Live from MPE Berlin, host Grant Evans is joined by Elaine Smith, SVP Commercial at Volt, to explore the next phase of real-time payments and Pay by Bank adoption.

Elaine shares her perspective on stepping into a senior commercial leadership role, and what it really takes to scale new payment infrastructure beyond hype into commercial reality. The conversation dives into why Pay by Bank is finally gaining traction with enterprises, what large merchants actually need to deploy it at scale, and why enterprise validation is a critical unlock for wider adoption.

They also explore how real-time payments are evolving into a broader financial infrastructure layer, from account-to-account payments to emerging use cases — and where technologies like stablecoins may fit into the ecosystem.

Plus, Elaine steps up for The Payments Shed’s legendary Shelf of Shame — calling out one thing in payments she’d happily banish forever.

***

The Payments Shed Podcast is headline sponsored by ISX Financial.

ISX Financial, delivers a unified ecosystem with multi-currency accounts, online payments,  real-time UK and EU transfers and global mass payouts. Within that platform, PaidBy® provides Pay by Bank with real-time settlement notifications, automated reconciliation and integrated refund management. One partner, one integration — helping your business transact with confidence. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.isx.financial⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

***

The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Snap Finance UK.

Snap Finance is a flexible point-of-sale finance provider helping consumers spread the cost of essential purchases. They offer transparent repayment options, built around accessibility and real-world affordability, focused on making credit work better for everyday shoppers.

***

The Payments Shed Podcast is supported by PCN.

PCN is a boutique recruitment agency rooted in Amsterdam, driven by a singular mission: connecting top talent with industry leaders. PCN specialises in five core pillars — Fintech, Cybersecurity, SaaS, E-Commerce, and Salesforce — backed by a global network across borders.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://teampcn.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

***

Disclaimer. Any views or opinions referenced in this podcast episode are our own, or those of our respective guests, and they do not represent any views, opinions, or statements from our respective employers, or those of our guests. Additionally, any views expressed here are not intended as investment, legal, tax, or financial advice.

Live from MPE Berlin, host Justin Hanna is joined by Jacob Spencer, CRO at BR-DGE, to break down why payments orchestration is becoming a core part of modern merchant infrastructure.

Jacob unpacks the real problem orchestration solves — from fragmented payment stacks to limited visibility — and why more merchants are turning to orchestration to gain control, flexibility, and performance across their payment operations.

The conversation explores how centralising payments data unlocks deeper insights, improves acceptance rates, reduces costs, and enables smarter routing and optimisation strategies. They also discuss how orchestration helps merchants build resilience and future-proof their infrastructure in an increasingly complex global payments landscape.

Plus, Jacob steps up for The Payments Shed’s legendary Shelf of Shame — calling out one thing in payments he’d happily banish forever.

***

The Payments Shed Podcast is headline sponsored by ISX Financial.

ISX Financial, delivers a unified ecosystem with multi-currency accounts, online payments,  real-time UK and EU transfers and global mass payouts. Within that platform, PaidBy® provides Pay by Bank with real-time settlement notifications, automated reconciliation and integrated refund management. One partner, one integration — helping your business transact with confidence. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.isx.financial⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

***

The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Snap Finance UK.

Snap Finance is a flexible point-of-sale finance provider helping consumers spread the cost of essential purchases. They offer transparent repayment options, built around accessibility and real-world affordability, focused on making credit work better for everyday shoppers.

***

The Payments Shed Podcast is supported by PCN.

PCN is a boutique recruitment agency rooted in Amsterdam, driven by a singular mission: connecting top talent with industry leaders. PCN specialises in five core pillars — Fintech, Cybersecurity, SaaS, E-Commerce, and Salesforce — backed by a global network across borders.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://teampcn.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

***

Disclaimer. Any views or opinions referenced in this podcast episode are our own, or those of our respective guests, and they do not represent any views, opinions, or statements from our respective employers, or those of our guests. Additionally, any views expressed here are not intended as investment, legal, tax, or financial advice.

Live from MPE Berlin, host Grant Evans is joined by Alex Dorobantu, Head of Payment Ecosystem at Payrails, to explore why enterprises need to rethink payments as core financial infrastructure — not just transaction processing.

