The Irish Tech News Podcast

In this episode of One Vision — FinTech Fuse Podcast, we dive into the world of digital banking and fintech innovations in Southeast Asia. Joining us is David Jimenez Maireles, a renowned fintech expert and fractional C-suite leader. David shares his journey from building a digital bank in Vietnam to understanding the massive opportunities in a region with the unbanked and underbanked population. We discuss the unique and fun UX/UI features his team implemented, and explore the significant differences between digital banking ecosystems in Asia and the West. We also touch upon the role of traditional banks, the rise of embedded finance, and the exciting future of financial services in a region poised for exponential growth. Don't miss this insightful conversation packed with real-world examples and visionary perspectives. Tune in to understand why Southeast Asia is a hotbed for fintech innovation. 🎙️

The World Wide Web has gone through various iterations. Starting with Web 1.0, moving onto Web 2.0 and now Web 3.0. Each version of the world wide web evolved adopting the latest tech available, with Web 3.0 adopting tech such as AI and Blockchain. One person who knows all about Web 3.0 also known as Web3 is Pete Townsend the Managing Director of Techstars Web3 Accelerator. Ronan recently caught up with Pete Townsend before the upcoming March 10th event that aims to kick off the Techstars Web3 Class of 2025.Pete talks about his background, Blockchain, Techstars, Web3, the upcoming March 10th event and more.More about the Techstars Web3 Accelerator:This accelerator works with entrepreneurs building in web3 and enabling the next wave of growth in the decentralised internet and in tokenised economies. Investing in and accelerating founders enabling the onboarding and engagement of the first one billion users of web3.

In the shadows of "heroic CEO" narratives and hustle culture mythology, what truly drives lasting innovation in fintech? While we often celebrate the dramatic stories of founders sleeping in offices and pulling rabbits out of hats, the quiet architects of lasting change tell a different story.The most successful innovators share an unexpected trait: they embrace deliberate patience over heroic sprints. They take time to whiteboard their company's future when conventional wisdom screams for immediate action. They invest in careful hiring when investors demand rapid scaling. Perhaps, resilience isn't about unwavering conviction, but about remaining teachable and responsive to feedback. As we reimagine the future of financial services, perhaps it's time to celebrate not just the visionaries, but the quiet builders - those who understand that sustainable innovation requires both resilience and restraint, both passion and patience.Don’t miss our latest One Vision — FinTech Fuse podcast episode with Leda Glyptis, and her new book, “Beyond Resilience”.

Bolt is a customer conversion technology offering a one-click checkout to its network of more than 80 million shoppers .When their CEO Justin Grooms was recently in Dublin I caught up with him.Justin talks about what Bolt does, the consumers perspective, the seamless experience with Bolt, payment innovation, Bolts European expansion and more. More about Bolt:Bolt has transformed the checkout experience, providing its hundreds of merchant partners, including luxury brand LuisaViaRoma, with a passwordless checkout technology that embeds seamlessly into the retailer’s technology to maintain brand identity. Bolt’s technology, combined with its extensive shopper network, allows retailers to instantly recognise shoppers, increase conversion, and drive revenue. 

In this episode of One Vision — the FintechFuse, we chat with Sanjib Kalita, Chairman at Fintech Meetup, CEO & Founder at Guppy. Sanjib shares tales from his early career as a graphics chip designer at Intel to becoming a significant voice in Fintech. Our conversation touches on the challenges and unexpected turns in tech and financial services, the importance of human connections at global events, and the five key themes for Fintech Meetup 2025.Tune in to hear Sanjib’s unique perspective and join us in navigating this dynamic industry.Hot Take: ”Being able to have that level playing field is really important; and there's an appreciation that everyone is, in fact, a human.”#FinTech #FinancialServices #BankingIndustry 

AI is everywhere at the moment and one person who knows how AI is shaping the future of business is the entrepreneur Aaron Gibson. Ronan spoke to Aaron about his background, AI, data security and moreMore about Aaron:Aaron Gibson is a seasoned entrepreneur who dropped out of school at 16 to start his own tech company that turned learning into a game. He then went on to sell this company and this is what kick started his entrepreneurial journey. He is now the CEO of Hurree, a company revolutionising how businesses leverage AI-driven data ecosystems. 

In this episode of One Vision — The FinTech Fuse, Theo and Barb welcomeTracy Lagasse, VP Sales and Customer Engagement at Dye & Durham Corporation, to discuss the evolving landscape of traditional banks and fintechs. Tracy delves into the competitive advantages of traditional banks, the challenges they face in modernizing infrastructure, and the ways they can adapt through partnerships and collaborations. The conversation also explores the impacts of AI, the changing role of big banks, and the future of financial institutions in North America. Where is the banking industry heading and what it means for consumers and businesses? Listen now to gain insights into the role of trust, innovation, and collaboration in reshaping financial services. #AI #BankingIndustry #FinTech #OneVision

The recent Azul State of Java 2025 survey offers a timely window into the use of Java and why it is still so popular. To find out more about the survey and its findings Ronan spoke to Simon Ritter, Deputy. CTO, Azul.Simon talks about what Azul does, the benefits of Java, the Azul State of Java Report, security and more.More about Simon Ritter:Simon Ritter is the Deputy CTO of Azul. Simon joined Sun Microsystems in 1996 and spent time working in both Java development and consultancy. He has been presenting Java technologies to developers since 1999, focusing on the core Java platform as well as client and embedded applications.At Azul, he continues to help people understand Java and Azul’s JVM products. Simon is a Java Champion and two-time recipient of the JavaOne Rockstar award. In addition, he represents Azul on the JCP Executive Committee, the OpenJDK Vulnerability Group, and the JSR Expert Group since Java SE 9.

Join Theo and award winning journalist and fintech expert Liz Lumley in this new episode of One Vision — FinTech Fuse, as they delve into the transformative journey of fintech and banking post-2008 financial crisis. They discuss industry misconceptions, the future of banking, the role of regulation, the global perspective on payment systems, and the dynamics between U.S. and European markets. As Liz said, “Reality is not about winners and losers. It’s about bringing traditional players and new players together …” This episode is a must-watch for anyone keen on understanding the nuanced realities of the financial services industry. As an added bonus, you might even hear Liz sing! 

Emma Meehan, is the founder of Galway-based tech startup Precision Sports Technology, a winner of the KPMG Global Tech Innovator competition in Ireland. Emma competed for the top spot at the recent global GTI contest which took place in Lisbon last November. I spoke to Emma after she came back from Lisbon. Emma talks about her background, what Precision Sports Technology does, Enterprise Ireland,, The KPMG Global Tech Innovator competition, Precision Sports Technology plans for the future and more. More about Precision Sports Technology: Precision Sports Technology is a tech start-up founded in 2021 by Emma who had been developing the technology for over four years. It involves deploying artificial intelligence technology and analysis to enhance sports training accuracy through a cutting-edge software platform which uses machine learning, AI and LiDAR to enhance athletic performance, support rehabilitation, and reduce the risk of injury through advanced exercise analysis. Emma herself is also a competitive weightlifter and personal trainer.