Shows
We Are HabsElliott Gotkine - From Habs boy to the BBC's man in Buenos Aires and beyondElliott Gotkine (OH 1994) host of the opening season of 'We Are Habs' is joined by Robert Curtis, Executive Producer of the podcast as they turn the tables on Elliott and welcome him as the guest in this bonus episode. Elliott discusses how he developed his journalism career leading to being a TV correspondent for some of the world's largest media organisations. Elliott reminisces about his years at Habs, especially his love of water polo and more.
2022-03-2149 minWe Are HabsSir Martin Sorrell - From Hendersons to a global advertising empire (or two!)Elliott Gotkine (OH 1994) host of the opening season of 'We Are Habs' is joined by Sir Martin Sorrell (OH 1963). Sir Martin shares stories of his time at Habs and his inspiring career leading the world of advertising as the founder of the world's largest advertising agency, WPP and now as chairman of S4 Capital.
2022-03-1459 minWe Are HabsRoderick Williams OBE - A musical journey from the Seldon Hall to the Royal Albert HallElliott Gotkine (OH 1994) host of the opening season of 'We Are Habs' is joined by Roderick Williams (OH 1983). In this episode you can find Roderick sharing the story of his majestic and illustrious musical career and how Habs played a pivotal role in his education and shaping of his life.
2022-03-0147 minWe Are HabsJohn Vincent MBE - From longhand at the Old Bailey to Leon and The LonghouseElliott Gotkine (OH 1994) host of the opening season of 'We Are Habs' is joined by John Vincent (OH 1990). In this episode you can find John sharing his memories of being educated at Habs with some quite hilarious tales as well as discussing his own business career, entrepreneurial journey with Leon and his wider social impact missions.
2022-02-2241 minWe Are HabsSir Simon Schama - The life and times of Sir Simon at Habs and his life beyondElliott Gotkine (OH 1994) host of the opening season of 'We Are Habs' is joined by Sir Simon Schama (OH 1962). In this episode you can find Sir Simon sharing his memories of being educated at Habs and how it informed his love of learning leading to his world renowned career as an author, historian and academic.
2022-02-041h 01We Are HabsDr Mala Mawkin - Habs, NASA and improving healthcare in the metaverseElliott Gotkine (OH 1994) host of the opening season of 'We Are Habs' is joined by Dr Mala Mawkin (OH 2013) to talk about her time at Habs and the trajectory of her career in digital healthcare.
2022-01-3132 min
The F in Tech PodcastCredit Kudos Founder & CEO, Freddy KellyWhen he got his first taste of startup life, in San Francisco, freshly-graduated Freddy Kelly did a few months at culinary school on the side. Little did he know that years later, his baking skills would help him blag his way into a conference by virtue of a chocolate cake he'd baked. He met Credit Kudos's first investor there, and his fintech - an open banking credit-reference company - was off to the races. It hasn't stopped running since.
2021-12-2433 min
The PFF21 F in Tech PodcastCredit Kudos CEO, Freddy Kelly [PFF2021/38]When he got his first taste of startup life, in San Francisco, freshly-graduated Freddy Kelly did a few months at culinary school on the side. Little did he know that years later, his baking skills would help him blag his way into a conference by virtue of a chocolate cake he’d baked. He met Credit Kudos’s first investor there, and his fintech - an open banking credit-reference company - was off to the races. It hasn’t stopped running since.
2021-12-2433 minThe F in Tech PodcastCredit Kudos Founder & CEO, Freddy KellyWhen he got his first taste of startup life, in San Francisco, freshly-graduated Freddy Kelly did a few months at culinary school on the side. Little did he know that years later, his baking skills would help him blag his way into a conference by virtue of a chocolate cake he’d baked. He met Credit […]
2021-12-2400 min
The F in Tech PodcastBankin' Co-Founder & CEO, Joan BurkovicIn its early days, banks tried to block Bankin’. Some set up call centres, warning customers of the danger of using the personal finance app, and encouraging them not to use it. On one occasion, they even called Joan, not realising that he was the fintech's co-founder. Nowadays, with open banking, it's a different story; banks, for the most part, are cooperative. And Bankin' is now blossoming into one of Europe’s leading consumer finance apps - with a potential B2B spinoff to boot.
2021-12-1733 min
The PFF21 F in Tech PodcastBridge by Bankin' CEO, Joan Burkovic [PFF2021/37]In its early days, banks tried to block Bankin’. Some set up call centres, warning customers of the danger of using the personal finance app, and encouraging them not to use it. On one occasion, they even called Joan, not realising that he was the fintech’s co-founder. Nowadays, with open banking, it’s a different story; banks, for the most part, are cooperative. And Bankin’ is now blossoming into one of Europe’s leading consumer finance apps - with a potential B2B spinoff to boot.
2021-12-1733 minThe F in Tech PodcastBankin’ Co-Founder & CEO, Joan BurkovicIn its early days, banks tried to block Bankin’. Some set up call centres, warning customers of the danger of using the personal finance app, and encouraging them not to use it. On one occasion, they even called Joan, not realising that he was the fintech’s co-founder. Nowadays, with open banking, it’s a different story; […]
2021-12-1700 min
The PFF21 F in Tech PodcastBanxware Founder, Miriam Wohlfarth [PFF2021/36]Some people thought launching a fintech during a pandemic was crazy. Then Banxware - a Germany-based, white-labelled SME lending platform - saw its banking partner, Wirecard, blow up. Since then, it’s been relatively plain sailing!
2021-12-1032 minThe F in Tech PodcastBanxware Founder & Co-CEO, Miriam WohlfarthSome people thought launching a fintech during a pandemic was crazy. Then Banxware – a Germany-based, white-labelled SME lending platform – saw its banking partner, Wirecard, blow up. Since then, it’s been relatively plain sailing!