Alex breaks down the hidden challenges global merchants face — from margin leakage across multi-PSP environments to the reality that many businesses still can’t confidently answer what they’re actually paying. The conversation dives into why reconciliation remains fragmented, and how building a single source of truth directly into the payments layer can transform finance operations.

They also explore how rethinking chargebacks as a product and workflow problem — rather than a cost centre — can unlock efficiency, reduce risk, and improve performance across the entire payments stack.

Plus, Alex steps up for The Payments Shed’s legendary Shelf of Shame — calling out one thing in payments that needs to change.

***

The Payments Shed Podcast is headline sponsored by ISX Financial.

ISX Financial, delivers a unified ecosystem with multi-currency accounts, online payments,  real-time UK and EU transfers and global mass payouts. Within that platform, PaidBy® provides Pay by Bank with real-time settlement notifications, automated reconciliation and integrated refund management. One partner, one integration — helping your business transact with confidence. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.isx.financial⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

***

The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Snap Finance UK.

Snap Finance is a flexible point-of-sale finance provider helping consumers spread the cost of essential purchases. They offer transparent repayment options, built around accessibility and real-world affordability, focused on making credit work better for everyday shoppers.

***

The Payments Shed Podcast is supported by PCN.

PCN is a boutique recruitment agency rooted in Amsterdam, driven by a singular mission: connecting top talent with industry leaders. PCN specialises in five core pillars — Fintech, Cybersecurity, SaaS, E-Commerce, and Salesforce — backed by a global network across borders.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://teampcn.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

***

Disclaimer. Any views or opinions referenced in this podcast episode are our own, or those of our respective guests, and they do not represent any views, opinions, or statements from our respective employers, or those of our guests. Additionally, any views expressed here are not intended as investment, legal, tax, or financial advice.

In this episode, hosts Grant Evans and Justin Hanna sit down with Oliver Smith, Head of Content for Europe at Money20/20, to explore how the conversations shaping fintech actually get decided.

Oliver shares a behind-the-scenes look at how one of the industry’s most influential events curates its agenda — from balancing hype versus substance to choosing the founders, banks, and innovators who take the main stage.

The discussion explores how the tone of fintech has evolved since the funding boom, whether the industry has genuinely matured, and which sectors are currently driving the European ecosystem.

Grant, Justin, and Oliver also unpack the real power dynamics behind fintech narratives — from infrastructure versus consumer fintech, to the role conferences now play as year-round community platforms rather than just three-day events.

Looking ahead, the conversation turns to the next wave of financial innovation, including AI, the rise of Agentic Finance, and why Europe may have a strategic advantage as autonomous financial systems begin to emerge.

Plus, Oliver steps up for The Payments Shed’s legendary Shelf of Shame — nominating one fintech buzzword he’d happily banish forever.

***

The Payments Shed Podcast is headline sponsored by ISX Financial.

ISX Financial, delivers a unified ecosystem with multi-currency accounts, online payments,  real-time UK and EU transfers and global mass payouts. Within that platform, PaidBy® provides Pay by Bank with real-time settlement notifications, automated reconciliation and integrated refund management. One partner, one integration — helping your business transact with confidence. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.isx.financial⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

***

The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Snap Finance UK.

Snap Finance is a flexible point-of-sale finance provider helping consumers spread the cost of essential purchases. They offer transparent repayment options, built around accessibility and real-world affordability, focused on making credit work better for everyday shoppers.

***

The Payments Shed Podcast is supported by PCN.

PCN is a boutique recruitment agency rooted in Amsterdam, driven by a singular mission: connecting top talent with industry leaders. PCN specialises in five core pillars — Fintech, Cybersecurity, SaaS, E-Commerce, and Salesforce — backed by a global network across borders.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://teampcn.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

***

Disclaimer. Any views or opinions referenced in this podcast episode are our own, or those of our respective guests, and they do not represent any views, opinions, or statements from our respective employers, or those of our guests. Additionally, any views expressed here are not intended as investment, legal, tax, or financial advice.

Live from MPE Berlin, host Justin Hanna is joined by Neira Jones, Payments Advisor & MPE Ambassador, and Stanley Skoglund, MPE Ambassador for a behind-the-scenes look at the MPE Awards judging process.

