Finscale in English

After a career at Goldman, Gaurav launched his Private Equity firm to scale companies with gold nugget products. Together, we dissect the concrete value contribution of this New York-based investor, whose partners have extensive CVs. Gaurav discusses VeArc, a subsidiary of Long Arc that provides support services to LAC portfolio companies at cost. We revisit the three pillars of scaling in a well-processed manner. The reason I invited Gaurav is precisely for this scaling process by the book that Long Arc has implemented with its team, as well as its advice from world-renowned industry leaders.

31/08/2024 • 27:50

This is an excerpt from the episode released on Sunday. After a career at Goldman, Gaurav launched his Private Equity firm to scale companies with gold nugget products. Together, we dissect the concrete value contribution of this New York-based investor, whose partners have extensive CVs. Gaurav discusses VeArc, a subsidiary of Long Arc that provides support services to LAC portfolio companies at cost. We revisit the three pillars of scaling in a well-processed manner. The reason I invited Gaurav is precisely for this scaling process by the book that Long Arc has implemented with its team, as well as its advice from world-renowned industry leaders.

28/08/2024 • 06:59

For those who are not familiar, BCB Group is Europe's leading payment service provider for the digital asset economy. A pioneer in the industry, they have gone through the process of becoming regulated as an Authorised Payment Institution in the UK and Europe. We speak with Olly about these regulatory choices, including the decision to operate in France. We detail their offerings and how this UK-born company serves large clients like Gemini and Kraken.  One of the points I also had in mind is the consolidation of custody and governance of its digital asset operations on Metaco, now part of Ripple. We discuss what this brings in terms of scalability and security, as well as the challenges related to their status as a regulated institution. You'll see that it's quite a project, well managed.

17/08/2024 • 26:12

Excerpt from the episode published on Sunday. For those who are not familiar, BCB Group is Europe's leading payment service provider for the digital asset economy. A pioneer in the industry, they have gone through the process of becoming regulated as an Authorised Payment Institution in the UK and Europe. We speak with Olly about these regulatory choices, including the decision to operate in France. We detail their offerings and how this UK-born company serves large clients like Gemini and Kraken.  One of the points I also had in mind is the consolidation of custody and governance of its digital asset operations on Metaco, now part of Ripple. We discuss what this brings in terms of scalability and security, as well as the challenges related to their status as a regulated institution. You'll see that it's quite a project, well managed.

14/08/2024 • 06:58

One of Finscale's Best Of in 2023. There's nothing I enjoy more than exploring complex and intriguing areas of finance with you. n this podcast, our guest from Switzerland sheds light on fiduciary services, trusts, and their relationship with wealth management, as well as common misconceptions. We discuss the use, benefits, and drawbacks of trusts for holding assets such as rainforest deeds, IP, and digital assets, and the importance of fiduciary duties and governance.  We also touch on the typology of clients using trusts, including pioneers, founders, and experienced investors. Siobhan mentions the evolution of regulation and the interest in building trusts in Switzerland, along with the controversy surrounding the Pandora papers. During the conversation, she talks about the challenges of building trusts in the context of digital assets, including specific use cases such as the inheritance of NFTs and the creation of a Token Foundation through which DAOs with their own on-chain treasury can interact with the off-chain world. She explains the partnerships Saffery Champness is building with service providers in traditional finance and the crypto ecosystem, such as Coinify.

03/08/2024 • 36:13

In the same way that I greatly enjoyed hosting the EIB, the EIF, a deputy, and a finance minister, I am delighted this week to understand the role played by the World Bank in the digitalisation and modernisation of financial systems in emerging countries. Together with Andrea, we explore the example of instant payments and examine the role played by the World Bank in this implementation, particularly through the practical case of their deployment in the Western Balkans. This sheds light on this historic institution based in Washington, DC—a great way to understand the nature of their collaborations with both public and private sectors. You will understand concretely how the World Bank assists developing economies worldwide in modernizing payment systems and the financial sector in general. By partnering with policymakers and the private sector, it develops a new playbook to drive impactful and resilient development. Modernizing the financial sector is just one aspect of it, as the World Bank has already been supporting more than 12,000 development projects, including infrastructure, schools, and roads.

