PayPod: The Payments and Fintech Podcast

Episode Topic: In this episode of PayPod: The Payments & Fintech Podcast, we dive into the world of fintech investments with Rikhil Bajaj, Head of Fintech & Software at Tarsadia Investments. Discover the key insights and trends shaping the fintech landscape and gain a deeper understanding of how investors like Tarsadia identify promising opportunities in this dynamic industry. Lessons You'll Learn: Gain invaluable insights into fintech investments, discovering the significance of visionary founders and innovative concepts. Explore the concept of "category-defining companies" and their disruptive potential. Delve into the evolving landscape of "as-a-service" models and consider the importance of data analytics in payments and credit access. Uncover key findings from Tarsadia's recent payments whitepaper and insights into current fintech trends, along with a glimpse into the critical trends shaping the industry's future. About Our Guest: Our guest, Rikhil Bajaj, is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in the financial industry. As a leading figure at Tarsadia Investments, Rikhil brings his expertise to the forefront of fintech and software investments. With a career dedicated to navigating the ever-evolving financial landscape, Rikhil provides valuable insights and perspectives on the trends and opportunities in the fintech sector. Topics Covered: In our conversation with Rikhil, we delve into various topics. We explore Rikhil's career journey in fintech and software investments, Tarsadia Investments' mission, their decision-making criteria, and the concept of "category-defining companies." We discuss the evolving "as-a-Service" landscape, spotlight specific investments like Pagos and Petal, touch on key findings from Tarsadia's payments whitepaper, delve into payment processor competition, and gain insights into anticipated fintech trends—all presented in easy-to-understand language. Check our website: https://www.soarpay.com

Episode Topic: In this episode of PayPod, we dive into the world of private capital and alternative investments, tracing their evolution and discussing the impact of fintech innovation, notably, the birth of Entrilia, co-founded by Eric Faw, Explore how Entrilia's offerings empower financial participants while addressing challenges in automating payments. Discover the keys to successful financial collaborations, the significance of "cloud-native" in fintech, and the transformative role of AI and ML technologies. Get insights into the success factors driving the ever-evolving fintech industry. Lessons You’ll Learn: Discover the evolution of private capital and alternative investments, delve into fintech innovation driving Entrilia's creation, and learn how their services empower financial participants. Explore the challenges in automating payments, the keys to successful financial collaborations, the significance of being "cloud-native" in fintech, and the role of AI and ML technologies. Uncover the success factors in the ever-evolving fintech industry. About Our Guest: Eric Faw, co-founded Entrilia, a prominent fintech company specializing in private capital and alternative investments. With his extensive experience and deep knowledge of the financial technology sector, Eric has played a pivotal role in shaping the future of financial services. His dedication to innovation and improving the financial ecosystem has positioned him as a thought leader in the industry. Topics Covered: Eric guides us through the private capital and alternative investments evolution, highlighting key developments. Explore the inspiration behind Entrilia's creation, their empowering products for financial stakeholders, and how they tackle payment automation challenges. Understand successful collaboration dynamics in the financial ecosystem, the importance of being "cloud-native" in fintech, and how AI and ML are shaping the industry's future success. Check our website: https://www.soarpay.com

Episode Topic: Graham Krizek, Founder of Voltage, joins PayPod to discuss how the Lightning Network is transforming Bitcoin from a slow and expensive currency into a scalable, real-time payment solution. He explains how Voltage helps businesses adopt Lightning infrastructure easily, and how trends like AI and stablecoins are pushing Bitcoin into mainstream use. Graham also explores the regulatory shifts and real-world applications that are unlocking Bitcoin’s potential beyond just a store of value. Lessons You’ll Learn: Why Bitcoin alone isn’t practical for everyday transactions   How the Lightning Network enables instant, low-fee global payments   What role stablecoins and AI agents will play in the future of Bitcoin   How Voltage removes the complexity of Lightning adoption for companies   Why regulation and narrative shifts are accelerating mainstream crypto use About Our Guest: Graham Krizek is the Founder of Voltage, a company building infrastructure to make Bitcoin and the Lightning Network accessible for businesses and developers. With over a decade in the crypto space, Graham’s mission is to simplify Bitcoin payments and unlock real-world use cases. Voltage provides plug-and-play APIs that allow companies to integrate Bitcoin payments in days—not months—without hiring crypto engineers. Topics Covered: The pain points of traditional Bitcoin transactions   Lightning Network: speed, cost savings, and scalability   Stablecoins on Bitcoin using Taproot Assets   AI agents and microtransactions as Lightning’s killer use cases   Regulatory trends impacting Lightning adoption

