About this episode
Jul 28
Why Most Digital Banks Will Never Make Money
Digital banks have spent years chasing customer growth. But scale alone does not create profitability.In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Simon Loong, Founder and Group CEO of WeLab, explains what it takes to build a successful digital bank across Asia.He shares why lendi ... Show More
55m 50s
Jul 15
Could Your Data Become Your Next Asset?
Every day we create data, but almost none of us know who really owns it.In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, André Vellozo, Founder and CEO of DrumWave, joins the show to explore one of the biggest questions facing the digital economy: what if people could own their data t ... Show More
52m 50s
Jun 30
Can AI Build Fintech Unicorns Faster?
Can Europe build the next generation of global fintech leaders?In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Stefan Klestil, General Partner Fintech EMEA, joins the show to discuss venture capital, fintech investing, AI, digital assets, founder psychology, and why the Middle East a ... Show More
49m 26s
Jun 2025
Emirates NBD: New, Bold, & Decisive | Saud Al Dhawyani at Emirates NBD Fintech Summit
25m 43s
Feb 2022
605. Insights: Looking ahead to the future of fintech in UAE
Our expert hosts, Benjamin Ensor and Tristan Brandt, are joined by some great guests to delve into the fintech landscape in UAE.
The Middle East is home to a number of exciting fintech companies and the UAE has rapidly established itself as a leading hub for fintech startups i ... Show More
42m 54s
Nov 2024
918. Insights: How to launch in the Middle East
On this episode of Fintech Insider Insights, host Benjamin Ensor is joined by some great guests to discuss expansion into the Middle East.
Imagine, and if you’re listening to this podcast you might not need to imagine, that you’re the founder of a successful fintech. You’re doing ... Show More
51m 51s
May 2025
Open Finance in Action with Harry Gill & Shadi Dawi at Dubai FinTech Summit
8m 37s
May 2025
Serving the 1 Billion Underbanked with Dignity & Impact | Maxim Chernuschenko and Saad Ishfaq at Dubai FinTech Summit
14m 37s
Oct 2023
The evolution of the fintech ecosystem in the region - conversation with Hisham Al-Falih, Co-Founder & CEO of Lean Technologies
In this episode Sheinal Jayantilal - partner at McKinsey - sits down with Hisham Al-Falih, Co-Founder & CEO of Lean Technologies, MENA-based open-banking platform, to discuss the evolution of the fintech ecosystem in the region over the years and the next frontier for the company ... Show More
9m 9s
Aug 2024
Decoding the Future of Money w/ Kareem Monem
<p>Join us in this episode of 'Below the Fold' as we delve into the fascinating journey of Kareem Monem, a leading figure in the realm of digital technology and financial services. Kareem shares his experiences from working with assistive technologies in Greece to his pivotal rol ... Show More
1h 13m
Sep 2025
997. News: Revolut’s UAE licence, Pipe’s partnership with Uber, and Accion Ventures’ inclusion fund
About this episode: Host Benjamin Ensor, Director of Research & Strategy, is joined by a fantastic panel of guests as we dive into some of the biggest stories from the worlds of fintech, banking, and wider financial services this week. This week's guests: Luke Voiles - CEO of Pip ... Show More
1h 4m
Oct 2025
1008. Insights: How to launch in the Middle East (Rewind)
About this episode: This week we’ve got something a little different for you. David Barton-Grimley recently returned from the very first Money20/20 Middle East in Saudi Arabia - and beyond enjoying endless cups of Arabic coffee (and collecting a serious stash of swag), he was gen ... Show More
53m 19s
In this episode of Couchonomics, we welcome Wael Fakharany, CEO of Edenred Middle East, a leading provider of smart technology solutions in the UAE. Wael shares his expertise in empowering businesses across various sectors, including retail, facilities management, and construction, through technology-driven financial solutions. Edenred UAE offers a comprehen ... Show More
<h3>🔍 Topics include:</h3><ul><li>How Emirates NBD became a pioneer in Open Finance</li><li>Building secure, scalable, API-first banking platforms</li><li>Real-world fintech partnerships (and what went wrong)</li><li>From core banking to GitHub Copilot: AI’s growing role</li><li ... Show More
<p>🔍 Topics include:</p><ul><li>How Pay10 became the UAE’s first live Open Finance platform</li><li>Why instant settlement can transform SME growth</li><li>Building with three licenses: SVF, RPS, and Open Banking</li><li>Real-time infrastructure vs legacy card systems</li><li>Ad ... Show More
<h3>Topics include:</h3><ul><li>Why 60% of Qatar’s population lacks access to credit</li><li>Shareeq Neo’s instant loan platform for salary cardholders</li><li>Building a cross-border fintech with Sharia principles</li><li>Fingular’s mission to solve financial exclusion globally< ... Show More
