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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 

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

Revolut's Path to 50 Million Customers

Matt Baxby - Revolut

Dexter welcomes back friend of the show, Matt Baxby, CEO of Revolut Australia, to talk about their remarkable growth to 50 million customers globally.

It’s been five years since Tier One People placed Matt into the Country CEO role at Revolut. Matt shares his journey over the last five years, discusses the challenges and strategies involved in building a digital bank in Australia, the importance of reaching profitability, and the unique approach Revolut has taken to integrate technology with consumer needs.

Matt shares his insights on leadership, team building, and the future of consumer banking with Dexter.

About Revolut

Launched in 2015. Revolut's global mission is for every person and business to handle their money in just a few taps, removing the friction that gets in the way of your money goals. 

Revolut delivers faster, better, smarter products to lover 50 million customers across the globe.

The Revolut platform gives you access to investments and your money effortlessly and across borders.

About Matt Baxby

Matt is a strategic and people-oriented leader with diverse experience across consumer-facing businesses facing disruption or significant regulatory change.

He has broad finance services sector experience - particularly consumer banking - from start-ups to an ASX-listed company with an established market position.

Matt embodies the entrepreneurial spirit from a decade with the Virgin Group combined with the discipline and scaled leadership as the Group Executive - Retail Banking and then Group CFO of the Bank of Queensland.

Key Takeaways

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

00:41 Revolut's growth over the past decade

02:28 Profitability and Financial Milestones

05:14 Building a Digital Bank: Lessons Learned

09:58 Opportunities in the Australian Market

10:53 Remittance Flows and Market Disruption

12:19 Future Product Offerings with a Banking License

17:29 Matt's Unique Journey in Fintech

24:31 Building a Cohesive and Effective Team

29:30 What is the BIG Opportunity for Fintech in 2025?

32:13 Looking Ahead: Revolut's Future in Australia

Links & Resources:


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


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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:

Paul Weingarth - Slyp Ep 195

We have a great Fintech Chatter Podcast for you this week, a transformative piece in more ways than one. Dexter Cousins caught up with Paul Weingarth, Co-founder & CEO of Slyp, Australia’s only independent startup backed by all four major banks.



About This Episode

12 months ago Paul and Slyp were in a challenging place. Paul's health and fitness had suffered with the stress of running a startup and Slyp were facing capital runway challenges. Things weren't looking great.

After a week of playing the victim (and a good talking to himself), he decided enough was enough and he needed to change right now! By focussing on his health first, the past year has been phenomenal. Paul is back in his best shape since his Uni days, shedding 25kg and doing his first triathlon. And Slyp has bounced back from its challenges with the launch of Go Rewards!

This is one of our favourite-ever episodes. Paul first appeared as an early guest - to see first-hand his journey and to be able to share it with you through the podcast is something we're really proud of!

About Slyp

Since Slyp launched in 2017 they have made it their mission to bring brands closer to their customers. The digitising of receipts and connecting the "SKU to Who" has allowed them to grow their market presence. Their DNA has always been about enriching the customer experience and helping retailers unleash the power of their POS data, to drive targeted engagement opportunities with their customers.

Go Rewards Powered By Slyp

They recently launched Go Rewards the first turnkey, full-stack loyalty platform that drives smarter commerce allowing retailers including, Kmart, Country Road Group, Chemist warehouse and countless others, the opportunity to harness the power of consumer buying, getting to "Know & Grow" their customer relationships.

About Paul

With a career rooted in digital commerce and payments, Paul previously led PayPal Australia’s growth team. His expertise and passion lie in customer experience, with a vision to revolutionise payment experiences, delivering step-change value to both retailers and their suppliers.

Outside of work, Paul has reignited his dedication to health and fitness, recently competing in his first triathlon.

Send us a text

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

Ryan Edwards-Pritchard - Anna.Money Ep 194

In the latest episode of the Fintech Chatter podcast, Dexter reconnects with Ryan Edwards-Pritchard, CEO of Anna.Money.

Ryan chats to Dexter about the recent merger of Cape and how he's joined forces with the UK's Anna.Money to bring a new approach to supporting the 2 million plus small businesses in Australia.

About this episode

Ryan shares the back story of launching Cape in Australia and the challenges he faced getting through the pandemic, securing funding, growing the business and then navigating the funding crunch.

They discuss the synergies that led to Cape being acquired by ANNA and Ryan shares his learnings and advice for other founders seeking an acquisition partner.

