Couchonomics with Arjun

Phygital is the new digital.

On Episode 2 of Couchonomics with Arjun Season 4, we sit down with Coenraad Jonker — Founder & Group CEO of Tyme — a digital banking pioneer who’s built real scale across emerging markets.
Tyme raised $250M in Series C. Reached a $1.5B valuation. Signed up 17M+ customers across South Africa and the Philippines. All while keeping CAC at one of the lowest levels globally.
This isn’t hype. This is hard-earned traction.  We break down regulation, scale, AI-native banks & why incumbents can't keep up.

If you want to understand the next decade of retail banking — this is the conversation.

📺 Watch the full episode now on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.


Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners:
Adyen https://www.adyen.com/
Thunes https://thunes.com/
Mastercard https://mastercard.com/
E& https://www.eand.com/
Digit9 https://www.digitnine.com/
SC Ventures https://scventures.io/
Hala https://hala.com/

Chapters:
00:00 Episode Highlights
01:00 Introduction to the Guest and Tyme Group
01:46 Overview of Tyme Bank's Operations
02:46 The Growth of Digital Banking
04:33 Challenges and Failures in Digital Banking
08:54 Secrets to Tyme Bank's Success
16:28 Future Plans and Strategies
22:29 The Role of Digital Banks in the Financial Ecosystem
25:14 The Future of Digital Banks
27:10 Investor and Regulatory Perspectives
29:51 Challenges for Traditional Banks
39:38 Emerging Technologies and Their Impact
45:26 The Importance of Ecosystems
49:15 Future Expansion Plans

Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0

Find us on our social media platforms:

• Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/
• CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/
• Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/
• Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20
• TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics

Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

Season 4 of Couchonomics with Arjun kicks off with a venture builder shaking up the system — Gautam Jain from SC Ventures by Standard Chartered.

From launching digital banks in Asia to building full-stack ventures in the GCC, Gautam’s now part of a team transforming how venture-building happens inside a bank.

In this episode:
 🧠 Innovation culture & internal equity
 🧱 Building in real, underserved sectors
 💡 Regulator-respecting fintech
 🇸🇦 Why the GCC is ripe for bold ideas

Watch to learn why SCV isn’t your typical corporate venture arm — and how it’s building businesses that matter.

🎧 Watch now on YouTube or listen on all podcasting platforms! 



Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners:
Adyen https://www.adyen.com/
Thunes https://thunes.com/
Mastercard https://mastercard.com/
E& https://www.eand.com/
Digit9 https://www.digitnine.com/
SC Ventures https://scventures.io/
Hala https://hala.com/




chapters:
00:00 Episode Highlight
00:49 Welcome to Season Four
01:13 Introducing Gautam Jain and SC Ventures
01:59 Understanding SE Ventures
04:29 The Importance of Mindset Shift in Banking
06:17 Challenges and Strategies in Innovation
20:04 The Role of Ecosystem Collaboration
24:26 Balancing Risk, Regulation, and Innovation
27:10 The Importance of People in Business
27:54 The Changing Landscape of Financial Services
28:46 Big Disruptive Trends and Technologies
30:32 Globalization and Digital Assets
31:38 Sustainability and Financial Inclusion
34:43 Adapting to Ambiguity and Change
37:54 Global Expansion and Market Dynamics
42:37 Investment Strategies and Risk Appetite
49:31 Future Vision for SE Ventures
52:40 Final Thoughts

Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0

Find us on our social media platforms:

• Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/
• CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/
• Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/
• Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20
• TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics

Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

We're officially back - bigger, bolder, more diverse, and more global than ever. 

In Season 4, we’re asking the real questions:

 - What’s next for AI, digital assets, open banking, and embedded finance?
 - How are regulations and disruptive technologies reshaping financial services?
 - Are we really keeping pace with the transformation?

Over 100 episodes in — and the journey’s just getting started. 
Tune in and join the conversation as we decode the future of finance together. 

Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0

Find us on our social media platforms:

• Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/
• CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/
• Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/
• Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20
• TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics

Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

Re-architecting Finance with Blockchain - Not Just Hype, But Real-World Infrastructure

We’re wrapping up this special Tokyo series of Couchonomics, filmed at the GFTN Forum — and what better way to close than with a bold conversation on the future of financial systems?

In this final episode, I’m joined by Naveen Mallela, Co-Head of Kinexys & Managing Director at JP Morgan — and we’re going beyond the buzzwords to talk about what it really takes to rewire the plumbing of global finance.