20/07/2024 • 26:30

This is an excrept of the episode published on Sunday. In the same way that I greatly enjoyed hosting the EIB, the EIF, a deputy, and a finance minister, I am delighted this week to understand the role played by the World Bank in the digitalisation and modernisation of financial systems in emerging countries. Together with Andrea, we explore the example of instant payments and examine the role played by the World Bank in this implementation, particularly through the practical case of their deployment in the Western Balkans. This sheds light on this historic institution based in Washington, DC—a great way to understand the nature of their collaborations with both public and private sectors. You will understand concretely how the World Bank assists developing economies worldwide in modernizing payment systems and the financial sector in general. By partnering with policymakers and the private sector, it develops a new playbook to drive impactful and resilient development. Modernizing the financial sector is just one aspect of it, as the World Bank has already been supporting more than 12,000 development projects, including infrastructure, schools, and roads.

17/07/2024 • 06:56

I had been contemplating this discussion for four years already. I do not regret waiting. I am absolutely delighted to have had a chat with Steffen, who provides us with a wealth of insights into the democratisation of private equity. What is pleasing about this entrepreneur is his profoundly deep knowledge of the industry and his vision. He explains how he executed his plan with his team, from the very first investment of EUR 10 million in an EQT fund to the platform we now know with its myriad of strategies, secondary management, as well as the white label offerings aimed at institutions that want to diversify their private equity offerings for their private clients. It is quite an extraordinary achievement that I am excited to share with you today. Don’t miss a bit and enjoy the show.

06/07/2024 • 38:49

This is an excerpt of the episode published on Sunday. I had been contemplating this discussion for four years already. I do not regret waiting. I am absolutely delighted to have had a chat with Steffen, who provides us with a wealth of insights into the democratisation of private equity. What is pleasing about this entrepreneur is his profoundly deep knowledge of the industry and his vision. He explains how he executed his plan with his team, from the very first investment of EUR 10 million in an EQT fund to the platform we now know with its myriad of strategies, secondary management, as well as the white label offerings aimed at institutions that want to diversify their private equity offerings for their private clients. It is quite an extraordinary achievement that I am excited to share with you today. Don’t miss a bit and enjoy the show.

03/07/2024 • 06:58

I realised that not everyone knows what stablecoins are and how they differ from each other and from CBDCs. I covered this topic some time ago on my French channel with the entrepreneur Pablo Veyrat, the founder of Angle. In this episode, we discuss it in more detail with my guest: Sinclair. This founder, who spent some time at Palantir, talks about the Mural Pay venture he created in the US to rationalise instant global payments and invoicing. Mural eliminates delays and fees, allowing vendors and contractors to be paid with stablecoin-based payments.  Various use cases are examined more closely to understand the start-up's strategy and how it evangelises its market, along with how the teams developed their solution: integrations and features.

22/06/2024 • 36:17

This is an excerpt of the episode published on Sunday. I realised that not everyone knows what stablecoins are and how they differ from each other and from CBDCs. I covered this topic some time ago on my French channel with the entrepreneur Pablo Veyrat, the founder of Angle. In this episode, we discuss it in more detail with my guest: Sinclair. This founder, who spent some time at Palantir, talks about the Mural Pay venture he created in the US to rationalise instant global payments and invoicing. Mural eliminates delays and fees, allowing vendors and contractors to be paid with stablecoin-based payments.  Various use cases are examined more closely to understand the start-up's strategy and how it evangelises its market, along with how the teams developed their solution: integrations and features.

20/06/2024 • 06:56

A unique encounter between podcasters. This week, I have the pleasure of speaking with a Climate tech investor who is convinced that investments in this sector will primarily be driven by investor communities.  This bottom-up approach, familiar to crowdfunding, is now being applied to climate initiatives. Yoann hosts podcasts and a YouTube channel and has made it his mission to grow this community to have an even greater impact on climate change. You will learn about the role that TikTok can play in reversing the trend. Climate Insiders focuses on hardware, so we cover numerous innovations, from photocatalysis to mycoremediation. An episode that will change your perspective and really make you think.

08/06/2024 • 35:03

This is an excerpt of the episode published on Sunday. A unique encounter between podcasters. This week, I have the pleasure of speaking with a Climate tech investor who is convinced that investments in this sector will primarily be driven by investor communities.  This bottom-up approach, familiar to crowdfunding, is now being applied to climate initiatives. Yoann hosts podcasts and a YouTube channel and has made it his mission to grow this community to have an even greater impact on climate change. You will learn about the role that TikTok can play in reversing the trend. Climate Insiders focuses on hardware, so we cover numerous innovations, from photocatalysis to mycoremediation. An episode that will change your perspective and really make you think.

