Dan Jowett - OpenMarkets Group

Where Defi Meets Tradfi

In this episode of Fintech Chatter, host Dexter Cousins speaks with Dan Jowett, CEO of OpenMarkets Group, about the rapid convergence of Tradfi and DeFi

About This Episode

Tune in as Dan and Dexter discuss how OpenMarkets has transformed from a traditional stockbroker to a technology-focused fintech, the regulatory hurdles facing the crypto industry, and the future of equities trading in a rapidly changing environment.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to OpenMarkets and Fintech Landscape
02:26 Evolution of OpenMarkets: From Stockbroker to Tech Innovator
06:08 Navigating the Future: DeFi and Traditional Finance
11:45 Regulatory Challenges and Opportunities in Digital Assets
15:37 Building a Strong Culture at OpenMarkets
18:47 Navigating Market Changes in Fintech
21:07 Lessons from Leadership During Challenging Times
23:22 The Importance of Networking and Global Perspectives
24:26 The Future of DeFi and Regulatory Challenges
27:24 Cultivating a Positive Workplace Culture
30:59 Finding the Right Fit in a Dynamic Environment

About OpenMarkets Group

Power your Fintech, Advisory, or Trading business with an end-to-end Wealth Management and Trading solutions.

Openmarkets empowers financial institutions and advisers to deliver a seamless investment experience to their clients. They provide a comprehensive suite of trading, clearing and settlement, custody, and technology solutions that enable businesses to efficiently manage portfolios, scale their business, and support investors in achieving their financial objectives.

About Dan Jowett

Dan Jowett is the CEO of Openmarkets and has served as OMG’s Chief Executive Officer since March 2022 after joining in February 2022.

Prior to joining Openmarkets, Dan was the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Shaw and Partners Limited, an Australian investment and wealth management firm, between 2012 and 2021.

Dan commenced his career providing financial assurance and advisory services while at PwC Australia and KPMG UK, and has more than 25 years of professional experience across stockbroking, wealth management, funds management and investment banking.

Find Out More - https://openmarkets.com.au/

Nuj Super - Matt McKenzie. From Beancounter to Fintech Founder.

In this episode of Fintech Chatter, host Dexter Cousins speaks with Matt McKenzie, CEO and co-founder of Nuj, a Regtech company making serious strides in the Aus$ 4trn Superannuation sector. Nuj’s plug-and-play solution streamlines workflows while ensuring compliance with all current and upcoming regulations.

The platform enables quick integration, with automated workflows, audit trails, and real-time updates.

Nuj raised a $4m seed round in early 2025 and counts Bluechip names like MUFG and AMP as clients.

Find out more - https://www.nujsuper.com/

Key topics covered in the chat:

Nudge was founded during COVID-19 in 2020.
The superannuation industry has significant legacy challenges.
Client acquisition requires proving value in a slow-moving market.
Funding strategies can include leveraging early client relationships.
Growth in fintech requires patience and resilience.
Remote work has become integral to Nudge's culture.
Establishing authentic company values is crucial for team alignment.
Hiring should focus on cultural fit and embracing collective wisdom.
Networking within the fintech community provides valuable insights.
Future growth at Nuj will leverage AI and technological innovations.

Connect with Matt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-mckenzie/

Building the Best Culture in Fintech

Ritchie Cotton, CTO and Co-Founder of Valiant Finance talks about their journey on Fintech Chatter Podcast

In this episode of Fintech Chatter, host Dexter Cousins speaks with Ritchie Cotton, co-founder of Valiant Finance, about the company's journey over the past decade.

Key Talking Points

Valiant connects small businesses with the right finance options.
The company has helped nearly 25,000 small businesses with over $2bn in funding.
How Ritchie and Co-founder Alex Molloy met and the genesis for Valiant.
Building one of the best working environments in Fintech.
Valiant's push into embedded finance solutions.
Getting the right combination of technology and human touch.
How COVID-19 was a pivotal moment for Valiant.
Valiant's plans for global expansion.
The companies customer centric values.
Ritchie's leadership style and focus on empowering teams and fostering collaboration.

Find out more https://www.valiantfinance.com/careers

Solving Housing Affordability - James Bowe, OwnHome

Dexter Cousins is joined by James Bowe, CEO and co-founder of OwnHome to discuss the urgent challenges of housing access and affordability in Australia.

About Ownhome

James shares how OwnHome aims to innovate the home buying journey by funding deposits and providing advocacy support to aspiring homeowners. Up for discussion is the importance of credit risk management, and the need for innovative business models in the current economic landscape.

