The Irish Tech News Podcast

Paul Rice is the founder and former CEO of Fair Trade USA and his new book Every Purchase Matters was published last month. With decades of experience at the intersection of business, supply chains, grassroots farmer leaders, and consumer trends, Paul knows how ethical sourcing transforms industries and why it’s becoming a strategic advantage for brands navigating today’s unpredictable economy. Ronan recently spoke to Paul about his background, how fair trade started, his book, technology, the future of Fair Trade and more.More about Paul Rice:As the architect behind one of the most successful socially conscious initiatives, Paul turned the concept of ethical sourcing from a few Nicaraguan coffee co-ops into a movement embraced by 1,700 major brands and retailers. Today, Fair Trade products are a staple in U.S. supermarkets—proving that values-driven consumerism is not only thriving but reshaping the way companies do business. Paul’s new book Every Purchase Matters offers a rich and persuasive case for conscious capitalism including the change it has brought and the potential it still has to create a more just, equitable, and sustainable world.

Carter Razink is a product and technology leader with 8+ years in Web2 and Web3, blending deep technical expertise with entrepreneurial success. As a former co-founder of DropChain and current product lead at Spree, he has driven innovations in tokenomics, protocol design, and blockchain engineering.A National Science Foundation research graduate turned serial entrepreneur, Carter combines vision and proven expertise to shape the future of blockchain with Spree Finance. Simon chats with Carter to learn more about this new and exciting blockchain technology that Spree Finance is aiming to make a big splash in the travel and experience sectors.About Spree FinanceSpree is a next-generation commerce and rewards platform that enables humans and AI agents to seamlessly spend crypto on everyday goods, services, and exclusive experiences starting with travel and experiential verticals. Spree combines payments, loyalty, and financing into one integrated Web2 and Web3 solution. With access to over 2M Web2 merchants and a growing network of curated experiences, Spree makes commerce easy while unlocking savings, rewards, and exclusive "money-can't-buy" opportunities. 

In this episode of One Vision — The FinTech Fuse, we sit down with Sandeep Sood, CEO of Kunai, and Sumant Shringari, CEO and co-founder of Pontus Labs, to talk about the hot topic du jour: AI in banking operations. Discover the fascinating origin story of Pontus and their approach to enabling automation in corporate processes. Tune in to explore how they're transforming enterprise productivity and delivering real value beyond the buzz. “There is no doubt that unbelievable amounts of productivity are going to be unleashed, but I think the industry is currently caught up in looking for the shiniest tool. Can this thing do this task 30 seconds faster? Can it handle 1 million tokens? And we're approaching the problem from the exact opposite side of the spectrum, which is, can we reduce manual work in a meaningful way?” You can follow Sumant on LinkedIn or visit the Pontus Labs website to learn more about their projects and their vision for the future of finance.**This is a glimpse into how technology, combined with industry expertise, is poised to transform our everyday financial experiences. Stay tuned for more episodes from "One Vision — the FinTech Fuse," where we keep you in the loop of cutting-edge industry insights and transformations.#FinTech #AI #BankingOnAI #Automation #FinancialServices #BankingIndustry 

Did you know that the term 'Sustainability Examples' is searched 170,000 times globally per month (circa 5,000 in Ireland per month). Did you also know that 99.8% of Irish businesses are SMEs. Individually, they have small carbon footprints, but collectively, they account for 38% of Ireland's CO2 emissions (63% in Europe). While many SMEs are taking action, they struggle to gain awareness, recognition and measurable commercial advantages for taking action. This is why Andrew Sheehan built a sustainability engagement platform (sustainabilityexamples.com) to change that. Ronan recently spoke to Andrew about his background, what sustainabilityexamples.com does, three ways of changing behaviour and more .More about sustainabilityexamples.com:There are two types of users on the platform: Champions and Doers. The platform helps Irish SMEs driving climate action (doers) gain more visibility, greater recognition and a faster ROI for taking action by providing a platform where they can launch, share, and compete for prominence on the homepage leaderboard through community engagement with climate-engaged supporters (champions). By providing impact leaders with measurable recognition and data-backed commercial advantages for launching examples of their initiatives and solutions on the platform, the platform’s purpose is to encourage more SMEs to also start taking action. 

In our latest episode of One Vision podcast, Neil Milliken, VP - Global Head of Accessibility at Atos, shares why embracing disability inclusion is crucial for both the individual and society. Tune in to understand how technology is reshaping interactions and the potential risks of AI in decision-making and perpetuating societal exclusions. Ultimately, accessibility is everyone's responsibility. Don’t forget to look for the builders.#InclusionMatters #AI #Disability #Innovation #Technology

Jassem “J” Osseiran is an experienced entrepreneur and operational investor based in London. With a deep understanding of global finance gained through his Economics degree at the University of San Francisco, Jay began his career as a tech venture builder with Rocket Internet in New York. He then shifted his focus to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), managing media portfolios and founding startups tailored to the region.A sought-after advisor for high-growth brands and cutting-edge technology platforms, Jay has orchestrated multiple successful exits, including a notable IPO on the London Stock Exchange. In 2020, he founded 611 Capital Investments, concentrating on investments, incubation, and market scalability across the EU, the Middle East, and Asia.Currently, Jay is the Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of PlaysOut Technologies, where he is spearheading the commercial framework for seamlessly integrating mini-games within super apps. This initiative represents a significant shift in the digital ecosystem, leveraging evolving Web3 technologies to unlock immense potential for mini-games in the digital space.Ronan recently caught up with Jay and he spoke about his background, what PlaysOuts do, blockchain, AI agents, one click publishing and more.More about Playsout:PlaysOut is a globally oriented open platform for mini-programs that fully aligns with the Weixin Mini-Program framework. It provides SDK interfaces for super apps, offering a rich array of mini-program and mini-game content. Additionally, PlaysOut streamlines the integration process for developers, providing convenient tools and seamless access to mini-program and mini-game products. Leveraging its robust technical capabilities and deep collaborations with game developers, PlaysOut aims to connect with global traffic partners, gradually expanding its reach across international markets. Its goal is to become the largest open platform for mini-programs and mini-games worldwide.

What happens in fintech conferences … doesn’t need to stay within the conference halls. Curious to hear what we talk about at fintech dinners? Join Julie Muhn, Millicent Tracey, Pam Kaur, Tammy Bangs, and Theodora Lau on this week’s One Vision — FinTech Fuse for a dynamic discussion on the current state of FinTech. From the sudden halt of Klarna's IPO (IP No!) and the impact of market volatility, to the implications of deregulation and the rise of stablecoins, there is (unfortunately) no lack of topics at the dinner table. How will the current economic environment influence consumer behavior? How can small businesses navigate the uncertainties?. Join us as we explore the complexities and opportunities of today's 24-Hour news cycle.

Technology at the moment is being used in lots of different ways. Helpster Charity US Inc, for example, is using technology, leveraging it to ease healthcare access for vulnerable populations across Africa and Asia.  I recently spoke to Nikita Kuzmin, the founder of Helpster about this and more.Nikita talks about his background what Helpster does, how they are saving children’s lives, how Helpster uses technologies and more.More about Helpster Charity US Inc:Helpster is saving lives by bridging the gap between indigent children in need of medicare and individuals willing to fund their treatment via an innovative app and a web platform. Through its tech solutions introduced in 2023, it has saved over 700 underprivileged children in Africa and Asia via donations on the app and web platform, with several others awaiting funding. 

In this episode of One Vision — FinTech Fuse! Theo is joined by industry veteran Nektarios Liolios, a pioneering force in the field of fintech. Nektarios shares his journey from Innotribe and Startupbootcamp, to Rainmaker and his work with founders. He delves into the intrinsic challenges founders face, the often-overlooked mental health aspects, and the high pressure environment within the fintech and startup ecosystem. From corporate innovation to entrepreneurship, this insightful conversation lays bare the realities and resilience needed to thrive in this demanding industry. Essential listening for anyone interested in the inside workings of fintech, startup culture, and the human aspects often left in the shadows.Hot take: Do we care about entrepreneurs as individuals?

Debbie Soon is a Singaporean investor, entrepreneur, content creator, art collector, and advocate for inclusivity in the global onchain community. With over a decade of experience spanning finance, consumer tech, retail, media, and wellness, Debbie aims to shape the future of consumer businesses from the U.S. to her home country of Singapore. Debbie recently published her new book Digital Mavericks: A Guide to Web3, NFT’s, and Becoming the Main Character of the Next Internet Revolution. Ronan recently caught up with Debbie.Debbie talks about her background, what HUG does, crypto, blockchain technologies, her new book, and more.More about Debbie Soon:Debbie has served as the co-founder and Co-CEO of HUG, launched in 2022 alongside Facebook Live creator Randi Zuckerberg. With 35,000+ users across 180+ countries, HUG is an inclusive social marketplace where next-generation creators can showcase and sell their work both onchain and offchain. During her time at HUG, Debbie secured partnerships with major brands including the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers, DIOR, and the United Nations. She recently led HUG to a successful acquisition by .ART Domain Registry, the leading domain operator for the arts and creative industry.Passionate about bridging the gap between the arts and technology, Debbie is dedicated to using blockchain technology to create more inclusive and fair opportunities for creators. In 2023, she was recognised by NFT Now as one of 10 trailblazing Asian founders shaping the future of Web3. Debbie has also spoken at leading blockchain conferences including NFT NYC, NFC Summit, and the USC Blockchain Conference.