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

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

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:

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 -


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:


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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:

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:

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2024 Singapore Fintech Festival Highlights with Kristofer Rogers Ep 199

In this special episode of Fintech Chatter, host Dexter Cousins and guest Kristofer Rogers of Volt.io review the Singapore Fintech Festival 2024, highlighting its scale, the quality of discussions, and the global interest in fintech.

They explore themes of financial health, geopolitical impacts, interoperability, the future of embedded finance and the need for collaboration in the fintech ecosystem.

In this conversation, Kristofer Rogers and Dexter discuss the evolving landscape of FinTech, focusing on the implications of disruption, the changing nature of leadership in Fintech, and the critical importance of talent.

At Singapore Fintech Festival the access to industry leaders is unparalleled. Kristofer and Dexter discuss the significance of Fintech community events and Australia's position in the global FinTech arena.

The discussion highlights the challenges and opportunities facing Australia, the need for a long-term vision, and an optimistic outlook for the future of FinTech.

Highlights from Singapore Fintech Festival 2024

  1. The Singapore Fintech Festival 2024 had 65,000 delegates.
  2. 3400 policy makers and even royalty in attended the event.
  3. 665 central banks, regulatory authorities and government organisations were represented.
  4. 5 zones for Talent, Tech, ESG, Regulation and Founders. 
  5. Financial health is a more pressing issue than financial inclusion.
  6. Interoperability is becoming more important than innovation in fintech.
  7. Africa presents unique opportunities for fintech.
  8. Collaboration among fintechs and banks is essential for success.
  9. Embedded finance is maturing, but challenges remain.
  10. The festival highlighted the importance of genuine business connections.
  11. Talent is a critical focus area that is often overlooked in discussions.
  12. Accessibility of industry leaders fosters networking and collaboration.
  13. A long-term vision is necessary for Australia to establish its identity in FinTech.
  14. Optimism exists for the future of FinTech in Australia, with potential growth opportunities.
  15. Global trade and currency are poised for significant changes in the coming years.
  16. The FinTech landscape is evolving, and businesses must adapt to stay relevant.

Chapters

00:00 Overview of the Singapore Fintech Festival
06:04 Global Perspectives on Fintech
12:01 Interoperability vs. Innovation in Fintech
18:00 Collaboration in the Fintech Ecosystem
27:46 The Implications of Global Disruption
33:21 Accessibility and Networking in FinTech
40:05 Challenges and Opportunities for Australia
45:55 Optimism for the Future of FinTech


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.

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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:
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John Crutchely & Dave Malcolm - Mist Ep 193

In episode 193, Dexter Cousins sits down with Co-Founders John Crutchley and Dave Malcolm, the brains behind Mist, an innovative solution helping students organise their new life in Australia. It doesn’t sound glamorous, but it is an untapped market ripe for digital innovation.

Dave and John share their vision for what promises to be a unique Fintech scaleup. Mist stands out as an ambitious concept. Where many Fintech’s have essentially created a business that could easily be a feature in an app, Mist is an app that makes Fintech a feature of their design.

Dave and John share their Mist journey so far and how their contrasting startup experiences at MarleySpoon and Volt Bank are helping them navigate the pitfalls of a Fintech startup.

Key Take Aways


About Our Guests:


John Crutchley
John gained extensive experience in various leadership roles in the Banking sector before founding Mist. He specialised in migration and international banking for ANZ and Volt Bank, where he was specifically hired as Head of International Banking to lead their go-to-market strategy in the international student market.

Dave Malcolm
A passionate C-Level executive and entrepreneur with a proven track record of founding, building, and scaling digital ventures across web2 and web3 in Australia.
He pinpoints the co-founding of Marley Spoon & Dinnerly in 2015 as his career highlight, which went on to be listed on the ASX in 2018 (ASX: MMM).


Show Notes:


Links & Resources:


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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:

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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.

Revolutionising Housing Finance: Tim Buskens of HOPE Housing

In Episode 191 of the Fintech Chatter Podcast, Dexter Cousins is joined by Tim Buskens CEO of Hope Housing a not-for-profit initiative assisting Essential Service Workers. Dexter and Tim chat about the very real issue of home ownership in Australia for essential workers, as they battle to afford housing closer to where they work.

Revolutionising Housing Finance: HOPE Housing

About Hope Housing

Tim has witnessed first-hand the issues faced by our essential workers in their fight to afford home ownership. He was struck by the stress many of our essential workers face on a daily basis. Observing how they are often forced to move away from their community in order to buy a home, resulting in long journeys to get to work. 

Mainstream banks view essential workers as too high risk for the traditional mortgage route and Tim felt there could be a better way.

From this Hope Housing materialised. An innovative way for people to finance their home purchase through alternative investment, not just the bank route. Now in its 4th year, they are working with great partners who are helping make this happen.

They've assembled an experienced team of financial and technology experts, culminating in a group of people who continue to innovate the solution and deliver the mission to help Australia's unsung heroes buy a home.


About Tim Buskens

Tim is Chief Executive Officer and a Founding Director of HOPE Housing. Tim brings over 25 years’ experience in financial services across both private and public sectors to the role at Hope Housing. 
Most recently as COO of the Australian Superannuation Funds Association, Tim has also held executive positions in Link Group, Oasis Asset Management and ASIC. 
Tim has a Bachelor of Business from Victoria University and a Masters of Applied Finance from Macquarie University.

Chad West - How Did Revolut Grow To 20 Million Customers?

In episode 190 of Fintech Chatter Dexter Cousins is joined by Chad West, VP of Marketing for Argent.

Dexter and Chad first met in 2018 when Chad was VP of Marketing for Revolut. Tune in as they talk about how Chad grew Revolut from 50K to 20 MILLION customers in 5 years

About Argent

Argent is the world's most simple and secure smart wallet for Ethereum. It puts the power of crypto into the hands of anyone with a phone. Empowering users to control and prosper from their digital assets and identity.

Store, save and send; borrow, earn interest and invest. No-nonsense and non-custodial. Combining beautiful design and bulletproof security. Without borders or boundaries.

Launched in 2018 Argent is backed by Silicon Valley and Europe's top investors, including Paradigm, Index Ventures, Creandum and firstminute capital.

Download Argent in the App Store

Find out about careers

How Revolut Grew to 20 Million Customers

Chad and Dexter talk about the early days of Revolut. When Chad joined as their first marketing leader, he was employee no25. Revolut had amassed a fairly impressive 50,000 customers at this stage.

Chad shares some of the strategies and processes he implemented to take the company to 20 MILLION customers just 5 years later.

Dexter also talks to Chad about his career post Revolut. And Chad shares why he believes the world of digital assets has even more potential to fulfil the early promise of Fintech.

And as one of the most accomplished marketers on the planet, Chad shares his tips for founders and gives some career advice to marketeers concerned about the rapid shake up in the industry by AI.


About Chad West

Chad was an early employee and Director of Global Marketing & Communications at Revolut. He helped transform the company from a fintech app that no one had heard of, into one of the fastest-growing technology companies in the world.

Chad's marketing philosophy is a little different. He doesn't believe in blowing money on expensive Super Bowl ads, but instead by bringing customer's as close to the business as possible, and scaling through advocacy.

From product marketing and community building, to referral campaigns and engagement, Chad has seen it all.

Chad began his career in Public Affairs supporting at the the time UK Prime Minister, David Cameron.

He then joined renowned Internet giant Rocket Internet, where he really cut his teeth in growth marketing, before joining Revolut as their first senior marketing hire in 2017.

Chad is now VP of Marketing for Argent and holds an advisory role with Sorare.