The Irish Tech News Podcast

Small businesses account for 99.9% of all U.S. firms. They employ almost half of America's private sector workforce and represent 43.5% of gross domestic product. By almost any measure, small businesses are a crucial part of our economy and workforce. Yet, they are hugely underserved by the financial services industry. In this episode of One Vision, Theo, Stephanie, and Amelia chat with Lori Shao, CEO of Finli, a certified B Corp digital back office platform for small businesses, on her journey to entrepreneurship, the challenges that SMBs face, and the role that community banks can play. “I know in my heart whom to build it for,” she told us. Tune in and get ready to be inspired. 

One of the biggest threats that businesses face is cybercrime but is enough being done to lessen cybercrime threats. One person who knows a lot about this is Mike Harris, Partner in Forensics and Cyber at Grant Thornton. Ronan talks to  Mike about his background, underinvestment in cybersecurity, AI and more. More about Mike Harris: Mike joined Grant Thornton as a Partner in 2013. Prior to that, Mike worked for 11 years in the European financial services and Cyber security consulting practices of two Big 4 firms. He advises clients in Ireland and internationally on a range of Cyber Security, Privacy, Fraud and Risk issues. During this time, he acted in Cybersecurity leadership roles for both UK and Ireland based financial institutions. In addition, he has held technology roles in an Irish mobile telecommunications operator and a global management consultancy based in Germany. He currently leads a team providing a range of Cyber security and Privacy services to clients. Mike is also a frequent media commentator on Cyber matters including NewsTalk, RTE News at 1. 6-1 News, Irish Times, and others.

Faced with persistent economic uncertainties and stagnant wage growth, will fintechs give us hope by bringing us the right product at the right time and empowering customers with more focus on financial well-being and education? In this episode of One Vision — FinTech Fuse! Theo and Stephanie chat with Sebastian Builes, Co-Founder and CEO of Arcum, about his journey from payments novice to fintech founder, and his bullishness on Atlanta as a fintech hotbed. A year in the startup world is like a decade in the real world, and being a founder can be a lonely endeavor. Sebastian offers the following advice: Relationships and communities matter. Give back and pay forward.

An unconventional discussion on Digital Transformation, exchanging insights from various industries (from manufacturing to financial services), discussing KPIs (from business ones to personal ones), sustainability, and the mastery of challenges.  Mike Flache is an advisor and mentor, former entrepreneur and angel investor. Together with talented teams, he builds digital businesses worldwide. Onalytica’s analysts named him one of the top-10 global thought leaders in digital transformation. Mike helps high-tech innovators in Silicon Valley, Europe, and Asia grow and scale. Together with the Fundment team, he is currently building one of the next billion-dollar companies in financial technology. Mike is also a partner of Fortune 500 companies and technology vendors. He has worked with executives from companies such as the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, Google, Amazon, Huawei, and Mercedes-Benz. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeflache/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikeflache Personal website: https://www.mikeflache.com/ Dr. Efi Pylarinou is the No.1 Global Woman Influencer in Finance & the Data conversation by Refinitiv, a Top Thought Leader by Onalytica, and a Top Digital Futurist, Linkedin and Twitter Voice, by Engatica. A seasoned Wall Street professional & a recognized technology thought leader on innovation topics. Founder of Efi Pylarinou Advisory servicing Big Tech, Financial Services and Fintech clients. She strongly believes in building bridges between the old and the new economy. She shares her passion of content creation with her 190,000+ followers on Linkedin and 18,000+ on Twitter.  Join her on the social platforms ?https://linktr.ee/Efiglobal

DESCRIPTION Tracey Follows, the author and podcaster of The Future of You, explains how your digital identity will evolve. Custodial or self-sovereign? Centralized or Web3? Big Brother-style surveillance capitalism or liberty? What do we mean by digital identity when there is no government-issued credential?   More about Brett Brett King is a futurist, an Amazon bestselling author, an award-winning speaker, hosts a globally recognized radio show, is the Founder of the first mobile, neo-bank globally Moven, and in his spare time enjoys flying as an IFR pilot, scuba diving, motor racing, gaming and Sci-Fi. He advised the Obama administration on the Future of Banking, President Xi had his book on his bookshelf, and he has spoken on the future in 50 countries in just the last few years.

