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 Setting Ambitious Goals

49:1

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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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In this episode of the Fintech Chatter Podcast, Dexter sits down with Robert Kassis, a visionary leader and co-founder of DigiZoo, a digital consultancy supporting some of Australia’s most innovative Fintech including 86 400, Volt Bank, Afterpay Money, Constantinople and Greater Bank.

DigiZoo is at the forefront of transforming businesses through innovative digital solutions, helping organizations navigate the complexities of the digital landscape with confidence and agility.

Robert shares his insights on the complexities of digital transformation in today's banks, how DigiZoo helps incumbents stay ahead of the curve, and the critical role that technology plays in driving business success. We also delve into the unique approach DigiZoo is developing by productising their service offering.

Whether you're a founder/executive looking to enhance your product capability or someone interested in the latest trends in digital innovation, this episode offers valuable perspectives on how to thrive in the Fintech 2.0 era.

Key Takeaways:

• The complexities of digital transformation in banks and legacy systems.
• BaaS? Embedded Finance? - What is the BIG opportunity in Fintech?
• Moving from a consultancy operating model to a product operating model.
• Bootstrapping and building sustainably.
• Attracting and retaining the best talent.
• The secret to successful partnerships.
• The future of digital consultancies and emerging trends in the industry.

About Our Guest:

Robert Kassis is the co-founder of DigiZoo, bringing years of experience in digital strategy and innovation. With a passion for helping businesses leverage technology to achieve their goals, Robert has been instrumental in positioning DigiZoo as a leading consultancy in the digital space.

Show Notes:

• [01:35] Robert Kassis introduces DigiZoo and its core mission.
• [08:00] From service to product operating model.
• [12:39] Fixing problems - Avoiding hype. DigiZoo's unique approach to digital consultancy.
• [21:14] Case studies: The complexity of fixing bank legacy technology.
• [25:59] AI - The impacts and opportunities.
• [29:29] Finding the right tech talent.
• [36:15] Aligning purpose and values for sustainable growth.
• [40:29] What the future holds for Digizoo and their partners.

Links & Resources:

• Visit DigiZoo’s website: https://digizoo.com.au/
• Connect with Robert Kassis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-kassis-2238972/

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If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on [Apple Podcasts/Spotify/Your Preferred Platform]. Your feedback helps us bring more engaging content and insightful conversations to you.

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

About Hope Housing

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

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

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

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

About Tim Buskens

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

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

Dexter first met Chad in 2018 when Chad was VP of Marketing for Revolut. Tune in as they talk about Chad's journey from UK Politics to UK Fintech and now the world of digital assets.

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

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

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

About This Episode -

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

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

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

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

About Chad West

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

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

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

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

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

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

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In episode 189 of Fintech Chatter Dexter Cousins is joined by Pablo Gil Brusola, CEO of PropHero.

About PropHero

PropHero, founded in July 2021, is Australia’s leading PropTech platform redefining property investment through cutting-edge data & AI technologies. The platform empowers over 1000 clients worldwide to craft high-return, low-risk property portfolios.

PropHero simplifies the entire investment journey by connecting clients with trusted partners and handling everything from market research to property management. As we fast forward to today, the PropHero team has grown to over 100 dedicated members and expanded to property markets in Sydney, Spain, Bali, and Ireland.

Prophero raised $8m in October 2022, is profitable and on course to generate $40m ARR this year.

About This Episode

Pablo dials in from Barcelona to share his secrets on building a global Fintech/Proptech.

Dexter goes in depth with Pablo to understand how he, and his co-founder Mikael Roger, have built a global business with over 100 people across Australia, Spain, Bali and Ireland.

Dexter digs deeper to understand Pablo’s values, principles and motivations that drive him towards success.

Tune in to find out:

• How to expand an Aussie Fintech globally
• Seeking the right investors and the right amount of capital
• Why a Bootstrap mindset is essential for success 
• The secrets to hiring executive talent
• Understanding the different stages of growth and the people required for each stage
• How to commercialise an idea and find paying customers
• Recognising your strengths and what to look for in a co-founder

About Pablo Gil Brusola

As a native Spaniard Pablo moved to Australia to study in 2009. He instantly fell in love with the country and decided he had to come back. Starting his career in a Big 4 consulting firm, he quickly realised he was an entrepreneur and started his first company Growpro. After a successful exit, Pablo teamed up with a friend and fellow co-founder Mikael Roger to launch PropHero.


Find out more www.prophero.com.au

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