2021-12-1000 min
The F in Tech PodcastBanxware Founder & Co-CEO, Miriam WohlfarthSome people thought launching a fintech during a pandemic was crazy. Then Banxware - a Germany-based, white-labelled SME lending platform - saw its banking partner, Wirecard, blow up. Since then, it's been relatively plain sailing!
2021-12-1032 minThe F in Tech PodcastAlpaca Co-Founder & CEO Yoshi YokokawaHow Yoshi Yokokawa is enabling the world to have Robinhood-style access to financial markets and crypto, and why the Alpaca co-founder & CEO feels the furry camel cousin best symbolises this ambition.
2021-11-2600 min
The F in Tech PodcastAlpaca Co-Founder & CEO Yoshi YokokawaHow Yoshi Yokokawa is enabling the world to have Robinhood-style access to financial markets and crypto, and why the Alpaca co-founder & CEO feels the furry camel cousin best symbolises this ambition.
2021-11-2636 min
The PFF21 F in Tech PodcastAlpaca Co-Founder & CEO, Yoshi YokokawaHow Yoshi Yokokawa is enabling the world to have Robinhood-style access to financial markets and crypto, and why the Alpaca co-founder & CEO feels the furry camel cousin best symbolises this ambition.
2021-11-2636 minWe Are HabsProfessor Penny Endersby - On COP26, learning to fail....and blowing stuff upElliott Gotkine (OH 1994) host of the opening season of 'We Are Habs' is joined by Professor Penny Endersby (OH 1988). In this episode you can find Penny reminiscing about her time at Habs, especially in developing her love of science and singing as well as hearing her debrief on COP26, becoming an expert in explosives for the MOD and her current leadership role at the Met Office.
2021-11-2327 min
The PFF21 F in Tech PodcastWakam CEO, Olivier Jaillon [PFF2021/34]How Olivier Jaillon cheated death, and survived the failure of his U.S. startup, to reinvent a 200-year old insurer-turned-insurtech, Wakam.
2021-11-1936 minThe F in Tech PodcastWakam CEO Olivier JaillonHow Olivier Jaillon cheated death, and survived the failure of his U.S. startup, to reinvent a 200-year old insurer-turned-insurtech, Wakam.
2021-11-1900 min
The F in Tech PodcastWakam CEO Olivier JaillonHow Olivier Jaillon cheated death, and survived the failure of his U.S. startup, to reinvent a 200-year old insurer-turned-insurtech, Wakam.
2021-11-1936 minWe Are HabsOne Family, Four Generations of HaberdashersElliott Gotkine (OH 1994) host of the opening season of 'We Are Habs' is joined by four generations of Haberdashers from one family. These include alumni Clive Orton (OH '58), Vanessa Feltz (OH '79), Marc Joss (OH '07), Allegra Benitah (OH '04) and current Habs boy, Zekey. Together they share their own personal experiences attending Habs, the memories created at the school and how their time at Habs informed their own careers.
2021-11-1648 min
The PFF21 F in Tech PodcastElinvar CEO, Chris Bartz [PFF2021/33]Blurb: How having investors from day one helped wealth management platform, Elinvar, get off to a flying start, and why co-founder and CEO, Chris Bartz, says that doesn’t mean there was any less pressure. Fun fact: “elinvar” is an alloy of iron, nickel, chromium, and other constituents, resistant to rust and magnetization and having a low rate of thermal expansion.
2021-11-1228 min
The F in Tech PodcastElinvar Co-founder & CEO, Chris BartzHow having investors from day one helped wealth management platform, Elinvar, get off to a flying start, and why co-founder and CEO, Chris Bartz, says that doesn’t mean there was any less pressure. Fun fact: "elinvar" is an alloy of iron, nickel, chromium, and other constituents, resistant to rust and magnetization and having a low rate of thermal expansion.
2021-11-1228 minThe F in Tech PodcastElinvar Co-founder & CEO, Chris BartzHow having investors from day one helped wealth management platform, Elinvar, get off to a flying start, and why co-founder and CEO, Chris Bartz, says that doesn’t mean there was any less pressure. Fun fact: “elinvar” is an alloy of iron, nickel, chromium, and other constituents, resistant to rust and magnetization and having a low […]
2021-11-1200 min
The PFF21 F in Tech PodcastBitbond CEO, Albrecht Radoslav [PFF2021/32]Aged 14, Radko Albrecht, was one of Germany’s top figure skaters. A child of Slovakian refugees, he was on track to become an Olympian, something that would have required focus, dedication and the ability to pick yourself up when you’re down. He never made it to the Olympics, but those same skills have come in handy with his chosen path: founding BitBond, which helps banks and intermediaries issue and securitize bonds using blockchain technology and tokenization.
2021-11-0535 minThe F in Tech PodcastBitbond Co-Founder & CEO, Radko AlbrechtAged 14, Radko Albrecht, was one of Germany’s top figure skaters. A child of Slovakian refugees, he was on track to become an Olympian, something that would have required focus, dedication and the ability to pick yourself up when you’re down. He never made it to the Olympics, but those same skills have come in […]
2021-11-0500 min
The F in Tech PodcastBitbond Co-Founder & CEO, Radko AlbrechtAged 14, Radko Albrecht, was one of Germany’s top figure skaters. A child of Slovakian refugees, he was on track to become an Olympian, something that would have required focus, dedication and the ability to pick yourself up when you’re down. He never made it to the Olympics, but those same skills have come in handy with his chosen path: founding BitBond, which helps banks and intermediaries issue and securitize bonds using blockchain technology and tokenization.
2021-11-0535 minWe Are HabsRish Shah - Habs Boy to the Big ScreenElliott Gotkine (OH 1994) host of the opening season of 'We Are Habs' is joined by actor, Rish Shah (OH 2006). Rish shares his personal journey in the world of entertainment, landing his current leading role in the Disney movie, Ms Marvel. He also reminisces on his time at Habs and what the school meant to him as a student and now as an alum.
