The Connector.

Pierre Nemeth, CEO and co-founder of Sopiad, discusses how their fintech company provides scientifically-backed resources to restore investor trust and help financial institutions comply with regulations. Sopiad's journey began with four years of academic research at LCC Liège before officially launching in 2021, addressing the lack of personalization in financial products and inadequate educational frameworks.

• Sopiad's main solution is SAFIR, a personalized portfolio diagnostic tool that takes a client-centric approach
• Unlike traditional analysis, SAFIR evaluates portfolio alignment with individual risk profiles and ESG preferences
• The solution serves financial advisors and portfolio managers by enabling personalized portfolio creation at scale
• Sopiad offers an AI storytelling module that converts complex analytics into educational narratives for investors
• The company received recognition as one of the world's most innovative ESG companies in November 2024
• Their unique approach links SFDR information from investment products to MiFID 2/IDD distribution requirements
• Sopiad collaborates with various industry associations to stay ahead of market trends
• Future vision includes more personalized investment products, gamified financial literacy, and transparent information

Visit sopiad.com to learn more about their solutions and how they address regulatory needs across different financial sectors.

Thank you for tuning into our podcast about global trends in the FinTech industry.
Check out our podcast channel.
Learn more about The Connector.
Follow us on LinkedIn.

Cheers
Koen Vanderhoydonk
[email protected]

#FinTech #RegTech #Scaleup #WealthTech

Klaas from Regnology shares how the company transformed from a regional player to a European leader in regulatory technology, with ambitions to become the global champion following CPP investment and strategic acquisitions.

• Joined Regnology in 2022 when they acquired b.fine, modernizing their front-end offering
• Regnology's unique approach pivoting from a reporting platform to a data platform minimizes the impact of regulatory changes on financial institutions
• Won Regulatory Reporting Product of the Year Award twice due to granular data approach and cloud-native platform
• Secured funding from CPP in December 2024 to expand globally beyond their European leadership
• Partnership with Google Cloud enables optimal deployment and AI initiatives like regulatory chatbots
• Future vision includes improving two-way communication between regulators and banks
• Moving toward real-time supervision rather than traditional monthly/quarterly reporting

Thank you for tuning into our podcast about global trends in the FinTech industry.
Check out our podcast channel.
Learn more about The Connector.
Follow us on LinkedIn.

Cheers
Koen Vanderhoydonk
[email protected]

#FinTech #RegTech #Scaleup #WealthTech

Robert from Paynovate describes how the Belgian payment provider has built a comprehensive electronic payment processing service with an EMI license from the National Bank of Belgium, offering everything from card issuing to open banking. Their standout approach is welcoming customers that traditional financial players often reject through scalable compliance procedures that adapt to each client's risk level.

• Paynovate provides complete payment solutions including card issuing, terminals, e-commerce, IBAN accounts, and recently added open banking
• Their risk-based compliance approach uses 4-8 eyes principles and third-party verification to safely onboard clients from traditionally underserved sectors
• They've achieved 15% market share in Belgian payment terminals while expanding internationally
• Their Exospend platform offers corporate expense management, IBAN accounts and cards, including white-label options
• Compliance flexibility is core to their value proposition, with internal development of key verification processes
• Future plans include maintaining their comprehensive service model while expanding to Middle East, Southeast Asia and North America
• Stablecoin capabilities are technically ready and launching soon

Thank you for listening to another episode of the Connector podcast. To connect and keep up to date with all the latest, head over to www.jointhekonnector.com or hit subscribe via your podcast streaming platform.

Thank you for tuning into our podcast about global trends in the FinTech industry.
Check out our podcast channel.
Learn more about The Connector.
Follow us on LinkedIn.

Cheers
Koen Vanderhoydonk
[email protected]

#FinTech #RegTech #Scaleup #WealthTech

How Approach Cyber helps fintech companies navigate cybersecurity challenges from integrated security development to regulatory compliance. Dorian Pacquet shares insights on evolving cyber threats, the role of AI in security, and the importance of managing data protection in the fintech ecosystem.