It’s a fascinating conversation about the real challenges — and opportunities — in transforming the global financial infrastructure.
🎧 Tune in now on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Stable Coins and Liquidity
00:20 Welcome to Couch Genomics
00:52 Introducing Navin Male and Connexus
01:23 The Genesis of Connexus and Onyx
03:48 Exploring Digital Assets and Payments
06:15 Stable Coins vs. Commercial Bank Money
09:23 Connexus' Global Footprint and Innovations
11:52 Regulatory Challenges and Innovations
19:03 Collaborations and Future Plans
21:54 Conclusion and Farewell

Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0

Find us on our social media platforms:

• Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/
• CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/
• Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/
• Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20
• TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics

Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

Redefining Microfinance — With Feet on the Ground & Fire in the Belly
What if the future of financial inclusion wasn’t digital-first… but human-first?
In this Tokyo edition of Couchonomics with Arjun, we had the chance to sit down with Taejun Shin, Founder & CEO of Gojo — a rapidly growing microfinance platform working across 13 countries and reaching millions of underserved customers throughout the Global South.

 As for Gojo? Many are calling it the “private sector’s answer to the World Bank” — and it’s easy to see why.

Tune in to the special series of Couchonomics with Arjun, which was recorded in Tokyo with the help of the GFTN Forum Japan. Available now on YouTube and all podcasting platforms!

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
01:09 Meet Tahin: A Stateless Entrepreneur
03:01 Journey to Financial Inclusion
05:19 Founding Go J: The Private Sector World Bank
08:12 Challenges and Strategies in Microfinance
10:29 Technology and Customer Acquisition
14:05 Role of Regulators and Major Banks
17:50 Investor Relations and Capital Structure
22:46 Future Plans and Expansion
24:16 Conclusion and Farewell

Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0

Find us on our social media platforms:

• Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/
• CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/
• Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/
• Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20
• TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics

Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

Rewiring fintech infrastructure — operator-led, globally scaled
Couchonomics with Arjun is once again beaming in from Japan. This time, we're joined by Logan Allin, Founder & Managing Partner at Fin Capital. 
Logan’s journey from SoFi Ventures to building Fin Capital is rooted in one big idea — fintech doesn’t need more flashy consumer apps, it needs better infrastructure.
We unpack:
 💼 Why Fin Capital backs B2B fintech for banks, insurers, and asset managers
 🌍 Fin Capital’s expansion into Asia — why now might be the best time to bring your fintech to Tokyo
 💸 Why banks are spending billions on outdated IT systems — and the urgent need for smarter, cloud-based solutions
 🧩 The challenge of replacing core banking systems without relying on middleware Band-Aids

Watch the full episode now — streaming on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts 🎧


Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:33 Meet Logan Allen of Fin Capital
01:08 Logan's Journey: From SoFi Ventures to Fin Capital
01:37 Fin Capital's Unique Approach and Strategy
04:58 Global Expansion and Market Focus
08:21 Challenges and Trends in FinTech
09:06 Core Banking Infrastructure Concerns
15:12 Japanese Market Insights and Opportunities
25:07 VC Industry Evolution and Final Thoughts
31:39 Conclusion

Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0

Find us on our social media platforms:

• Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/
• CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/
• Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/
• Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20
• TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics

Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

Rethinking Core Banking — From the Inside Out 

In this special GFTN Japan edition of Couchonomics with Arjun, we welcome Mayoran Rajendra, Managing Director and Head of the Asia Innovation Center at SMBC — one of Japan’s largest financial institutions.
We discuss how his team is re-engineering the core of corporate banking using generative AI, automation, and agentic infrastructure — not just adding on shiny tools, but rebuilding from within.

🔍 In this episode:
- How data-driven dashboards are transforming CFO decision-making
- Why real innovation starts with fixing foundations, not chasing trends
- The hype vs. reality of GenAI in financial services
- The rise of Agentic BaaS — and what it means for the future of banking

🎧 Watch the full episode now — available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

00:39 Meet Mayoran from SMBC

01:05 Mayoran's Background and Transition to Banking

04:20 Role and Mission of the Asia Innovation Center

06:49 Challenges and Successes in Innovation

10:38 Asia Rising Fund: Supporting Startups

13:40 Generative AI: Hype vs. Reality

17:08 Limitations and Innovations in AI Models

18:14 CFO Agent: Revolutionizing Financial Reviews

20:12 The Rise of AgTech AI and Open Finance

21:30 Agentic Workflows in Banking

25:05 Challenges and Opportunities for Traditional Banks

27:00 Staying Relevant with Emerging Technologies

30:18 Fostering Innovation in Financial Institutions

33:22 Conclusion 

Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0

Find us on our social media platforms:

• Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/
• CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/
• Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/
• Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20
• TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics

Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

What happens when alternative finance moves faster than regulation?