They unpack how winners are selected, what judges are really looking for, and how the awards reflect — and sometimes challenge — the direction of the merchant payments ecosystem. From shifting submission trends to standout innovations, the conversation reveals what’s actually moving the needle across payments today.

Grant, Neira, and Stanley also explore the key themes emerging from this year’s entries, what surprised the judging panel most, and what companies need to think about if they want to stand out in future editions.

Plus, both guests step up for The Payments Shed’s legendary Shelf of Shame — calling out what frustrates them most in payments today.

***

The Payments Shed Podcast is headline sponsored by ISX Financial.

ISX Financial, delivers a unified ecosystem with multi-currency accounts, online payments,  real-time UK and EU transfers and global mass payouts. Within that platform, PaidBy® provides Pay by Bank with real-time settlement notifications, automated reconciliation and integrated refund management. One partner, one integration — helping your business transact with confidence. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.isx.financial⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

***

The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Snap Finance UK.

Snap Finance is a flexible point-of-sale finance provider helping consumers spread the cost of essential purchases. They offer transparent repayment options, built around accessibility and real-world affordability, focused on making credit work better for everyday shoppers.

***

The Payments Shed Podcast is supported by PCN.

PCN is a boutique recruitment agency rooted in Amsterdam, driven by a singular mission: connecting top talent with industry leaders. PCN specialises in five core pillars — Fintech, Cybersecurity, SaaS, E-Commerce, and Salesforce — backed by a global network across borders.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://teampcn.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

***

Disclaimer. Any views or opinions referenced in this podcast episode are our own, or those of our respective guests, and they do not represent any views, opinions, or statements from our respective employers, or those of our guests. Additionally, any views expressed here are not intended as investment, legal, tax, or financial advice.

Live from MPE Berlin, host Justin Hanna catches up with Lincoln Dundas, VP of Partnerships & Enablement at Optty, for a fast-paced discussion on the evolving global payments landscape.

Lincoln breaks down the growing fragmentation of payment methods, why “Alternative Payments” are no longer alternative, and how Specialised Payment Methods (SPMs) are becoming essential for merchants looking to scale globally.

The conversation also explores the next wave of innovation — from AI-driven commerce and agentic payments to the role of wallets, crypto, and infrastructure in enabling seamless global checkout experiences.

Plus, Lincoln steps up for The Payments Shed’s legendary Shelf of Shame — calling out one thing in payments that needs to go.

***

The Payments Shed Podcast is headline sponsored by ISX Financial.

ISX Financial, delivers a unified ecosystem with multi-currency accounts, online payments,  real-time UK and EU transfers and global mass payouts. Within that platform, PaidBy® provides Pay by Bank with real-time settlement notifications, automated reconciliation and integrated refund management. One partner, one integration — helping your business transact with confidence. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.isx.financial⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

***

The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Snap Finance UK.

Snap Finance is a flexible point-of-sale finance provider helping consumers spread the cost of essential purchases. They offer transparent repayment options, built around accessibility and real-world affordability, focused on making credit work better for everyday shoppers.

***

The Payments Shed Podcast is supported by PCN.

PCN is a boutique recruitment agency rooted in Amsterdam, driven by a singular mission: connecting top talent with industry leaders. PCN specialises in five core pillars — Fintech, Cybersecurity, SaaS, E-Commerce, and Salesforce — backed by a global network across borders.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://teampcn.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

***

Disclaimer. Any views or opinions referenced in this podcast episode are our own, or those of our respective guests, and they do not represent any views, opinions, or statements from our respective employers, or those of our guests. Additionally, any views expressed here are not intended as investment, legal, tax, or financial advice.

In this episode, hosts Grant Evans and Justin Hanna are joined by Eric Queatham, Founder & CEO of Velocity, to unpack the journey from corporate payments leader to startup founder — and what it really takes to build something new in a fast-moving industry.

Eric shares the story behind leaving a major organisation like Worldpay to launch Velocity, including the realities of founding a company, raising capital, and building a team from scratch. The conversation dives into the highs and lows of the founder journey — from tough early decisions to assembling the right partners and culture.

