FinTech in the UAE is booming in 2025 - explore the top 10 trends that are transforming the Gulf’s financial landscape!

📍 In this episode, our host Jeet Bhatti, CEO & Founder of Fathom4sight, dives into the Top 10 Facts About the UAE FinTech Ecosystem - and reveal why the United Arab Emirates is rapidly becoming a global hub for financial innovation.

From 334+ active FinTechs and real-time payment systems to world-first crypto regulation, open finance and digital banking revolutions, the UAE is setting the benchmark for the future of finance.

What You’ll Learn:

✅ How DIFC and ADGM are launching FinTechs into global markets

✅ The rise of Jaywan, Aani, and UAE's national payment systems

✅ The role of VARA as the world’s first virtual asset regulator

✅ Growth of blockchain, DeFi, and super apps like Careem Pay

✅ How Open Finance in UAE is different - and smarter

✅ Why UAE’s public infrastructure is built to scale innovation fast

💡 Whether you're a FinTech founder, investor, policy maker, or curious about financial innovation in the Middle East, this is a must-watch breakdown of the UAE FinTech landscape.

📘 Want the full UAE FinTech Report with data, insights & case studies? Email us at [email protected]

Our CEO & Founder, Surinderjit Kaur Bhatti (Jeet), presented a data-backed breakdown of the trends redefining Canada’s financial innovation landscape - from real-time payments and cross-border solutions to the rise of challenger banks and embedded finance.

This session was designed for banks, credit unions, FinTech leaders, investors, and regulators looking to stay ahead of what’s next.

Key Takeaways from the Session:

✅ Cross-border payments and earned wage access are accelerating, with Canadian firms growing alongside global entrants

✅ SME challenger banks are scaling multi-currency account offerings at speed

✅ U.S. and international PayTechs are entering Canada, driving new competition and collaboration

✅ Embedded finance and vertical ecosystems are reshaping how financial services are delivered

✅ Blockchain, Payments, and AI dominate FinTech funding, with over $1.56B raised across 65+ Canadian companies in 2024 Fathom4sight is proud to lead the conversation on Canadian PayTech and FinTech evolution.

Why are small business owners still stuck in line at bank branches in 2025?

In this episode, Jeet Bhatti, our CEO & Founder sits down with Ahmed Shafik, Co-Founder of Venn (formerly Vault), to talk about the future of SME banking - and why it’s time for something better.

In this episode, we cover:

✅ The rebrand from Vault to Venn and why it’s more than just a new name

✅ Why SME banking is still stuck in the past - and how Venn plans to leapfrog it

✅ The power of multi-currency accounts, real-time payments, and AI-driven onboarding

✅ What most business owners don’t realize about the fees they’re paying

✅ How Venn recently raised $21.5M and is pushing back against legacy systems, one feature at a time

🛡️ What do dog walkers, dietitians, and developers have in common? They all need insurance - but most of them dread buying it.

In this episode, Jeet Bhatti, our CEO & Founder sits down with Danish Yusuf, Founder & CEO of Zensurance, to talk about:

✅ Why SME insurance remains one of the most painful and underserved corners of financial services

✅ The surprising hurdles of building a digital insurance company in Canada

✅ How Zensurance now issues 1 policy per minute (!), and the tech stack behind it

✅ Embedded insurance, open insurance, and the future of insurtech

💡 Plus: They talk about legal expense coverage, AI hype vs. reality, and the worst advice Danish ever got as a founder.

In this special episode, Jeet Bhatti, our CEO & Founder, sits down with Elsa Vande Voorde, Director, Innovations & Technologies of Finance Montréal to unpack intriguing insights from the just released report - Quebec FinTech Report 2024 - a collaborative initiative by Fathom4sight, Finance Montréal, and Station FinTech Montréal.

Key Highlights from the Quebec FinTech Report 2024:

✅ Quebec is home to 275 FinTech headquarters

✅ Quebec FinTechs employ 90k+ people globally and 20k+ in Canada

✅ Leading FinTech sectors by number of companies are Payments, Lending, and AI & Data

✅ Montreal remains the province's primary FinTech hub with 224 FinTechs

✅ In 2024, Quebec's FinTech sector secured $428.4 million in funding across 12 rounds, accounting for 27% of Canada's total FinTech investment

✅ Quebec-based FinTechs participated in seven acquisition deals in 2024

➡️ Download the report on Fathom4sight's website here - https://www.fathom4sight.com/quebec-fintech-report-2024-download

Starting a business should be exciting. But for many founders, it’s also overwhelming - juggling incorporation, compliance, taxes, accounting, and even trying to get a simple business address set up.

