In this special throwback episode, we revisit one of our favorite moments from Season One with a fintech titan, Dr. Jörg Howein, formerly the Chief Product Officer at Solarisbank. Since we last spoke with Jörg, Solarisbank, now known simply as Solaris, has continued its meteoric rise in the fintech world. In this engaging conversation, Jörg shares valuable insights into how this German fintech unicorn seamlessly transitioned from a monolithic to a self-built modular core, all while ensuring their end customers remained blissfully unaware of the shift. Since our previous encounter with Solaris, the company has achieved remarkable milestones, including raising an impressive €38 million euros in funds earmarked for scaling up their banking-as-a-service business. If you're intrigued by fintech innovation, curious about the secrets behind Solaris' success, or simply eager to stay ahead in the ever-evolving financial landscape, this episode is a must-listen. Join us as we dive into the world of fintech with Dr. Jörg Howein and uncover the strategies that keep Solaris at the forefront of the competition.About Fintech Files:Are you ready to unravel the most innovative trends disrupting the world of Fintech today? Join us on Fintech Files from BCG Platinion, where we delve deep into the dynamic landscape of Fintech, NeoBanks, and the Digital Banking world, sparking insightful conversations with industry disruptors from around the globe. So, what are the most groundbreaking trends shaping the future of Fintech, and how will they impact your financial world? Fintech Files takes an accessible approach to technology. We break down complex topics and have our guests explain them in a relatable "explain it to your grandma" style. In every episode, we focus on real-world stories of how financial technology operates, demystifying complex concepts and making them relatable for both Fintech enthusiasts and professionals.The Hosts of Fintech Files:Hosted by Nora Hocke, a manager at BCG Platinion in Munich, and Annika Melchert, a principal currently based in the Middle East, our hosts specialize in IT strategy, modern tech architecture, and state-of-the-art banking. In their work, they've collaborated with some of today's most innovative Fintechs to transform their organizations; including supporting generative AI use cases. With their unique blend of tech expertise and passion, they bring you stories that capture the essence of the evolving Fintech landscape.  This season, we're thrilled to introduce Bianca Lopes. Originally from Brazil and currently based in Denmark, Bianca is an entrepreneur and economist with a remarkable background in digital identity and biometrics. Throughout her career, she has supported over 40 financial institutions and 8 governments, reshaping their approach to technology, reimagining identity, and driving innovation agendas.We Want to Hear from You!Reach out to us at fintech-podcast@bcgplatinion.com with your questions, guest suggestions, or topics you'd like us to explore. Or just drop in to say hi! Visit our website at https://www.bcgplatinion.com/insights/fintech-files-insights-on-tech-by-bcg-platinion and follow us on social media for updates and additional content.The digital future is now. 

How many globally lack access to banking? Astonishingly, one in three. In this insightful conversation, Vera Futorjanski, former Head of Communications at Rocket Internet and founding member of Dubai Future Accelerators, shares her journey. Emphasizing the transformative role of technology, she explores challenges and strategies to enhance accessibility and diversity in finance through education and innovation.Discussion Highlights:Dubai as a Hub for Innovation: Vera discusses the unique ecosystem in Dubai, where the government actively supports and accelerates innovation. Vera elaborates on her involvement with the Dubai Future Accelerators program, highlighting the collaboration between government entities and startups. Female Representation in the Startup Ecosystem: The discussion delves into the challenges faced by female founders, investors, and leaders in the startup ecosystem. Vera shares a shocking statistic; only 2% of globally available funding for startups goes to female founders.Beyond Community and Empowering Women: Vera introduces Beyond, a curated community of female leaders launched by her that provides a safe and trusted space for women leaders to connect, collaborate, and grow.Web3 and Diversity in the Tech Space: Vera expresses her early optimism in the Web3 space and her disappointment in the progress made regarding diversity. She highlights her experiences in the Metaverse, NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), and the need for greater representation of women in key roles in Web3 technologies.AI and the Importance of Female Representation: Vera highlights the lack of representation of female voices in AI discussions, referencing that Sam Altman's quotes in AI news coverage last year surpassed those of all female AI experts listed in Times Magazine's top AI influencers combined. Read more in Where are all the ‘godmothers’ of AI? Women’s voices are not being heard from Luba Kassova for The Guardian. Importance of Funding for Women in Tech: Vera acknowledges the importance of funding in driving change in the tech industry. She emphasizes the need for more female Limited Partners who can influence investment decisions and stresses that