Ryan also shares the plans for growth in the region as well as some unique product offerings and services for the Aussie market.

About Anna.Money

As "The business account that does your accounting and taxes" Anna.Money provides a smart all-in-one business account for money, invoicing, expenses, bookkeeping and taxes.

About Ryan

Ryan would describe himself as a British expat Fintech Nerd. His background in the UK saw him heading up Europe's largest digital marketplace for SME Finance in Funding Options.

Subscribe & Review:
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on [Apple Podcasts/Spotify/Your Preferred Platform]. Your feedback helps us bring more engaging content and insight.

Send us a text

Subscribe Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/fintech-leaders-7092732051488980992/
Connect on Linkedin: https://bit.ly/3DsCJBp

Robert Kassis - Digizoo Ep. 192

In this episode of the Fintech Chatter Podcast, Dexter sits down with Robert Kassis, a visionary leader and co-founder of DigiZoo, a digital consultancy supporting some of Australia’s most innovative Fintech including 86 400, Volt Bank, Afterpay Money, Constantinople and Great Northern Bank.

DigiZoo is at the forefront of transforming businesses through innovative digital solutions, helping organizations navigate the complexities of the digital landscape with confidence and agility.

Robert shares his insights on the complexities of digital transformation in today's banks, how DigiZoo helps incumbents stay ahead of the curve, and the critical role that technology plays in driving business success. We also delve into the unique approach DigiZoo is developing by productising their service offering.

Whether you're a founder/executive looking to enhance your product capability or someone interested in the latest trends in digital innovation, this episode offers valuable perspectives on how to thrive in the Fintech 2.0 era.

Key Takeaways:

About Our Guest:
Robert Kassis is the co-founder of DigiZoo, bringing years of experience in digital strategy and innovation. With a passion for helping businesses leverage technology to achieve their goals, Robert has been instrumental in positioning DigiZoo as a leading consultancy in the digital space.

Show Notes:

Links & Resources:

Subscribe & Review:
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on [Apple Podcasts/Spotify/Your Preferred Platform]. Your feedback helps us bring more engaging content and insightful conversations to you.

Join the Conversation:
Got questions or thoughts on this episode? Share them with us on social media using the hashtag [#FintechChatter], or send us an email at info@tieronepeople.com.

Decoding Remote Work - Tips on Productivity and Performance Management

Mark Lewis of Crewmojo shares his hacks on making remote work effective for startups and scaleups

Making remote work, work!

In the age of remote work, organisations are challenged to maintain productivity and engagement while navigating the complexities of virtual work environments. This insightful interview Mark Lewis from CrewMojo chats to Dexter Cousins about the evolution of performance management as we spend more time leading our employees from afar.

The traditional model of performance management has been disrupted by the shift to remote work. Employees no longer operate in close proximity, and feedback is often delayed or nonexistent.

As we navigate the choppy waters of remote work and productivity, Mark offers valuable insights. We debate the challenge of managing remote workers, the shift from daily face-to-face interactions to asynchronous communication, and the importance of carving out a clear divide between work and home life.

They also ponder the role of leadership in setting clear expectations and helping to grow their teams, the disconnect between high and low performers, and even the potential of a four-day work week.

Mark and Dexter explore the evolution of performance management within hybrid work models, and how to build a mutually beneficial relationship in your organisation. The chat dissects the power dynamics between employers and employees, and discuss how to get work done effectively as if there was no hierarchy. Looking at the design of a flexible work policy, Mark highlights the importance of aligning individuals, teams, customers, and company, and how to negotiate in a way that benefits all parties. Join us on this insightful journey, where we rethink traditional work norms and discover new paths to productivity and staff engagement.

Chapters

About Mark Lewis

Mark is a people focused entrepreneur with a passion and curiosity for discovering new approaches to traditional ways. He likes a good challenge and has a need to continually improve himself but he really gets his kicks when he sees the team around him truly succeeding.

That's why Mark started Crewmojo, Performance development for the modern workforce. The Crewmojo platform helps leaders engage and motivate  employees with a real-time continuous approach to employee performance.

Previously a co-founder of IP Payments which rapidly became the go-to organisation for complex corporate payment solutions. In 2015 IP Payments was successfully acquired by Bambora Group, an entity of Nordic Capital.

To find out more about Crewmojo go to: https://www.crewmojo.com/