2021-10-3138 min
The PFF21 F in Tech Podcastiwoca Co-founder & CEO, Christoph Rieche [PFF2021/31]When Christoph Rieche told colleagues at Goldman Sachs he was leaving to set up iWoca, some of them thought he was crazy. Others were jealous. Ten years later, the second group would appear to have been right: iwoca has now helped more than 65,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) gain access to capital. It’s building out new products all the time, raising $350m in debt and equity capital along the way. And although Christoph’s creative talents may not have come up to snuff for him to have become an architect, the businesses iwoca has helped people to build may...
2021-10-2233 min
The F in Tech Podcastiwoca Co-founder & CEO, Christoph RiecheWhen Christoph Rieche told colleagues at Goldman Sachs he was leaving to set up iwoca, some of them thought he was crazy. Others were jealous. Ten years later, the second group would appear to have been right: iwoca has now helped more than 65,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) gain access to capital. It's building out new products all the time, raising $350m in debt and equity capital along the way. And although Christoph's creative talents may not have come up to snuff for him to have become an architect, the businesses iwoca has helped people to build may end...
2021-10-2233 min
The PFF21 F in Tech PodcastDivido CEO, Christer Holloman [2021/30]The buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) space is on fire right now - just look at Klarna’s latest funding round, valuing the fintech in excess of $45b, or the $29b Square paid for Afterpay. So it seems as good a time as any to catch up with Christer Holloman, founder of Divido, which connects banks to retailers, to offer customers BNPL. His other big passion is promoting diversity in fintech through his charitable initiative, Fintech Finishers.“I’m raised by a single mother in northern Sweden [and gay],” he says. “So for me, gender diversity and equality has been a given from...
2021-10-0840 min
The F in Tech PodcastDivido Founder & Advisor, Christer HollomanThe buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) space is on fire right now - just look at Klarna's latest funding round, valuing the fintech in excess of $45b, or the $29b Square paid for Afterpay. So it seems as good a time as any to catch up with Christer Holloman, founder of Divido, which connects banks to retailers, to offer customers BNPL. His other big passion is promoting diversity in fintech through his charitable initiative, Fintech Finishers.
"I'm raised by a single mother in northern Sweden [and gay]," he says. "So for me, gender diversity and equality has been a given...
2021-10-0840 min
The F in Tech PodcastBunq Founder & CEO, Ali NiknamHow Ali Niknam went all in with more than 100 million euros ($125m) of his OWN money to create an eco-friendly neobank called Bunq (now valued at nearly $2b), and why he doesn’t lose sleep over it - despite the high steaks.
2021-10-0137 min
The PFF21 F in Tech PodcastBunq CEO, Ali Niknam [PFF2021/29]How Ali Niknam went all in with more than 100 million euros ($125m) of his OWN money to create an eco-friendly neobank called Bunq (now valued at nearly $2b), and why he doesn’t lose sleep over it - despite the high steaks.
2021-10-0137 min
The F in Tech PodcastMinna Tech Founder & CEO, Joakim SjöblomJoakim Sjöblom founded Minna Tech to stop people wasting money on subscriptions they no longer want - but seeing his first company fail, and losing money in the process, he says, was worth every penny.
2021-09-2427 min
The PFF21 F in Tech PodcastMinna Technology CEO, Joakim Sjöblom [2021/28]Joakim Sjöblom founded Minna Technology to stop people wasting money on subscriptions they no longer want - but seeing his first company fail, and losing money in the process, he says, was worth every penny.
2021-09-2427 min
The PFF21 F in Tech PodcastSimplex CEO, Nimrod Lehavi [2021/27]How Nimrod Lehavi turned his frustrating experience of buying crypto into Simplex, and why it was anything but simple.
2021-09-1731 min
The F in Tech PodcastSimplex Co-Founder & CEO, Nimrod LehaviHow Nimrod Lehavi turned his frustrating experience of buying crypto into Simplex, and why it was anything but simple.
2021-09-1731 min
The PFF21 F in Tech PodcastTandem co-founder, Ricky Knox [2021/26]His grandfather founded the Cincinnati Bengals American Football team. Ricky Knox co-founded Tandem (along with 10,000 other people - kind of), while almost striking gold with Bitcoin. He’s now stepped down as CEO of the neobank. But with an entrepreneurial journey that’s included selling clubbing clothing, and mobile phone infrastructure to the Central African Republic, you can be sure that whatever he does next will be anything but dull.
2021-09-1046 min
The F in Tech PodcastTandem Co-Founder & Former CEO, Ricky KnoxHis grandfather founded the Cincinnati Bengals American Football team. Ricky Knox co-founded Tandem (along with 10,000 other people - kind of), while almost striking gold with Bitcoin. He's now stepped down as CEO of the neobank. But with an entrepreneurial journey that's included selling clubbing clothing, and mobile phone infrastructure to the Central African Republic, you can be sure that whatever he does next will be anything but dull.
2021-09-1046 min
The F in Tech PodcastDreamquark Founder & CEO, Nicolas MericHow Nicolas Meric made the leap from particle physics to fintech, and the challenges he faced along the way with Dreamquark.
2021-09-0341 min
The PFF21 F in Tech PodcastDreamquark CEO, Nicolas Meric [2021/25]How Nicolas Meric made the leap from particle physics to fintech, and the challenges he faced along the way with Dreamquark.
2021-09-0341 min
The PFF21 F in Tech PodcastRailsbank Co-Founder & CEO, Nigel Verdon [2021/24]Entrepreneurs often describe multiple existential challenges hitting them at the same time as “a perfect storm”. But Nigel Verdon, CEO of banking-as-a-service platform, Railsbank, must surely be the only fintech founder to have gone through one in the literal sense. Of course, being able to keep calm in such trying circumstances can give you perspective when dealing with 30-foot swells like a financial crisis or a pandemic - enabling you to see through choppy seas to the destination that lies beyond.