change will come through a combination of education, funding opportunities, and increased visibility for women in the tech space.About Fintech Files:Are you ready to unravel the most innovative trends disrupting the world of Fintech today? Join us on Fintech Files from BCG Platinion, where we delve deep into the dynamic landscape of Fintech, NeoBanks, and the Digital Banking world, sparking insightful conversations with industry disruptors from around the globe. So, what are the most groundbreaking trends shaping the future of Fintech, and how will they impact your financial world? Fintech Files takes an accessible approach to technology. We break down complex topics and have our guests explain them in a relatable "explain it to your grandma" style. In every episode, we focus on real-world stories of how financial technology operates, demystifying complex concepts and making them relatable for both Fintech enthusiasts and professionals.The Hosts of Fintech Files:Hosted by Nora Hocke, a manager at BCG Platinion in Munich, and Annika Melchert, a principal currently based in the Middle East, our hosts specialize in IT strategy, modern tech architecture, and state-of-the-art banking. In their work, they've collaborated with some of today's most innovative Fintechs to transform their organizations; including supporting generative AI use cases. With their unique blend of tech expertise and passion, they bring you stories that capture the essence of the evolving Fintech landscape.  This season, we're thrilled to introduce Bianca Lopes. Originally from Brazil and currently based in Denmark, Bianca is an entrepreneur and economist with a remarkable background in digital identity and biometrics. Throughout her career, she has supported over 40 financial institutions and 8 governments, reshaping their approach to technology, reimagining identity, and driving innovation agendas.We Want to Hear from You!Reach out to us at fintech-podcast@bcgplatinion.com with your questions, guest suggestions, or topics you'd like us to explore. Or just drop in to say hi! Visit our website at https://www.bcgplatinion.com/insights/fintech-files-insights-on-tech-by-bcg-platinion and follow us on social media for updates and additional content.The digital future is now. 

Happy New Year from your friends at Fintech Files!  To kick off 2024 in style, we’re bringing you a throwback to our very first episode of 2023; “Revolutionizing the Future of Finance in the Middle East through Open Banking” with Emir Isik, Head of Business Development from Tarabut Gateway.  We felt this was the perfect episode to kick off the new year as there have been so many exciting developments with Open Banking and Tarabut since we had them on the show, including raising $32m in Series A funding round to propel open banking in Saudi Arabia. This episode dives into the world of open banking! We dive deep into the buzzword that has taken the financial world by storm. What is open banking? Why is it relevant? And how is it transforming the finance landscape in the Middle East? Join Emir Isik, Head of Business Development at Tarabut Gateway, the largest open banking platform in the region, as he delves into the organization’s challenges, opportunities, the role it plays in Saudi Vision 2030 and its impact on the future of finance.About Fintech Files:Are you ready to unravel the most innovative trends disrupting the world of Fintech today? Join us on Fintech Files from BCG Platinion, where we delve deep into the dynamic landscape of Fintech, NeoBanks, and the Digital Banking world, sparking insightful conversations with industry disruptors from around the globe. So, what are the most groundbreaking trends shaping the future of Fintech, and how will they impact your financial world? Fintech Files takes an accessible approach to technology. We break down complex topics and have our guests explain them in a relatable "explain it to your grandma" style. In every episode, we focus on real-world stories of how financial technology operates, demystifying complex concepts and making them relatable for both Fintech enthusiasts and professionals.The Hosts of Fintech Files:Hosted by Nora Hocke, a manager at BCG Platinion in Munich, and Annika Melchert, a principal currently based in the Middle East, our hosts specialize in IT strategy, modern tech architecture, and state-of-the-art banking. In their work, they've collaborated with some of today's most innovative Fintechs to transform their organizations; including supporting generative AI use cases. With their unique blend of tech expertise and passion, they bring you stories that capture the essence of the evolving Fintech landscape.  This season, we're thrilled to introduce Bianca Lopes. Originally from Brazil and currently based in Denmark, Bianca is an entrepreneur and economist with a remarkable background in digital identity and biometrics. Throughout her career, she has supported over 40 financial institutions and 8 governments, reshaping their approach to technology, reimagining identity, and driving innovation agendas.We Want to Hear from You!Reach out to us at fintech-podcast@bcgplatinion.com with your questions, guest suggestions, or topics you'd like us to explore. Or just drop in to say hi! Visit our website at https://www.bcgplatinion.com/insights/fintech-files-insights-on-tech-by-bcg-platinion and follow us on social media for updates and additional content.The digital future is now. 