Episode Topic:Jarek Sygitowicz, co-founder of Authologic, joins PayPod to discuss how digital identity is being reinvented. From legacy systems to identity wallets and AI-enhanced security, Jarek maps out how businesses can stay compliant, secure, and conversion-optimized in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Lessons You’ll Learn: Why traditional identity verification methods are obsolete How AI and cryptography are shaping secure onboarding The role of identity wallets in improving UX and trust How fintechs can future-proof their compliance stack What global businesses need to know about ID regulations About Our Guest:Jarek Sygitowicz is the co-founder of Authologic, a company revolutionizing identity verification for the digital age. With a Stripe-like API model, Authologic aggregates ID verification sources worldwide—from bank auth to biometrics—to help companies stay compliant and user-friendly. Jarek brings a global perspective, drawing on experience across Europe, the U.S., and beyond. Topics Covered: Legacy vs. modern identity infrastructure AI-powered fraud prevention and verification The rise of global identity wallets UX, compliance, and conversion rate optimization Orchestrating identity systems across geographies

 Episode Topic: Baxter Lanius, CEO of Alternative Payments, joins PayPod to discuss the slow adoption of modern payment methods in the B2B sector, the role of AI in speeding up invoicing, and how alternative payment solutions can help businesses get paid faster. Baxter also explores the intersection of fintech and industries like construction and logistics, highlighting opportunities to improve payment workflows. Lessons You’ll Learn: Why the B2B payments market still relies on checks How AI can help automate invoicing and streamline payment workflows The challenges of bringing blue-collar industries into the digital payments era Why some industries are hesitant to adopt new fintech solutions How Alternative Payments is modernizing B2B transactions and enabling faster payments About Our Guest: Baxter Lanius is the CEO of Alternative Payments, a startup revolutionizing B2B payment workflows. With a focus on AI-driven solutions, Baxter’s company is dedicated to modernizing the payment experience for industries that still rely on outdated systems, like checks. Prior to founding Alternative Payments, Baxter had a role on the board of Giordano’s Pizza, where he learned the value of strong branding and customer loyalty. Baxter is passionate about using technology to improve business efficiency and financial transparency. Topics Covered: The challenges of legacy B2B payment systems The potential of AI in fintech Embedded finance and vertical SaaS solutions Overcoming barriers to fintech adoption in traditional industries  

Episode Topic: Willem Schroé, founder of Botanix Labs, joins PayPod to reveal how Bitcoin is becoming the foundation for a decentralized financial future. Learn how Ethereum-style smart contracts and DeFi applications are now possible on Bitcoin via the Spiderchain—without giving up Bitcoin’s security or decentralization. Lessons You’ll Learn: How the Spiderchain turns Bitcoin into a programmable financial layer Why Bitcoin yield is now possible—paid in Bitcoin, not tokens The future of interest-free Bitcoin-backed loans and stablecoin trading How Bitcoin can become a global financial operating system by 2100 Why governments can’t stop Bitcoin—and why they shouldn’t try   About Our Guest: Willem Schroé is the founder of Botanix Labs, the company behind the Spiderchain, a decentralized Bitcoin Layer 2 enabling smart contracts and DeFi. A national champion in mathematics and a researcher in cryptography, Willem’s passion for Bitcoin was ignited during his time in Saudi Arabia, where he witnessed financial repression and inflation firsthand. Now, he's on a mission to bring open, decentralized financial infrastructure to the world, starting with Bitcoin. Topics Covered: Bitcoin as programmable money Layer-2 innovation via the Spiderchain Interest-free lending and stablecoin DeFi Bitcoin staking and yield generation Financial sovereignty and inclusion through decentralization  

 Episode Topic: Daniel Schalla from Mattermost joins PayPod to discuss how financial institutions can better prepare for and respond to cybersecurity incidents. With tools designed for secure collaboration and workflow management, Mattermost helps companies meet regulatory demands while ensuring that they remain in control of their data. Lessons You’ll Learn: How to respond quickly and effectively to cyber incidents Why automating workflows can improve your incident response The importance of regular tabletop exercises for cybersecurity preparedness How to balance automation and human decision-making in security processes Understanding compliance requirements like the SEC's new 4-day rule About Our Guest: Daniel Schalla is a cybersecurity expert at Mattermost, a collaboration platform designed for high-security, regulated industries. He brings deep expertise in incident response, workflow automation, and the unique challenges faced by financial institutions in maintaining compliance. Mattermost’s platform is used by leading organizations in finance, defense, healthcare, and more, helping them streamline communication and response to critical security events. Topics Covered: Key vulnerabilities affecting financial institutions today How Mattermost supports secure collaboration and incident management The role of automation in security incident response  