05/06/2024 • 06:51

There is still a long way to go to transform the PE industry, which still relies on Excel for many tasks. These manual processes are a golden opportunity for anyone looking to innovate in the industry and help the constellation of players in this ecosystem improve their efficiency and better serve their clients. I reached out to Chronograph because I am well aware of the work they have been doing for years to streamline data management, analytics, and reporting. This US-based solution offers a portfolio monitoring software that makes life easier for PE investors across the globe. Charlie shares with us their story and how the initially LP-focused offering naturally expanded to GPs. We discuss the solution and the specific problems it addresses. One of the three essential pillars of the PE stack.

25/05/2024 • 31:11

This is an excerpt of the episode published on Sunday. There is still a long way to go to transform the PE industry, which still relies on Excel for many tasks. These manual processes are a golden opportunity for anyone looking to innovate in the industry and help the constellation of players in this ecosystem improve their efficiency and better serve their clients. I reached out to Chronograph because I am well aware of the work they have been doing for years to streamline data management, analytics, and reporting. This US-based solution offers a portfolio monitoring software that makes life easier for PE investors across the globe. Charlie shares with us their story and how the initially LP-focused offering naturally expanded to GPs. We discuss the solution and the specific problems it addresses. One of the three essential pillars of the PE stack.

22/05/2024 • 06:53

I've been discussing SaaS on the podcast for years. In his renowned article "Why software is eating the world", Marc Andreessen explained that software would take over large portions of the economy, driven by the proliferation and success of the SaaS model. This model has shifted us from physical and localised systems to global, scalable, and efficient software solutions. Thirteen years after these insights, what do we think about SaaS? It's a topic I've been eager to explore with an expert. Hillel, who has years of experience investing in B2B SaaS, joined me for this discussion. We covered many topics, including the evolution of pricing models, the value proposition, the transformation of incumbents, the shift to cloud-based services, and more recently, topics related to AI. This was an opportunity for me to introduce you to Kennet, whom I know well. We discussed the funds, the thesis, and certain investments, such as Eloomi, which have exited. This investment allows us to talk about KPIs and the role of sustainable growth in investment decisions.

11/05/2024 • 35:14

Excerpt of the episode released on Sunday. I've been discussing SaaS on the podcast for years. In his renowned article "Why software is eating the world", Marc Andreessen explained that software would take over large portions of the economy, driven by the proliferation and success of the SaaS model. This model has shifted us from physical and localised systems to global, scalable, and efficient software solutions. Thirteen years after these insights, what do we think about SaaS? It's a topic I've been eager to explore with an expert. Hillel, who has years of experience investing in B2B SaaS, joined me for this discussion. We covered many topics, including the evolution of pricing models, the value proposition, the transformation of incumbents, the shift to cloud-based services, and more recently, topics related to AI. This was an opportunity for me to introduce you to Kennet, whom I know well. We discussed the funds, the thesis, and certain investments, such as Eloomi, which have exited. This investment allows us to talk about KPIs and the role of sustainable growth in investment decisions.

08/05/2024 • 06:48

I'm excited to speak with Ronit this week. He has a talent for simplifying finance from a macro perspective and can think conceptually about the industry's future. Recently, this brilliant mind from Citi published a new book on the industry's future. He presents a comprehensive overview of money throughout history, spanning from ancient times to the present day and beyond.  This episode provides us with a great opportunity to gain perspective and focus on some incredible aspects that tech in finance enables, such as promoting greater inclusion and providing access to banking services for women. These use cases demonstrate that change is indeed underway and is accelerating. I share Ronit's passion for discussing the future. So, I'll let you enjoy this beautiful retrospective guided by his book. 

27/04/2024 • 43:22

Excerpt of the episode released on Sunday. I'm excited to speak with Ronit this week. He has a talent for simplifying finance from a macro perspective and can think conceptually about the industry's future. Recently, this brilliant mind from Citi published a new book on the industry's future. He presents a comprehensive overview of money throughout history, spanning from ancient times to the present day and beyond.  This episode provides us with a great opportunity to gain perspective and focus on some incredible aspects that tech in finance enables, such as promoting greater inclusion and providing access to banking services for women. These use cases demonstrate that change is indeed underway and is accelerating. I share Ronit's passion for discussing the future. So, I'll let you enjoy this beautiful retrospective guided by his book. 