As a special holiday treat for you, our listeners, we’re revisiting one of our favourite season 2 episodes. It’s “The Art of Navigating a Company Through Rapid Growth and Post-Merger Integration” – with Michael Stephan, COO and Co-founder of Raisin.” They are the first and only pan-European deposit marketplace. Since our 2022 episode, this Berlin-based fintech unicorn has secured over 60 million euros in funding in a series E round.The Berlin-based fintech unicorn Raisin has written quite a success story of organic and inorganic growth since it was founded in 2012. Starting with a “savings-as-a-service” offering, it has massively expanded over the years both in functionality and in markets. Most recently, it merged with its former competitor Deposit Solutions to grow even stronger. Listen in to this episode to learn about Raisin’s evolution and the challenges they’ve overcome—both technical and operational—and hear about what lies ahead on their journey to become one of the biggest European open banking fintechs.About Fintech Files:Are you ready to unravel the most innovative trends disrupting the world of Fintech today? Join us on Fintech Files from BCG Platinion, where we delve deep into the dynamic landscape of Fintech, NeoBanks, and the Digital Banking world, sparking insightful conversations with industry disruptors from around the globe. So, what are the most groundbreaking trends shaping the future of Fintech, and how will they impact your financial world? Fintech Files takes an accessible approach to technology. We break down complex topics and have our guests explain them in a relatable "explain it to your grandma" style. In every episode, we focus on real-world stories of how financial technology operates, demystifying complex concepts and making them relatable for both Fintech enthusiasts and professionals.The Hosts of Fintech Files:Hosted by Nora Hocke, a manager at BCG Platinion in Munich, and Annika Melchert, a principal currently based in the Middle East, our hosts specialize in IT strategy, modern tech architecture, and state-of-the-art banking. In their work, they've collaborated with some of today's most innovative Fintechs to transform their organizations; including supporting generative AI use cases. With their unique blend of tech expertise and passion, they bring you stories that capture the essence of the evolving Fintech landscape.  This season, we're thrilled to introduce Bianca Lopes. Originally from Brazil and currently based in Denmark, Bianca is an entrepreneur and economist with a remarkable background in digital identity and biometrics. Throughout her career, she has supported over 40 financial institutions and 8 governments, reshaping their approach to technology, reimagining identity, and driving innovation agendas.We Want to Hear from You!Reach out to us at fintech-podcast@bcgplatinion.com with your questions, guest suggestions, or topics you'd like us to explore. Or just drop in to say hi! Visit our website at https://www.bcgplatinion.com/insights/fintech-files-insights-on-tech-by-bcg-platinion and follow us on social media for updates and additional content.The digital future is now. 

