The Irish Tech News Podcast

🚀New Episode Alert! 🎙️Dive into the world of FinTech with our latest episode of One Vision — the FinTech Fuse. Join Theo and our guest Alex Jimenez, the OG of FinTech OG, as they explore the major themes for 2026 from innovation to governance, as AI and M&A take center stage. Explore how money movement might become ‘invisible’. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on the future of AI, digital transformation, and the evolving landscape of the banking industry.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:51 Reflecting on 2025: Key FinTech Trends03:22 AI in FinTech: Current State and Future Prospects04:09 Challenges and Considerations in AI Implementation13:27 The Evolution of Banking Industry23:34 Looking Ahead: 2026 and Beyond📍 Hot take: “When you start thinking about the daily experience of digital banking for retail customers … the next wave is conversational.”#AI #FinTech #DigitalTransformation #BankingOnAI #BankingIndustry Find Alex Jimenez on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ralexjimenez/ Find Theodora Lau on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theodoralau/ 🔗 Theo’s latest book: Banking on (Artificial) Intelligence: https://www.bankingonaibook.com/ 🔗 About Unconventional Ventures and the One Vision Podcast: https://www.unconventionalventures.com/

The tech skills gap is ever worsening in Ireland, with even large firms struggling to compete with multinationals to snaffle the best professionals. One person who knows all about this is Gillian Whelan, Managing Director and Country Manager of Emagine Ireland. Gillian has tackled the challenge of accessing specialised tech skills with a model she calls ‘Bestshoring’,  bringing together bespoke, global teams for each project, using the best people from the right locations, at the right cost. In other words, building a custom ‘Avengers dream team’ of global experts. I recently caught up with Gillian.Gillian talks about her background, fixing Ireland’s devastating tech skills gap, the need for security by design and more.More about Gillian Whelan:Since joining Aspira in 2017 as a Senior Executive, Gillian has made a significant impact on the business, progressing to head up the very successful Project Management Training Practice within the company. She was subsequently promoted to Chief Commercial Officer in late 2021 and became the natural choice for the leading role, as the consultancy evolves and grows through its strategic partnership with Emagine. Gillian then took over from former Ireland MD Peter Ryan. 

In this episode of One Vision — FinTech Fuse, we took a deep dive into Walmart with Finovate’s very own Julie Muhn. We started with Walmart's bold move to apply for an ILC charter in 2005, their foray into fintech with OnePay, and the wide array of services they now provide beyond retail. The conversation explored Walmart’s integration of emerging technologies like AI and agentic commerce, as well as potential future developments and implications for traditional banks in retaining customer loyalty and trust in an increasingly digital financial landscape.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome01:07 Walmart's Evolution in Financial Services02:43 Walmart's Super App Ambitions03:41 Walmart's Diverse Service Offerings07:15 Challenges and Limitations of Walmart's App11:01 Agentic Commerce and Future Prospects18:31 Behavioral Data and Consumer Trust26:23 Conclusion and Final Thoughts📍Hot take: (Referring to Walmart) They don't just have financial data, they have behavioral data. 📍Hot take: The banking relationship or relationships will be secondary as the AI kind of chooses which payment method to use. #Walmart #Fintech #AI #AgenticCommerce Find Julie Muhn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julieschicktanz/ Find Theodora Lau on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theodoralau/ 🔗 Theo’s latest book: Banking on (Artificial) Intelligence: https://www.bankingonaibook.com/ 🔗 About Unconventional Ventures and the One Vision Podcast: https://www.unconventionalventures.com/ 

OpenAI’s new Sora reached approximately 627,000 downloads on iOS in its first week but the milestone quickly turned sour as deepfake videos of celebrities, historical figures, and copyrighted characters flooded social media. Families of Robin Williams and Martin Luther King Jr. have condemned the unauthorised AI re-creations, while studios and estates demand OpenAI protect likeness rights. One person who is well placed to talk about this is Ken Jon Miyachi the Co-Founder of BitMind, a deepfake detection company focusing on social platforms. I recently caught up with Ken and he spoke about his background, deepfakes, AI, social media and more.More about BitMind:BitMind is dedicated to the future of trustworthy, scalable AI. they are building an orchestration layer that accelerates the deployment of AI models across decentralised networks, empowering developers to contribute to groundbreaking projects like Bittensor Subnet 34—the world’s first decentralised deepfake detection system and a keystone of their mission. Through their open-source subnet and API,  BitMind power a suite of applications that deliver unmatched detection fidelity for AI-generated content from social media, search engines, and image hosting platforms, showcasing the transformative potential of decentralised AI.

In this episode of One Vision, Theo hosts Amanda Estiverne-Colas, Director of Payments Practice at Perficient. Amanda shares her journey in financial services, focusing on financial inclusion and fairness by design, as well as the importance of empathy in banking. They also touch on the challenges and opportunities within the financial ecosystem, the need to adapt to changing consumer needs, in order to build a more inclusive future.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome01:25 Amanda's Journey in Financial Services05:39 Empathy and Financial Inclusion06:33 Challenges and Opportunities in FinTech12:19 Global Perspectives and Innovations19:31 Consumer Protection 24:02 Closing Thoughts📍Hot take: “We're focused on automation and efficiency, have we lost the art of relationship building?”📍Hot take:  ”If self-regulation works, then why did we introduce new rules in the last decade or so?” #AI #Fintech #FinancialInclusion #Empathy Find Amanda Estiverne-Colas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-e-37061b28/ Find Theodora Lau on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theodoralau/ 🔗 Theo’s latest book: Banking on (Artificial) Intelligence: https://www.bankingonaibook.com/ 🔗 About Unconventional Ventures and the One Vision Podcast: https://www.unconventionalventures.com/

Halo, the world’s first AI-powered equine performance predictor and insurance platform, launched late last year, redefining how risk is measured and managed in the bloodstock industry. Its insurance capabilities have been developed in conjunction with leading reinsurance broker, Guy Carpenter, and underwriter, Markel. Unlike traditional offerings, Halo integrates real-time predictive analytics with embedded, flexible cover to deliver protection that finally matches how the industry actually operates. I caught up with Neil Sands the Founder of Halo.Neil talks about his background, what Halo does, predicting the horses value, AI and more.More About Halo:Halo is an AI-driven insurtech platform designed for the equine industry. By combining predictive analytics, performance modelling, and embedded insurance, Halo delivers real-time risk insights and tailored protection for horse owners, trainers, and insurers. Its proprietary AI agent, Hailey, provides advanced sales, breeding, and race planning recommendations, making Halo the new intelligence layer for bloodstock. Halo is part of the Fox Design venture studio.

As AI becomes more prominent in our daily lives, it is also reshaping the cybersecurity landscape. So how do Irish  organisations and businesses build a stronger resilience against emerging threats? To find out more about this I spoke to Ivor Buckley Field CTO at Dell Technologies Ireland & Northern Ireland.Ivor talks about his background, multi-cloud, AI, cyber resilience and more.More about Dell Technologies:Dell Technologies is a global team united under a single purpose: to drive human progress through the power of technology. Through AI-powered automation and intelligence, their services help you enhance your IT and end user experiences to maximise innovation end-to-end.

In today’s fast-paced digital world, the way we interact with organizations continues to evolve. In this episode of One Vision — FinTech Fuse, Theo sits down with Charles Oligbo, founder and CEO of Sawport. They discuss how Sawport is filling a gap in the banking experience with virtual branches, enabling customers to engage with their financial institutions without the need for physical visits while still maintaining the personal touch and security needed in today’s world. Banking should be accessible to everyone, anytime, and anywhere. How important is accessibility in banking for you? And what features would you like to see in your experience next? #AI #VirtualBanking #Innovation #CX #DigitalTransformation #BankingTechnology #FinTech  📍Hot take:  Why don't we just take the branch and put it right at their fingertip where they can do everything without having to step out of their house? 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:36 Inspiration Behind Sawport01:34 Virtual Branch and Target Market07:33 Challenges and Future Capabilities13:08 Future Vision and AI IntegrationFind Charles Oligbo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesoligbo/ Find Theodora Lau on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theodoralau/ 🔗 Theo’s latest book: Banking on (Artificial) Intelligence: https://www.bankingonaibook.com/ 🔗 About Unconventional Ventures and the One Vision Podcast: https://www.unconventionalventures.com/

As Christmas time is fast approaching, I thought it would be the right time to catch up with the most famous and busiest person in the world, Santa Claus. Times have changed and Santa has his elves busy in his North Pole workshop using the latest technology to build toys, books and other gifts for boys and girls all over the world. I also caught up with Ruth Roberts the Co-Owner of Cogs Toys and Games who were featured on this year’s Late Late Toy Show, to see what their big sellers will be this Christmas. Here at Irish Tech News we like to promote Irish businesses and its great to see a family owned Irish Toy Shop do so well.Santa Claus and RuthIt’s an interesting fun filled podcast as Santa talks about the technology he uses to help travel around the world on Christmas Eve, Easons best selling kids books, the toys Ruth mentioned, what not to leave out for Rudolf and more. Ruth who is also on the podcast mentions some of their big sellers, Irish made toys and STEM toys too.More about Cogs Toys and Games:Cogs Toys & Games (formerly known as Cogs The Brain Shop) is the definition of a family-run business, run by brother and sister Conor Brady and Ruth Roberts and their cousin Alan Condon. As the ‘Brain’ in the name suggests they sell smart and unique toys, puzzles, games and books for all ages.They also stock a genius collection of fun quality products designed to build better brains and learn through play whatever your age. In the store you can find children’s educational toys, adult brain games, strategy games for children and adults.They have a fantastic, affordable range of clever games, puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, wooden toys, wide range of unique desk toys and brain teasers. Cogs The Brain Shop also supply schools with word skill games, fast talking games, mathematical games, reading games and toys, games which are recommended for dyslexia, games which are recommended for ADHD.

In this episode of One Vision the Fintech Fuse, we chat with Kristen Castell, Managing Director, Fintech CAFE (Center for Accelerating Financial Equity) and Ryan Venderlic, Program Manager at CAFE. The trio discuss the accelerator program's evolution, its focus on financial equity for low to moderate-income communities, and the transformative power of collaboration among founders. Kristen and Ryan also share insights on the impact of AI in fintech and future disruptions in financial services. Tune in to learn how CAFE is fostering mission-driven fintech innovations and supporting their founders post-program.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome01:17 Insights from the CAFE Accelerator Program03:32 Evolution of the FinTech Ecosystem05:32 Post-Program Support for Alumni and the Founders Circles09:52 Mission-Driven FinTech and Challenges13:21 The Role of AI in FinTech17:24 Future Disruptions in Financial Services#AI #Fintech #FinancialServices #FinancialInclusion #BankingIndustry 📍 Hot Take: “Amazing people is Number One for us.”Find Kristen Castell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kriscastell/   Find Ryan Venderlic on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-venderlic-b6964458/   Find Theodora Lau on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theodoralau/ 🔗 Theo’s latest book: Banking on (Artificial) Intelligence: https://www.bankingonaibook.com/ 🔗 About Unconventional Ventures and the One Vision Podcast: https://www.unconventionalventures.com/

Lithium-ion batteries are powering our daily lives, from phones to e-bikes to electric cars, but they also bring a silent risk most workplaces aren’t prepared for. Many don’t know that traditional firefighting techniques often make these fires worse, and without public awareness, communities remain exposed to catastrophic incidents. EHS International is a leading provider of Environmental, Health and Safety services in Ireland, with offices in Cork, Dublin and Belfast) has said many Irish businesses are now scrambling on this, with training on fires related to Lithium-ion batteries increasing 10% in the past year. Derry Cronin the Business Development Director of EHS International also flagged that many do not have policies in place on the issue.I recently caught up with Derry to learn more about this. Derry spoke to me about his background, battery disposal, e-scooters and moreMore about EHS International:EHS International provide their clients nationally and internationally with the broadest range of Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) services available on the market today. These include comprehensive EHS Services Delivery and EHS and Safety related Projects. As well as EHS related Acquisitions and Investment and EHS Technology solutions divisions. These are all led by experts in their respective fields. 

🚀 What's the countdown after Thanksgiving? The new year! 🎙️ Our latest One Vision episode tackles what's ahead for the banking industry in 2026. Theo is joined by Pam Kaur, Tiffani Montez, and Julie Muhn where they dive deep into the unpredictable world of 2025 and discuss the trends shaping the future of fintech, AI, payments, and consumer finance. Don’t miss the bold predictions and thought-provoking discussions on agentic commerce, open banking, data sharing, and more! 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome01:04 Reflecting on 2025: Unpredictable Events02:11 Economic Challenges and Consumer Finance02:47 Market Trends08:19 The Rise of Agentic Commerce10:49 Ethics and Security in an AI Era14:14 Future of Banking and Payments28:31 1033 and Data Sharing 32:23 Crystal Ball Predictions for 2026📍 Hot take: “If you have generative AI tools that are controlling the product discovery and recommendation, you lose all the data associated with that. I think there's definitely not a lot of dialogue about what gen AI means for banking in terms of product discovery.” ~ Tiffani Montez📍 Hot take: “Is anybody tracking how much money they have on their Starbucks card as like an asset?” ~ Pam Kaur📍 Hot take: “So know your customer, know your business. And now we're looking at KYA, Know Your Agent …  We are probably severely behind when it comes to authentication and the security and privacy of it all.” ~ Julie Muhn#AI #Fintech #Payments #Agents #AgenticCommerce #Data🔗 Finovate White Paper: Fintech at the Crossroadshttps://get.informaconnect.com/finovate-2025-white-paper-fintech-at-the-crossroads/?web Find Pam Kaur on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamkaur001/ Find Tiffani Montez on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffani-montez-b794283/ Find Julie Muhn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julieschicktanz/ Find Theodora Lau on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theodoralau/ 🔗 Theo’s latest book: Banking on (Artificial) Intelligence: https://www.bankingonaibook.com/ 🔗 About Unconventional Ventures and the One Vision Podcast: https://www.unconventionalventures.com/

According to the WIN World AI Index only 3% of Irish consumers aged between 35-54 engage with AI regularly. To find out more about this I spoke to  Ivan Jennings, Tech Sales Leader Red Hat Ireland .Ivan talks about his background, the first ever WIN World AI Index Irish findings, AI, ubiquitous computing and moreMore about the WIN World AI Index Survey:The WIN World AI Index Survey 2025 is a global initiative capturing how people in 40 countries perceive, understand, and prepare for the rise of Artificial Intelligence. This pioneering survey provides a unique snapshot of global AI readiness, trust, and usage.

Who’s in on the digital revolution?In this episode of One Vision, Theo welcomes back Simon Kemp, Chief Analyst of DataReportal and Founder of Kepios, for a deep dive into the latest Digital 2026 report. The duo explores the monumental amount of data published over the past six months, including insights on AI usage, internet adoption, socio-demographic disparities, and the hyperbole surrounding digital media. Key highlights include the conservative estimate of over 1 billion monthly users of standalone AI tools, the challenges of internet accessibility in rural areas and among women, and the role of AI in our society. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on digital trends and the future of our digital economy.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:53 Digital 2026 Report Overview02:40 AI Usage Statistics05:09 AI in China and Global Impact07:42 AI Tools and User Behavior23:40 Debunking Myths About AI and Agentic Commerce25:54 Consumer Behavior and AI Adoption34:46 Global Internet Access Disparities39:25 Projections for Digital Trends in 2026Hot Take: “ …  understanding my place in the universe and my broader purpose as a human being. That's such a deep, profound conversation, and we're having it with robots. It. There's something ironic. A computer program.”Hot Take: “ Nothing in any of this is a binary choice and we've got to stop kidding ourselves that there is this magic one ring to rule them all. 'cause there isn't.”#AI #GenerativeAI #AgenticAI #Internet #Digital #Inclusion Find Simon Kemp on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eskimon/ 🔗Digital 2026 Report via DataReportal: https://datareportal.com/reports/?tag=Global Find Theodora Lau on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theodoralau/ 🔗My latest book: Banking on (Artificial) Intelligence: https://www.bankingonaibook.com/ 🔗About Unconventional Ventures and the One Vision Podcast: https://www.unconventionalventures.com/

New research has found that some 58% of Irish shoppers plan to make Black Friday purchases on retailer websites with a .ie domain, citing stronger trust, security and a desire to support Irish businesses as key reasons.The research, carried out by Core Research on behalf of Ireland’s national domain registry (.ie) also showed that some 55% of respondents plan on making a purchase during Black Friday or Cyber Monday. I caught up with David Curtin, Chief Executive of .ie to find out about more of the surveys results and how to shop online safely.David talks about why .ie is safe, online shopping tips, consumers rights, tips for business owners and more.More about David Curtin:David Curtin joined Ireland’s national domain registry (.ie)in November 2002, and was appointed interim Chief Executive in October 2003 and Chief Executive in January 2004. David worked for eight years in Dublin and Paris with the Jefferson Smurfit Group plc. He was Chief Executive of Smurfit Software Services, project manager for the Smurfit Group’s Hyperion systems implementation, and internal auditor of Smurfit Ireland. Prior to this he worked for KPMG in Dublin and Philadelphia. David is a graduate of UCD, a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and holds a first class honours MBA from the UCD Smurfit School.

In this special on-location episode of One Vision, we welcome Andreas Mettenberger, Managing Director of Synpulse Hong Kong, to discuss the latest trends and opportunities in wealth management. Recorded during the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong FinTech Week, we explore the role of technology in wealth management, differences in regional approaches, and the mindset change needed to create new growth opportunities. Andreas emphasizes the potential of AI to streamline operations and enhance client interactions, anticipating a significant acceleration in AI deployment in the coming years.📍 Hot take: The main opportunity for RMs (relationship managers) is not that they will be replaced, but they will become more effective and they will be able to do more within the same amount of time. 00:00 Introduction and Welcome01:32 Challenges in Digital Transformation05:19 AI in Wealth Management09:01 Regional Differences in Wealth Management14:35 The Future of AI in Financial Services17:45 Looking Ahead to 2024#AI #FinancialServices #WealthManagement #DigitalBanking #Innovation #HongKong Find Andreas Mettenberger on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreas-mettenberger/   Find Theodora Lau on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theodoralau/ 🔗My latest book: Banking on (Artificial) Intelligence: https://www.bankingonaibook.com/ 🔗About Unconventional Ventures and the One Vision Podcast: https://www.unconventionalventures.com/ 

