For a decade, the London Fintech Podcast has been providing an overview of the dominant influences and initiatives across FS. Mike Baliman, who launched the podcast in 2014, created a remarkable catalogue of over 250 high-quality episodes, which you can watch here.
The LFP, which was launched in July 2014, is the longest running and most blue-chip Fintech podcast in Europe, with gravitas and respect in both Fintech and incumbent Financial Services. Guests include Lord Turner the former head of the FSA, Sir Paul Tucker former Deputy Governor Bank of England, the Lord Mayor of London, the leading economist Professor John Kay as well as blue-chip FS incumbents and Fintechs around the globe.
The mission of the show is to educate and entertain, and it has had 800,000 downloads in 202 countries since its launch. More importantly, the aim has never been to produce content that targets audience size at all, rather to produce blue-chip reference material on the many topics within Fintech.
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In this episode of The London Fintech Podcast, Tony Clark sits down with Duncan Stevens, Founder of Gretel, to discuss the platform’s mission to reconnect individuals with lost financial assets.
Duncan shares how his entrepreneurial journey was shaped by his early life experiences and a strong desire to create purpose-driven solutions. He reflects on the challenges of launching Gretel during the COVID-19 pandemic and highlights the platform’s unique approach to tackling the issue of stranded financial assets in the UK.
The conversation explores the social and financial impact of Gretel, including its inclusive design and success in reuniting consumers with tens of millions of pounds. Duncan delves into the scalability of Gretel’s two-sided marketplace model and its focus on fostering trust between financial institutions and consumers. He also provides valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, emphasising the importance of purpose over profit and the need for accessible innovation.
Topics covered include:
• Duncan’s career journey and inspiration for founding Gretel
• The problem of stranded financial assets in the UK
• Gretel’s design principles: inclusivity, accessibility, and ease of use
• How Gretel operates as a two-sided marketplace
• Growth potential within the financial sector and future expansion plans
• Challenges of launching during the pandemic
• The role of purpose-driven entrepreneurship
• Predictions for the future of asset reunification and financial inclusion
Tune in to learn how Gretel is reshaping the financial landscape by addressing a critical problem and empowering consumers to reconnect with their forgotten assets.
Learn More:
Duncan Stevens: https://www.linkedin.com/in/duncan-stevens/
Gretel: https://www.gretel.co.uk/
Tony Clark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-clark-07160b/
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In this episode of The London Fintech Podcast, Tony Clark sits down with Aman Ghei to look at the state of Fintech in Europe.
Aman shares his journey from M&A banking, working at Accel and Facebook and games development, to building a career in venture capital. Aman reflects on how these experiences have influenced his approach to investing in post-revenue companies across sectors like payments, banking, and insurance technology.
The conversation explores the current state of European Fintech, including the growing prominence of local investors, the impact of economic challenges on valuations, and the opportunities emerging in thriving markets like Germany and the Nordics. Aman delves into the complexities of the investment landscape, emphasising the importance of capital efficiency and highlighting trends in mergers and acquisitions.
Aman also provides insights into lucrative verticals like payments and the strategic advantage of focusing on the mid-market in Europe. He shares practical advice for navigating the Fintech space, predicting the continued rise of "useful AI" and the shifting dynamics of the market.
Topics covered include:
- Aman’s career journey and Finch Capital’s focus on post-revenue Fintech investments
- Finch Capital's 9th Annual European Fintech Report
- Key investment trends across Europe, including country-specific opportunities
- The evolving role of local investors in driving growth
- Challenges and opportunities in the current economic cycle
- Mid-market investment focus
- Insights into thriving sectors like banking, payments, and insurance technology (BNPL, Stablecoins and InsurTech)
- Complexities of valuation in Fintech and the importance of capital efficiency
- The strength of the European PE sector (Eur 50-500m)
- The UK as the major European Fintech hub
- The "Rule of 40"
- German private capital focus
- The Nordic & Polish fintech scene
- Being commercial from the start
- Predictions for the future of European Fintech, including M&A activity and market consolidation
Tune in to gain a deep understanding of the European Fintech ecosystem and learn how investors like Aman Ghei are shaping its future.
