FinTech Focus TV – Powered by Harrington Starr

In this episode of FinTech Focus TV, Toby Babb interviews Andrew Riabchuk, the Founder of Akurateco, about his extensive experience in the payments industry and the development of his payment orchestration platform. 

Andrew explains how Akurateco simplifies complex payment processes for fintech businesses, banks, and telecom providers by offering a wide range of payment methods and features, including AI-driven solutions for anti-fraud measures. 

He highlights the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on accelerating the need for seamless online payments and shares success stories from clients in Central Asia and Qatar. 

The episode also touches on Akurateco's growing presence in the UK market and its commitment to helping businesses optimise their payment infrastructures.

FinTech Focus TV is powered by Harrington Starr, global leaders in Financial Tech Recruitment. For more episodes or FinTech recruitment advice, please visit our website: www.harringtonstarr.com

In this episode of Fintech Focus TV, Chris Lees, Founder of FixSpec, discusses the inefficiencies in financial services connectivity, particularly the outdated use of the FIX protocol and PDFs. 

Chris highlights the industry's reluctance to innovate due to regulatory and risk concerns but emphasises the potential for transformation with new technologies like blockchain, AI, and cloud computing.

FixSpec is currently in a "going dark" phase, where they are rethinking their business model to better serve the evolving needs of the market. Chris is excited about developing new solutions that address these challenges and invites those interested in innovation to reach out.

FinTech Focus TV is powered by Harrington Starr, global leaders in Financial Tech Recruitment. For more episodes or FinTech recruitment advice, please visit our website: www.harringtonstarr.com

In this episode of FinTech Focus TV, Toby Babb interviews Eric Soderberg, Managing Partner of Forefront Communications Group Inc., about the critical role of branding in fintech. 

Eric emphasises that strong, consistent branding is essential for value and differentiation in a crowded market, advising companies to prioritise professional design and messaging. 

He discusses common pitfalls founders face in brand development, recommending outsourcing to specialised agencies rather than hiring in-house too early. Additionally, he highlights the importance of employee engagement and internal alignment in maintaining a cohesive brand presence. 

Ultimately, a strong brand, supported by professional marketing services, is vital for business growth and market success in the fintech industry.

FinTech Focus TV is powered by Harrington Starr, global leaders in Financial Tech Recruitment. For more episodes or FinTech recruitment advice, please visit our website: www.harringtonstarr.com

In this FinTech Focus TV episode, Toby Babb interviews Andrew Kaufmann about his nonprofit venture, the Time to Give Network.

Andrew explains how his extensive career in institutional sales and fintech led him to identify inefficiencies in accessing key individuals in the financial services industry.

Andrew shares how a period between jobs allowed him to ideate and launch the platform, driven by a desire to create a meaningful legacy. He discusses the mechanics of the platform, where time givers can control their availability and the charities that benefit from donations, ensuring a risk-free and impactful experience. 

The organisation operates as a community interest company, ensuring transparency and altruism, with all excess revenues going to charity. Andrew highlights the support he has received from volunteers and early sponsors and emphasises the importance of corporate social responsibility in driving the initiative forward.

FinTech Focus TV is powered by Harrington Starr, global leaders in Financial Tech Recruitment. For more episodes or FinTech recruitment advice, please visit our website: www.harringtonstarr.com

In the latest episode of Fintech Focus TV, Toby Babb sits down with Totem’s CRO, Matt Ryan to discuss Totem's evolution, highlighting their integration of technology to enhance user-generated content and support virtual and hybrid events. 

The pair explore the importance of data in creating personalised and efficient event experiences, and the role of technology in improving event ROI and participant engagement. 

Matt introduces the concept of "digital hospitality," stressing the need for enhanced online client interactions and personalised experiences to keep attendees engaged. 

FinTech Focus TV is powered by Harrington Starr, global leaders in Financial Tech Recruitment. For more episodes or FinTech recruitment advice, please visit our website: www.harringtonstarr.com

In the latest episode of Fintech Focus TV, Toby Babb sits down with Adedamola Adetola the General Manager of Europe and Africa at Bridgewise.

Adedamola discusses Bridgewise’s $21 million Series A funding round and its innovative use of AI, pivoting from running an equity fund to generating institutional-grade research reports on undercovered stocks globally.

