Ecosystem Needs for a Successful Hub

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.

Stories covered on the podcast this week include:

On this week’s podcast, we dive into Airwallex’s massive funding raise and explore what it could mean for the company’s future. We also discuss Abu Dhabi’s launch of a new fintech centre with a focus on digital assets, featuring insights from our panel.

New data shows that US fintech funding is projected to drop by 6% in 2025, as big-ticket deals over $100 million slow down - but what do our panellists make of this trend?

We also cover PensionBee’s call for the government to end pension transfer gridlock. What could this mean for everyone’s pensions? Kate shares her thoughts on Fifth Third’s new Commercial Card and Brex’s Financial Technology Powered solutions.

Finally, inspired by all the Spotify Wrapped buzz, we get playful and discover what our panellists’ “fintech age” would be!

This week's guests:

• Ruth Foxe Blader - Managing Partner at Foxe Capital
• Lisa Picardo - Chief Business Officer UK at PensionBee
• Thierry Coopman - Partnerships and Payments Lead at Formance

Also featuring a voice note from:

• Shannon Scott - CPO at Airwallex

Timestamps/stories

Intro - (00:00)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Airwallex raises $330 million at a valuation of $8 billion-⁠⁠⁠⁠(05:36)

Abu Dhabi launches fintech centre with focus on digital assets -(16:38)

⁠⁠⁠⁠US FinTech funding on track to drop 6% in 2025 as deals over $100m dry up-⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠(28:27)

Broken Beyond Excuse: PensionBee Calls on Government to End Pension Transfer Gridlock - (35:59)

Fifth Third to Offer Commercial Card and Financial Technology Powered by Brex- ⁠⁠⁠(45:39)

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Links to check out:

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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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