They also explore the growing buzz around stablecoins, separating hype from reality and discussing who the real customers are for stablecoin infrastructure. Eric explains the problem Velocity is solving, why compliance and education are critical to adoption, and how the payments ecosystem may evolve as new financial rails emerge.

Looking ahead, the group reflects on where payments innovation is heading — from the role of AI in financial infrastructure to what founders and incumbents should be thinking about next.

Plus, Eric takes on The Payments Shed’s legendary Shelf of Shame — nominating one thing in payments or fintech he’d happily banish forever.

***

The Payments Shed Podcast is headline sponsored by ISX Financial.

ISX Financial, delivers a unified ecosystem with multi-currency accounts, online payments,  real-time UK and EU transfers and global mass payouts. Within that platform, PaidBy® provides Pay by Bank with real-time settlement notifications, automated reconciliation and integrated refund management. One partner, one integration — helping your business transact with confidence. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.isx.financial⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

***

The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Snap Finance UK.

Snap Finance is a flexible point-of-sale finance provider helping consumers spread the cost of essential purchases. They offer transparent repayment options, built around accessibility and real-world affordability, focused on making credit work better for everyday shoppers.

***

The Payments Shed Podcast is supported by PCN.

PCN is a boutique recruitment agency rooted in Amsterdam, driven by a singular mission: connecting top talent with industry leaders. PCN specialises in five core pillars — Fintech, Cybersecurity, SaaS, E-Commerce, and Salesforce — backed by a global network across borders.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://teampcn.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

***

Disclaimer. Any views or opinions referenced in this podcast episode are our own, or those of our respective guests, and they do not represent any views, opinions, or statements from our respective employers, or those of our guests. Additionally, any views expressed here are not intended as investment, legal, tax, or financial advice.

In this episode, hosts Grant Evans and Justin Hanna are joined by Georgios Kolovos, Payments and Fintech Leader at NVIDIA, to explore how AI infrastructure, foundation models, and connected intelligence are reshaping financial services.

Georgios shares insights from the evolving AI ecosystem — from the role of core-stack innovators like NVIDIA to how financial institutions are beginning to rethink their technology stacks for the age of payments intelligence. The conversation unpacks what Payments Foundation Models actually are, why organisations are shifting from siloed transaction data toward connected intelligence, and how early examples from players like Revolut and Adyen hint at what’s coming next.

They also dive into agentic commerce, sovereign AI architectures, and the governance challenges of high-risk AI, including what the EU AI Act means for financial institutions trying to innovate responsibly.

Looking ahead, the discussion explores whether financial services are moving toward autonomous decision-making systems, the importance of open models, and what the payments ecosystem could look like five years from now.

Plus, Georgios takes on The Payments Shed’s legendary Shelf of Shame — nominating something from fintech he’d happily banish forever.

***

The Payments Shed Podcast is headline sponsored by ISX Financial.

ISX Financial, delivers a unified ecosystem with multi-currency accounts, online payments,  real-time UK and EU transfers and global mass payouts. Within that platform, PaidBy® provides Pay by Bank with real-time settlement notifications, automated reconciliation and integrated refund management. One partner, one integration — helping your business transact with confidence. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.isx.financial⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

***

The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Snap Finance UK.

Snap Finance is a flexible point-of-sale finance provider helping consumers spread the cost of essential purchases. They offer transparent repayment options, built around accessibility and real-world affordability, focused on making credit work better for everyday shoppers.

***

The Payments Shed Podcast is supported by PCN.

PCN is a boutique recruitment agency rooted in Amsterdam, driven by a singular mission: connecting top talent with industry leaders. PCN specialises in five core pillars — Fintech, Cybersecurity, SaaS, E-Commerce, and Salesforce — backed by a global network across borders.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://teampcn.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

***

Disclaimer. Any views or opinions referenced in this podcast episode are our own, or those of our respective guests, and they do not represent any views, opinions, or statements from our respective employers, or those of our guests. Additionally, any views expressed here are not intended as investment, legal, tax, or financial advice.

In this episode, hosts Grant Evans and Justin Hanna sit down with Luke Barry & Gary Burns, co-founders of payments and fintech talent acquisition agency How Ya Doing, to explore how hiring in payments and fintech needs a serious rethink.

