Couchonomics with Arjun

Welcome to a new episode of Couchonomics with Arjun!Join Arjun as he explores Africa's dynamic startup scene and fintech landscape with Elias Yazbeck, Managing Director at Helios Investment Partners.Discover key insights into Africa's market dynamics, challenges, and future trends in fintech. Elias also shares Helios Investment Partners' strategies and potential seismic shifts in private equity.Topics covered include real-time payments, digital banking for SMEs, regulatory roles, entrepreneurship challenges, and Helios Investment's unique philosophy.Tune in now for valuable insights! Watch the full episode on YouTube and major podcasting platforms.Couchonomics with Arjun Season 3 is brought to you by our partners:Adyen https://www.adyen.com/ToYou https://toyou.io/arMastercard https://mastercard.com/Geidea https://geidea.net/M2P https://m2pfintech.com/Find us on our social media platforms:Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/Couchonomics LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomicsSubscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6ETimestamps: 00:00 - Episode Highlight 01:12 - Introduction 02:10 - Overview of Helios Investment Partners 06:10 - Africa's Diverse Startup Scene 09:02 - Investing in Major African Markets and Market Dynamics 11:48 - Key Sectors of Interest18:18 - Africa-Specific Trends 21:00 - The Role of Central Banks 24:46 - Prevailing Trends in Private Equity 31:41 - Shifts in the Private Equity Scene 34:58 - The Next Phase of Africa's Entrepreneurial Ecosystem 37:44 - Operational Challenges in Africa 42:08 - Investment Focus and Social Impact 46:51 - The Next Steps for Helios 49:51 - Closing WordsOur 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

Join Arjun on Couchonomics as we explore open banking and fintech in the GCC with Abdulla Almoayed, Founder & CEO of Tarabut. Discover the evolving landscape of financial services, BaaS, and gain insights into open banking.We also delve into Tarabut's inspiration, GCC financial services, managed competition, challenges, and opportunities with open banking, BaaS integration, and accelerating digital adoption through fintech partnerships.Watch now on YouTube and major podcast platforms! #Couchonomics #Fintech #OpenBanking #GCC #TarabutCouchonomics with Arjun Season 03 is brought to you by our partners:Adyen https://www.adyen.com/ToYou https://toyou.io/arMastercard https://mastercard.com/Geidea https://geidea.net/M2P https://m2pfintech.com/Find us on our social media platforms:Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/Couchonomics LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomicsSubscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6Etime stamps:- 00:00 - Episode highlights- 01:42 - Introduction- 02:43 - About Tarabut- 05:50 - Fintech scene in the GCC region- 11:40 - Free competition vs. managed competition- 16:21 - Challenges with open banking- 22:53 - Banks' reluctance to adopt new technology- 30:25 - Regional nuances in financial markets- 34:00 - Regulatory harmonization- 38:40 - BaaS and open banking integration- 47:16 - Third-party providers in BaaS- 51:11 - Digital transformation challenges and strategies- 57:00 - Future strategy for Tarabut- 01:04:00 - Closing wordsOur 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

In this episode, we delve into the crucial topic of mental health with Scott Armstrong, Founder & CEO of Mentl, a mental health advocacy platform. From workplace challenges to the impact of AI, we explore various facets of mental well-being in today's world. Tune in for insightful discussions on work-life balance, stress management, and more. Don't miss out on this important conversation!#Couchonomics #MentalHealth #WorkLifeBalance #StressManagement #WellBeing #Podcast #LeadershipInsightsTimestamps:00:00 - Episode Highlights01:15 - Introduction02:57 - Meet Mentl: Advocating Mental Health03:53 - Scott’s Background Journey05:22 - State of Mental Health in the Region09:43 - Primary Drivers of Stress14:33 - Traditional Work Culture vs. Modern Expectations17:49 - Generation Gap in Work-Life Balance and Mental Health Attitudes20:17 - Mental Health's Impact on Productivity22:45 - Company Strategies for Employee Well-Being Investment29:46 - Smart Mitigating Strategies for Well-Being36:36 - Challenges Faced by Gen Z in the Workplace41:22 - AI's Influence on Mental Health56:14 - The Mental Health Crisis58:16 - Addressing Mental Health Challenges and "Well-Washing"1:02:00 - Closing ThoughtsOur 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

Episode 5 of Season 3 is live now featuring Mounir Nakhla, Founder and CEO of MNT-Halan. Join us as we delve into the journey of MNT-Halan and the Egyptian fintech landscape. From ride-hailing to a financial super app, we cover it all in this insightful episode! Tune in for a glimpse into the world of fintech innovation!#Fintech #MNTHalan #StartupJourney #couchonomics #tech #innovation #newepisodeCouchonomics with Arjun Season 3 is brought to you by our partners:Adyen https://www.adyen.com/ToYou https://toyou.io/arMastercard https://mastercard.com/Geidea https://geidea.net/M2P https://m2pfintech.com/Find us on our social media platforms:Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/Couchonomics LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomicsSubscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6ETimestamps: 00:00 - Episode Highlights 00:43 - Introduction 02:00 - MNT-Halan's story 05:23 - Creating a financial super app 08:12 - What makes MNT-Halan great 12:00 - Opportunities in the Egyptian market 15:55 - Microloans and consumer loans 18:58 - MNT-Halan's Impact on the Banking Sector 21:35 - Fintech Ecosystem in Egypt 24:36 - Impact of investors on startup direction 26:13 - Regulatory landscape in Egypt28:02 - Egyptian companies going across the borders 32:02 - Opportunities of the Egyptian market for international fintech 37:32 - Future plans and strategies for MNT-Halan40:49 - Talent scarcity and AI 42:00 - Closing wordsOur 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