Episode Topic: Joris Delanoue, co-founder and CEO of Fairmint, joins PayPod to explain how blockchain is disrupting private equity and fundraising. With cap tables becoming programmable, Fairmint is helping founders, investors, and communities escape legacy systems and embrace decentralized, on-chain ownership. Lessons You’ll Learn: Why today’s private equity system is outdated   How smart contracts can replace PDFs and spreadsheets   What Open Cap Table Format means for fintech innovation   Why solving compliance is the ultimate edge in crypto   How community ownership can become a norm, not an exception About Our Guest:Joris Delanoue is the CEO and co-founder of Fairmint, a company revolutionizing private equity by turning cap tables into blockchain-based smart contracts. With deep experience in SaaS, compliance, and crypto, Joris is leading Fairmint’s mission to decentralize ownership and enable programmable equity for startups. Fairmint is backed by a coalition of legal and fintech leaders reshaping the rails of finance. Topics Covered: Legacy issues with equity and cap tables   Tokenizing ownership and on-chain liquidity   Compliance and regulatory clarity in the U.S.   The Open Cap Table Format (OCF) movement   UX innovation and the future of crypto adoption

Episode Topic: Megan Knab, CEO of Franklin Payroll, joins PayPod to talk about the evolution of payroll and payments in a crypto-native world. From overcoming debanking to leveraging programmable payroll, Megan outlines a clear vision for a decentralized financial infrastructure powered by stablecoins and blockchain. Lessons You’ll Learn: How debanking affects legitimate crypto businesses Why stablecoins are key to operational efficiency The role of programmable payroll in a global workforce How AI can simplify and automate U.S. tax logic Why fintech’s future may not include traditional banks About Our Guest: Megan Knab is the CEO and founder of Franklin Payroll, a self-custodial payroll platform helping companies process payroll in both fiat and crypto. A former Wall Street accountant and CFO at a crypto startup, Megan saw firsthand the inefficiencies in handling multi-currency payroll. This inspired her to build Franklin, a company now processing millions each month and reshaping payroll through blockchain, stablecoins, and smart automation. Topics Covered: Debanking and crypto company challenges Stablecoins as modern financial rails Self-custodial, programmable payroll AI and tax code automation  

Episode Topic: Louis Hoch, CEO of Usio, joins PayPod to discuss the future of payments, including embedded payment solutions, real-time payments, and the intersection of biometrics and AI in transforming the payments landscape. He shares how flexibility, customer-centricity, and innovation will drive the next wave of payment systems. Lessons You’ll Learn: Why embedded payments are revolutionizing commerce The importance of flexibility in payment channels How real-time payments are reshaping transaction dynamics The role of AI and biometrics in future payment security About Our Guest: Louis Hoch is the CEO of Usio, a company that specializes in embedded payment solutions for a wide variety of industries, including fintech and government entities. Usio provides diverse payment channels from traditional checks to cutting-edge technology like FedNow, offering flexibility and agility in payment systems. Louis is a thought leader in the fintech industry, driving innovation in payment solutions. Topics Covered: Embedded Payments and Workflow Integration B2B Payments Challenges Real-Time Payments: FedNow and Future Trends Biometrics and AI in Payment Systems Flexibility and Customization in Payment Solutions  

Episode Topic: Ken Stott, Field CTO at Hasura, joins PayPod to explore how modern fintech leaders can navigate trust, regulation, decentralization, and AI in today’s data landscape. He explains how intelligent agents, semantic layers, and universal data access are shaping the next generation of financial data architecture. Lessons You’ll Learn: Learn why regulators and AI demand the same data semantics, how decentralization shapes real-world data stacks, and how Hasura’s tools help derive value without overhauling systems. About Our Guest: Ken Stott is the Field CTO at Hasura, bringing decades of data strategy experience to the table. He’s helping businesses transition to decentralized, AI-powered data ecosystems by implementing Hasura’s semantic-driven, API-first stack. Ken’s insights bridge regulatory needs, operational demands, and technological possibilities. Topics Covered: Semantics, AI, and regulatory compliance Intelligent data agents and task automation Decentralization and modern data realities API-first ecosystems and orchestration Hasura’s universal data access layer and PromptQL  

