In this engaging episode of the Voice of FinTech, MENA Series hosted by Dorra Mahbouli, we delve into the heart of Tunisia's burgeoning startup scene with Amin Ben Abderrahman, a pioneering force in the FinTech industry in Tunisia and beyond. With a rich history of innovation across global financial capitals and a deep passion for the transformative power of technology in finance, Amin has established himself as a visionary entrepreneur. Through the lens of his latest venture, Konnect Networks, which aims to revolutionize payment solutions in North Africa, we explore Amin's entrepreneurial journey, the challenges and triumphs of launching a startup in the dynamic MENA region, and his strategic vision for the future. The conversation also covers the types of investors and talents Konnect Networks seeks to attract, its target clientele, and a practical use case, providing a comprehensive look at the company's efforts to navigate and shape the FinTech landscape. This episode offers invaluable insights into financial technology innovation, underscored by Amin's personal experiences and aspirations for making a lasting impact in the region.

Tess Bloch, co-founder of Spade, a provider of merchant intelligence solutions, spoke to Rudolf Falat, founder of the Voice of FinTech podcast, about enriching payment transaction data to facilitate better anti-fraud solutions and more. Here is what they talked about in more detail:Tess's backstoryWhat problem are you solving at Spade, and why is it worth solving?Why is merchant intelligence critical for optimal fraud detection?What are new use cases for merchant intelligence?What is your solution and your unique selling point?What has the feedback from customers been like?What's your technology angle, or do you have more brilliant engineers than other players?Who are your key clients?Recent series A and Spade's plansFavorite business book: Scaling People: Tactics for Management and Company Building by Claire HughesWhat is the best way to reach out: tess@spade.com

Today,  in another episode of the MENA series hosted by Dorra Mahbouli, we have the privilege of hosting Faraz Amjad, an industry leader in FinTech with an impressive trajectory in payments, technology consulting, and venture building. Over 25 years of experience, he has architected 12+ ventures, served in 7+ corporate leadership roles, and delivered 6+ successful M&A deals.Today's discussion promises to be enlightening as we dive deep into the FinTech scene of the MENA region, with a spotlight on the rapidly evolving Saudi Arabian market.The podcast delved into the FinTech landscape in Saudi Arabia and the MENA region, particularly within Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. The discussion encompassed the current state and potential of the market, addressing regulatory challenges faced by startups and offering navigation strategies. We drew comparisons between the FinTech ecosystems of the UK and the MENA region, extracting valuable lessons from both. The conversation also focused on the challenges of entering the MENA market, highlighting key players in the Saudi FinTech scene and their unique attributes. Corporate innovation was a notable topic in response to FinTech advancements, including collaborations and initiatives. The podcast explored opportunities and challenges in the Kingdom's rapidly digitalizing landscape, investors' perspectives on the Saudi FinTech market, and the trends attracting investment. Looking forward, we discussed predictions for the market's future trajectory over the next 5-10 years, influencing corporate innovation. Finally, considering its unique market dynamics, we explored strategies for supporting FinTech startups in Saudi Arabia. We concluded by thanking your guest, Faraz, for his deep insights into these sectors and acknowledging his contributions to the field.

Deniz A. Johnson, COO at Stratyfy, an ethical artificial intelligence (AI) company that offers predictive analytics software for credit and risk teams spoke to Rudolf Falat, founder of the Voice of FinTech podcast, about transparency solutions for AI, biases, diversitz and more.Here is what they talked about in more detail: Deniz's background What is Stratyfy – what’s the problem you are solving and the outline of its solutions How do you define successful digital transformation?  What’s the role of AI in digital transformation?  What about Finance and AI? How would you advise corporates leveraging AI to tackle the biases issue? One of the ways to deal with biases is to promote diversity – how do you go about it? Can AI and sustainability co-exist? What are the milestones you want to achieve next? Favorite business books: Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequality and Threatens Democracy and Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn't What’s the best way to reach out: deniz@stratyfy.com or Stratyfy website 

Daniel Yubi, CEO of Payable, headquartered in London, spoke to Rudolf Falat, founder of the Voice of FinTech podcast, about improving Treasury operations through their software. Here is what they talked about:  Daniel's backstory - how he got to do what he does today What problem is Payable solving, and why is it worth solving? What is their solution and their unique selling point What’s their technology angle Who are Payable's key clients What is the role of the finance team in scaling FinTechs? What is the CFO stack, and what is the FinTech market opportunity? What’s Daniel's advice on how to build and develop FinTech propositions the market wants and needs? What are the milestones Daniel wants to achieve next What’s your favorite business book? The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers and Marcus Aurelius works What’s the best way to reach out: Daniel Yubi on LinkedIn

Elliot Chun, Partner at Architect Partners, spoke to Rudolf Falat, founder of the Voice of FinTech podcast, about crypto and FinTech-related M&A.Here is what they covered in more detail: Elliot's backstory: how he got to do what he does today Architect Partners' approach towards advising FinTechs - M&A or other matters? Does it mean AP advises only scale-ups or incumbents interested in this space? Specifics of the FinTech M&A and lessons learned The average time to go public has increased tremendously. As Fintechs grow larger and more mature, what are the liquidity and exit options for these companies?  Payments and lending were probably the first areas where FinTech grew. Are we bound to witness a significant consolidation wave in this FinTech vertical? SPACs used to be the favorite buzzword of the day not long ago. What's the status now? Why focus on crypto-related M&A Let's talk about the recent Bitcoin rise and fall – is it due to diversification because investors are worried about inflation due to Covid government support or anything else? A book tip: Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon by M. Lewis What's the best way to reach out? Website https://architectpartners.com