Data gives us superpower. From how much we spend and where we spend it, to the impact of our dollars on the planet, data tells a story. In an era where consumers are becoming more environmentally conscious, the role that financial institutions can and should play in helping us transition to net zero is more crucial than ever. In this episode of One Vision — FinTech Fuse! Theo chats with Emma Kisby, CEO, Cogo EMEA, on the power of data and collective impact. Banks can play an important role in educating customers about the environmental impact of their spending, offering insights and incentives to trigger positive behavioral change. With intention — and action, a fairer and more sustainable world is possible. Planet Earth is our home. We don't have a Plan B.

What is the Elephant in the Room in Banking that comes to mind following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), Signature Bank, First Republic Bank, and recently the Citizens Bank (a small state-chartered Iowa bank)? The problem that bankers and regulators wish someone would solve is the topic of the discussion with serial entrepreneur Michal Cieplinski (founder and CEO of Capstack). Capstack https://www.capstack.com/Michal Cieplinski   / michalcieplinski   is a Silicon Valley veteran with over 24 years of operating and legal experience in financial technology and services. Before founding CapStack, first integrated operating system for banks, he co-founded Pipe, a unicorn and one of the fastest-growing fintech startups. Prior to Pipe, Michal was Senior Vice President at Lending Club, the largest publicly traded fintech lender responsible for operational and legal matters. Prior to that, he co-founded Fundbox, a unicorn B2B fintech lender. He was also Managing Director and SeniorCounsel at The Bank of New York Mellon responsible for wealth management and investment management units. Michal has been recognized by GC Magazine/Legal500 on the GC Powerlist 2019 as one of the top general counsels in the United States in both the finance and technology sectors. He combines left-brain and right-brain thinking with an MFA in Photography, deep expertise in banking and capital markets, and as a graduate of the George Washington University Law School.

Are fintechs still eating bankers’ lunch? What roles will big techs play in consumer financial lives? For fintech founders pitching to community banks, what should they be mindful of? In this episode of One Vision — Fintech Fuse! Theo chats with Pam Kaur, Head of Bank Technology at BankTech Ventures, about her role in fostering connections and innovation in the banking and fintech sectors, and how she gets their portfolio companies ready to work with banks and take the partnership to the next level. The banking community is small and tight-knit. Relationships are an art. Being intentional in lifting others can go a long way in taking partnerships to the next level. A rising tide does lift all boats.

The World Wide Web has gone through three iterations that introduced us to the internet and then evolving over the years bringing along new innovations. The latest version Web 3.0, incorporates concepts such as decentralisation, blockchain technologies, token-based economics, spatial computing and the spatial web.  One startup that is taking full advantage of Web 3..0 and the spatial web is Spongelii and Ronan recently spoke to Al Jones Co-Founder and CEO Spongelii and Julius Yls Co-Founder and CCO Spongelii. Al and Julius talk about their backgrounds, what Spongelii does, working with Steve ‘SPAZ’ Williams and ,more. More about Spongelii: Spongelii delivers live immersive and engaging social Learning experiences powered on the Blockchain for educational and corporate entities. Their ecosystem offers a truly revolutionary approach to immersive education and corporate sector learning management. Their interactive spatial experiences require a spongelii Membership. The Talks are delivered by top industry experts, and provide all attendees with a unique digital token - POAPs. (verifiable proof of attendance).

As banking services grow increasingly digital, how can we best serve the needs of a diverse community and truly make a difference? In a world where everything seems to move at a breakneck pace, leaving behind those who don’t keep up, it is refreshing to witness empathy in action by a true leader who walks the talk and instills hope in others. In this episode of One Vision, Theo chats with Brian Lee, President/CEO at Landings Credit Union, on his journey to running the 70-year old credit union and earning a “Dementia Friendly Business” designation. Serve, and not be served. Much to learn from Brian, we all have.