Acquisitions, exits and fundraising dynamics

About this episode:

Host Benjamin Ensor, Director of Research and Strategy 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.

Stories covered on the podcast this week include:

This week on the podcast, Wise is making big moves in India with the launch of their travel card - and they’ve also announced a new UAE payment licence. We hear more from them about these exciting developments.

HSBC Banking Innovation joins us to break down the latest venture funding figures, which have reached a multi-year high in Q3.

In the UK, there are major steps forward in open banking as the FCA announces their new accelerator programme. We also take a closer look at Goldman Sachs’ acquisition of Industry Ventures, but what does it mean for the venture market?

Benjamin shares his thoughts on the further delays in Revolut’s banking licence, and, most importantly, we dive into a heated debate about the least practical foods to deliver by drone.

This week's guests:

• Thomas Easterby - Head of Fintech at HSBC Innovation Banking

• Arun Tharmarajah - Head of EMEA Banking and Payments at Wise

• Barry O’Donohoe - CEO and Co-founder of Raidiam

Featuring voice notes from:

• Colin Payne - Head of Innovation at the FCA

Timestamps/stories

Intro - (00:00)
Wise challenges India’s Forex Card market: announces country’s first travel card- (06:17)

UK venture funding reaches multi-year high according to HSBC Innovation’s Q3 figures⁠ -⁠(20:16)⁠⁠

The UK’s FCA launches an open finance accelerator (34:41)

Goldman Sachs is acquiring Industry Ventures for up to $965M as alternative VC exits surge ⁠⁠- (45:57)⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Revolut faces further UK license delays; acquires AI travel agent-⁠⁠ (53:54)

As food delivery drones take off in Ireland, here are the most popular items-(56:10)⁠

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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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Got a question for us? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠podcasts@11fs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠!

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