2021-07-3047 min
The F in Tech PodcastRailsbank Co-Founder & CEO, Nigel VerdonEntrepreneurs often describe multiple existential challenges hitting them at the same time as “a perfect storm”. But Nigel Verdon, CEO of banking-as-a-service platform, Railsbank, must surely be the only fintech founder to have gone through one in the literal sense. Of course, being able to keep calm in such trying circumstances can give you perspective when dealing with 30-foot swells like a financial crisis or a pandemic - enabling you to see through choppy seas to the destination that lies beyond.
2021-07-2347 min
The PFF21 F in Tech PodcastRaisin Co-Founder & CEO, Tamas Giorgadse [2021/23]Tamas Giorgadse was a chess prodigy who survived civil war and hyperinflation. He finished school aged 12, and completed his masters three years later. He moved to Germany, gained two PhDs and went to work for McKinsey. Next, he co-founded Raisin, Europe’s leading platform for savings and investments. Already a unicorn, the fintech recently announced a merger with domestic rival Deposit Solutions, to create Raisin DS.
2021-07-1645 min
The F in Tech PodcastRaisin Co-Founder & CEO, Tamas GiorgadseTamas Giorgadse was a chess prodigy who survived civil war and hyperinflation. He finished school aged 12, and completed his masters three years later. He moved to Germany, gained two PhDs and went to work for McKinsey. Next, he co-founded Raisin, Europe’s leading platform for savings and investments. Already a unicorn, the fintech recently announced a merger with domestic rival Deposit Solutions, to create Raisin DS.
2021-07-1645 min
The F in Tech PodcastCollective Benefits Founder & CEO, Anthony BeilinA back injury - possibly caused by some overexuberant dancing at a wedding - put Anthony Beilin out of action for six months. Luckily, he worked full-time, at Aviva. His income didn't suffer, and he received all the physical and emotional help he needed. But when a contractor friend came to see him - and told him of his loss of income and benefits while off from a knee-op - the proverbial lightbulb went off in Anthony's brain. Why, he reasoned, should gig-workers, freelancers and contractors be deprived of sick pay, holiday pay and other benefits just because of...
2021-07-0946 min
The PFF21 F in Tech PodcastCollective Benefits Founder & CEO, Anthony Beilin [2021/22]A back injury - possibly caused by some overexuberant dancing at a wedding - put Anthony Beilin out of action for six months. Luckily, he worked full-time, at Aviva. His income didn’t suffer, and he received all the physical and emotional help he needed. But when a contractor friend came to see him - and told him of his loss of income and benefits while off from a knee-op - the proverbial lightbulb went off in Anthony’s brain. Why, he reasoned, should gig-workers, freelancers and contractors be deprived of sick pay, holiday pay and other benefits just beca...
2021-07-0946 min
The F in Tech PodcastUbble Co-Founder, Juliette DelanoeA lunch, an idea and a co-founder she trusted were all it took for Juliette Delanoe to leave her job at Thales to create Ubble, a (for now) French-focused, web-based identity verification startup. As with so many digital-first businesses, the past 12-18 months have been a boon; banks and financial institutions account for more than half the company’s clients. And if you’re wondering why “Ubble”, it’s a riff on the famous telescope that sees into the depths of space (in French, the H is silent!).
2021-06-2540 min
The PFF21 F in Tech PodcastUbble Co-Founder, Juliette Delanoe [2021/21]A lunch, an idea and a co-founder she trusted were all it took for Juliette Delanoe to leave her job at Thales to create Ubble, a (for now) French-focused, web-based identity verification startup. As with so many digital-first businesses, the past 12-18 months have been a boon; banks and financial institutions account for more than half the company’s clients. And if you’re wondering why “Ubble”, it’s a riff on the famous telescope that sees into the depths of space (in French, the H is silent).
2021-06-2540 min
The F in Tech PodcastBUX Founder & Board Member, Nick BortotWhen he was fired by Citi in 1999, a young Nick Bortot received some friendly advice from his soon-to-be ex-boss: don't get another job in finance. Yet that's just what he did, joining the Netherlands' first online broker, before helping to build BinckBank into the first Dutch fintech unicorn. In 2013 he founded BUX, a pan-European trading platform, partly because he had a point to prove. Inevitably, it's often compared to Robinhood, and not just because the two startups were founded within months of one another. It offers zero-fee trading, and has the size, scope and simplicity that have made Robinhood a...
2021-06-1841 min
The PFF21 F in Tech PodcastBux Founder, Nick Bortot [PFF2021/20]When he was fired by Citi in 1999, a young Nick Bortot received some friendly advice from his soon-to-be ex-boss: don’t get another job in finance. Yet that’s just what he did, joining the Netherlands’ first online broker, before helping to build BinckBank into the first Dutch fintech unicorn. In 2013 he founded BUX, a pan-European trading platform, partly because he had a point to prove. Inevitably, it’s often compared to Robinhood, and not just because the two startups were founded within months of one another. It offers zero-fee trading, and has the size, scope and simplicity that have made...
2021-06-1841 min
The F in Tech PodcastPrimaryBid Co-Founder & CEO, Anand SambasivanBorn in Bombay, and raised in Singapore, Anand Sambasivan was destined to be a doctor - till it turned out he wasn't very good at medicine. He went into investment banking and then set up a hedge fund, where he had privileged access to IPOs and other share offerings. But he didn’t think it was fair. So he founded PrimaryBid to level the playing field. Thanks to the London-based fintech - and a partnership with the LSE - retail investors have had access to IPOs, such as Deliveroo and PensionBee, and share sales by the likes of Compass Gr...