26/04/2024 • 07:07

The topic of Climate Risk is one that deeply concerns me, as it does many individuals I engage with. In the financial world, it's a subject that's perceived in vastly different ways, depending on whom you speak to. I was keen to have this conversation because Climate X's method strikes me as pragmatic, sensible, and attuned to business realities, a rarity in the climate risk analysis arena. Lukky, the CEO of Climate X, is an intriguing figure with a profound grasp of his field. He has consistently impressed me since our initial meeting. Our discussion delves into their business methodology and the development of their Spectra model—an impressive and user-friendly tool. We explore how this UK-based start-up achieves global reach in providing climate risk data by fusing scientific research with econometrics to produce comprehensive climate risk analytics. I assure you, the conversation is not just enlightening but genuinely captivating.

13/04/2024 • 48:53

This is an excerpt of the episode published on Sunday. The topic of Climate Risk is one that deeply concerns me, as it does many individuals I engage with. In the financial world, it's a subject that's perceived in vastly different ways, depending on whom you speak to. I was keen to have this conversation because Climate X's method strikes me as pragmatic, sensible, and attuned to business realities, a rarity in the climate risk analysis arena. Lukky, the CEO of Climate X, is an intriguing figure with a profound grasp of his field. He has consistently impressed me since our initial meeting. Our discussion delves into their business methodology and the development of their Spectra model—an impressive and user-friendly tool. We explore how this UK-based start-up achieves global reach in providing climate risk data by fusing scientific research with econometrics to produce comprehensive climate risk analytics. I assure you, the conversation is not just enlightening but genuinely captivating.

10/04/2024 • 07:29

About three years ago, I began to explore the story of Florian, an early cryptocurrency advocate and tax expert with experience at one of the Big Four accounting firms.  Nearly a decade ago, Florian grappled with the tax declaration challenges that all crypto holders face. Currently, a minority accurately report their crypto earnings, but this may shift in 2026 due to the impending introduction of DAC 8.  This directive aims to give tax authorities the information they need to track and assess the tax implications of crypto-generated income by creating a standardised framework for cross-border reporting.  The potential market for Blockpit is vast. Our conversation spans Blockpit's technological core, their client base, and their global expansion efforts. I find the complexities of audit trails and risk management, especially regarding cyber risks, particularly challenging. You'll see just how seriously this Austrian start-up takes these challenges.

30/03/2024 • 31:04

This is an excerpt of the episode published on Sunday. About three years ago, I began to explore the story of Florian, an early cryptocurrency advocate and tax expert with experience at one of the Big Four accounting firms.  Nearly a decade ago, Florian grappled with the tax declaration challenges that all crypto holders face. Currently, a minority accurately report their crypto earnings, but this may shift in 2026 due to the impending introduction of DAC 8.  This directive aims to give tax authorities the information they need to track and assess the tax implications of crypto-generated income by creating a standardised framework for cross-border reporting.  The potential market for Blockpit is vast. Our conversation spans Blockpit's technological core, their client base, and their global expansion efforts. I find the complexities of audit trails and risk management, especially regarding cyber risks, particularly challenging. You'll see just how seriously this Austrian start-up takes these challenges.

28/03/2024 • 07:32

Is it accurate to say "A forewarned man is worth two"? Let's think about this as we delve into the transformative effects of technology, LLMs, and AI on the investment sector. It was this curiosity that led me to a conversation with André, with the aim to uncover how these advancements might reshape the entire investment value chain.  Between you and me, there hasn’t been a week when I haven’t reflected on this topic. This engineer, turned VC, shared what they've deployed Earlybird to refine processes, including sourcing, analysis, due diligence, and even how they interact with entrepreneurs and strategise divestments. It’s particularly intriguing to examine the role automation plays in a field traditionally celebrated for its human touch. André advocates for what he calls "augmented VC" - the perfect blend of personal investment intuition and a methodical approach to minimise biases and inefficiencies. You're about to get a glimpse of how these technologies could revolutionise the industry. My advice - dive deeper, stay informed, and brace yourself for the changes ahead. They promise to redefine the landscape.