• Approach is a pure-play cybersecurity and privacy partner with over 100 professionals across Belgium and Switzerland offering 360° cyber resilience services
• Modern software development requires security integration at all stages, not just end-of-process testing
• Supply chain vulnerabilities are a growing concern as all software now relies on external libraries and dependencies
• Fintechs face increasing regulatory pressure not just directly but through their regulated customers
• AI is becoming integral to security tools including code generation, vulnerability scanning, and remediation
• Data protection compliance is equally challenging for organizations of all sizes with limited exceptions for SMEs
• Approach offers multidisciplinary expertise spanning technical, strategic, and legal domains to help navigate complex regulations
• 24/7 managed security services from their in-house Security Operations Center provide continuous protection

For more information about Approach Cyber's services, contact Dorian at [email protected] or visit their website at www.approach-cyber.com.

Thank you for tuning into our podcast about global trends in the FinTech industry.
Check out our podcast channel.
Learn more about The Connector.
Follow us on LinkedIn.

Cheers
Koen Vanderhoydonk
[email protected]

#FinTech #RegTech #Scaleup #WealthTech

Lode from  AREA42 explains how this innovation vehicle within Credendo is transforming B2B trade finance by offering flexible working capital solutions that make digital trade more accessible and user-friendly.

•  AREA42 is the innovation arm of Credendo, a credit insurance company with over 100 years of history
• Credit insurance protects sellers when buyers don't pay invoices, unlike factoring, which provides immediate financing
• Digital B2B marketplaces often require upfront payment, creating friction compared to traditional trade credit terms
•  AREA42 evolved from offering complex credit insurance to providing streamlined working capital solutions
• Their approach keeps user experience simple while handling risk assessment complexity behind the scenes
• Partnerships with payment service providers help keep costs lower than traditional financial institutions
•  AREA42 offers API integration and white-labeling options for seamless incorporation into e-commerce platforms
• The biggest learning was shifting from a solution-first to a problem-first innovation approach
• Balancing corporate stability with startup agility remains a key challenge and opportunity

"Any company in the world, especially in the European Economic Area, we can help you. We can help you with any working capital problem that you have. Come to us, and we will help you."

Thank you for tuning into our podcast about global trends in the FinTech industry.
Check out our podcast channel.
Learn more about The Connector.
Follow us on LinkedIn.

Cheers
Koen Vanderhoydonk
[email protected]

#FinTech #RegTech #Scaleup #WealthTech

AI agents are set to transform financial services by taking over tasks people currently do while enabling entirely new services, creating both challenges and opportunities for established banks and fintechs alike.

• In The Pocket has evolved from a mobile app developer at the dawn of smartphones to a 200-person European digital product studio with a significant focus on AI strategy
• Financial institutions must decide how to approach "agent experience" as consumers increasingly interact with their services through AI assistants
• The speed of AI development means companies can't afford to wait and see, with hallucinations and high operational costs being the primary challenges
• Customer support represents the most promising immediate application for AI in financial services due to its text-based, repetitive nature
• Smaller fintechs currently have an advantage as they can manage the high costs of running sophisticated AI models across a smaller user base
• Well-structured data remains crucial for effective AI implementation, though future models may become better at working with unstructured information

For any questions about implementing AI and agents in your financial organization, reach out to In The Pocket's cross-disciplinary team that brings together design, technology, and strategy.

Thank you for tuning into our podcast about global trends in the FinTech industry.
Check out our podcast channel.
Learn more about The Connector.
Follow us on LinkedIn.

Cheers
Koen Vanderhoydonk
[email protected]

#FinTech #RegTech #Scaleup #WealthTech

The regulatory pendulum in European fintech isn't swinging toward deregulation as dramatically as some might have expected. Philippe from Simont Braun law firm cuts through the noise to explain what's happening in the European regulatory landscape.

Despite widespread speculation following the European Commission's 2025 work program announcement, major financial regulations like FIDA (Financial Information Data Access Regulation), PSD3, and PSR remain firmly on track. What we're witnessing isn't deregulation but rather a nuanced approach to limit unnecessary regulatory growth – pushing back against what Philippe aptly calls "regulatory overdrive" at the technical implementation level.

