Curiosity Code Podcast

Blockchain in Banking: Threat or Opportunity | Artur Kartshikyan

Lovely listener, share with us your thoughts! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2458467/open_sms] Digital banking transformation in Armenia and Central Asia: ACBA Bank's Head of Digital Banking reveals how banks are navigating blockchain adoption, payment infrastructure gaps, and compliance challenges in emerging markets. Artur Kartshikyan, Head of Digital Banking at ACBA Bank, discusses the future of banking in Armenia, blockchain's role in financial institutions, and why Central Asia's payment corridor lacks modern infrastructure. This episode explores digital banking strategy, regulatory compliance, and innovation opportunities in emerging fintech markets. ⏱️ KEY TOPICS & TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Introduction 5:21 Central Asia Corridor Payment Infrastructure Challenges 7:32 Blockchain as Banking Threat or Collaboration Opportunity 12:44 ACBA Bank Balances Innovation and Compliance in Digital Infrastructure 16:06 The Future of Banking: Digital Transformation Ahead 19:16 Armenian Banking Outlook and Digital Payment Evolution 👤 ABOUT THE GUEST Artur Kartshikyan is the Head of Digital Banking Department at ACBA Bank OJSC, where he leads digital transformation initiatives and modern banking infrastructure development in Armenia. Connect with Artur on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arturkartshikyan/ #DigitalBanking #Blockchain #FintechPodcast #BankingInnovation #Armenia 🎙️ Subscribe for weekly episodes on fintech, AI, and innovation 🌐 Website: https://curiositycodepodcast.com/ 📱 Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akhomyakov/ 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/curiosity-code 🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/the-curiosity-code-podcast/id1748596092

Fintech M&A Strategy: Exit Timing | Mayerlin Garcia

Lovely listener, share with us your thoughts! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2458467/open_sms] Investment banking expert Mayerlin Garcia reveals when fintech founders should pursue M&A, why scaling companies need external advisors, and the critical mistakes that cause fintech deals to fail post-acquisition. Learn fintech M&A strategy, exit timing, and how to navigate investment banking for high-growth fintech companies. ⏱️ KEY TOPICS & TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Introduction 2:31 Why External Advisors Are Crucial for Fintech Success 8:05 Funding Challenges Companies Face When Scaling 13:26 When Founders Should Start Thinking About M&A or Exit 17:06 Why Many Fintech Deals Fail to Deliver Promised Outcomes 👤 ABOUT MAYERLIN GARCIA Mayerlin Garcia is Managing Director at Senahill Advisors, specializing in fintech mergers, acquisitions, and strategic exits for high-growth technology companies. Connect with Mayerlin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayerlingarcia/ #FintechMA #InvestmentBanking #FintechFounders #MergersAndAcquisitions #FintechStrategy 🎙️ Subscribe for weekly episodes on fintech, AI, and innovation 🌐 Website: https://curiositycodepodcast.com/ 📱 Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akhomyakov/ 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/curiosity-code 🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/the-curiosity-code-podcast/id1748596092

UX Design in Fintech: Banking Innovation | Patrik Borgatai

Lovely listener, share with us your thoughts! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2458467/open_sms] Discover the major differences between investment banking and consumer fintech UX design, and why legacy financial systems make digital transformation so challenging. Learn strategies for aligning UX across distributed financial organizations. Patrik Borgatai discusses the unique challenges of designing user experiences for traditional financial institutions versus modern fintech companies, exploring how legacy systems create barriers to innovation and what it takes to measure good UX in complex financial environments. ⏱️ KEY TOPICS & TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Introduction 2:23 Designers discuss major differences between investment banking and consumer fintech 5:31 How do you define and measure good UX in financial environments? 8:41 Biggest challenges in aligning UX strategy across distributed financial organizations 11:55 Legacy financial systems make redesigning difficult 16:58 Main barriers for digital transformation in traditional financial institutions 👤 ABOUT PATRIK BORGATAI Patrik is a Product & UX Strategy Consultant at Lab49, designing tools for traders and investment bankers at some of the world's largest financial institutions. He's spent years in the trenches of enterprise fintech. Connect with Patrik on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrikborgatai/ 🎙️ Subscribe for weekly episodes on fintech, AI, and innovation 🌐 Website: https://curiositycodepodcast.com/ 📱 Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akhomyakov/ 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/curiosity-code 🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/the-curiosity-code-podcast/id1748596092