Learn More:
Aman Ghei: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanghei/
Finch Capital: https://www.finchcapital.com/
State of European Fintech report: https://finchcapital.com/post/state-of-european-fin-tech-2024
Tony Clark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-clark-07160b/
The London Fintech Podcast: https://londonfintechpodcast.com/
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In this episode of the London Fintech Podcast, Tony Clark sits down with Qin En Looi, a leading figure in the Asia fintech space, to explore the future of digital assets and the convergence of fintech and blockchain technology. Qin shares his journey from a traditional Singaporean upbringing to becoming a successful entrepreneur and investor, co-founding Glints and leading Saison Capital. He reflects on how these experiences shaped his understanding of fintech’s potential in Southeast Asia.
The conversation covers blockchain's evolution, the growing institutional interest in digital assets, and the importance of trust within the crypto space. Qin emphasises the role of tokenisation in the future of finance, particularly in streamlining transactions and overcoming the limitations of traditional systems like SWIFT. They also discuss how fintech innovation is accelerating in Southeast Asia, the challenges of tokenised assets, and the critical importance of choosing the right technology and jurisdiction for protection.
Qin also offers practical advice for entrepreneurs in fintech, stressing the importance of learning to sell, building strong distribution networks, and how financial discipline is crucial as the fintech sector undergoes a phase of consolidation.
Topics Covered:
• Qin's background, dropping out and then completing a Stanford degree in half the time (and achieving top marks!)
• The potential of digital assets and blockchain technology in fintech
• The rise of tokenisation and its impact on the financial industry
• Importance of trust and regulatory clarity for blockchain adoption
• Challenges and opportunities for startups in the digital asset space
• Insights into fintech’s growth in Southeast Asia and global liquidity trends
• The convergence of fintech and blockchain technology
• Practical advice for entrepreneurs: mastering sales and distribution
• The role of institutional finance in the digital asset ecosystem
Learn More:
Chinen Lui: https://www.linkedin.com/in/looiqinen/
Saison Capital: https://www.saisoncapital.com/
Tony Clark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-clark-07160b/
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In this episode Tony Clark sits down with Paul Caulfield for a deep dive into the troubling world of Financial Crime.
Paul is a practising attorney. He’s been a chief legal officer and a chief risk officer at major Financial Institutions, and he’s worked with pretty much all the market regulators in the sector, including the Department of Justice, the OCC, OFAC, and the Fed. Paul is also an adjunct professor at Fordham Law in New York.
This is a ‘must-listen’ for anyone in the Risk, Compliance or Legal space.
This conversation centres on Money Laundering and Cyber Crime as two key dimensions of the criminal activity challenge that the FS sector faces. In today’s market, illegal activity manifests in so many different ways and some surprising places. Paul shares some of his practical stories of the threats, regulations and remedies that firms must pay attention to.
Topics covered include:
Learn more:
Paul Caulfield: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulcaulfieldny/
Tony Clark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-clark-07160b/
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In this episode of the London Fintech Podcast, Tony Clark is joined by Louis Glass, the head of CMS’ TMT-sector M&A group in the UK, Managing Partner of the firm’s Tel Aviv office, and a member of the management board.
Louis brings a wealth of experience as a corporate lawyer with specialist expertise in tech, internet, and e-commerce transactions. His career spans over two decades, including extensive cross-border work for multinationals, startups, and venture capital funds. Louis’ journey into the world of law and fintech is as unique as it is impressive.
Tech-obsessed from a young age, he was writing database software by the age of 15. Today, his work revolves around complex international transactions, particularly in the tech sector, where he represents clients across 45 countries.
This conversation explores the intersection of law, technology, and fintech, focusing on how legal frameworks can support innovation while ensuring compliance in the ever-changing regulatory environment.
Louis also opens up on his personal journey, mental wellness and the vital importance of team and company culture.
Louis offers key insights into navigating the legal challenges fintech companies face, from securing licenses to managing cross-border transactions, and balancing rapid growth with stringent regulatory standards.
Throughout the episode, Louis provides practical advice for fintech leaders, sharing how companies can leverage legal expertise to innovate while staying compliant. He also touches on the future of regulation in fintech and how businesses can anticipate and adapt to evolving legal landscapes.
Topics covered include:
Learn more:
Louis Glass: https://cms.law/en/gbr/people/louis-glass
Tony Clark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-clark-07160b/
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In this episode of the London Fintech podcast, Tony Clark talks to Sarah Levy.
