Couchonomics with Arjun
Arjun Singh
Decoding the New World Order of Finance - Unfiltered, global, weeklyAs tectonic shifts reshape the financial world, Couchonomics continues to explore the trends transforming commerce, capital, and culture. This season, we expand our lens - building on our deep focus in the MENA region while bringing in voices, stories, and innovations from around the globe.Why? Because the future of finance is no longer regional - it’s interconnected. Whether it’s AI in Asia, tokenization in Europe, or fintech policy experiments in Africa, today’s financial shifts cross borders, industries, and disciplines.Whether you’re in the industry or just fintech-curious, tune in weekly as we decode the big moves, bold ideas, and brilliant minds shaping tomorrow’s economy.Episodes drop weekly. Arabic subtitles available on YouTube: youtube.com/@couchonomicswitharjunsingh438Learn more: www.couchonomics.comSeason 4 supported by:Adyen | Mastercard | SC Ventures | Thunes | Hala | e& | Digit 9About the host: Arjun's expertise covers a broad range of areas including Fintech, Payments, Digital Assets, Embedded Finance, Application of Emerging Technologies, and the Emergence of New Business Models within the Financial Services Sector in the MEA region and globally. Arjun is deeply engaged in the Tech Start-Up ecosystem. He serves as a passive investor, advisory board member, and a notable commentator on the rapidly evolving scene.In recognition of his impactful contributions, Arjun was honored as a Top Voice of the region by LinkedIn in 2020. Learn more at www.couchonomics.com.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Nov 11, 2024 • 1h 3min
Ep 103. Shariah Finance Meets Blockchain: A New Era in Financial Services with Morrad Irsane and Sharene Lee
The latest episode of Couchonomics with Arjun is now live from Riyadh, in collaboration with Jeel, Riyad Bank’s innovation center. Joining us are Morrad Irsane and Sharene Lee, co-founders of Takadao, a company redefining insurance through #blockchain and #Web3 technology. Their vision? To create a decentralized, transparent alternative to traditional insurance that aligns with #IslamicFinance principles and empowers underserved communities.Tune in now to discover how Takadao is changing the narrative with ethical, technology-driven solutions for community support! This episode is available on all platformsOur website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0Find us on our social media platforms: Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/ CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/ Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E
Nov 4, 2024 • 52min
Ep 102. Hala’s ambitious vision to become the future bank of SMEs with Maher Loubieh
Couchonomics with Arjun is beaming its inaugural episode from its new home in KSA, at Jeel, Riyadh Banks Innovation Center in the heart of Riyadh. Our guest for this week’s special episode is Maher Loubieh, Co-Founder & CEO of Hala. During this episode, Maher shares Hala’s incredible journey from its beginnings as a peer-to-peer payment platform to then pivoting their business model to focus on the MSME sector in Saudi Arabia. We discuss Hala's strategic pivots, the trials and tribulations of evolving one's business model, the challenges of serving small businesses, and their vision for building a robust financial ecosystem tailored to MSMEs' unique needs.Tune in for insights into Saudi Arabia's evolving fintech landscape and Hala's mission to empower local businesses!Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0Find us on our social media platforms: Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/ CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/ Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E
Oct 28, 2024 • 48min
Ep 101. Optimizing cash returns with Walter De Oude
This week on #Couchonomics, Arjun sits down with Walter De Oude, the visionary Founder & CEO of Chocolate Finance—a high-yield cash management platform designed to bring better returns on idle cash. Joining from Singapore, Walter shares his inspiring journey from launching SingLife to creating Chocolate Finance, along with his vision for empowering “lazy savers” with higher returns.In this episode, Arjun and Walter dive into:- The inspiration behind Chocolate Finance - How Chocolate Finance stands out in the market - The regulatory approach shaping its growth - Trends in FinTech, including digital assets, AI, and efficiency - The incredible story behind SingLife Catch this conversation on simplifying cash management, unlocking value for consumers, and Walter’s big plans for the future! 🎧Watch now on YouTube or tune in on all audio platforms.Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0Find us on our social media platforms: Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/ CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/ Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E
Oct 26, 2024 • 22min
100 Episodes In Review
Exciting plans for Season 4 are already in motion, and in this 100th-episode special, Arjun takes a turn on the other side of the #couch! Hosting this special edition is Vuk Zlatarov, Co-founder and CEO of Poddster, who delves into Arjun’s journey behind the scenes. Vuk leads Arjun through a candid discussion about the journey of building the show, from its early days to becoming a space for the region's most insightful conversations. They explore the challenges, standout moments, and the future direction of the show as it continues to grow. Plus, Vuk surprises Arjun with a quiz to test how well he really knows his own show. Want to see how he did? Tune in to find out! Catch this unique behind-the-scenes conversation with Vuk as we celebrate 100 episodes of learning, innovation, and community! Available now on YouTube and all audio platforms Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0Find us on our social media platforms: Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/ CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/ Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E
Oct 24, 2024 • 47min
Ep 100 (part 3) Current changes in payments with Roelant Prins
Roelant Prins, Chief Commercial Officer at Adyen, shares his expertise on the rapidly evolving payments landscape. He discusses the shift from traditional payment methods to innovative technologies, emphasizing regional differences in adoption. The conversation touches on the rise of unified commerce in various industries and the impacts of mergers in the payments sector. Roelant also addresses the significance of customer alignment and maintaining core values amid strategic changes in business operations.