16/03/2024 • 43:59

This is an excerpt of the episode published on Sunday. Is it accurate to say "A forewarned man is worth two"? Let's think about this as we delve into the transformative effects of technology, LLMs, and AI on the investment sector. It was this curiosity that led me to a conversation with André, with the aim to uncover how these advancements might reshape the entire investment value chain.  Between you and me, there hasn’t been a week when I haven’t reflected on this topic. This engineer, turned VC, shared what they've deployed Earlybird to refine processes, including sourcing, analysis, due diligence, and even how they interact with entrepreneurs and strategise divestments. It’s particularly intriguing to examine the role automation plays in a field traditionally celebrated for its human touch. André advocates for what he calls "augmented VC" - the perfect blend of personal investment intuition and a methodical approach to minimise biases and inefficiencies. You're about to get a glimpse of how these technologies could revolutionise the industry. My advice - dive deeper, stay informed, and brace yourself for the changes ahead. They promise to redefine the landscape.

13/03/2024 • 07:22

For this second part of the discussion, I'm speaking with Vatsa to delve into numerous topics.  First off, he shares his recent transition to CEO and gives us an inside look at how the company is organised: from the Executive Committee's makeup to Charlie's handover, the dynamics with investors, and his approach to leadership. We also dive into the company's core activities, its global footprint, and more about what they do. We also focused on two key areas - the impact of integrating AI and LLMs into their offerings—detailing the tangible benefits for them and their clients—and their strategies for staying ahead of financial crime and scams. It's insightful —don't miss it.  Enjoy the show! And make sure you don't miss the first part of the episode, where I’m be chatting with the founder of ComplyAdvantage.

04/03/2024 • 40:01

My last discussion with Charlie was four years ago. What a joy it was to speak with him again and to hear about all the ground they've covered. We cover the journey of this unique RegTech entrepreneur who began his journey solo, discussing the early days and his vision for the company. We delve into his journey as CEO, exploring how his role has evolved and helped shape ComplyAdvantage into what it is today. We also cover the transition of leadership to Vatsa and his new role as Executive Chairman.  Simply brilliant! Enjoy the show! And make sure you don't miss the next episode, where I'll be chatting with the current CEO about the company's comprehensive value proposition.

02/03/2024 • 28:15

Welcome to this week's special offering: a two-part series on ComplyAdvantage, a company that's been on my radar for its impressive strides in RegTech. We're in for a treat as I sit down with both the visionary founder, Charlie Delingpole, and his successor, Vatsa Narasimha , to peel back the layers of this dynamic company. I'm sharing excerpts from these two episodes, which will be broadcast two days apart. Enjoy ! Part#1:  Charlie Delingpole Part #2: Vatsa Narasimha 

28/02/2024 • 01:26

I have been closely observing for 4 years how Clarity AI has evolved. This team, exceptionally strong in AI topics and with an ultra-strong academic footprint, has developed an interesting offering for the financial sector (among others). Having Angel on the podcast was a chance to delve deeper into their value proposition and understand the values they uphold through their platform.  The DNA of this scale-up is fundamentally in sustainability and transparency. So, we took a closer look at the models developed, how their offering has expanded and adapted to the needs dictated by European regulation and what makes their sustainability tech kit the "most comprehensive and granular" in the market. We also talked about clients like Klarna and solutions for meeting the requirements of CRR, SFDR, and TCFD. No wonder Clarity AI has won so many awards.

24/02/2024 • 37:44

This is an excerpt of the episode published on Sunday. I have been closely observing for 4 years how Clarity AI has evolved. This team, exceptionally strong in AI topics and with an ultra-strong academic footprint, has developed an interesting offering for the financial sector (among others). Having Angel on the podcast was a chance to delve deeper into their value proposition and understand the values they uphold through their platform.  The DNA of this scale-up is fundamentally in sustainability and transparency. So, we took a closer look at the models developed, how their offering has expanded and adapted to the needs dictated by European regulation and what makes their sustainability tech kit the "most comprehensive and granular" in the market. We also talked about clients like Klarna and solutions for meeting the requirements of CRR, SFDR, and TCFD. No wonder Clarity AI has won so many awards.

21/02/2024 • 06:58