The episode delves into the company's strategic growth, particularly in the retail segment, and addresses the longer sales cycles in institutional markets while emphasising the importance of building trust through responsible AI practices

The pair cover the global market dynamics, including capital concentration and the lack of analyst coverage for smaller companies, which Bridgewise aims to address.

FinTech Focus TV is powered by Harrington Starr, global leaders in Financial Technology Recruitment. For more episodes or recruitment advice, please visit our website www.harringtonstarr.com

FinTech Focus TV is powered by Harrington Starr, global leaders in Financial Tech Recruitment. For more episodes or FinTech recruitment advice, please visit our website: www.harringtonstarr.com

In the latest episode of FinTech Focus TV, Toby sits down with Martin de Rijke, Business Operations Manager at Maple Finance.

Martin shares his fascinating journey from discovering Bitcoin in high school to leading growth at Maple Finance, an innovative institutional marketplace built on blockchain technology.

Discover how Maple is revolutionising the financial industry by bringing transparency and efficiency through decentralised finance (DeFi). Learn about their latest offering, Syrup, which opens institutional-grade yields to a broader audience.

Martin also discusses the future of DeFi, predicting a significant surge in mainstream adoption driven by user-friendly innovations.

This episode is a must-watch for anyone interested in fintech careers and the evolving landscape of financial technology.

FinTech Focus TV is powered by Harrington Starr, global leaders in Financial Tech Recruitment. For more episodes or FinTech recruitment advice, please visit our website: www.harringtonstarr.com

FinTech Focus TV is powered by Harrington Starr, global leaders in Financial Tech Recruitment. For more episodes or FinTech recruitment advice, please visit our website: www.harringtonstarr.com

In the latest episode of Fintech Focus TV, Toby Babb sits down with True Partnership’s Co-Founder & CEO, Thomas Ungi, about how his transformative experience with coaching led him to co-found True Partnership.

We discover how the firm has grown, expanded and emphasised their focus on understanding individual needs, fostering diversity, and connecting with people.

The pair discuss the importance of recognising and nurturing unconventional talent and sharing anecdotes about successful hires from non-traditional backgrounds. They also talk about the evolving recognition of coaching in the financial sector, noting its crucial role in enhancing performance, retention, and overall well-being.

FinTech Focus TV is powered by Harrington Starr, global leaders in Financial Technology Recruitment. For more episodes or recruitment advice, please visit our website www.harringtonstarr.com

FinTech Focus TV is powered by Harrington Starr, global leaders in Financial Tech Recruitment. For more episodes or FinTech recruitment advice, please visit our website: www.harringtonstarr.com

Joining Toby on the latest episode of FinTech Focus TV is Duncan Higgins, CEO of Sustainable Trading where he discusses his initiative to make the trading industry more environmentally and socially responsible.

With a 25-year career in finance, Duncan founded Sustainable Trading to address the industry's lack of a concerted sustainability effort. The initiative has seen strong support, growing from 30 to 60 member firms, driven by the commercial benefits of sustainability for clients and potential hires.

Tune in to hear Duncan’s advice on the growing importance of sustainability in attracting and retaining talent and the necessity for firms to align their practices with these values to stay competitive.

FinTech Focus TV is powered by Harrington Starr, global leaders in Financial Technology Recruitment. For more episodes or recruitment advice, please visit our website www.harringtonstarr.com

FinTech Focus TV is powered by Harrington Starr, global leaders in Financial Tech Recruitment. For more episodes or FinTech recruitment advice, please visit our website: www.harringtonstarr.com

Joining Ian Bailey on this special Pay360 episode of FinTech Focus TV is Peter Theunis, Senior Vice President of Sales at BPC Banking Technologies. 

With over 25 years in payments and banking, Peter shares BPC's journey from a traditional software vendor to a SaaS and processing company, emphasising their SmartVista platform and expansion into fraud management, digital banking, and public transport solutions.

Highlighting BPC's global reach, Peter explains their support for customers in over 120 countries, focusing on innovation and adapting to market demands. 

He emphasises the importance of digital ecosystems, government partnerships, and balancing regulatory compliance with innovation to build trust in digital payments.

FinTech Focus TV is powered by Harrington Starr, global leaders in Financial Technology Recruitment. For more episodes or recruitment advice, please visit our website www.harringtonstarr.com

FinTech Focus TV is powered by Harrington Starr, global leaders in Financial Tech Recruitment. For more episodes or FinTech recruitment advice, please visit our website: www.harringtonstarr.com