2021-06-1142 min
The PFF21 F in Tech PodcastPrimary Bid CEO, Anand Sambasivan [PFF2021/19]Born in Bombay, and raised in Singapore, Anand Sambasivan was destined to be a doctor - till it turned out he wasn’t very good at medicine. He went into investment banking and then set up a hedge fund, where he had privileged access to IPOs and other share offerings. But he didn’t think it was fair. So he founded PrimaryBid to level the playing field. Thanks to the London-based fintech - and a partnership with the LSE - retail investors have had access to IPOs, such as Deliveroo and PensionBee, and share sales by the likes of Comp...
2021-06-1142 min
The PFF21 F in Tech PodcastMoneyhub CEO, Samantha Seaton [PFF2021/18]Sam Seaton was an eventing champion. She flew around the world with her horse in the hold. But after failing to make the Sydney Olympics team, and realising the demands on her and the horses were not what she wanted, she turned her hand to consulting. A management buyout (MBO) of stochastic forecasting company, eValue followed, before another MBO, this time of open banking platform, Moneyhub, which she bought for £1.
2021-05-2838 min
The F in Tech PodcastMoneyhub CEO, Sam SeatonSam Seaton was an eventing champion. She flew around the world with her horse in the hold. But after failing to make the Sydney Olympics team, and realising the demands on her and the horses were not what she wanted, she turned her hand to consulting. A management buyout (MBO) of stochastic forecasting company, eValue followed, before another MBO, this time of open banking platform, Moneyhub, which she bought for £1.
2021-05-2838 min
The PFF21 F in Tech PodcastNav Co-Founder & Executive Chairman, Levi King [PFF2021/17]Farmer. Missionary. Electric sign salesman. Hotelier. And most importantly - for our purposes, at least - founder of not one, but TWO successful fintechs. First came SME loan-broker, Lendio. And now NAV, a business financial health platform - matching small businesses with the best loans available, and helping them improve their risk profile, to enable access to better loan rates in future. The company has raised $100m from investment royalty, including Kleiner Perkins, Goldman Sachs, and Experian - an even larger sum than Levi’s had to pay in driving fines in the U.S. and around the world.
2021-05-2143 min
The F in Tech PodcastNAV Co-Founder & Executive Chairman, Levi KingFarmer. Missionary. Electric sign salesman. Hotelier. And most importantly - for our purposes, at least - founder of not one, but TWO successful fintechs. First came SME loan-broker, Lendio. And now NAV, a business financial health platform - matching small businesses with the best loans available, and helping them improve their risk profile, to enable access to better loan rates in future. The company has raised $100m from investment royalty, including Kleiner Perkins, Goldman Sachs, and Experian - an even larger sum than Levi's had to pay in driving fines in the U.S. and around the world.
2021-05-2143 min
The PFF21 F in Tech PodcastMeniga Co-Founder & CEO, Georg Ludviksson [PFF2021/16]Georg Ludviksson was once Iceland’s top mathlete and creator of a Tomb-Raider-topping video game. But it took the global financial crisis to help turn his fintech, Meniga, into reality. The company is an innovation partner for some of Europe’s biggest banks, such as Santander and Unicredit, enabling them to provide customers with advanced digital services - everything from personal finance management to carbon insights. And if you want to know how Meniga got its name, make sure you listen to the end, for a musical finale.
2021-05-1444 min
The F in Tech PodcastMeniga Co-Founder & CEO Georg LudvikssonGeorg Ludviksson was once Iceland’s top mathlete and creator of a Tomb-Raider-topping video game. But it took the global financial crisis to help turn his fintech, Meniga, into reality. The company is an innovation partner for some of Europe's biggest banks, such as Santander and Unicredit, enabling them to provide customers with advanced digital services - everything from personal finance management to carbon insights. And if you want to know how Meniga got its name, make sure you listen to the end, for a musical finale.
2021-05-1444 min
The PFF21 F in Tech PodcastAkoni CEO, Felicia Meyerowitz Singh, [PFF2021/15]If you can switch financial assets, like stocks and pensions, super easily, why can’t you do the same with the bank that holds your cash? This germ of an idea prompted Felicia to found digital cash platform, Akoni. Along the way, she set up a micro-credit startup in India, and co-founded Hive Founders, to help other female founders to follow in her footsteps. At the same time, she’s trying to persuade policymakers that they also have a critical role in leveling the playing field for female entrepreneurs. You’d be a brave man - or woman - to bet...
2021-05-0741 min
The F in Tech PodcastAkoni CEO & Founder, Felicia Meyerowitz SinghIf you can switch financial assets, like stocks and pensions, super easily, why can't you do the same with the bank that holds your cash? This germ of an idea prompted Felicia to found digital cash platform, Akoni. Along the way, she set up a micro-credit startup in India, and co-founded Hive Founders, to help other female founders to follow in her footsteps. At the same time, she's trying to persuade policymakers that they also have a critical role in leveling the playing field for female entrepreneurs. You’d be a brave man - or woman - to bet ag...
2021-05-0741 min
The PFF21 F in Tech PodcastZego Co-founder & CEO, Sten Saar [PFF2021/14]There's no ego in Zego! And so when Estonian-born Sten Saar replaced his co-founder in the top job, there were no recriminations. Instead, the insurtech, which offers policies from 1hr to one year, has boomed, becoming, after its most recent fundraising, a "reluctant" unicorn. It's not Sten's first success: he founded his first company - notepads with study aids tucked into the covers - when he was just 18, growing it to $1m in turnover. In between, though, he had to learn some painful lessons, including why it's not always a good idea to get your father to mortgage his...
2021-05-0242 min
The F in Tech PodcastZego Co-Founder & CEO, Sten SaarThere's no ego in Zego! And so when Estonian-born Sten Saar replaced his co-founder in the top job, there were no recriminations. Instead, the insurtech, which offers policies from 1hr to one year, has boomed, becoming, after its most recent fundraising, a "reluctant" unicorn. It's not Sten's first success: he founded his first company - notepads with study aids tucked into the covers - when he was just 18, growing it to $1m in turnover. In between, though, he had to learn some painful lessons, including why it's not always a good idea to get your father to mortgage his home...