How should banks navigate Gen AI's regulatory challenges? Kirsten Rulf, BCG Partner and Associate Director, shares key strategies and opportunities. As the former Senior Digital Policy advisor aka “nerd-in-chief” to Chancellor Angela Merkel, Kirsten played a key role in negotiating the EU AI Act.  Now, Kirsten guides global Fintech clients in adopting this transformative technology.Discussion Highlights:Regulatory Challenges: Kirsten explores negotiations behind the EU AI Act, detailing the hurdles in aligning Gen AI adoption with regulations and grasping its comprehensive impact on the financial sector.Gen AI Opportunities in Finance: Highlighting potential in personalized interactions such as chatbots and knowledge management, Kirsten underscores Gen AI's prospects in the financial sector. The discussion emphasizes the ongoing challenge of balancing opportunities with inherent regulatory and technological risks.Challenging Stereotypes: Kirsten advocates for a positive perspective on AI, steering away from doomsday narratives and promoting it as an opportunity for significant positive impact.Human in the Loop Challenges: Discussing the challenges of the "human in the loop" concept, particularly in large-scale AI systems with extensive data, Kirsten and Nora delve into the complexities of effective human oversight implementation.AI Risk & Panic Button: Kirsten introduces the concept of a "panic button" in AI systems, citing an example of an inappropriate encounter with an AI agent. The panic button enables human intervention to halt AI processes during critical situations.AI Impact on Creativity: BCG's study involving 750 consultants reveals a 40% boost in creativity for 'AI-friendly' tasks but a 23% decrease for tasks aligned with human intuition. This underscores the importance of nuanced AI deployment. Building Trust in Gen AI: Kirsten stresses the role of trusted institutions, like banks, in public AI education, emphasizing the need to showcase AI's positive potential while actively managing risks and ensuring regulatory compliance.Reputational & Financial Risk: Nora, Bianca, and Annika discuss the reputational risk of Gen AI, citing Google's stock plunge after an AI incident with Google Bard. The example underscores the necessity for financial institutions to navigate AI risks while seizing opportunities to avoid reputational and financial damage.About Fintech Files:Are you ready to unravel the most innovative trends disrupting the world of Fintech today? Join us on Fintech Files from BCG Platinion, where we delve deep into the dynamic landscape of Fintech, NeoBanks, and the Digital Banking world, sparking insightful conversations with industry disruptors from around the globe. So, what are the most groundbreaking trends shaping the future of Fintech, and how will they impact your financial world? Fintech Files takes an accessible approach to technology. We break down complex topics and have our guests explain them in a relatable "explain it to your grandma" style. In every episode, we focus on real-world stories of how financial technology operates, demystifying complex concepts and making them relatable for both Fintech enthusiasts and professionals.The Hosts of Fintech Files:Hosted by Nora Hocke, a manager at BCG Platinion in Munich, and Annika Melchert, a principal currently based in the Middle East, our hosts specialize in IT strategy, modern tech architecture, and state-of-the-art banking. In their work, they've collaborated with some of today's most innovative Fintechs to transform their organizations; including supporting generative AI use cases. With their unique blend of tech expertise and passion, they bring you stories that capture the essence of the evolving Fintech landscape.  This season, we're thrilled to introduce Bianca Lopes. Originally from Brazil and currently based in Denmark, Bianca is an entrepreneur and economist with a remarkable background in digital identity and biometrics. Throughout her career, she has supported over 40 financial institutions and 8 governments, reshaping their approach to technology, reimagining identity, and driving innovation agendas.We Want to Hear from You!Reach out to us at fintech-podcast@bcgplatinion.com with your questions, guest suggestions, or topics you'd like us to explore. Or just drop in to say hi! Visit our website at https://www.bcgplatinion.com/insights/fintech-files-insights-on-tech-by-bcg-platinion and follow us on social media for updates and additional content.The digital future is now. 