In this episode, Jeet Bhatti, our CEO & Founder sits with Nick Wesley-James, Co-Founder of Ribbon, to unpack how his team is building a one-stop platform that simplifies everything about launching and managing a Canadian business.

🎯 What makes Ribbon Different? It's not just about incorporation. Ribbon is a full-stack platform for business formation, governance, accounting, taxes, payroll, and even a virtual office - built specifically for owner-operators.

🚀 Nick’s vision is clear - and bold: “Starting a business shouldn’t require hiring five different professionals before you’ve even earned a dollar. Ribbon is here to change that.”

This Episode Explores:

✅ Why starting a business in Canada is more complex than it needs to be

✅ How Ribbon is streamlining everything into one seamless platform

✅ Lessons learned from building a founder-first business infrastructure

✅ What the future of business operations could look like

💡 Whether you’re a first-time founder, a side-hustler, running a lean startup - or you are working at a Financial Institution looking to offer business incorporation services to your clients - this episode is a must listen!

In this powerful episode, Fathom4sight’s CEO & Founder, Surinderjit Kaur Bhatti (Jeet) sits down with Jonah Chininga to discuss the future of newcomer banking in North America and the financial challenges immigrant communities face today.

✨ Jonah shares his journey from advocacy to entrepreneurship and how it led to the creation of Woveo - a community banking platform empowering underserved immigrant communities across Canada.

This Episode Explores:

💳 Newcomer Banking

💡 How financial inclusion and innovation intersect

🤝 The power of community-led financial solutions

📊 Credit-building through alternative data

🌍 How Woveo is building solutions to solve for the financial challenges of immigrant communities

🚀 Jonah’s bold vision to reimagine community banking

Woveo is redefining access, trust, and financial empowerment. Don’t miss this conversation on building a more inclusive financial system!

Alternative investments have traditionally been complex, exclusive, and accessible only to high-net-worth individuals. But with the rise of FinTech innovation, we’re seeing a major shift - alternative investments are becoming more accessible to everyday investors. So, what does this mean for the future of investing?

📣 In this episode, Fathom4sight’s CEO & Founder, Surinderjit Kaur Bhatti (Jeet), sits down with Khushboo Jha to explore the evolving world of investing, AI-driven investments, and the democratization of alternative assets.

🔥 Whether you’re looking to understand the alternative investment landscape or you work at a financial institution exploring ways to offer alternative investments to clients, this episode is packed with valuable insights!

This Episode Explores:

🚀 What are alternative investments, and why should you care?

💡 How FinTech is making alternative assets more accessible

🔑 The power of AI in smarter, data-driven investing

📲 The role of technology in scaling alternative investment platforms

🔮 Predictions on the future of investing & financial freedom

✨ BuyProperly’s online marketplace is making it easier than ever for individuals to invest in real estate and other alternative assets across Canada & the U.S. - without the traditional barriers. They also just launched a new white-label service - Ashta.ai - empowering wealth, fund managers and broker-dealers to offer alternative asset investments to their clients.

❗Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered as financial, investment, or legal advice. The views expressed by the host and guests are their own opinions and do not constitute an endorsement or recommendation. Before making any financial decisions, always consult with a qualified financial advisor or professional who can assess your individual situation and provide personalized advice. Investing involves risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. The Fathom FinTech Podcast, Fathom4sight and its affiliates are not responsible for any financial losses or decisions made based on the content of this episode. Always do your own research before making investment choices.

Credit unions have always been community-driven, but in today’s digital-first world, staying relevant means adapting, innovating, and rethinking member engagement. With growing competition from FinTechs and evolving consumer expectations, how can credit unions future-proof their business while staying true to their core values?

📣 In this episode, Fathom4sight’s CEO & Founder, Surinderjit Kaur Bhatti (Jeet), sits down with Will Christodoulou to explore the evolving landscape of credit unions and the role of innovation in driving member engagement, digital transformation, and long-term growth.

✨ Cyder is transforming the way credit unions engage with members through an end-to-end loyalty platform that enables seamless issuance, redemption, and integration of white-labeled rewards into everyday banking.

This Episode Explores:

🚀 The biggest challenges credit unions face in today’s financial landscape

🔑 How innovation drives member loyalty & engagement

📲 The role of digital transformation in securing credit unions' future

💡 Why embracing FinTech partnerships is no longer a choice - it’s a necessity

The episode also dives into how credit unions can shift from being reactive to proactive with FinTech solutions and how Cyder’s platform supports local businesses while enhancing member rewards.

If you're a credit union leader looking to embrace innovation, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways.