Couchonomics with Arjun

Welcome to another stimulating episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, where we delve into the intricacies of the financial world! Today we're setting our sights on the evolving landscape of digital banking. We have an insider's look at how traditional banking is transforming to keep up with the digital wave. If you've ever wondered what it takes to make a bank future-ready, you won&apo...

Sit tight, folks! In this electrifying episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, we're diving deep into the labyrinth of the fintech world. How will AI change the way we pay? What's the future of credit cards? How secure is your money really? We've got Khalil Alami, the Founder & CEO of Telr, to answer these burning questions and more! Meet Khalil Alami, a fintech legend with more tha...

Dive deep into the bustling world of investment, fintech, and the strategy behind successful consolidations. In this episode of Couchonomics, we venture into the art of picking the right businesses, the significance of 'cash,' and why sometimes, it's not just about growth. Meet Nabil Ismail, the Executive Director at Gulf Capital. With over a decade of experience in investment and p...

Join Arjun on this riveting episode of Couchonomics as we embark on a journey from the nuances of Web 3.0 to the impending carbon economy. With gaming, metaverse, and blockchain as stepping stones, Arjun and his esteemed guest dive deep into the future of technology and sustainability. Meet Prakash Somosundram, a serial entrepreneur with a flair for innovation in the digital advertising, startup,...

In this insightful episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, we engage in a thought-provoking discussion with Khalifa AlShamsi, the CEO at e& life, navigating the intriguing waters of digital disruption, FinTech innovations, and the rise of Super Apps. Tune in as we explore the cutting-edge strategies propelling the technology and investment group e& into new horizons.  Khalifa AlShamsi, our est...

Welcome to this unique, AI-focused episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, where we revisit some of the most insightful discussions from our second season. This special edition provides a deep dive into the burgeoning field of artificial intelligence and its transformative impact on the fintech industry. Featuring conversations with esteemed guests: Dr. Noah Raford, a renowned futurist with a grasp on...

Welcome to the latest episode of Couchonomics with Arjun. In this fascinating conversation, we delve deep into the world of Ultra Platforms, fintech, and the future of digital services with our esteemed guest, Abdallah Abu-Sheikh, the dynamic CEO of Botim and Founder of Astra Tech. Abdallah Abu-Sheikh is a renowned entrepreneur and a visionary leader in the MENA region, known for his unconventiona...

Welcome to another insightful episode of Couchonomics with Arjun. In this episode, we delve into the innovative world of FinTech, discussing the groundbreaking journey of Twig, a start-up focused on cultivating a culture of saving in the MENA region. Twig's unique embedded savings infrastructure offers goal-based saving tools, enabling consumers to realize their financial dreams effortlessly....

In this riveting episode of Couchonomics, we dive deep into the intricate world of blockchain, metaverse, and web 3.0 with Amna Usman Chaudhry, a renowned Financial Economist & Emerging Tech Strategist. From the mechanics of blockchain and metaverse to its implications on fintech, Islamic fintech, and the efforts towards gender equality, this conversation explores the intersection of technolog...

Welcome to a very special edition of Couchonomics with Arjun, your window into the dynamic world of global finance. We're incredibly excited to share this episode with you, recorded live from the city of a thousand hills, Kigali, Rwanda. Arjun, our esteemed host, joined the conversation at the first-ever Inclusive FinTech Forum (IFF), a global platform advocating financial inclusion and good...

Welcome to the 50th episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, the show where we dissect the evolving landscape of global finance. In this, anniversary, episode, we take a deep dive into the financial technologies shaping the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Our special guest, Renier Lemmens, Group CEO of Geidea, shares his insights on the future of payments, the reality of cashless societies,...

Welcome to the latest episode of Couchonomics with your host, Arjun. In this episode, we sit down with Pat Patel, Executive Director of Elevandi, an esteemed thought leader in the FinTech ecosystem, who takes us on a deep dive into the dynamic world of financial technology, its potential, and how we can harness its power to drive economic growth across borders. Elevandi is a company initiated by t...