What is the role of technology in aligning banking and investments with sustainability? Eve Morelli, Head of Sustainable Transparency unveils Radicant’s unique approach to sustainable finance.  Discover how this Swiss digital banking startup integrates the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into its framework, ensuring users can see where their money is going and why. This is a special sustainable fintech episode to coincide with the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP28. Discussion Highlights:Eve Morelli's Journey: Eve, Head of Sustainable Transparency at Radicant, shares her 20-year journey in sustainable finance, emphasizing the importance of transparency.Radicant's Methodology: Radicant, a Swiss digital banking startup, integrates sustainability into banking and investments. The app offers transparency, aligning investments with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).Sustainable Finance Explained: Eve breaks down sustainable finance into banking and investment aspects, highlighting the impact on society and the environment. The SDGs serve as Radicant's investment framework.Challenges and Surprises: Eve discusses challenges in evaluating companies for sustainability and shares surprises, such as finding luxury brands in the gender equality portfolio.Radicant's Approach: Radicant's digital banking offers quick account setup with a focus on avoiding fossil fuel financing. Investments start with a low threshold, and clients have a say in their preferences, providing a unique level of transparency.Carbon Footprint Tracker: Radicant includes a carbon footprint tracker in its app, raising awareness about individual carbon footprints with every transaction.Women in Finance: Eve touches on the underbanking of women, stressing the need for inclusivity and technology-driven solutions in the financial sector.About Fintech Files:Are you ready to unravel the most innovative trends disrupting the world of Fintech today? Join us on Fintech Files from BCG Platinion, where we delve deep into the dynamic landscape of Fintech, NeoBanks, and the Digital Banking world, sparking insightful conversations with industry disruptors from around the globe. So, what are the most groundbreaking trends shaping the future of Fintech, and how will they impact your financial world? Fintech Files takes an accessible approach to technology. We break down complex topics and have our guests explain them in a relatable "explain it to your grandma" style. In every episode, we focus on real-world stories of how financial technology operates, demystifying complex concepts and making them relatable for both Fintech enthusiasts and professionals.The Hosts of Fintech Files:Hosted by Nora Hocke, a manager at BCG Platinion in Munich, and Annika Melchert, a principal currently based in the Middle East, our hosts specialize in IT strategy, modern tech architecture, and state-of-the-art banking. In their work, they've collaborated with some of today's most innovative Fintechs to transform their organizations; including supporting generative AI use cases. With their unique blend of tech expertise and passion, they bring you stories that capture the essence of the evolving Fintech landscape.  This season, we're thrilled to introduce Bianca Lopes. Originally from Brazil and currently based in Denmark, Bianca is an entrepreneur and economist with a remarkable background in digital identity and biometrics. Throughout her career, she has supported over 40 financial institutions and 8 governments, reshaping their approach to technology, reimagining identity, and driving innovation agendas.We Want to Hear from You!Reach out to us at fintech-podcast@bcgplatinion.com with your questions, guest suggestions, or topics you'd like us to explore. Or just drop in to say hi! Visit our website at https://www.bcgplatinion.com/insights/fintech-files-insights-on-tech-by-bcg-platinion and follow us on social media for updates and additional content.The digital future is now. 

Welcome back to Fintech Files from BCG Platinion! In this special episode, "Meet the Hosts," we'll bring you up to speed on our latest endeavors since the last episode and introduce the newest member of our hosting team. Join us for a sneak peek into the exciting topics we're eager to explore this upcoming season.Host Introductions:Nora Hocke: Manager at BCG Platinion, based in Munich, and a passionate diver. Nora specializes in IT strategy, data, AI, and navigating the fintech ecosystem.Annika Melchert: Principal at BCG Platinion, originally from Germany and currently based in the Middle East. Annika, also a passionate diver, is an expert in banking technology builds, integration strategies, and digital transformations for fintechs and incumbent banks.Bianca Lopes: Entrepreneur and economist, originally from Brazil and currently residing in Denmark. Bianca's extensive experience includes reshaping technology, identity, and innovation for financial institutions and governments.Discussion Highlights:Generative AI: Nora dives into recent projects involving generative AI and reflects on the industry impact, exploring technologies like ChatGPT.Project Experiences: The hosts share insights from recent projects, including driving IT strategy, core banking system replacements, and navigating identity, biometrics, and tokenization.Trends in FinTech: The hosts discuss exciting trends, from mobile payments and investments to neobanking, highlighting the growth of FinTech in the Middle East.Looking Ahead:The hosts express their excitement for the upcoming season, promising deep dives into topics like tokenization, neobanking, sustainable finance, and cloud transformation. Stay tuned for live episodes and engagements at financial industry conferences. This season, we'll take a more global approach, exploring fintechs around the world.We Want to Hear from You!Reach out to us at fintech-podcast@bcgplatinion.com with your questions, guest suggestions, or topics you'd like us to explore. Or just drop in to say hi! Visit our website at https://www.bcgplatinion.com/insights/fintech-files-insights-on-tech-by-bcg-platinion and follow us on social media for updates and additional content.Thank you for joining us for this Meet the Hosts episode of Fintech Files. Get ready for an insightful and engaging season as we explore the latest trends and innovations shaping the future of fintech, neobanks, and the digital banking world.The digital future is now. 

