Startup Europe — The Sifted Podcast The secret behind Revolut's product blitz
Jul 29, 2025
Tom Matsuda, a fintech reporter at Sifted, dives into the remarkable journey of Revolut, Europe's leading private tech company. He reveals the driving force behind its rapid expansion—small, agile teams known as the 'new bets team' that launch innovative products at lightning speed. The conversation also touches on the challenges faced in obtaining a UK banking license, and the speculation surrounding an upcoming IPO, sparking interest in the evolving fintech landscape and how Revolut plans to position itself as a financial super app.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Revolut's "New Bets" Product Strategy
- Revolut's rapid product innovation is driven by small "new bets" teams acting like startups within the company.
- These teams have full profit and loss responsibility, allowing quick pivots or shutdowns to scale successful products fast.
CEO Drives Execution Relentlessly
- Revolut's CEO Nikolay Storonsky is relentless and demands execution at all costs.
- This top-down culture fuels the company's rapid product rollouts and relentless pace.
Leadership Contrast: Helicopter vs Heart
- Nikolay Storonsky is compared to a helicopter, circling above and swooping down to handle issues.
- In contrast, cofounder Vlad Yatsenko focuses on individual employee development as the leadership's heart.