Innovation In Finance: The Podcast
Episode 2: Funding FinTech – The world of venture capital
Welcome back to Innovation in Finance: The Podcast. Our second episode introduces three leaders from the venture capital sector to discuss the important role of investment in the context of FinTech – and where it might be able to do more. What responsibility do investors have to improve diversity, inclusion and ESG in the sector? Is venture capital funding always the best fit for financial technology innovators, and if so, which type? And where do the experts think sound investments are being made as the world looks towards a ‘new normal’?
In case you missed the first episode – an absorbing discussion on FinTech’s social impact before, during and after the pandemic – you can scroll down to listen. Stay tuned to the #InnovationInFinance hashtag for podcast reaction, new episodes, and the latest on the series as we conclude filming before the final launch. Enjoy!
Guests
Eileen Burbidge MBE is a Partner at Passion Capital, the pre-eminent early-stage technology venture fund based in London. She brings extensive operational experience to her investment activities gleaned from business and product roles at Yahoo!, Skype, Apple and elsewhere. On behalf of Passion, Eileen serves as non-executive director on a number of fast-growing SMEs including Monzo Bank and Digital Shadows. Eileen is also HM Treasury’s Special Envoy for FinTech.
Tim Levene is Co-Founder and CEO of the UK’s only publicly listed fintech fund, Augmentum Fintech plc. As well as being an active fintech investor, Tim is an experienced entrepreneur, having also co-founded juice bar business Crussh and betting exchange Flutter.com, the latter of which became one of the highest profile internet businesses in the UK after it merged with Betfair.com. Tim subsequently served as Commercial Director of Betfair.
Kester Keating runs early and growth stage equity investing for Barclays in the US. He invests in enterprise software and fintech companies; recent investments rounds he’s led include TouchBistro and Cloud9, where he is also a board member. Early stage investing includes Barclays’ Lab programme focused on female founders and prior to this Kester worked as a consultant to financial services clients across Europe and the Middle East.
Eileen Burbidge MBE is a Partner at Passion Capital, the pre-eminent early-stage technology venture fund based in London. She brings extensive operational experience to her investment activities gleaned from business and product roles at Yahoo!, Skype, Apple and elsewhere. On behalf of Passion, Eileen serves as non-executive director on a number of fast-growing SMEs including Monzo Bank and Digital Shadows. Eileen is also HM Treasury’s Special Envoy for FinTech.
Tim Levene is Co-Founder and CEO of the UK’s only publicly listed fintech fund, Augmentum Fintech plc. As well as being an active fintech investor, Tim is an experienced entrepreneur, having also co-founded juice bar business Crussh and betting exchange Flutter.com, the latter of which became one of the highest profile internet businesses in the UK after it merged with Betfair.com. Tim subsequently served as Commercial Director of Betfair.
Kester Keating runs early and growth stage equity investing for Barclays in the US. He invests in enterprise software and fintech companies; recent investments rounds he’s led include TouchBistro and Cloud9, where he is also a board member. Early stage investing includes Barclays’ Lab programme focused on female founders and prior to this Kester worked as a consultant to financial services clients across Europe and the Middle East.
Host
Liz Lumley is a specialist commentator on global FinTech. She has spent over 20 years working in the financial technology space, most recently as Managing Director at Startupbootcamp FinTech London and as an editor at financial services and technology newswire, Finextra. In addition to being an internationally recognised conference speaker and moderator, she is currently Director of FinTech at VC Innovations, a London-based disruptive community, content and experience builder for innovation industries.
Liz Lumley is a specialist commentator on global FinTech. She has spent over 20 years working in the financial technology space, most recently as Managing Director at Startupbootcamp FinTech London and as an editor at financial services and technology newswire, Finextra. In addition to being an internationally recognised conference speaker and moderator, she is currently Director of FinTech at VC Innovations, a London-based disruptive community, content and experience builder for innovation industries.
Episode 1: What next for FinTech after Covid-19?
The Innovation in Finance series was conceived to shine a light on the impact that FinTech has had on individuals and communities around the world. Since many of the films were made, however, the Covid-19 pandemic has reshaped the way people live and work – in some ways temporarily and in others permanently.
The first podcast episode of the Innovation in Finance series brings together four knowledgeable and passionate leaders from around the global FinTech ecosystem. We look critically at the progress FinTech has made since the previous crisis in 2008, and question whether the current one exposes some of its shortcomings; we also look to the future of finance, asking how FinTech can improve its social impact in a post-Covid world, and what the next decade will bring for FinTech companies of all varieties – and their users.
