Tech Talks

Chris Smith, a former career banker and the driving force behind Bloxx, discusses the challenging landscape of homeownership and the need for change. He highlights how traditional banks have made buying a home a financial “game of monopoly.” Bloxx offers a groundbreaking alternative by allowing buyers to purchase homes with just a 1% deposit and access equity through innovative Web3 solutions. The conversation uncovers how Bloxx connects buyers directly to institutional capital, significantly reducing costs and transforming the rental market into a pathway to ownership.

Michael Tefula, Principal and Head of Product at Ada Ventures, delves into inclusivity in venture capital, emphasizing that AI should only assist, not decide. He shares insights on utilizing proprietary tools like investment memo software and Deck Genius to discover overlooked talent and enhance pitch presentations. Michael explains the balance of technical skills in assessing startups while maintaining a human touch in investment decisions. With a focus on economic empowerment, he gives practical advice for founders seeking pre-seed funding.

Louise Thomas, CEO of Aeroware Labs specializing in AI-driven air quality solutions, shares insights from her successful fundraising round. Katerina Chantzi, a student and facilitator, discusses her strategic networking at the conference. Janine Luk, a senior software engineer, highlights the importance of creating community connections. Together, they address concerns about algorithms potentially suppressing diverse voices and emphasize the need for a human-centered approach in technology.

Join Raya Mardani, a 15-year-old founder from Toronto developing a smart period-pain belt, and Aarav Sharma, a 16-year-old innovator creating a thought-controlled prosthetic arm. They share their inspirations and experiences presenting at the Web Summit, emphasizing the importance of youth voices in tech. Discover how they tackle age bias in pitches and their views on mentorship. Both highlight the importance of passion-driven projects and the growing focus on sustainability in startups, proving that Gen Z is ready to lead the change!

Nancy Beaton, President of Uphold, shares her insights on the urgent need for traditional finance to adapt to the digital landscape. She emphasizes how Gen Z’s expectations for instant, borderless financial services are reshaping the industry. With over 300 tokens available, Uphold’s API enables swift transitions to on-chain solutions for banks and fintechs. Nancy also discusses Bitcoin as a superior savings technology and stresses the importance of legacy firms acting fast to avoid being left behind in the crypto revolution.

Megan Caywood Cooper, a fintech pioneer with experience at Starling Bank and Barclays and a Forbes 30 Under 30 alum, discusses the exciting evolution of banking technology. She reveals how agentic AI is transforming the finance landscape by functioning as a 'CFO in your pocket.' The conversation dives into the cultural barriers legacy banks face, the varying levels of AI adoption across the US and Europe, and the future of personal AI financial agents. Megan also shares insights from recent industry events and light-hearted personal stories.

In this engaging discussion, Matt Renner, Chief Revenue Officer at Google Cloud, shares insights on the transformative role of AI in the cloud market, especially for financial services. He reveals why 90-95% of early generative AI projects failed due to unqualified teams and underestimating data engineering challenges. Renner highlights the shift in cloud partner criteria towards AI capabilities, emphasizing security and compliance concerns that banks face. Google Cloud's unique approach combines a first-party stack with openness, positioning it as a leading solutions provider.

David chats with three FinTech experts: Joseph Dormani, a partner focused on early-stage investments in legal tech and AI; Sonya Cléroux, who leads Interpolitan Money's North American expansion; and Richard Winston, who advises financial giants on tech strategies. They dive into AI governance and its importance in building trust for adoption. The discussion turns to the rise of tokenization and new payment methods while exploring the generational gap at fintech conferences and the need for fresh perspectives to drive innovation.

Richard Winston, Global Financial Services leader at Slalom, dives into the dynamic world of fintech and payments innovation. He explains why human validation is essential despite AI's capabilities, highlighting the challenges of AI hallucinations that could lead to payment failures. Richard discusses how Millennials and Gen Z are driving banks to enhance their digital experiences, emphasizing the demand for real-time access and convenience. The conversation also touches on the importance of compliance and the role of technology in reducing friction in payments.

Shahad Choudhury, founder of Open Bricks, shares his journey transforming from a blockchain property portal to a tenant lifecycle platform with over 225,000 users. He discusses the challenges blockchain faced, revealing how partnerships drove their rapid growth without traditional marketing. Shahad emphasizes focusing on product simplicity and serving customers, while contemplating the balance of luck and hard work in entrepreneurship. He also touches on the differences in PropTech energy between the UK and US, and the importance of keeping technology human-centered.