2021-04-3042 min
The F in Tech PodcastPlum Co-Founder & CEO, Victor TrokoudesIn his early 30s, Victor Trokoudes was a man without a plan. He was also a man with no savings, and a father who kept nagging him to do something with his money. What should such a person do? Why, co-found and run a fintech that enables people to save and invest without having to think about it, of course. Plum is young, but it's already on track to have some three million customers by the end of the year, as the coronavirus pandemic gets more people into the habit of putting money aside.
Editor's Note: No f...
2021-04-0941 min
The PFF21 F in Tech PodcastPlum Co-Founder & CEO, Victor Trokoudes [PFF2021/13]In his early 30s, Victor Trokoudes was a man without a plan. He was also a man with no savings, and a father who kept nagging him to do something with his money. What should such a person do? Why, co-found and run a fintech that enables people to save and invest without having to think about it, of course. Plum is young, but it’s already on track to have some three million customers by the end of the year, as the coronavirus pandemic gets more people into the habit of putting money aside. Editor’s Note: No fr...
2021-04-0941 min
The F in Tech PodcastOnfido Co-Founder & Former CEO, Husayn KassaiAged 10, and freshly arrived in the UK, Husayn Kassai watched his parents struggle to prove their identity. A couple of years later, he “borrowed” his sister’s ID to set up an eBay business that did a roaring trade selling CDs online. These two experiences helped plant the seeds of the idea that, a decade later, would become Onfido, a global leader in identity verification and fraud protection, which he co-founded and - until recently - ran.
2021-04-0243 min
The PFF21 F in Tech PodcastHusayn Kassai, Co-Founder & CEO, Onfido, [PFF2021/12]Aged 10, and freshly arrived in the UK, Husayn Kassai watched his parents struggle to prove their identity. A couple of years later, he “borrowed” his sister’s ID to set up an eBay business that did a roaring trade selling CDs online. These two experiences helped plant the seeds of the idea that, a decade later, would become Onfido, a global leader in identity verification and fraud protection, which he co-founded and - until recently - ran.
2021-04-0243 min
The PFF21 F in Tech PodcastPollinate Founder & CEO, Al Lukies [PFF2021/11]Running a fintech is apparently just as challenging as playing professional rugby. Al Lukies should know - he’s done both, though he only broke half the bones in his leg with the latter. His first attempt - Monitise - hit a market value of some £2 billion at one point. After a stint as the UK Prime Minister’s “fintech ambassador”, he went on to found Pollinate, which helps big banks provide digital tools, such as merchant services, to small businesses. And it’s a good time to speak with Al: Pollinate has just raised $50m from the likes of Natwest...
2021-03-2647 min
The F in Tech PodcastPollinate Founder & CEO, Al LukiesRunning a fintech is apparently just as challenging as playing professional rugby. Al Lukies should know - he's done both, though he only broke half the bones in his leg with the latter. His first attempt - Monitise - hit a market value of some £2 billion at one point. After a stint as the UK Prime Minister's "fintech ambassador", he went on to found Pollinate, which helps big banks provide digital tools, such as merchant services, to small businesses. And it's a good time to speak with Al: Pollinate has just raised $50m from the likes of Natwest, NAB, M...
2021-03-2647 min
The PFF21 F in Tech PodcastOurCrowd Founder & CEO, Jon Medved [PFF2021/10]Already well-known as the world’s biggest cheerleader for Israeli tech, Jon Medved set up OurCrowd in 2013 to enable retail investors to get the same kind of access to tech startups that he had as a VC. In this sometimes riotous podcast, he reveals that on one occasion one Marc Benioff offered him the chance to invest in the seed round of a tiny startup called Salesforce. He declined. But as he concludes, with his usual ebullience: “Life is life. It’s all good. I’m still in the game.”
2021-03-1945 min
The F in Tech PodcastOurCrowd CEO & Founder, Jon MedvedTo paraphrase the opening song in the musical, Avenue Q, what do you do with a BA in History? Become a VC and then a fintech founder, of course! Already well-known as the world’s biggest cheerleader for Israeli tech, Jon Medved set up OurCrowd in 2013 to enable retail investors to get the same kind of access to tech startups that he had as a VC. In this sometimes riotous podcast, he reveals that on one occasion one Marc Benioff offered him the chance to invest in the seed round of a tiny startup called Salesforce. He declined. But as...
2021-03-1945 min
The PFF21 F in Tech PodcastChristian Wiens, CEO, Christian Wiens, [PFF2021/09]Forget glass ceilings, Christian Wiens had to break through glass doors - and be billed for them by his landlord - before being inspired to found his insurtech, Getsafe. Based in Germany, Getsafe provides coverage for everything from cars to drones to pets to legal fees. You could call it: Europe's Lemonade.
2021-03-1242 min
The F in Tech PodcastGetsafe Co-founder & CEO, Christian WiensForget glass ceilings, Christian Wiens had to break through glass doors - and be billed for them by his landlord - before being inspired to found his insurtech, Getsafe. Based in Germany, Getsafe provides coverage for everything from cars to drones to pets to legal fees. You could call it: Europe's Lemonade.
2021-03-1242 min
The PFF21 F in Tech PodcastLiberis CEO, Rob Straathof [PFF2021/08]Rob Straathof is CEO of Liberis, an alternative lender for SMEs, whose technology and data enable it to pre-approve businesses for loans. Of all the fintech founders we’ve had on the show so far, Rob’s stints as a cheesemaker and alligator-dodging pilot probably qualify him as the one with the most varied stories. And though he may never have fulfilled his ambition to become an astronaut, keeping his feet on the ground has meant helping many small business owners keep a roof over their heads.
