Fintech Chatter: Insights From Fintech Leaders

In episode 77 Dexter Cousins chats to Stephen McNulty, Chief Growth Officer of Haventec.Each month Dexter showcases one of Australia's up-and-coming innovators. To kick off the series, we feature Haventec.At the core of the Haventec proposition is a remarkably simple idea, beautifully executed – protecting digital identities from harm, and keeping ‘data that matters’ safe – the key foundations for digital trust. Haventec has developed a suite of technologies that eliminate the need to centrally store sensitive credentials and data, providing the ultimate preparedness for when the enterprise is breached. About Stephen.Stephen has lived in Sydney for the last 15 years, moving here from London. His career has featured roles in Engineering (Ford Motor Company),  Technology (Accenture and Avanade), Products (Apple) and Security with his current company, Haventec. When you meet Stephen he will inevitably talk to you about four things - his family, his mountain bike, his love of music. And privacy…Find out more about Haventec Follow Stephen on LinkedInListen to Haventalk podcastSend us a textSubscribe Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/fintech-leaders-7092732051488980992/Connect on Linkedin: https://bit.ly/3DsCJBp

In episode 76 Dexter Cousins is joined by Chris Boas, Managing Director APAC of Q2  a software business that creates simple, smart, end-to-end banking and lending experiences.Chris chats about the role Q2 is playing in the Australian Fintech sector, where Q2's software (Cloud Lending) is used to power Fintech like Athena and Prospa.Chris also shares some of the work Q2 is doing around the world, including some 900 banks and credit unions in the US.And Chris shares his insights on the rapidly changing world of banking since the Covid-19 pandemic.Connect with Chris on LinkedInFind out more about Q2About Q2Cloud Lending Solutions empowers the global lending & leasing community to connect with their borrowers in a whole new way by fundamentally transforming the borrower's experience. Built on Salesforce, the world's #1 CRM, Cloud Lending Solutions is the industry's only end-to-end lending and leasing software specifically designed to digitize the entire lending process. Cloud Lending continues to expand globally across five continents and over twenty-three countries.Send us a textSubscribe Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/fintech-leaders-7092732051488980992/Connect on Linkedin: https://bit.ly/3DsCJBp

In Episode 75 Dexter Cousins is joined by Chris Skinner, author, commentator and (in his own words) "troublemaker"Chris Skinner is known as one of the most influential people in technology, and as an independent commentator on fintech through his blog, the Finanser.com. His latest book (sixteenth!) is called Doing Digital, and shares the lessons of doing digital transformation learned through interviews with BBVA, China Merchants Bank, DBS, ING and JPMorgan Chase. He chairs the Financial Services Club and Nordic Future Innovation, is a non-executive director of 11:FS and on the advisory boards of various firms including Mode, Moven and Meniga. Mr. Skinner has been an advisor to the United Nations, the White House, the World Bank and the World Economic Forum, and is a visiting lecturer with Cambridge University as well as a TEDx speaker. In recent years, he has been voted one of the UK’s foremost fintech observers by The Telegraph and one of the most influential people in financial technology by the Wall Street Journal’s Financial News and Thomson Reuters. He is also co-founder with renowned artist Basia Hamilton of The Portrait Foundation, http://portraitfoundation.com/, a non-profit platform to encourage children and the arts.Find out more about The Finanser Follow Chris on LinkedinSend us a textSubscribe Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/fintech-leaders-7092732051488980992/Connect on Linkedin: https://bit.ly/3DsCJBp

Dexter is joined by Mark Fordree from Ignition Advice for episode 74 of the Fintech Chatter podcast. Founded in Sydney in 2014 by Mark and Mike Giles, Ignition Advice is a global leader in digital advice technology, with unique capabilities to deliver advice across investment, retirement and insurance.  Ignition offers a full end-to-end platform for enterprise, including onboarding, consumer engagement, compliant advice, sales completion, ongoing account management and client servicing. Ignition entered the European market in 2017, building a skilled team in Dublin. In February 2021, Ignition Advice continues to grow with a move into the UK market establishing new teams in London and Edinburgh. Following a successful Series B fundraising event with Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, Ignition is well funded to support business development and product research, accelerating their global growth.Find out more about Ignition Advice Follow Mark on LinkedinSend us a textSubscribe Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/fintech-leaders-7092732051488980992/Connect on Linkedin: https://bit.ly/3DsCJBp