The conversation reveals a significant shift in regulatory strategy: moving away from directives toward regulations as the preferred legislative instrument. This change helps prevent "gold plating" (where countries add additional regulatory layers during implementation) and creates a more unified European market. Meanwhile, AI adoption in financial services continues to evolve, with applications spanning front office (chatbots, investment advice), middle office (KYC, AML, fraud detection), and back office functions. The upcoming AI Act will introduce a risk-based approach affecting financial services without creating finance-specific regulations.

Perhaps most intriguingly, Philippe suggests financial institutions may have a competitive advantage in the coming era of AI regulation due to their extensive experience navigating complex regulatory frameworks. For fintech innovators looking to launch new products or interact with regulators, understanding these nuances could make all the difference between compliance headaches and market success.

Thank you for tuning into our podcast about global trends in the FinTech industry.
Check out our podcast channel.
Learn more about The Connector.
Follow us on LinkedIn.

Cheers
Koen Vanderhoydonk
[email protected]

#FinTech #RegTech #Scaleup #WealthTech

Our 10th episode dives into the exciting intersection of insurance and technology, exploring innovations within the InsurTech landscape. We celebrate milestone achievements while uncovering key themes of balancing reliability with digital transformation.

• Exploring the significance of InsurTech in reshaping traditional practices 
• Highlighting Vee Finance's layered strategy for effective digital transformation 
• Discussing cybersecurity importance and NIS2 regulations for SMEs 
• Delving into the concept and benefits of parametric insurance 
• Investigating the rise of embedded insurance and its regulatory implications 
• Analyzing InsurTech trends across various regions in Europe 
• Reflecting on the necessity of balancing innovation with the human element in insurance 

Join us in this insightful exploration where technology meets a time-honored institution, prompting thought-provoking questions about the future of insurance. 

Thank you for tuning into our podcast about global trends in the FinTech industry.
Check out our podcast channel.
Learn more about The Connector.
Follow us on LinkedIn.

Cheers
Koen Vanderhoydonk
[email protected]

#FinTech #RegTech #Scaleup #WealthTech

Ready to unlock the secrets of fintech innovation? Discover how Roel, the mastermind behind Docapi, is transforming the landscape of smart document processing. As a spin-out from IXOR, Docapi is setting new benchmarks with its revolutionary APIs for financial documents like invoices, receipts, and pay slips. Roel shares the strategic decision to bootstrap Docapi, with a hint at potential investment opportunities on the horizon. If you've ever wondered how AI is reshaping the way we handle both unstructured and structured documents, this episode is a must-listen. We promise you'll gain insights into Docapi's journey from a Belgian startup to an international contender in the fintech arena.

But that's not all—brace yourself for a deep dive into the upcoming e-invoicing mandates set to rock Belgium and Europe. Roel provides an insider's perspective on the shifting landscape of B2B transactions and the technological adaptations required. With looming deadlines and varying European approaches, understanding these changes could be crucial for businesses looking to stay compliant and competitive. As we explore these significant transformations, you'll come away with a clearer understanding of how companies like Docapi are poised to lead in a rapidly evolving market. Don't miss out on this engaging conversation that blends practical insights with visionary thinking.

Thank you for tuning into our podcast about global trends in the FinTech industry.
Check out our podcast channel.
Learn more about The Connector.
Follow us on LinkedIn.

Cheers
Koen Vanderhoydonk
[email protected]

#FinTech #RegTech #Scaleup #WealthTech

Understanding the role of AI in enhancing wealth management, this episode explores the evolving trends shaping the financial landscape. We dive into goal-based investing, the rising influence of women in wealth tech, and the need for robust cybersecurity measures. 

• AI as a powerful tool in personalized finance
• Global economic outlook highlights regional disparities
• Dividend payouts are set to reach record highs in 2025
• The shift towards goal-based investing strategies
• Poland's wealth tech companies democratizing investments
• The importance of female leadership in the financial sector
• Independent financial advisors provide personalized services
• Rising need for compliance and cybersecurity measures in finance
• The impact of regulations on maintaining client trust

Thank you for tuning into our podcast about global trends in the FinTech industry.
Check out our podcast channel.
Learn more about The Connector.
Follow us on LinkedIn.

Cheers
Koen Vanderhoydonk
[email protected]

#FinTech #RegTech #Scaleup #WealthTech