 Episode Topic: Andrew Jamison, CEO of Extend, joins PayPod to explore the revolution of B2B payments through virtual cards. From legacy system hurdles to modern API solutions, Andrew discusses how businesses can embed smarter, safer, and more efficient payments without a full tech overhaul. Lessons You’ll Learn: Why embedded finance is the future, how virtual cards simplify spend management, the impact of Covid on payment habits, and how AI and APIs are reshaping finance roles and infrastructure. About Our Guest: Andrew Jamison is the CEO and Co-Founder of Extend, a company reimagining the way businesses manage and deploy virtual cards. With a background at American Express and SAP, Andrew combines enterprise strategy with fintech agility. Extend partners with banks to modernize card systems through APIs—without needing to change core infrastructure. Topics Covered: Strategic lessons from American Express   How Extend builds over, not against, legacy systems   Best use cases for virtual cards across industries   Covid’s role in accelerating digital payments and SaaS adoption   Regulation and fragmentation in the U.S. payment landscape   The future of embedded payments, AI, and automation

 Episode Topic: Srikrishnan Ganesan of Rocketlane joins PayPod to explore how modern fintech companies can stop the bleeding from inefficient operations. From delayed onboarding to inadequate project visibility, Sri unpacks why traditional workflows are no longer enough—and how tools like Rocketlane plus AI-driven automation can give your team a real edge.  Lessons You’ll Learn: Why customer onboarding directly impacts revenue and retention How to prevent team burnout with better process management The role of time tracking in financial planning and hiring How AI automates documentation, staffing, and communication Why metrics like utilization and time-to-value matter now more than ever  About Our Guest: Srikrishnan Ganesan is the Co-Founder and CEO of Rocketlane, a SaaS platform redefining customer onboarding and service delivery. A second-time founder and early employee in multiple startups, Sri has led Rocketlane to become a standout in the world of post-sale operations, focusing on improving internal efficiency, customer experience, and team productivity.  Topics Covered: Revenue leakage from poor onboarding Employee burnout from unmanaged project backlogs Time tracking without the hassle AI for project delivery automation Operational metrics that actually move the needle Forecasting future staffing and budgets with data  

Episode Topic: Ruston Miles of Bluefin joins PayPod to unravel the real story behind payment data security. From debunking myths around chip card protection to highlighting the need for encryption at the point of interaction, Ruston shares critical insights into why businesses must adopt P2P encryption and tokenization to stay ahead of evolving threats. Lessons You’ll Learn: How to distinguish fraud prevention from data security, the necessity of protecting data at the entry point, why chips don’t equal encryption, and how upcoming technologies like quantum computing and AI are reshaping the threat landscape. About Our Guest: Ruston Miles is the Founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Bluefin, a payment security company that pioneered PCI-validated point-to-point encryption. With decades of experience in cybersecurity, Ruston has been instrumental in setting encryption standards adopted by Visa, Mastercard, and global universities. He’s also a strong advocate for tokenization, quantum-resistant encryption, and secure digital wallets. Topics Covered: The difference between fraud and data breaches   How P2P encryption protects data before it can be stolen   Why EMV chips give a false sense of security   Storing tokens instead of real card numbers   Security challenges in higher education and enterprise   Quantum computing’s potential threat to public key encryption

Episode Topic:  Matthew Stafford, Managing Partner at Build Grow Scale, joins PayPod to break down what’s really holding e-commerce stores back from growth—and how conversion rate optimization, rooted in behavioral psychology and powered by AI, is changing the game. Lessons You’ll Learn: Why most CRO fails without psychology, how customer friction kills conversions, and why real-time feedback and simple design build lasting trust. About Our Guest: Matthew Stafford is Managing Partner at Build Grow Scale, an optimization agency focused on maximizing revenue from existing traffic. With a deep background in e-commerce, Matt has worked with over 1,000 stores to optimize user experience, increase revenue per visitor, and leverage data intelligently. His approach blends UX simplicity, customer psychology, and modern AI tools like Google Gemini to help brands grow without unnecessary ad spend. Topics Covered: Why traffic isn’t the problem—conversion is Treating browsers and shoppers differently How friction kills trust Key trust-building elements for e-commerce Using AI to synthesize analytics and sales goals Psychological strategies for better UX and form design