🚀 Explore the world of Venture Capital with Khaled Talhouni, Managing Partner at Nuwa Capital, in Episode 4 of Couchonomics with Arjun! We cover topics like the State of Venture Capital in 2023, market dynamics, lessons learned by VCs, challenges and opportunities for women entrepreneurs, and more. Don’t miss this conversation full of invaluable insights. Tune in now!Timestamps:00:00 - Episode Highlights00:32 - Introduction01:25 - The State of VC in 202312:31 - Lessons Learned by VCs14:21 - The Emergence of the Saudi Market23:36 - Challenges and Opportunities in the Egyptian Market29:00 - Exploring Different Investment Sectors44:07 - Empowering Women Entrepreneurs Through Investment55:54 - Inside Nuwa Capital59:23 - Common Pitfalls for Startups01:04:30 - Expectations and Predictions for 2024/2501:08:56 - Closing WordsOur 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

Join us for Episode 3 of Couchonomics with Arjun as we explore the UAE's entrepreneurship ecosystem with Professor Ramesh Jagannathan, Managing Director of StartAD. Learn about StartAD's innovative programs, the challenges of entrepreneurship, and the role of women in business. Subscribe for insightful discussions on driving economic growth and global competitiveness in the UAE!#StartAD #UAEentrepreneurship #Innovation  #WomenEntrepreneurs #TechEducation #Angelinvestment #UAEstartup Chapters: 00:00- Episode Highlights 00:26- Introduction 01:11- Prof. Ramesh Background 06:35- startAD inception and challenges 16:48- What makes startAD stand out 22:36- Capacity building in the UAE 25:08- Empowering women in entrepreneurship 29:19- VC funding and women-led ventures 37:06- NYU impact in startAD 42:30- Next chapter for startAD 46:25- Collaboration between capacity enablers 54:32- Closing words 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

Welcome back to Couchonomics! In line with the theme of rearchitecting the global financial system, this week we explored the banking sector in the UAE and the wider GCC: regulatory focus, financial crime regulation, innovation, and in general, what the banking sector could do differently.Helping us explore these topics, we had the privilege of hosting Raheel Ahmed, CEO of RAKBANK, on our show. During our conversation, Raheel shared his insights on the dynamic relationship between fintech and banks, his views on central banks, and Arjun even managed to slip in a CBDC question. 💸📈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

 Dive into the future of Fintech with J.K. Khalil, General Manager at MasterCard GCC & Pakistan! Join Arjun and J.K. as they explore the partnership dynamics between fintechs and banks, the game-changing role of governments in innovation, embedded finance, and MasterCard's bold new initiatives! Don't miss out on this strong start to the third season! #Fintech #Mastercard #fintechinnovation #couchonomics #season3 #fintechpodcast #digitalpayments #governmentregulations #digitalbanking Timestamps: 00:00- Introduction 03:40- Rearchitecting Of The Financial System 08:22- Digital Payments 09:07- Faster Payments 14:35 -Cross Border Payment System 16:28- J.K’s View On CBDCs 19:30- Interesting News In Payments 23:27-Banks And Fintechs Dynamics 27:50 - Mastercard’s Work With New Fintechs 32:58- J.K’s Insights On Current State of VC’s 36:57- Why Is There A Lack Of Early-Stage Startups? 41:20- The Role Of Government Regulators 51:38- Closing Words 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

In the season finale of Couchonomics S02, Arjun was joined by David Chaum, inventor of electronic money and privacy technology. As Arjun puts it, David is a “living legend” and one of the most influential architects of our present-day financial systems.David’s work in cryptography and every other he has touched has had a massive impact across the world. So far, his achievements and impact have been covered predominantly in Western Media, so we’re truly excited to bring this conversation to our mostly MENA-based audience.David is currently leading xx network, a completely private, quantum-secure decentralized messaging and payment platform. He is also known for other fundamental innovations in cryptography, including privacy technologies such as mix nets and secure voting systems. With a PhD in Computer Science from UC Berkeley, he has taught at NYU Graduate School of Business and the University of California. David is the founder of the International Association for Cryptologic Research, the Cryptography Group at the Center for Mathematics and Computer Science in Amsterdam, and DigiCash. Among his breakthrough projects are digital blind signatures, multiparty computation, and random sample voting.In the episode, Arjun and David discussed: Why David invented eCash, and how his work pioneered the way for cryptocurrency to be developed in its present formDavid’s involvement in exposing cryptographic weaknesses in payment systemsHis latest work: “Better Than Money”, inspired by the shortfallings of the current financial systemHow “Better Than Money” could address global financial inequityBarriers to financial improvement, and how blockchain-driven solutions could benefit the unbankedThe role of both commercial and central banks in the evolving financial landscapeHow “Better Than Money” could coexist with CBDCs and stablecoinsThe potential of “Better Than Money” to address inefficiencies in cross-border payments To learn more about “Better Than Money” and David’s ongoing work, visit his website: https://chaum.com/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

In the latest episode of Couchonomics, Arjun was joined by Eyad Albayouk, General Manager at Flat6Labs.Eyad comes from a 12-year background focused on alternative investments. This special episode, shot at Fintech Saudi, provided great insight into the state of the fintech startup ecosystem in KSA. In the episode, Arjun and Eyad discussed: The nature of Saudi's startup sceneThe current funding landscape in Saudi The state of deal flow: is it in trouble? The quality of fintech startups in KSA Angel investor networks in the region Increased participation of women in the Saudi workforce The role of experienced entrepreneurs in supporting early-stage startupsGovernment actions in funding mechanisms, non-funding mechanisms, and regulatory interventions Thank you to Fintech Saudi for inviting us to use their facilities to record this special episode of Couchonomics from KSA. 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