Guests
Ben Brabyn is a business development and ecosystem expert who has recently launched the GenieShares campaign, highlighting entrepreneurs who are giving equity away to members of the public. He is former Head of Level39, Europe’s leading fintech and cybersecurity cluster based in London, where he welcomed more than 200 companies from more than 50 countries. Prior to leading Level39, Ben consulted to the UK Government, running UK Trade & Investment’s Venture Capital Unit and introducing overseas investor to UK companies.
Louise Brett is a Senior Partner in Deloitte Digital and Head of FinTech and Financial Services Innovation at Deloitte Europe, working across the ecosystem with Financial Services clients, government bodies, regulators, advisors, VCs and the broader FinTech community. She has recently taken on the Global Advisory Partner for Revolut. She leads Deloitte’s focus on Women in Leadership and is passionate about innovation and the potency of inclusive leadership and diversity of thought to drive superior long term commercial success.
Dee Choubey is the Founder and CEO of MoneyLion, the award-winning all-in-one mobile banking membership that helps millions of the hardest working Americans save more, borrow for less and invest everyday. Prior to founding MoneyLion in 2013, Dee began his career as an investment banker at leading Wall Street firms including Goldman Sachs, Citadel and Barclays Capital.
Diana Biggs is Global Head of Innovation for HSBC Private Banking, where she is responsible for the testing of new propositions and overseeing FinTech partnerships. She has spent three years at HSBC, initially for their retail bank across UK and Europe. She is a Board Member of the World Economic Forum’s Digital Leaders of Europe Community and a Head Tutor for the University of Oxford Said Business School’s Blockchain Strategy Programme.
Ben Brabyn is a business development and ecosystem expert who has recently launched the GenieShares campaign, highlighting entrepreneurs who are giving equity away to members of the public. He is former Head of Level39, Europe’s leading fintech and cybersecurity cluster based in London, where he welcomed more than 200 companies from more than 50 countries. Prior to leading Level39, Ben consulted to the UK Government, running UK Trade & Investment’s Venture Capital Unit and introducing overseas investor to UK companies.
Louise Brett is a Senior Partner in Deloitte Digital and Head of FinTech and Financial Services Innovation at Deloitte Europe, working across the ecosystem with Financial Services clients, government bodies, regulators, advisors, VCs and the broader FinTech community. She has recently taken on the Global Advisory Partner for Revolut. She leads Deloitte’s focus on Women in Leadership and is passionate about innovation and the potency of inclusive leadership and diversity of thought to drive superior long term commercial success.
Dee Choubey is the Founder and CEO of MoneyLion, the award-winning all-in-one mobile banking membership that helps millions of the hardest working Americans save more, borrow for less and invest everyday. Prior to founding MoneyLion in 2013, Dee began his career as an investment banker at leading Wall Street firms including Goldman Sachs, Citadel and Barclays Capital.
Diana Biggs is Global Head of Innovation for HSBC Private Banking, where she is responsible for the testing of new propositions and overseeing FinTech partnerships. She has spent three years at HSBC, initially for their retail bank across UK and Europe. She is a Board Member of the World Economic Forum’s Digital Leaders of Europe Community and a Head Tutor for the University of Oxford Said Business School’s Blockchain Strategy Programme.
Host
Will Beeson is a financial innovation specialist, advisor and entrepreneur currently building a new consumer fintech in the US. Previously, Will co-founded Allica, a digital bank for businesses in the UK. After starting his career at Citigroup in New York, Will spent nearly a decade in Europe working with and managing financial services companies prior to launching Allica.
Will Beeson is a financial innovation specialist, advisor and entrepreneur currently building a new consumer fintech in the US. Previously, Will co-founded Allica, a digital bank for businesses in the UK. After starting his career at Citigroup in New York, Will spent nearly a decade in Europe working with and managing financial services companies prior to launching Allica.
Related Content
Helping small businesses to help themselves
Getting the right loan can determine the future of a small business, but low credit scores can get in the way. A Nigerian lender is taking on traditional finance models, helping growing companies access the cash they need.
Presented by Migo and Innovate Finance
Will physical banking become obsolete?
Enormous advances in digital banking have revolutionised financial products around the world, but some banks believe a physical presence is key to building a new customer base.
Helping charities to survive in the age of contactless
An increasingly cashless society could spell disaster for charities that rely on donations of spare change to carry out their work, especially smaller organisations. But digital solutions, like contactless donating, are providing the key to survival.
Presented by Goodbox