Are you ready to unravel the most innovative trends disrupting the world of Fintech today? Join us on Fintech Files from BCG Platinion, where we delve deep into the dynamic landscape of Fintech, NeoBanks, and the Digital Banking world, sparking insightful conversations with industry disruptors from around the globe.Hosted by Nora Hocke, a manager at BCG Platinion in Munich, and Annika Melchert, a principal currently based in the Middle East, our hosts specialize in IT strategy, modern tech architecture, and state-of-the-art banking. In their work, they've collaborated with some of today's most innovative Fintechs to transform their organizations; including supporting generative AI use cases. With their unique blend of tech expertise and passion, they bring you stories that capture the essence of the evolving Fintech landscape.This season, we're thrilled to introduce Bianca Lopes. Originally from Brazil and currently based in Denmark, Bianca is an entrepreneur and economist with a remarkable background in digital identity and biometrics. Throughout her career, she has supported over 40 financial institutions and 8 governments, reshaping their approach to technology, reimagining identity, and driving innovation agendas.So, what are the most groundbreaking trends shaping the future of Fintech, and how will they impact your financial world?  This season we want to explore questions such as how tokenization will transform business, the role of neobanks in reshaping financial services, and the impact of sustainable and regenerative finance on the industry. Get ready to deep dive into generative AI, digital identity, biometrics, wealth management, mobile payments, investment, and cloud transformation as we navigate these exciting topics this season.Fintech Files takes an accessible approach to technology. We break down complex topics and have our guests explain them in a relatable "explain it to your grandma" style. In every episode, we focus on real-world stories of how financial technology operates, demystifying complex concepts and making them relatable for both Fintech enthusiasts and professionals.Join us on this journey into the ever-evolving world of Fintech, as we keep a close watch on the cryptocurrency landscape, tackle cybersecurity challenges, delve into data analytics, explore artificial intelligence, and peek into the future of digital banking. Your voice matters, and we invite you to share your thoughts and dream guests with us at fintech-podcast@bcgplatinion.com. Your feedback shapes our content, ensuring it remains relevant, engaging, and informative.Fintech Files is here to guide you through the world of financial technology. For more information and to stay updated, visit our website at https://www.bcgplatinion.com/insights/fintech-files-insights-on-tech-by-bcg-platinion.Join us every two weeks on Fintech Files from BCG Platinion. The digital future is now.

In this episode, the hosts Annika and Nora dive deep into the world of data with Antonio Martinez, Industry Solution Architect at Snowflake, the world's leading cloud-based data platform. We explore how data has become the lifeblood of the finance industry enabled by Snowflake's cutting-edge technology and advanced data analytics possibilities. Antonio shares how their powerful platform is transforming the way banks and fintechs manage, process and utilize data. Whether you're a bank looking to streamline your data processing, or a fintech striving to gain a competitive edge, this episode is a must-listen. Join us as we uncover the secrets of Snowflake's game-changing technology and learn how it's revolutionizing the world of finance.

In celebration of International Women's Day, Nora and Annika are joined by two BCG colleagues and renowned leaders in the financial institution's space, Claudia Rasper (Partner) and Jan Koserski (Partner & Managing Director). Together, they co-authored BCG’s "Gender Equality in the European Banking Industry" report, which explores the current state of gender equality in leadership within Europe’s top 50 banks and track their year-on-year development. Listen in to hear them discuss what needs to be done to break down barriers, advance gender parity in the banking sector, and create an equitable workplace.