.

About Citoplus

CitoPlus is the cornerstone of modern, frictionless commercial lending. Designed by industry leaders, they launched a product that streamlines the laborious process of SME lending.

Citoplus has focussed on removing the paperwork-heavy process through automation. The result is a broker-friendly data-rich system that delivers better client service and achieves quicker outcomes, meaning deals are closed faster.

About Graham Strain

Co-founder of Citoplus, Graham’s background is in banking, including 13 years at NAB in product, business bank and corporate development executive roles. He held the position of interim CFO and Product Head at start-up Angle Auto Finance, an asset finance company. He was GM - Business Products at Judo Bank in the SME lending space.

Chapters:

00:01:15 Citoplus The Journey and Solution

00:19:45 Graham's Backstory and Career in Banking

00:25:20 Why Startups and Banks are so different

00:39:00 Big News from Citoplus

Links & Resources:

Visit Citoplus website
Connect with Graham Strain
Connect with Dexter Cousins
Learn more about Tier One People

Subscribe Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/fintech-leaders-7092732051488980992/