Sarah has over 25 years of experience launching and growing new brands, however Sarah’s journey to FS is an unconventional one, having crossed over only 4 years ago from a super successful career with Disney, Nickelodeon and Viacom, to leading one of the fastest growing and most progressive digital wealth management firms in the US.
There are approximately 60,000 wealth firms globally of all sizes offering propositions that span pure advisory, self-directed, robo-advisory and hybrid models in a market characterised by shifting demographics, consolidation and new asset classes. So how do firms differentiate and get ahead?
This conversation explores Betterment’s use of technology for competitive advantage and delivering a purpose-led wealth solution to the “zillennial” generation of investors.
Sarah shares her unique insights on building targeted consumer brands for specific demographics and customer segments, the power of hyper-personalisation, and the misalignment between traditional firms and the digitally accelerating ecosystem. “If Schwab and Fidelity and Vanguard are my parents brands, Betterment will be the Zillennial wealth brand”.
Additionally, she provides some really practical insight for C Suite leaders and fintech entrepreneurs on building a growth company, transitioning to fintech, building customer loyalty, and creating a balanced corporate culture.
Learn more:
Sarah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-kirshbaum-levy-889881a1/
Betterment: https://www.betterment.com
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Which bank was the first UK clearing bank in 250 years, grew income 91%, last year despite the fintech downturn, doubled its deposits and provides banking services to 250 companies, including 16 other banks?
In this episode of the London FinTech podcast, Tony Clark is joined by Charles McManus, Founding CEO of ClearBank.
Charles is an international banking professional with over 30 years in global investment banking, wealth management and retail. Before ClearBank, he was the group CFO of RBS Ulster Bank and spent 13 years at the Royal Bank of Canada, where he became CFO for Europe and Asia and Global Head of Product Control.
This conversation explores ClearBank’s pioneering role in embedded banking and its remarkable growth and success. Charles offers deep insights into the firm’s journey, its innovative solutions, and its leadership in the fintech sector.
Topics include the future of embedded banking, ClearBank’s successful navigation of regulatory challenges, and the expansion into Europe post-Brexit. Additionally, Charles shares his personal experiences, stress management strategies, and advice for fintech entrepreneurs.
Topics covered include:
Learn more:
Charles: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-mcmanus-/
ClearBank: https://clear.bank
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In this episode of the London Fintech podcast, Tony Clark talks to Niall Cameron. They explore Niall’s journey from heading trading teams to leading digital transformation at HSBC and now building a unique Fintech community through FinTech Connex.
There are by some estimates over 26, 000 FinTechs globally. However, as this audience will know, the sector has been on a rollercoaster ride since 2020. Post COVID FinTech funding dropped dramatically in 23 and in investment terms, the first half of last year was down 57 percent year on year versus 2022. Q1 24 this year was the worst performing fintech quarter since the start of 2020.
However, it’s not all gloom and doom. There is optimism across the sector from both the investment community and the fintechs themselves, particularly for those firms who have a clear niche product, a rapid growth rate and effective partnerships. A lot of this is down to product focus and leveraging the fintech ecosystem, something that Niall is an expert in.
Niall shares his insights on achieving product-market fit, staying ahead of trends, and the importance of narrowing focus for deep expertise. Additionally, he provides practical advice for fintech entrepreneurs on making their products more buyable and actionable in a swiftly evolving industry landscape.
Niall, not just had a stellar career in trading, rising to the top of his business with several thousand traders reporting to him at one point, but he also made a successful move to digital leadership at one of the world’s largest banks and more recently. built a unique fintech community and network business across the sector.
Learn more:
Niall: https://www.linkedin.com/in/niall-cameron-8a1aab6/
FintechConnex: https://fintechconnex.com
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In his inaugural episode of the London Fintech Podcast, host Tony Clark takes over from Mike Baliman and takes a deep dive into the world of AI powered forensic accounting.
Research shows that 1 in 10 US firms are cooking the books and that accounting manipulation is a $4.7Tn industry problem, in the US alone. Transparently has built an AI platform that can detect and score accounting manipulation, often years ahead of corporate collapse!
Tony talks with Dr. Hamish Macalister, the founder and CEO of Transparently AI. They discuss the prevalence of accounting manipulation in global markets, the statistical mechanics behind Transparently’s AI system, the varied use cases spanning banking, asset management, auditing, and regulation, and touch upon the ethical commitment Transparently has towards transparency and accuracy.