2021-03-0444 min
The F in Tech PodcastLiberis CEO, Rob StraathofRob Straathof is CEO of Liberis, an alternative lender for SMEs, whose technology and data enable it to pre-approve businesses for loans.
Of all the fintech founders we’ve had on the show so far, Rob’s stints as a cheesemaker and alligator-dodging pilot probably qualify him as the one with the most varied stories. And though he may never have fulfilled his ambition to become an astronaut, keeping his feet on the ground has meant helping many small business owners keep a roof over their heads. Enjoy.
2021-03-0444 min
The PFF21 F in Tech PodcastZopa co-founder, Giles Andrews, [PFF2021/07]With a passion for motor racing and cars Giles Andrews wasn’t always destined to found a fintech. And when he did, he almost crashed and burned. But under his leadership, he turned the p2p lending pioneer around. And while banks and other lenders were coming unstuck during the global financial crisis, Zopa sailed through - and even grew, eventually becoming one of the UK’s biggest challenger banks
2021-02-2545 min
The F in Tech PodcastZopa Co-Founder & Director, Giles AndrewsWith a passion for motor racing and cars Giles Andrews wasn’t always destined to found a fintech. And when he did, he almost crashed and burned. But under his leadership, he turned the p2p lending pioneer around. And while banks and other lenders were coming unstuck during the global financial crisis, Zopa sailed through - and even grew, eventually becoming one of the UK's biggest challenger banks.
2021-02-2545 min
The PFF21 F in Tech PodcastFuture Family Co-Founder & CEO, Claire Tomkins [PFF2021/06]They say founding a startup is like raising a child. After blowing more than $100,000 on her own fertility treatment, Claire Tomkins did both, alongside founding Future Family - a fertility-financing fintech - to help others do the same.
2021-02-1839 min
The F in Tech PodcastFuture Family Co-Founder & CEO, Claire TomkinsThey say founding a startup is like raising a child. After blowing more than $100,000 on her own fertility treatment, Claire Tomkins did both, alongside founding Future Family - a fertility-financing fintech - to help others do the same.
2021-02-1839 min
The PFF21 F in Tech PodcastGoodlord CEO & Nutmeg Chairman, William Reeve [PFF2021/05]Serial entrepreneur William Reeve is CEO of lettings software platform Goodlord and Chairman of robo-advisor Nutmeg. He sold his first startup - Fletcher Research - to Forrester (just before the #dotcom bust), and co-founded Secret Escapes. But is probably best known for co-founding LOVEFiLM which, after seeing off Amazon, was eventually bought by the company.
2021-02-1144 min
The F in Tech PodcastGoodlord CEO & Nutmeg Chairman, William ReeveSerial entrepreneur William Reeve is CEO of lettings software platform Goodlord and Chairman of robo-advisor Nutmeg. He sold his first startup - Fletcher Research - to Forrester (just before the #dotcom bust), and co-founded Secret Escapes. But is probably best known for co-founding LOVEFiLM which, after seeing off Amazon, was eventually bought by the company.
2021-02-1144 min
The PFF21 F in Tech PodcastKantox Co-Founder & CEO, Philippe Gelis [PFF2021/04]Picture this: you've been beavering away for years on your fintech. Friends and family have chipped in. And now you've just raised your seed round of €1m. Everything is going great - until your bank closes your account for no reason, leaving you with no means to receive the cash. What do you do? Philippe Gelis doesn't need to use his imagination for this scenario. It's what happened to him and Kantox. Fortunately, Barclays came to the rescue, and this currency management-focused fintech has never looked back. Packed with lessons, both personal and entrepreneurial, learn what Brexit has really do...
2021-02-0448 min
The F in Tech PodcastKantox Co-Founder & CEO, Philippe GelisPicture this: you've been beavering away for years on your fintech. Friends and family have chipped in. And now you've just raised your seed round of €1m. Everything is going great - until your bank closes your account for no reason, leaving you with no means to receive the cash. What do you do? Philippe Gelis doesn't need to use his imagination for this scenario. It's what happened to him and Kantox. Fortunately, Barclays came to the rescue, and this currency management-focused fintech has never looked back. Packed with lessons, both personal and entrepreneurial, learn what Brexit has really done to...
2021-02-0448 min
The PFF21 F in Tech PodcastCurve Founder & CEO Shachar Bialik [PFF2021/03]They say bad things always come in threes. Shachar Bialik would no doubt agree. Brexit and COVID would ordinarily be enough on their own to floor many businesses. Throw in the Wirecard fraud fiasco, and it’s a wonder he’s still around to tell the tale. But not only did he and Curve survive. They thrived. The #fintech recently announced it had raised an additional $95m, taking its total to $175m. Now, Curve is coming to America. (Listen closely, and you may hear his baby son in the background).
2021-01-2850 min
The F in Tech PodcastCurve Founder & CEO Shachar BialikThey say bad things always come in threes. Shachar Bialik would no doubt agree. Brexit and COVID would ordinarily be enough on their own to floor many businesses. Throw in the Wirecard fraud fiasco, and it’s a wonder he’s still around to tell the tale. But not only did he and Curve survive. They thrived. The #fintech recently announced it had raised an additional $95m, taking its total to $175m. Now, Curve is coming to America. (Listen closely, and you may hear his baby son in the background).
2021-01-2850 min
The PFF21 F in Tech PodcasteToro Co-Founder & CEO, Yoni Assia [PFF2021/02]Is working in roller coasters not the perfect metaphor - and experience - for running an online trading platform? We think so! Yoni Assia, who leads social trading platform eToro, had his first taste of entrepreneurship when he founded a startup that involved installing video cameras on white-knuckle rides, and then selling DVDs to the riders as they wobbled out of their cars. He eventually sold it to former a high-flying tech stock called Kodak. And while that company's best years may be behind it, a bumper 2020, profits, and a return to the U.S. all suggest that eToro...