Welcome to another electrifying episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, where we're making sense of the rapidly evolving world of finance and technology! In this episode, we're venturing into the Middle East's dynamic fintech landscape, discussing the breakthroughs and challenges of online payments, and understanding what it takes to connect a fragmented market. We're joined by an...

In this episode, we explore the burgeoning digital payment landscape in Egypt. The market is seeing rapid growth, driven by new digital platforms, Covid-19's impact on consumer behavior, and supportive regulations. Meet our guest, Dr. Waleed Sadek, a seasoned entrepreneur and expert in digital financial services. He is the founder and CEO of PaySky and Yalla, leading players in the Middle Eas...

In this enlightening episode, we delve into the fascinating world of crypto and blockchain, exploring how these groundbreaking technologies are reshaping not only finance, but also society and governance. Our guest is Saqr Ereiqat, a blockchain pioneer and Co-Founder of Crypto Oasis, who brings a wealth of experience from his time at IBM and his role in shaping Dubai's official government blo...

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 comprehensive range of products, such as the C3Pa...

In the latest episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, we had the pleasure of interviewing Oliver Hughes, former CEO of Tinkoff, one of the largest digital platforms in Russia. Oliver's unique experience in the finance industry and his excellent reputation in the market led him to be recruited by Oleg Tinkov as part of the leadership team of the newly-launched Tinkoff Credit Systems. Oliver's...

In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, we speak with Madiha Sattar, VP of Careem Pay, the fintech arm of Careem, the Middle East's first unicorn. Madiha has had a versatile and ambitious career across finance, tech, and media. Prior to joining Careem, she worked in management consulting at McKinsey and in corporate strategy at JPMorgan. She also has experience as a journalist covering po...

In this episode of Couchonomics, Arjun speaks with Gabrielle Inzirillo, Head of Ecosystem Development at Abu Dhabi Global Market's Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), about building a fintech ecosystem in the UAE and the challenges and opportunities that come with it. Gabrielle previously managed a venture capital firm's EMEA fintech division, investing in early-stage startup...

In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, we had the pleasure of speaking with Sopnendu Mohanty, Chief FinTech Officer of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and Chairman of Elevandi Board. Sopnendu has been responsible for the development of regulatory policies, innovation strategies, and public good projects to enhance the competitiveness of the financial sector in Singapore. He has also...

In the latest episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, the guest is Navin Gupta, the Managing Director of South Asia and MENA at Ripple. Ripple is a blockchain company that provides enterprise-grade solutions for faster, more transparent, and more cost-effective financial services. Navin has extensive experience in the financial industry and is responsible for expanding Ripple's presence in South...

Welcome to another episode of Couchonomics with Arjun. In this episode, we have a special guest, Tram Anh Nguyen, Co-Founder of CFTE - Centre for Finance, Technology and Entrepreneurship. Tram Anh has an impressive professional background in the finance industry, having worked with renowned institutions like Standard Chartered Bank, Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein, and UBS, before founding CFTE. CF...

In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, we welcome Peter De Caluwe, the CEO of Thunes, a global payments network that enables cross-border payments from 130 countries. Peter shares with us how Thunes is revolutionizing the way international payments are made, making them faster, easier, and more affordable. Thunes is focused on remittance companies, payroll providers, and the travel industry,...

In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, we welcome Noor Sweid, managing partner at Global Ventures, to share her insights on venture capital funds and the investment potential of the MENA region.  During our discussion, Noor emphasizes the importance of conducting due diligence when choosing an industry to invest in and understanding the stage of startup development it needs help with. She als...

 In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, we discuss how open banking and open finance are transforming the financial industry, not only in the MENA region but also globally. We'll be joined by Hisham Al-Falih, Co-Founder & CEO of Lean Technologies, as we explore the challenges, opportunities, and latest developments in the field. Tune in to find out how the MENA region is catching up...