The Exponential Show

Alex D. Scheer: Enabling Trust in Autonomous Finance | Ep #38

In this episode of The Exponential Show, host Mayank Singh sits down with Alex D. Scheer, CEO and Co-Founder of zkMe, during Money20/20 Asia in Bangkok. This conversation explores how trust, privacy, and identity verification are becoming critical as finance moves toward more autonomous systems. Alex shares the journey behind zkMe, the problem the company is solving, and why privacy-preserving identity infrastructure matters for the next generation of financial services. We also discuss the opportunity in Thailand and Southeast Asia, his experience at Money20/20 Asia, and what it meant to win the Startup Pitch Competition at the event. A special thank you to Money20/20 Asia for having Exponential as one of the media representatives during the event. We would also like to thank our partners at Midas PR for making this conversation happen and for their support behind the scenes. What we cover in this episode: 00:00 – Introduction 01:14 – Alex’s origin story His professional journey, early experiences, and what led him into digital identity, privacy, and autonomous finance. 06:42 – The problem zkMe is solving Why trust and identity verification matter in Web3, fintech, and autonomous financial systems. 14:25 – Thailand and Southeast Asia opportunity Why the region is an important market for digital finance, identity infrastructure, and privacy-led innovation. 17:09 – Money20/20 Asia and the Startup Pitch Competition Alex reflects on the experience of presenting at Money20/20 Asia and winning the Startup Pitch Competition. 21:21 – Challenges and lessons as an entrepreneur The realities of building a startup, navigating uncertainty, and the key lessons learned along the way. 23:15 – What’s next for zkMe The major goals, milestones, and areas of focus Alex is working toward in the coming months. If you’re interested in fintech, digital identity, autonomous finance, privacy, Web3 infrastructure, or Southeast Asia’s role in the future of financial innovation, this episode offers a practical look at where the industry may be heading next. #TheExponentialShow #Money2020Asia #Fintech #AutonomousFinance #DigitalIdentity #PrivacyTech #zkMe #StartupPitch #MidasPR

Pei Ling Tin: A Framework for Agentic Finance | Ep #35

In this episode of The Exponential Show, host Mayank Singh sits down with Pei Ling Tin, Co-President of MetaComp, during Money20/20 Asia in Bangkok for a conversation on finance, technology, governance, partnerships, and entrepreneurship.Pei Ling shares her perspective on the evolution of digital finance, MetaComp’s journey and legacy, the rise of agentic finance, and why strong governance frameworks will be critical as financial systems become more autonomous.The conversation also explores Southeast Asia’s role in shaping the future of financial innovation, the importance of strategic partnerships, and Pei Ling’s work in supporting women’s empowerment.What we cover in this episode:00:00 – Introduction01:07 – Key career milestones04:44 – MetaComp’s legacy and recent move into agentic finance08:41 – A governance framework for autonomous finance19:43 – The role of strategic partnerships and the importance of Thailand and Southeast Asia22:06 – Pei Ling Tin’s work in women empowerment29:16 – Message for the audienceA special thank you to Money20/20 Asia for having Exponential as one of the media representatives during the event.We would also like to thank our partners at Midas PR for making this conversation happen and for their support behind the scenes.If you’re interested in fintech, digital assets, autonomous finance, governance, strategic partnerships, or Southeast Asia’s evolving business ecosystem, this episode offers a thoughtful look at where the industry may be heading next.#TheExponentialShow #Money2020Asia #Fintech #AgenticFinance #DigitalFinance #MetaComp #SoutheastAsia #ThailandBusiness #Entrepreneurship #WomenEmpowerment #StrategicPartnerships #FutureOfFinance

Eric Euwes & Jirat Boomuang: Understanding Composable Banking | Ep #37

In this episode of The Exponential Show, host Mayank Singh sits down with Eric Euwes, Chief Commercial Officer, and Jirat Boonmung, Head of Solution Engineering, Asia at Akkuro, during Money20/20 Asia in Bangkok. The conversation explores how banking technology is evolving, why composable banking architectures are gaining attention, and how financial institutions can modernize without being locked into rigid legacy systems. Eric and Jirat share their perspectives on the shift from traditional core banking to more flexible, modular systems, the role of AI in banking transformation, and what these changes ultimately mean for both banks and end customers. A special thank you to Money20/20 Asia for having Exponential as one of the media representatives during the event. We would also like to thank our partners at Midas PR for making this conversation happen and for their support behind the scenes. 00:00 – Introduction 01:50 – Origin stories 04:24 – What is composable banking? 10:51 – AI and the future of banking systems 17:10 – What customers gain from better banking architecture 19:39 – What banks gain from composable systems 25:35 – Opportunities and challenges in SEA & Thailand 31:17 – Real-world success stories 38:00 – What’s next for Akkuro If you’re interested in fintech, core banking modernization, AI in financial services, or the future of banking infrastructure in Southeast Asia, this episode offers a practical look at where the industry is heading next. #TheExponentialShow #Money2020Asia #Fintech #ComposableBanking #CoreBanking #BankingTechnology #DigitalBanking #AIinFinance #Akkuro #MidasPR