Digital Banking Strategy: Launching 7 Banks | Al Southall

Lovely listener, share with us your thoughts! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2458467/open_sms] Learn digital banking best practices from someone who's launched 7 banks across 25 years. Al Southall shares the real playbook for building customer-centric digital banks that balance speed, compliance, and innovation — without repeating legacy mistakes. From early internet banks to cloud-native platforms, discover why "bank in a box" rarely works, how to navigate regulatory requirements while innovating, and the critical importance of customer-first product design before technology decisions. 📌 KEY TOPICS & TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Introduction 4:24 Pre-built solutions and core banking platforms as enablers for digital banking 7:19 Why bank in a box fails: only few players succeed with turnkey solutions 9:49 How to start building a digital bank: customer-centric design first 13:28 Banking license requirements and regulatory expectations for new entrants 16:46 Managing vendor lock-in risk while maintaining product flexibility 18:54 Cloud resilience strategies and operational risk in digital banking 22:25 Customer-centric design and personalization in modern banking 27:16 Critical advice for fintechs moving into banking 🎙️ GUEST Al Southall is a digital transformation and bank launch specialist with 25+ years of experience leading technology and operations for seven digital banks across multiple markets. His expertise spans the full evolution of digital banking — from early internet banking platforms to today's cloud-native architectures. 🔗 Connect with Al: https://www.linkedin.com/in/al-southall-cio/ #DigitalBanking #Fintech #BankingInnovation #CoreBanking #FintechPodcast 🎙️ Subscribe for weekly episodes on fintech, AI, and innovation 🌐 Website: https://curiositycodepodcast.com/ 📱 Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akhomyakov/ 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/curiosity-code 🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/the-curiosity-code-podcast/id1748596092

ATM Technology & Future of Cash Payments | Paul Gardiner

Lovely listener, share with us your thoughts! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2458467/open_sms] ATM technology expert Paul Gardiner reveals why cash payments continue rising globally despite digital transformation, the hidden innovations in ATM infrastructure, and critical insights every fintech founder needs about payment systems economics. Discover the surprising data behind cash vs digital payments, the future of ATM networks, banking infrastructure evolution, and untapped fintech opportunities in cash management technology. ⏱️ KEY TOPICS & TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 Cash in circulation continues to arise in every major economy over the past decade 0:29 Today we're talking about ATMs and infrastructure of money from cash to AI 3:21 What people misunderstand most about how money actually moves behind the scenes with ATMs 13:57 Number of ATMs deployed globally have gone down over the last few years 17:15 How to approach security of ATM networks from physical and cyber aspects 25:17 Paul Gardiner recently led two billion dollar fintech carve outs 30:52 What problems in fintech and payments today are the most fixable 36:04 If you could design the future state from scratch: payments, ATMs, and AI 40:54 Why big payments networks still go down far too often 👤 ABOUT PAUL GARDINER: Paul Gardiner is the Founder of Marin FinTech, a leading consultancy specializing in payment systems innovation and banking technology. With deep expertise in ATM networks, cash infrastructure, and having led two billion-dollar fintech carve-outs, Paul advises fintech companies and financial institutions on navigating the evolving payments landscape. #FintechPodcast #ATMTechnology #PaymentSystems #CashPayments #BankingInnovation 🎙️ Subscribe for weekly episodes on fintech, AI, and innovation 🌐 Website: https://curiositycodepodcast.com/ 📱 Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akhomyakov/ 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/curiosity-code 🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/the-curiosity-code-podcast/id1748596092