Dr Tapani Rinta-Kahila is Senior Lecturer of Business Information Systems at The University of Queensland and Esko Penttinen is an associate Professor at Aalto University School of Business. Dr Tapani Rinta-Kahila and Esko Penttinen worked collaboratively on the landmark study, “The Vicious Circles of Skill Erosion: A Case Study of Cognitive Automation” and they offer different perspectives on the issue of technology-driven skill erosion in the workforce. I caught up with them to find more about this.Tapani Rinta-Kahila and Esko Penttinen talk about their background, skillsets, their paper, context and more.More about Dr Tapani Rinta-Kahila and Esko Penttinen:Dr Tapani Rinta-Kahila is a Senior Lecturer of Business Information Systems and an ARC DECRA Fellow at The University of Queensland Business School. He holds a doctoral degree from Aalto University School of Business, where he wrote an award-winning dissertation on the decommissioning of organisational information systems.Esko Penttinen is Associate Professor (tenured) in Information Systems at Aalto University School of Business. Penttinen holds a D.Sc. in Information Systems Science and a M.Sc. in Economics from Helsinki School of Economics. Esko's research helps organisations understand the intricacies related to the implementation of various forms of artificial intelligence, harnessing its benefits and avoiding the pitfalls. Esko is an avid student of the interplay between humans and machines, curious to generate insights on how to coordinate work tasks efficiently between the two.

In this episode of One Vision, host Theo welcomes Pamela Villanova, VP of Digital Banking at American Eagle Financial Credit Union. They discuss the credit union's major milestone in conducting a digital banking conversion and the multi-year journey it entailed. Pam shares insights into the strategic focus they adopted, emphasizing user experience, data utilization, and the importance of partnerships. The conversation also delves into broader industry trends, such as the rapid adoption of AI and blockchain, and the importance of human connection and adaptability in the face of accelerating change. Tune in to learn about the future of digital banking and how to balance the diverse member needs and innovation.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome01:17 Digital Banking Conversion Journey04:01 Strategic Focus and Challenges06:56 Lessons Learned and Industry Insights10:44 Balancing Member Needs and Innovation19:28 Future Challenges and Opportunities30:47 Conclusion and Final Thoughts/#AI #FinancialServices #BankingIndustry #DigitalTransformation #Innovation #CreditUnion 📍 Hot take: "Don't hide our heads in the sand 'cause that's not gonna help anyone. Be flexible. Understand the pulse of what's going on in our industry and in our communities, and react to it positively."Find Pamela Villanova on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamela-villanova/  Find Theodora Lau on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theodoralau/ 🔗My latest book: Banking on (Artificial) Intelligence: https://www.bankingonaibook.com/ 🔗About Unconventional Ventures and the One Vision Podcast: https://www.unconventionalventures.com/

Microsoft recently launched Dragon Copilot, a next-generation AI clinical assistant designed to transform how clinicians manage time-consuming administrative tasks - from documentation and referrals to after-visit summaries. By streamlining workflows and integrating seamlessly with electronic patient records (EPRs), it frees up valuable time for what matters most: patient care.The technology combines fine-tuned generative AI with Dragon Medical One’s speech capabilities and the ambient AI of Dragon Ambient eXperience (DAX). It comes at a time when a Microsoft-commissioned report revealed that 40% of patients have experienced consultations where clinicians appeared too focused on their screens to fully engage. To find out more about Dragon Copilot I spoke to Dr Simon Wallace, Chief Clinical Information Officer at Microsoft UK and Ireland.Dr Wallace talks about his background, what Dragon Copilot does, the benefits of using Dragon Copilot and more.More about Dr Simon Wallace:Dr Simon Wallace is a medical doctor specialising in GP, hospital, and public health care with over 20 years of experience in healthcare transformation. He currently serves as the Chief Medical Information Officer (CMIO) and Director of Business Strategy for Microsoft UK & Ireland, where he leads the integration of health-tech innovations—especially AI and conversational systems—into clinical workflows.

Earlier this autumn Billy Lenihan spoke with ORF Radio Austria for their technology programme Digital.Leben about something that has already become part of everyday life in parts of Dublin – coffee, books and takeaways delivered by drone. The short feature, broadcast on 29 October 2025, explored how Irish company Manna has turned what began as a pilot project into a real delivery service.The interview came about after meeting Franz Zeller, Head of Science at Austrian public radio ORF, during Maker Faire Rome 2025. I was in Rome reporting for Irish Tech News, part of an international press delegation supported by the Italian Trade Agency and Innova Camera, the Rome Chamber of Commerce agency that organises the fair.