On this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Professor Bob Wardrop — Co-Founder of the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance and RegGenome — breaks down why global regulatory frameworks are struggling to keep up.

We explore:

• Why many regulators are still stuck in a pre-2008 mindset
• The rise of machine-readable, computational regulation
• What Japan is getting right (and wrong) in the fintech race
• How to actually build innovation teams within regulators
  
  
  

Tune in for a sharp look at the future of regulation in a fast-changing financial world.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction 

01:19 Founding of Cambridge Center for Alternative Finance (CCAF)

05:16 Reg Genome: A New Venture

15:16 Challenges in Financial Regulation

19:17 The Role of Technology in Regulation

22:43 Global Regulatory Landscape

23:19 Japan's Position in FinTech and Regulation

27:20 Characteristics of Strong Innovation Teams

32:02 Future of Financial Regulation

35:20 Conclusion

Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0

Find us on our social media platforms:

• Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/
• CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/
• Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/
• Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20
• TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics

Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

Japan is regulated, conservative — and still ahead of the curve in digital assets.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, recorded in Tokyo with the support of GFTN Forum Japan, we sit down with Genki Oda, Managing Executive Director at SBI Holdings and Chairman of the Japan Virtual and Crypto Assets Exchange Association (JVCEA).
Genki has played a central role in shaping Japan’s digital asset landscape, and in this candid conversation, he shares sharp insights on where crypto is headed — in Japan and beyond.
A sharp and timely look at the future of digital finance in one of the world’s most complex markets.

#CouchonomicsWithArjun #Crypto #Web3 #DigitalAssets #JVCEA #SBIHoldings #Regulation #Innovation #Japan #Fintech #GFTNForum #Bitcoin #FutureOfFinance


Find us on our social media platforms:
Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/
Couchonomics LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/
Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics

Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:37 Meet Genki Oda
02:04 The Evolution of Japan's Crypto Market
04:42 Role of JVCEA in Crypto Regulation
06:11 Japan's Position in the Global FinTech Scene
11:10 SBI Holdings and Its Crypto Ventures
12:45 Global Expansion of SBI Holdings
13:42 Investing Outside Japan
14:37 Japan's Global Market Focus
15:06 Attracting Global Innovators to Japan
16:39 Challenges for Foreigners in Japan
18:27 Digital Assets in Japan
19:32 Stablecoins and Their Adoption
21:52 Future of CBDCs in Japan
23:30 SBI Holdings' Future Priorities
24:59 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0

Find us on our social media platforms:

• Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/
• CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/
• Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/
• Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20
• TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics

Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

Why hasn’t Japan produced more global startup giants?

In this special Japan series of Couchonomics with Arjun, recorded in Tokyo and in collaboration with GFTN Forum Japan, Arjun sits down with Jordan Fisher, Venture Partner at Antler and Co-founder of Zehitomo.
From the hidden inefficiencies in Japan’s service economy to the deeper structural and cultural barriers that limit growth, this conversation explores what it will take to build a more ambitious, globally competitive startup ecosystem in Japan.

🎙️ This is Episode 1 of a special 7-part series recorded on location across Japan.
👉 Don’t forget to follow the show to stay tuned for the rest of the Japan series.

Find us on our social media platforms:
Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/
Couchonomics LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/
Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics

Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:46 Meet Jordan: From Finance to Entrepreneurship
01:20 The Birth of Zehitomo
05:52 Challenges in Japan's Startup Ecosystem
13:38 The Role of Antler in the Startup Scene
15:51 Building a Global Decacorn
16:34 Antler's Unique Approach
17:13 The Residency Program
17:38 Investment and Support
18:39 Success Stories and Future Plans
20:59 Challenges and Opportunities in Japan
24:25 The Role of Corporates and Collaboration
27:16 Regulatory and Government Influence
30:44 Final Thoughts 

Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0

Find us on our social media platforms:

• Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/
• CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/
• Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/
• Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20
• TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics

Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E