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.
He discusses the challenges of attracting top talent, and the complexities of building a global team. He highlights the resilience his team in Ukraine who have operated under tough conditions since 2022.
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. Founder and Co-CEO of Paydock, he is dedicated to transforming how we transact by creating the world’s most trusted payment orchestration platform.
His journey began in Sydney 2007 when he founded a digital marketing agency specialising in the not-for-profit sector.
The Paydock vision arose from the need for better integration between financial institutions and their merchant clients. Their innovative approach aims to unlock the fintech market's true benefits.
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 merchant issues with its innovative API-first technology that harmonises payment, fraud, identity and other vendors (such as Stripe, PayPal, etc.) through a single interface.

Key Takeaways

• PayDock addresses the technology gaps between large banks and fintech.
• Adopting a no-code solution within the payments industry is essential for merchant adoption of fintech.
• Orchestration should be about enabling merchants, not commoditising services.
• Building a global team has been crucial for scaling the business.
• Customer relationships are vital in the fintech space.
• The future of payments is modular and interoperable.
• Attracting talent requires offering challenging problems to solve
• Character and resilience are more important than skills.
• The hype in fintech is over; it's time for real business.

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

Links
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Fintech Chatter is brought to you by Tier One People - the executive search firm dedicated to connecting high-growth fintech companies with exceptional leadership talent.

About this Episode

In the latest episode of Fintech Chatter, host Dexter Cousins chats to Simon Schwarz, 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

• How the MGA model allows for rapid growth without the need for capital reserves
• How distribution innovation is big Insurtech opportunity
• How AI applications are being developed to enhance underwriting processes
• Freight and logistics market isn’t sexy but it presents vast opportunities for growth
• Identifying profitable market opportunities is crucial for business success
• The quality of founders is the key to a startup's success
• Focus on distribution to solve market problems effectively
• The role of a founder differs significantly from that of a CEO
• InsurTech in Australia is gaining momentum and attracting capital

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:

• Visit FreightInsure

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About this Episode

In Episode 198 of the FintechChatter 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 fintech opportunities.

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
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 would describe himself as a great 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.

His 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

• How Africa's projected population growth presents unique opportunities for fintech.
• Moment's aims to build a comprehensive payment network for Africa, as the trend towards digital payments grows. 
• Regulatory changes are shifting towards enabling innovation rather than just consumer protection.
• Australia's fintech scene is strong but needs to leverage its geographic and cultural assets more effectively.
• Regional trade clusters are more valuable than cross-oceanic trade relationships.
• The gig economy has empowered individuals in emerging markets, changing their economic prospects.
• The diversity in teams provides greater problem-solving capabilities and drives a growth mindset for individuals.
• Navigating hiring challenges requires clear communication to achieve high standards and cultural fit.
• Giving back creates a positive network effect and greater sense of fulfillment.

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

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Dexter Cousins shares an update from Tier One People with some exciting news on Executive hires.

And a snippet from a fantastic podcast episode with Joe Yarbrough, CEO of Moment.

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About this Episode

In episode 198 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 Millward 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

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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

As Co-founder of Citoplus, Graham has a background 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:

• Visit Citoplus website
• Connect with Graham Strain
• Connect with Dexter Cousins
• Learn more about Tier One People

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In this special episode of Fintech Chatter, host Dexter Cousins and guest Kristofer Rogers of Volt.io discuss 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, and the future of embedded finance emphasizing 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, and the critical importance of talent.

They explore the accessibility of industry leaders, the significance of 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, particularly in relation to trade finance and digital currency.

2024 Singapore Fintech Festival Highlights

1. The Singapore Fintech Festival 2024 had 65,000 delegates.
2. Financial health is a more pressing issue than financial inclusion.
3. Interoperability is becoming more important than innovation in fintech.
4. Africa presents unique opportunities for fintech.
5. Collaboration among fintechs and banks is essential for success.
6. Embedded finance is maturing, but challenges remain.
7. The festival highlighted the importance of genuine business connections.
8. Talent is a critical focus area that is often overlooked in discussions.
9. Accessibility of industry leaders fosters networking and collaboration.
10. A long-term vision is necessary for Australia to establish its identity in FinTech.
11. Optimism exists for the future of FinTech in Australia, with potential growth opportunities.
12. Global trade and currency are poised for significant changes in the coming years.
13. 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 Disruption
33:21 Accessibility and Networking in FinTech
40:05 Challenges and Opportunities for Australia
45:55 Optimism for the Future of FinTech

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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 transformative. 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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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.

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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 Takeaways:

• Finding the right co-founder
• Making Fintech a feature to solve a bigger problem
• Embedded finance - cutting through the hype
• Building a solution that customers will use for life
• Influencing partners and government to create opportunities
• The HUGE opportunity for Aussie Fintechs in India
• How learning from startup success and failure is shaping Mist’s strategy

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:

• [00:57] Dave Malcolm introduces Mist.
• [01:53] John Crutchley shares the genesis for the idea and how he met Dave.
• [04:40] Dave Malcolm on getting into the mindset of a Gen Z customer.
• [08:30] Case studies: Embedded finance done right.
• [13:32] Big wins and successes so far.
• [19:29] Getting the business off the ground, overcoming challenges and obstacles.
• [24:10] Busting Fintech startup myths. Move fast and break things vs slow and deliberate growth
• [34:29] The complexity of Fintech. Why fixing problems is so hard.
• [40:15] Identifying valuable, global, niche markets.

Links & Resources:

• Visit Mist’s website: https://gomist.co/
• Connect with Dave Malcolm on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davemalcolm/
• Connect with John Crutchley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-crutchley-0842827/
• Connect with Dexter Cousins on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dextercousins/
• Learn more about Tier One People: https://tieronepeople.com/

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