Hamish shares his journey, the company’s rapid evolution, and exciting future prospects involving generative AI integration. The episode provides deep insights into the significance and mechanics of forensic AI in tackling financial fraud.
More info:
Transparently.ai: https://www.transparently.ai
Hamish: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hamish-macalister-phd-0b558bb/
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In this episode of the London Fintech podcast, Tony Clark talks to Niall Cameron. They explore Niall’s journey from heading trading teams to leading digital transformation at HSBC and now building a unique Fintech community through FinTech Connex.
There are by some estimates over 26, 000 FinTechs globally. However, as this audience will know, the sector has been on a rollercoaster ride since 2020. Post COVID FinTech funding dropped dramatically in 23 and in investment terms, the first half of last year was down 57 percent year on year versus 2022. Q1 24 this year was the worst performing fintech quarter since the start of 2020.
However, it’s not all gloom and doom. There is optimism across the sector from both the investment community and the fintechs themselves, particularly for those firms who have a clear niche product, a rapid growth rate and effective partnerships. A lot of this is down to product focus and leveraging the fintech ecosystem, something that Niall is an expert in.
Niall shares his insights on achieving product-market fit, staying ahead of trends, and the importance of narrowing focus for deep expertise. Additionally, he provides practical advice for fintech entrepreneurs on making their products more buyable and actionable in a swiftly evolving industry landscape.
Niall, not just had a stellar career in trading, rising to the top of his business with several thousand traders reporting to him at one point, but he also made a successful move to digital leadership at one of the world’s largest banks and more recently. built a unique fintech community and network business across the sector.
Learn more:
Niall: https://www.linkedin.com/in/niall-cameron-8a1aab6/
FintechConnex: https://fintechconnex.com
The LFP has a leaning towards the business end of the Fintech spectrum – FinFintech, if you like, rather than technology per se. Its episodes can be seen to fill a pyramidal shape that is at the base a triangle of Entrepreneurialism, Financial Services and Technology.
At the vertex of the pyramid is “Finance and Society”. Whilst Financial Services is a societal construct whose form has varied over space and time – by laws, by regulations, by political design, by the very nature of the definition of money – equally it is a huge influence on the society in which it resides.
As sectors go, Fintech has been by far one of the hottest over the past decade which has had tons of money poured into it and therefore seen evolution on steroids and given us in a decade of insights into what, in more leisurely times, it might have taken fifty years to learn about (such as the nature of entrepreneurialism, what works and what doesn’t)
As the LFP enters it’s second decade, the show now has a new host in long time listener and LFP guest Tony Clark, who is also founder and CEO of NextWave Consulting, a next generation consulting firm in the fintech space.
Tony will continue to foster engaging discussions with industry leaders bringing innovation to the ever-evolving Fintech and FS landscape. As he lives and works at the coalface of the implementation of all these new fascinating technologies, he will be "able to return the LFP to its origins".
We are looking forward to presenting the most interesting guests in the FinTech space. Join us biweekly for episodes packed with actionable insights, expert analysis, and a fresh perspective dedicated to sharing stories of innovation and success from the world of finance and technology. Share and enjoy!
Tony is the new host of the LFP (starting in 2024), and is carrying on the legacy of the podcast as the "gold standard" in fintech.
Tony is also the founder and CEO of NextWave Consulting and has 30 years of big-firm consultancy, startup, and enterprise experience across business, digital and technology, working with some of the world’s leading banks and financial institutions.
Tony has worked at Accenture, m.a.partners, and was a founding team member at Crossbridge. More recently, as Synechron MD and Head of the UK business, Tony ran the UK Consulting, Digital and Technology practices.
Mike is a paid chair, host, moderator, and speaker at public and private online and offline events. He was the founder and host of the LFP until 2024, when he decided to take a well deserved break and pass the torch to Tony.
He has 40 years of experience in FS, tech and entrepreneurialism in senior roles (Global Head Fixed Income, Global Head of Risk, Board-level Consultant), as well as having founded a Fintech in 1998.
Mike’s other work falls into three categories: Non-Executive Director, Advisory Director, Founder-Mentor, Consultancy and Media.
Mike is the author of “The Realpolitik Of The Unlisted Company Board: Making Your Board An Engine Of Growth”.
Please contact us if you think you have an interesting story that will resonate with our audience, or would like to recommend a leader who is making an impact in the world of fintech.