In episode #73 Dexter chats to Domm Holland, the Co-Founder and CEO of Fast, the world’s fastest online login and checkout platform. Founded in Australia and currently headquartered in San Francisco, Fast is a privately held company founded by Domm and Allison Barr Allen and funded by Stripe, Addition, Index Ventures, Susa Ventures and Sugar Capital.Widely known as the ’World’s Fastest CEO,” Domm is an entrepreneur and self-taught engineer who has founded and scaled companies in the logistics, transportation and technology sectors.Fast's mission is to make buying online faster, safer and easier for everyone. Its Fast Login and Fast Checkout products enable a one-click sign-in and purchasing experience that makes it easier for people to buy and merchants to sell. The company's products work on any browser, device or platform for consistent, stress-free purchasing. Fast is entirely consumer-focused and invests heavily in its users'  privacy and data security, with a Zero Fraud Guarantee on chargebacks for sellers. Domm previously founded and served as CEO of Tow, an on-demand vehicle towing platform in Australia that processed more than $50M in transactions. During his tenure there, Domm was awarded the top spot on the Deloitte Tech Fast 50 and recognized as the Brisbane Young Entrepreneur of the Year.‍Domm has worked across Australia and the U.S., working in national and multinational telecommunications and technology companies, including Dell, with deep cross-function experience. His background provides him with a unique perspective that spans R&D, sales and operations, all of which have contributed to his vision for Fast.Find out more about Fast Follow Domm on LinkedinSend us a textSubscribe Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/fintech-leaders-7092732051488980992/Connect on Linkedin: https://bit.ly/3DsCJBp

Dexter Cousins is joined by the remarkable Lizzie Chapman CEO & Co-Founder of ZestMoney - India’s first and largest AI-Driven, digital financing platform.Lizzie Chapman is a leading figure in the fintech landscape of India. She has been instrumental in driving the adoption of digital finance and financial inclusion initiatives in the country. Lizzie's vision is to make life affordable to more than 300 million households that are currently ignored by traditional providers.India is on a path to becoming the most significant market for Fintech, globally. With a population of 1.4bn, less than 40% smartphone penetration, and only 25 million people with a credit card, India is primed for BNPL.About Zest MoneyZestMoney has built a platform that can meaningfully improve the lives of more than 300 million households who currently have no access to credit cards or other formal financing options because of insufficient credit history.Lizzie's BackgroundLizzie started her career as an Investment Manager with the Wellcome Trust, where she invested in financial services companies in India. She then worked with Goldman Sachs in London before moving to India in 2011 to set-up and spearhead the India operations for digital lender Wonga, one of the biggest fintech companies in the world at that point.Lizzie serves on the boards of IndiaMart (India’s Alibaba) and IndiaQuotient (early-stage investment fund). She is a founding member and serves on the Executive Committee of the Digital Lending Association of India. She was honoured with the ‘Female Fintech Leader’ award in 2017 and in 2019 was as recognised among “Linkedin Top Voices 2019: Finance & Economy” globally.Send us a textSubscribe Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/fintech-leaders-7092732051488980992/Connect on Linkedin: https://bit.ly/3DsCJBp

