999. News: Plaid pays JP Morgan, HALA's record breaking raise, and Thunes speeds up Saudi payments
Fintech Insider Podcast by 11:FS
CommonAI and HALA: AI Infrastructure Meets SME Fintech
CommonAI's UK/EU compute, shared IP and high-assurance fund to lower AI barriers is discussed alongside HALA's $157M Series B and its embedded finance play for SMEs in Saudi.
About this episode:
Host Kate Moody, Customer Strategy Director at 11:FS, is joined by a fantastic panel of guests as we dive into some of the biggest stories from the worlds of fintech, banking, and wider financial services this week.
This week's guests:
- Ahmad Yaacoub - VP MENA and Country Head for Saudi Arabia at Thunes
- Mei Lim - Group CFO and Managing Partner at Anthemis and CommonAI Board Director
- Dave Morris - CEO of FoundryOS
Also featuring a voice note from Jason Mikula, Publisher at Fintech Business Weekly, from Episode 981 of Fintech Insider News.
Stories covered on the podcast:
As we edge closer to the monumental 1000th episode of Fintech Insider, there’s certainly no shortage of big stories to cover.
This week, Plaid agrees to pay JP Morgan for access to customer data - a major move in the data-sharing space. We also hear from Thunes about the launch of real-time payments in Saudi Arabia. Plus, we unpack a record-breaking raise from HALA in the region.
We also get a first-hand look at the launch of CommonAI, the new initiative from Anthemis and Cambridge AI Venture Partners aimed at supercharging AI innovation in the UK and Europe.
It’s Pensions Awareness Week, and we’re spotlighting a startup on a mission to shake up the market and help younger generations save smarter.
And finally - yes, we make time for a heated debate about Monopoly. You’ve been warned.
Timestamps:
Intro - (00:01)
Plaid to pay JPMorgan for access to customer data-(08:50)
Thunes expands real-time payments to Saudi Arabia- (21:31)
HALA Secures $157M in Landmark Series B, Among Largest Fintech Rounds in Middle East-(50:27)
Real Monopoly money revealed by the Royal Mint- (1:07:01)
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About Fintech Insider:
Fintech Insider by 11:FS is a bi-weekly podcast that covers everything from finance and banking to technology and the latest trends in financial services.
Our expert hosts, with hands-on industry experience, are joined by key decision-makers, VCs, and top reporters from across the financial landscape, including guests from companies like Stripe, Revolut, Plaid, PayPal, and Monzo. Together, they break down the biggest news and innovations shaping the space.
Our weekly news show drops every Monday, covering major stories like mergers, new product launches, regulatory shifts, and emerging tech trends. On Thursdays, our Insights show goes deeper into the hottest topics driving the future of finance, including AI in banking, decentralised finance, and the evolving landscape of embedded finance.
Whether you're already in the fintech game or just starting to explore, this is the #1 podcast for you.
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