2021-01-2143 min
The F in Tech PodcasteToro Co-Founder & CEO, Yoni AssiaIs working in roller coasters not the perfect metaphor - and experience - for running an online trading platform? We think so! Yoni Assia, who leads social trading platform eToro, had his first taste of entrepreneurship when he founded a startup that involved installing video cameras on white-knuckle rides, and then selling DVDs to the riders as they wobbled out of their cars. He eventually sold it to former a high-flying tech stock called Kodak. And while that company's best years may be behind it, a bumper 2020, profits, and a return to the U.S. all suggest that eToro...
2021-01-2143 min
The PFF21 F in Tech PodcastHippo Co-Founder & CEO, Assaf Wand [PFF2021/01]Is it an insurtech, is it a unicorn, is it a hippo? It's all three! Having raised more than $700m, Hippo - which unlike, Lemonade, is firmly focused on homeowners insurance - is one of the hottest insurtechs on the planet. An IPO may happen this year. But getting to this point wasn't a given: “When we started the company," says Assaf, "the VCs kicked us off the stairs and basically said, that's the dumbest thing ever."
2021-01-1438 min
The F in Tech PodcastHippo Co-Founder & CEO, Assaf WandIs it an insurtech, is it a unicorn, is it a hippo? It's all three! Having raised more than $700m, Hippo - which unlike, Lemonade, is firmly focused on homeowners insurance - is one of the hottest insurtechs on the planet. An IPO may happen this year. But getting to this point wasn't a given: “When we started the company," says Assaf, "the VCs kicked us off the stairs and basically said, that's the dumbest thing ever."
2021-01-1438 min
The F in Tech PodcastPurely Capital CEO & Founder, Wayne GodfreyHow working with Jackie Chan, Pierce Brosnan and Netflix inspired Wayne Godfrey to found his film financing fintech, Purely Capital - and how he narrowly avoided becoming a rap star along the way (check out the WaynieG vs Guru video here!).
PS We're taking a break over the holidays. We'll be back on Jan 14. Happy New Year.
2020-12-1745 min
The F in Tech PodcastStraterix Co-Founder & CEO, Alla GilIn this episode, how being blocked from Soviet grad school set a maths genius grandmother on the path to founding Straterix, a fintech software startup that uses AI to help companies and financial institutions face the future without fear. "You cannot predict anything," says Alla Gil, "but you can have a thousand "what if" scenarios, so you are ready for whatever gets realised." And yes, that includes the coronavirus pandemic.
2020-12-1048 min
The F in Tech PodcastWave Money CEO & Co-Founder, Brad JonesBrad Jones - our second Ozzie founder in as many weeks - co-founded Wave Money in 2015. Already profitable, the mobile money and payment app for Myanmar, has grown even faster under COVID. Fintech juggernaut, ANT, is now an investor. And it's valued at $250m. Yet it's not all been plain-sailing. Indeed, Brad, a former paratrooper, describes the life of a fintech founder as one of "hardship, difficulty and perseverance". Yet he wouldn't be doing it if he didn't think he could make an impact, or make it a success. "I was never going to fail in this job," he...
2020-12-0334 min
The F in Tech PodcastLendInvest Co-Founder & Chairman, Christian Faes"I landed in August 2008, and I looked around me and thought: "Jeez: what I have done?"." That was Christian Faes' first impression when he moved back to London to set up property finance fintech LendInvest, in the midst of the global financial crisis. After a year spent googling and cold-calling investors, raising no funds and doing no business, he'd have been forgiven for packing in the whole thing. But Christian and his cofounder persisted, the company grew, and despite challenges that would prove existential to many, LendInvest continues to thrive.
2020-11-2635 min
The F in Tech PodcastSmart Pension Co-Founder & CEO, Andrew EvansHe can trace the Chinese side of his family back some 2,000 years. His grandfather helped build Hong Kong into what it is today. And his dad invented HD TV. Disrupting the pension industry with technology is arguably an even tougher challenge, but that's exactly what Andrew Evans is doing. And some of the biggest institutions in the world are putting their money where his mouth is: JPMorgan, L&G, Barclays and Link Group are among those to back Smart Pension. The coronavirus pandemic and the drive to do all things digital has only added to the company's appeal; the...
2020-11-1947 min
The F in Tech PodcastFintonic Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Lupina IturriagaIn the world of fintech, one-trick ponies are no longer in vogue. Neobanks are getting into trading; trading apps are moving into wealth management; and payment apps are lending money. This suits Fintonic just fine. Based in Spain, with operations in Chile and Mexico, it's already in everything from insurance to banking to credit scoring - a kind of cross between MoneySupermarket and Experian. Before the pandemic struck, it was due to break even in 2020. Bonus points if you can think of any other companies that have THREE co-CEOs.
2020-11-1235 min
The F in Tech PodcastMarket Finance Co-Founder & CEO, Anil StockerIt may not be the world's oldest profession; lenders have been factoring - allowing customers to borrow against the value of their invoices - since Roman times, and perhaps even longer. But it wasn't until Anil Stocker and his cofounders came along that the industry was given a technological twist. Since creating the company in 2011, Market Finance (which until recently was known as Market Invoice) has lent more than £3 billion to small and medium-sized businesses - money that would have helped some of these SMEs to survive, and many more to thrive. What's this got to do with garden furniture? H...
2020-11-0534 min
The F in Tech PodcastLemonade Co-Founder & CEO, Daniel SchreiberWhen life gives you lemons, create $3bn worth of Lemonade. The F in Tech Podcast, with host, Elliott Gotkine, launches its maiden show with Daniel Schreiber, Co-Founder & CEO of Lemonade, one of the most exciting - and highly-valued - companies in Insurtech. The company held its IPO in July; the shares more than doubled in a day. In this exclusive interview, Daniel discusses the thrill and ethos of a new kind of insurance company for the digital generation; the impact of coronavirus; and why pink is a colour worth fighting for. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
2020-09-2751 min