In episode #71 Dexter Cousins chats to Nathan and Michael as they celebrate the 2nd birthday of Athena's official launch. Athena is on a mission to save Australians a whole lot of money and help pay off their home loan faster. Founded in June 2017 to revolutionise the home loan industry and make it better in every way, Athena built an innovative digital home loan platform to deliver savings to borrowers, backed by local home loan experts.Athena is backed by Australia’s leading investors, including AirTree Ventures, AustralianSuper, Hostplus, Macquarie Bank and Square Peg. Athena has been the proud recipient for Finnies Emerging Fintech Organisation of the Year Award for 2 years in a row – 2019 and 2020.Nathan WalshCo-founder & CEO, Athena Home Loans, AustraliaNathan Walsh, Athena’s Co-founder and CEO, is a fintech entrepreneur with over 20 years’ expertise in financial services, top-tier consulting and legal practice. Nathan is a former NAB executive who started his career with BCG before taking senior roles at Citi and NAB in wealth management. At NAB, Nathan founded Nabtrade and built it from an idea into a $40 billion platform over 7 years, winning multiple innovation awards along the way.Follow Nathan on LinkedinMichael StarkeyCo-founder & COO, Athena Home Loans, AustraliaMichael Starkey, Athena’s Co-founder and COO, has an entrepreneurial background, having been the co-founder of iSelect in AU. He spent 7 years at NAB in personal banking, was a board member of the Australian Payments Council and ASX listed Homelands Ltd and former director of the New Payments Platform (Australia’s new real-time payments network). Follow Michael on LinkedinFind out more about Athena hereSend us a textSubscribe Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/fintech-leaders-7092732051488980992/Connect on Linkedin: https://bit.ly/3DsCJBp

In episode #70  Dexter Cousins is joined by 86 400’s founding CEO, Robert Bell. They chat about the proposed acquisition by NAB.86 400 is Australia's first smart bank. Launched in September 2019 with an unrestricted banking license, the smart phone only bank has been the trail blazer for Aussie neobanks launching home loans, energy switching, joint accounts, budgeting tools with new feature releases on an almost weekly basis.With an ecosystem approach 86 400 partners with many Aussie Fintech including Zip, Uno, Data Action. And with the proposed sale to NAB, Tier One People believe this is a landmark day for Australian Fintech innovation.About Robert Bell:Rob is committed to helping Australians take control of their finances is the driving force behind the 100+ strong team at 86 400. Rob has extensive leadership experience in financial services across Australia and the Asia Pacific region. Prior to 86 400 he held Executive and CEO roles at Cuscal, Australian Unity Bank and ANZ including CEO positions at both ANZ Japan and ANZ Fiji.Send us a textSubscribe Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/fintech-leaders-7092732051488980992/Connect on Linkedin: https://bit.ly/3DsCJBp

Dexter Cousins is joined by Jason Pellegrino, CEO of Domain Group on the FinTech Australia Podcast.You might be asking why a Real Estate listings platform is featuring on a Fintech podcast? Tune in and find out why in this super interesting show as Jason shares the Domain Group strategy and their move into Fintech!Jason spent 10 years with Google as Managing Director of Australia and New Zealand. As a member of the Asia-Pacific Regional Leadership Team, Jason held leadership positions across Sales, Operations and Strategy.He shares his views on the role Big Tech is playing in the future of payments and financial services.About Jason:Prior to Google, Jason worked in several roles over 15 years spanning Corporate Strategy, Mergers and Acquisitions and Finance at Dakota Capital Partners, LEK Consulting, PepsiCo International and KPMG.Jason holds a Bachelor's Degree in Commerce and an MBA (Distinction) from The London Business School.Jason is a member of the Innovation Taskforce of the Business Council of Australia, a member of ASIC's External Advisory Panel and a Board member of Plan International.Send us a textSubscribe Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/fintech-leaders-7092732051488980992/Connect on Linkedin: https://bit.ly/3DsCJBp

Dexter Cousins is joined by Martin McCann CEO and Co-Founder of Trade Ledger, the world’s first open digital banking platform that gives banks the ability to assess business lending risk in real-time. Tune in as Dexter and Martin discuss the Fintech landscape and how Trade Ledger has evolved since launching four years ago.As an avid technologist, business leader, investor, academic researcher, and public speaker Martin is passionate about the digitisation of business.Prior to founding Trade Ledger, he accrued 20 years’ experience creating, growing, mentoring, and investing in innovative global technology companies worldwide.He has been CEO of Global Innovation Ventures, GM of SAP's Cloud Solutions Division overseeing a period of extraordinary growth, and CEO and Research Director of software consultancy, Inn-vision.Follow Martin on LinkedinFind out more about Trade LedgerListen to more episodes of the Fintech Australia PodcastSend us a textSubscribe Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/fintech-leaders-7092732051488980992/Connect on Linkedin: https://bit.ly/3DsCJBp