Oct 23, 2024 • 46min
Ep 100 (part 2) Cross border payments solutions and more with Ramana Kumar
Ramana Kumar, CEO of Magnati and a pioneer in cloud-based payments, returns to share insights on the evolution of payment solutions. He discusses the shift towards tech-driven and embedded finance, highlighting challenges in cross-border payments in the MENA region. Ramana explores the impacts of CBDCs and stablecoins on transaction banking, along with Magnati's navigation through regulatory landscapes. Additionally, he delves into the emergence of collaborative payment ecosystems and how innovations like biometric payments are shaping the future of finance.
Oct 22, 2024 • 54min
Ep 100 (part 1) Leadership lessons with Sopnendu Mohanty
Sopnendu Mohanty, a leading figure in Singapore's FinTech scene and Chief FinTech Officer at the Monetary Authority of Singapore, shares insights on pivotal shifts in the FinTech landscape. He discusses the evolution of digital assets and the impact of AI on the industry. The conversation highlights Singapore's initiatives in creating a seamless digital finance ecosystem and enhancing cross-border payments. Furthermore, they preview the Singapore FinTech Festival, emphasizing its global influence and the importance of fostering dialogue on AI regulation and sustainability.
Oct 14, 2024 • 50min
Ep 99. Time To Lead!!! with Sitoyo Lopokoiyit
Today we’re joined by Sitoyo Lopokoiyit, CEO of M-PESA Africa, who has played a pivotal role in growing M-PESA across 8 African markets. Sitoyo shares the fascinating story behind M-PESA’s evolution from a mobile money service into a full-fledged digital ecosystem, empowering consumers, businesses, and developers through an open API program. We also covered:- The role of regulation in fintech- Cross-border payments and cost reduction- The adoption of blockchain and AI - Balancing innovation and competition with open architecture - The future of CBDCs in Africa - National payment infrastructure players and their impactDon't miss this insightful conversation on how M-PESA is reshaping financial inclusion across Africa and leading the fintech revolution. Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0Find us on our social media platforms: Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/ CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/ Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E
Oct 10, 2024 • 49min
Ep 97. Paving the future all the way from Georgia with Salim Dhanani
Joining us on the latest episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, all the way from Tbilisi, Georgia, is Salim Dhanani, founder and CEO of PaveBank—the world’s first programmable bank. In our conversation, Salim explains how PaveBank is shaping the future of financial services by leveraging blockchain and smart contracts to revolutionize trust and eliminate counterparty risks. We also dive into why they adopted the full reserve banking model, the impact of tokenization, and how evolving regulations are influencing the fintech space.Tune in to discover what it means to be the world’s first programmable bank and hear about Pave Bank's exciting plans for the future!Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0Find us on our social media platforms: Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/ CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/ Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E
Oct 7, 2024 • 43min
Ep 96. How NPCI became a dominant and credible network with Ritesh Shukla
India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has broken records yet again, processing over 15 billion transactions in September alone—setting the global standard for faster payments.In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, we dive into the incredible success of UPI with Ritesh Shukla, CEO of NPCI International. Ritesh shares insights on how he's taking India's groundbreaking digital payments system to the world stage.Beyond UPI, we explore:🛋️ Key trends reshaping the payments industry 🛋️ The evolution of faster payments 🛋️ The GCC’s rapid adoption of digital payments 🛋️ The rise of CBDCs 🛋️ NPCI’s game-changing collaborations with fintechs This is a must-listen for anyone interested in payments, the rise of national payment infrastructure, how NPCI is pushing boundaries in payments both in India and worldwide, and much more.Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0Find us on our social media platforms: Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/ CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/ Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E
