The FStech Podcast

Deploying $1 Billion – What's Next for Early-Stage FinTech

Early-stage FinTech is entering a new era. Macroeconomic headwinds, rising consumer expectations, and tighter capital markets are reshaping how innovation is funded and how success is defined. For founders and investors alike, navigating this landscape requires a sharper focus on fundamentals, smarter capital deployment, and a deeper understanding of where real opportunity lies. In this FStech podcast senior reporter Silvia Iacovcich speaks with Thomas Cuvelier, partner at early-stage venture capital firm RTP Global to explore how the firm is investing its $1 billion early-stage fund to back the next wave of FinTech startups. The venture capital specialist will examine where the firm is placing its bets, how it's thinking about risk, and what it looks for in founders in today's cautious funding environment.

From compliance to competitive edge: Rethinking operational resilience with DataOps and AI

How are leading financial institutions turning regulatory demands into strategic advantage? In this FStech podcast, sponsored by BMC Software, we explore how DataOps and AI are reshaping operational resilience across the sector. Drawing on the new report, "Shaping the future: The strategic role of DataOps and emerging technologies in enhancing operational resilience for modern financial services, " our discussion explores why a third of firms now place DataOps at the centre of their resilience strategy, and how barriers such as poor data quality, limited automation, and cultural resistance are being overcome. Listeners will discover practical steps for building a data-driven culture, overcoming implementation challenges, and using automation to transform compliance into a true and lasting competitive edge.

Data trust in the AI era: Building customer confidence through responsible banking

Trust has always been the cornerstone of banking, but in today's AI-driven landscape, how do financial institutions balance personalisation with privacy whilst maintaining customer confidence? In the second episode of FStech's three-part video podcast series sponsored by HCLTech, Sudip Lahiri, Executive Vice President & Head of Financial Services for Europe & UKI at HCLTech examines the critical relationship between data trust, transparency, and responsible AI implementation in financial services. Sudip joins FStech to explore how banks can transform data trust from a compliance requirement into a strategic competitive advantage. As customers become increasingly informed and cautious about their personal information, institutions must navigate the delicate balance between leveraging data for enhanced services and maintaining the highest standards of privacy protection. Moving beyond theoretical frameworks, we delve into practical governance structures that enable responsible AI deployment. From establishing centralised AI governance offices to implementing explainable AI systems that demystify decision-making processes, discover how leading financial institutions are building transparent, accountable AI capabilities that strengthen rather than compromise customer relationships.

Banking's GenAI evolution: Beyond the hype, building the future

In an era where AI promises to reshape banking's fundamental operations, how do institutions separate genuine transformation opportunities from temporary trends? In the first episode of a three-part podcast series sponsored by HCLTech, FStech explores how financial institutions can navigate the transformative potential of Generative AI while building lasting foundations for innovation. In this first episode, Sudip Lahiri, Executive Vice President & Head of Financial Services for Europe & UKI at HCLTech cuts through the noise to examine the cultural, technical, and organisational bedrock required for meaningful GenAI adoption in banking. Moving beyond proof-of-concepts and pilot projects, we explore how banks can build sustainable AI capabilities that align with their strategic vision while maintaining operational resilience. From fostering AI literacy across organisations to establishing governance frameworks that enable innovation, discover how leading financial institutions are laying the groundwork for a future where technology enhances rather than replaces human capabilities.

Beyond Payments: the benefits of Open Banking

Open Banking is changing the payment industry and the adoption of Open Banking is increasing with over 11 million consumers and small businesses using the technology. Retailers are increasingly implementing Open Banking as a payment method offering it alongside more traditional methods. In this FStech podcast Lynsey Hunt, Head of Product at Payit by NatWest, takes a closer look at some of the challenges involved with the adoption of Open Banking and how the technology covers much more than payments. She also talks about how Open Banking compares to other payment methods, such as Buy Now, Pay Later and addresses concerns around security and customer adoption.