Luke and Gary share their experiences from working in payments to focusing on people in the industry — explaining why firsthand experience in the commercial and recruitment world on the payments side gives them a different perspective on talent.

The conversation unpacks what’s broken in recruitment today — from ghosting and slow processes to poor candidate experience — and how both employers and job seekers can raise their game.

They dive into practical advice for candidates navigating the fintech job market, the growing importance of personal brand, and where employers are losing top talent without realising it.

The episode also looks ahead to the future of hiring — AI, hybrid work, skills-based recruitment — and how to keep the human element alive in a digital-first world.

Plus, Luke and Gary step up for The Payments Shed’s legendary Shelf of Shame — nominating one payments and fintech 'ick' they would happily banish forever.

***

The Payments Shed Podcast is headline sponsored by ISX Financial.

ISX Financial, delivers a unified ecosystem with multi-currency accounts, online payments,  real-time UK and EU transfers and global mass payouts. Within that platform, PaidBy® provides Pay by Bank with real-time settlement notifications, automated reconciliation and integrated refund management. One partner, one integration — helping your business transact with confidence. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.isx.financial⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

***

The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Snap Finance UK.

Snap Finance is a flexible point-of-sale finance provider helping consumers spread the cost of essential purchases. They offer transparent repayment options, built around accessibility and real-world affordability, focused on making credit work better for everyday shoppers.

***

The Payments Shed Podcast is supported by PCN.

PCN is a boutique recruitment agency rooted in Amsterdam, driven by a singular mission: connecting top talent with industry leaders. PCN specialises in five core pillars — Fintech, Cybersecurity, SaaS, E-Commerce, and Salesforce — backed by a global network across borders.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://teampcn.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

***

Disclaimer. Any views or opinions referenced in this podcast episode are our own, or those of our respective guests, and they do not represent any views, opinions, or statements from our respective employers, or those of our guests. Additionally, any views expressed here are not intended as investment, legal, tax, or financial advice.

In this episode, hosts Grant Evans and Justin Hanna are joined by Will Plummer, CEO of Trust My Group & Repayd, to unpack the realities of travel payments, risk, and the Merchant of Record (MOR) model.

Will shares the philosophy behind his business — why choosing the MOR route over the PayFac model changes the dynamic between merchants, acquirers, and brokers, and how it reframes travel from “high-risk” to high-opportunity when managed correctly.

The conversation dives into why travel has historically been labelled risky — long settlement cycles, cancellations, chargebacks — and how a data-obsessed approach to underwriting, monitoring, and transparency can transform those perceptions. They explore how better data creates stronger alignment between merchants and acquirers, improves pricing, and builds long-term trust in complex verticals.

Looking ahead, the episode examines the evolution of travel payments, embedded models, and where the MOR approach could expand next.

Plus, Will steps up for The Payments Shed’s legendary Shelf of Shame — nominating one thing in payments he’d happily banish forever.

***

The Payments Shed Podcast is headline sponsored by ISX Financial.

ISX Financial, delivers a unified ecosystem with multi-currency accounts, online payments,  real-time UK and EU transfers and global mass payouts. Within that platform, PaidBy® provides Pay by Bank with real-time settlement notifications, automated reconciliation and integrated refund management. One partner, one integration — helping your business transact with confidence. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.isx.financial⁠⁠⁠⁠

***

The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Snap Finance UK.

Snap Finance is a flexible point-of-sale finance provider helping consumers spread the cost of essential purchases. They offer transparent repayment options, built around accessibility and real-world affordability, focused on making credit work better for everyday shoppers.

***

The Payments Shed Podcast is supported by PCN.

PCN is a boutique recruitment agency rooted in Amsterdam, driven by a singular mission: connecting top talent with industry leaders. PCN specialises in five core pillars — Fintech, Cybersecurity, SaaS, E-Commerce, and Salesforce — backed by a global network across borders.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://teampcn.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

***

Disclaimer. Any views or opinions referenced in this podcast episode are our own, or those of our respective guests, and they do not represent any views, opinions, or statements from our respective employers, or those of our guests. Additionally, any views expressed here are not intended as investment, legal, tax, or financial advice.