Sarah Megginson: Telling Stories About Numbers | Ep #36

In this episode of The Exponential Show, host Mayank Singh sits down with Sarah Megginson during Money20/20 Asia in Bangkok for a conversation on personal finance, media, communication, and making money conversations more accessible. Sarah is a personal finance expert, author of 'How to Raise Rich Kids', media spokesperson, and former senior editor across leading Australian finance publications. With over 20 years of experience across property, finance journalism, and consumer money education, she brings a practical and approachable lens to how people think, talk, and learn about money. In this conversation, Sarah shares her journey into media and personal finance, the finance trends she is watching in 2026, regional differences across Southeast Asia, the changing world of media and communication, and the work behind helping parents raise financially confident children. A special thank you to Money20/20 Asia for having Exponential as one of the media representatives during the event. We would also like to thank our partners at Midas PR for making this conversation happen and for their support behind the scenes. Follow Sarah’s personal finance content on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moneymargarita/ What we cover in this episode: 00:00 – Introduction 01:09 – Sarah’s origin story Her journey into media, property, finance journalism, and personal finance education. 04:58 – Finance trends to watch in 2026 The key themes Sarah is keeping an eye on across personal finance, money habits, and consumer behavior. 09:59 – Regional differences and Southeast Asia opportunities How personal finance conversations differ across markets and where Sarah sees opportunity and challenges in the region. 23:40 – Media, communications, and technology trends in 2026 How trust, attention, and technology are evolving in the finance media landscape. 32:03 – How to Raise Rich Kids Sarah’s work as an author and why financial education needs to start earlier, at home and in everyday conversations. 37:02 – What’s next for Sarah Upcoming projects, announcements, and areas she is excited to explore. 38:26 – Thinking about personal finance Reflecting on your money-management approach If you’re interested in personal finance, media, money education, parenting, or the future of financial communication, this episode offers a thoughtful and practical conversation with one of the most approachable voices in the space. #TheExponentialShow #Money2020Asia #PersonalFinance #FinancialEducation #MediaTrends #HowToRaiseRichKids #MoneyMargarita #MidasPR #FinanceForFamilies

Ben Lephilibert: Tackling Food Waste | Ep #34

In Episode 34 of The Exponential Show, host Mayank Singh sits down with Ben Lephilibert, a pioneer in food waste management and sustainability in the hospitality industry. As the CEO of LightBlue and Co-Founder of The PLEDGE on Food Waste, Ben shares how over a decade of working closely with kitchens, chefs, and systems has shaped his perspective on one of the world’s most overlooked problems. From the early days of building LightBlue to developing scalable methodologies and technology, this conversation explores what it really takes to change industry behavior at scale. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 02:28 Origin Story — From launching LightBlue in 2013 to building The PLEDGE on Food Waste, what drove Ben to tackle this problem? 14:03 The ‘Made It’ Moment — When did it become clear that LightBlue’s methodology could influence industry standards? 16:11 Busting Myths — What are the biggest misconceptions about food waste that still exist today? 23:33 Lessons from the Ground — Memorable (and sometimes frustrating) moments working with kitchens and chefs 34:26 From Systems to Tech — The evolution from audits and processes to building scalable tech solutions like FIT 43:24 Inside the Bin — After 13 years, does restaurant waste still surprise him? 52:51 Untapped Opportunities — Where is the biggest opportunity in solving food waste today, and what is Ben building toward? 58:04 Staying the Course — What keeps him motivated after more than a decade in this space? About the Sponsor: This episode is supported by True Digital Park, Thailand’s most comprehensive soft-landing platform for international individuals and companies. From business registration and visa & work permit support to deep immersion in Thailand’s business and cultural ecosystem, True Digital Park helps you build and scale with confidence. Watch the full episode to understand how food waste can be tackled not just through awareness, but through systems, discipline, and scalable solutions.