Dexter also chats to James about his leadership journey and the successes of OwnHome, building a culture centred on resilience and a growth mindset and hiring talent with "batteries included"

Key Insights From James Bowe

Housing access is a pressing social challenge in Australia.
Young Australians face a decade-long struggle to save for a deposit.
OwnHome funds deposits to help families buy homes sooner.
The property market requires more than just financial support; confidence is key.
Lenders mortgage insurance is a significant profit pool for banks.
Credit risk assessment should consider more than just deposit size.

Find out more - https://ownhome.com/

Fintech is only 1% Finished - David M. Brear 11:FS

Welcome back to Fintech Chatter Podcast! In this episode your host Dexter Cousins invites guest No2 back onto the show.

David M. Brear is CEO of 11:FS Group and 11:FS Holdings. The award winning digital consultancy has built digital banks all over the world and through 11:FS holdings, David and the team are finally going to build the next generation of financial services, this time for their own company!

Having first appeared on the show in January 2020, David and Dexter talk about the evolution of fintech, the challenges facing the fintech industry, and the future of digital banking.

They also discuss the impact of AI on the consultancy model, the importance of understanding customer insights to drive innovation, plus the current state of fintech in the UK and Australia.

David also reveals his new favourite hobby, the increasing role of influencers in fintech media and his personal health challenges that have him more motivated than ever.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
01:16 About 11:FS
03:05 Changing the Fabric of Financial Services
17:20 Regulatory Challenges and Market Dynamics
23:07 The Future of UK FinTech
26:00 Maturity Challenges in FinTech
29:05 Emergence of Influencers in FinTech
33:26 The Power of Podcasting in FinTech
38:13 The Reality of FinTech Media
41:54 Cult of Personality in FinTech
48:55 Building 11FS Holdings
54:30 Health, Work, and Life Balance

For more information on 11:FS - https://www.11fs.com/

Listen to Fintech Insider Podcast - https://content.11fs.com/podcasts

From First Line of Code to $30m Series C - Josh Foreman, Indebted

Dexter Cousins recently caught up with Josh Foreman, CEO of Indebted to discuss their global expansion and recent Series C capital raise.

Josh first appeared on the show in 2020 and he shares the lessons he has learned from writing Indebted's first line of code to launching in 7 countries!

In this catch up we discuss the evolution of the debt collection industry, the challenges of consumer fintech, and how Indebted are building the infrastructure for Credit.

We also talk about the impacts of AI on their operations, and the strategic decisions that have led to their expansion into multiple markets.

Foreman also shares insights on the future of credit infrastructure and the lessons learned throughout his entrepreneurial journey.

Highlight

My favourite insight from the chat with Josh is the critical role of intuition in entrepreneurship. Listen in from the 35 minute mark for some great insights by Josh.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Indebted and Its Mission

03:04 The Evolution of Technology in Debt Collection

09:08 Disrupting Traditional Debt Collection Models

15:00 The Future of Credit Infrastructure

18:03 Lessons Learned and Strategic Insights

30:42 Scaling a Global Business

35:59 The Role of Intuition in Decision Making

39:00 Raising Capital in a Challenging Environment

45:41 The Future of Fintech and AI Innovations

Find out more about Indebted - https://www.indebted.co/careers/

You can find previous episodes with Josh -

2020 - https://tieronepeople.com/2020/11/11/josh-foreman-indebted-fintech-australia-podcast/

2022 - https://youtu.be/iA0j-yejKDQ?si=ibKW4oNXZUxHaJpg

Antony Jenkins On The Future Of 10x Banking

Dexter Cousins interviews Antony Jenkins, the CEO and founder of 10X Banking, the core banking platform that makes banking ten times better.

Antony Jenkins on The Future of 10x Banking

Antony stands out in Fintech as the global CEO of Barclays who decided to start a fintech. Tune in for a deep dive into the challenges of core banking, the outdated technology in the banking sector, and how 10X Banking helps banks like Westpac and Chase innovate fast and move into the future.

We talk about fixing the banking technology silo problem, Antony's transition from a large bank to a startup, and his approach to creating a high-performance culture within 10x and how it differs to running a global bank.

Antony also shares his thoughts on the future of 10x Banking, fintech more broadly and the opportunities in the Australian market (and their partnership with Constantinople.) Plus we get his expert advice for any banking professional considering a move to fintech.

Find out more https://www.10xbanking.com/

"We can still have a positive impact in the world."
Antony Jenkins - 10x Banking

Chapters

00:00 From CEO to Fintech Founder
02:55 The Challenges of Core Banking
05:48 Defining the Problem in Banking
09:12 Building a Technology Solution
12:07 Navigating the Transition to Fintech
18:18 Creating a High-Performance Culture
27:28 The Future of Fintech
30:18 Opportunities in the Australian Market
31:42 Career Advice for Bankers

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

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