Episode Topic: Fatemeh Nikayin, Co-founder and CEO of Rivero AG, joins PayPod to reveal how AI-powered solutions are transforming how banks manage payment disputes. She shares how building trust, minimizing customer distress, and enabling lightweight innovation are critical for modern fintech success. Lessons You’ll Learn: How protecting customer data unlocks bank adoption, why customer dispute experiences can determine brand loyalty, and why AI needs to be applied differently in regulated industries like finance. About Our Guest: Fatemeh Nikayin is the Co-founder and CEO of Rivero AG, a fintech company helping banks modernize the payment dispute process using AI and rule-based automation. Fatemeh has deep experience working within financial services and studied Internet of Things platforms at the PhD level, giving her a unique perspective on platform adoption, customer experience, and privacy-centric innovation. Topics Covered: Why SaaS for banks must prioritize data sovereignty   The growing strategic importance of payment operations   How customer disputes can become trust-building opportunities   Applying AI carefully: rule-based vs. LLMs in fintech   Challenges of modernizing banks with legacy systems   How payment dispute handling differs across regions

Episode Topic: Kanyi Maqubela, Managing Partner at Kindred Ventures, joins PayPod to discuss how values-led venture capital supports high-impact startups across fintech, climate, and more. Discover how Kindred identifies founders who move fast, think big, and adapt as they scale game-changing ideas into real-world solutions. Lessons You’ll Learn: Why startup success hinges on speed and altitude-shifting, how to think about funding vs. profitability, and the importance of empathetic market insight when serving underrepresented or global communities. About Our Guest: Kanyi Maqubela is the Managing Partner at Kindred Ventures, a firm backing mission-aligned startups that want to reshape industries. With investments across fintech, health, and frontier tech, Kanyi draws from years of founder-first investing and has a sharp lens on team-building, product-market fit, and scalable impact.   Topics Covered: The role of velocity and quick iteration in startup success How VC can be a vehicle for real-world problem solving Startup risk frameworks and phases of survival The critical skill of "altitude shifting" in founders Diversity in startups: Empathy > Demographics Where fintech is heading—just-in-time lending, modular ledgers, and more Balancing profit and purpose in early-stage companies  

Episode Topic: Sohail Sadeghi, founder of Atlantis Tax Group, joins PayPod to explore how business owners, investors, and high-income earners can shift their mindset from tax compliance to tax strategy. Sohail shares his insights on the most common tax mistakes he’s seen, provides guidance on leveraging real estate for tax benefits, and explains how proactive tax planning can save thousands of dollars in the long run. Lessons You’ll Learn: Discover the importance of proactive tax planning throughout the year. Learn the tax deductions and credits specific to your business or industry. Understand how to reduce your taxable income using retirement accounts and real estate investments.Find out why you should consult with a tax professional beyond tax season. About Our Guest: Sohail Sadeghi is the founder of Atlantis Tax Group, a firm dedicated to helping clients with tax planning and strategy. With years of experience in navigating the tax system, Sohail helps individuals and businesses lower their tax liabilities while building long-term financial success. His client-focused approach sets him apart from traditional tax firms by providing personalized strategies and regular planning sessions throughout the year. Topics Covered: Tax planning for business owners and investors Maximizing deductions and credits based on your industry The importance of tax planning beyond tax season Tax strategies for real estate investors and short-term rental deductions  

 Episode Topic John Gordon, CEO of ValidiFI, joins PayPod to discuss how alternative data is revolutionizing credit risk assessment. Discover how using ACH history, bank account behavior, and fraud signals is giving lenders a clearer, fairer view of consumer creditworthiness in today’s fast-changing financial landscape.  Lessons You’ll Learn Explore why credit scores are no longer enough, and how alternative data fills the gaps. Learn how fraud prevention is evolving, how underserved populations benefit from better data, and why ACH validation is becoming a fintech essential.  About Our Guest John Gordon is the CEO of ValidiFI, a SaaS platform that helps financial institutions assess credit risk and fraud through alternative data. With over a billion consumer inquiries analyzed, ValidiFI helps lenders, processors, and service providers unlock the power of bank behavior, account validation, and predictive analytics to make smarter decisions.  Topics Covered: Credit scores vs. alternative data ACH validation and fraud detection Bank account behavior as a risk indicator Financial inclusion and non-prime consumers Buy Now, Pay Later and missing data in bureaus Emerging trends in data consortiums and fintech regulation  

Episode Topic Today’s episode gets into the weeds into how stablecoins are transforming cross-border payments and financial access. Kevin Lehtiniitty, CEO of Borderless.xyz, reveals how his team is building the connective tissue for global stablecoin movement by partnering with licensed financial institutions. This episode uncovers the opportunities and challenges in building a compliant, scalable crypto payment network that thrives in both developed and emerging markets.   Lessons You’ll Learn You’ll learn why stablecoins are reshaping how people save, spend, and move money globally, especially in inflation-stricken economies. Kevin breaks down the difference between fiat-backed and algorithmic stablecoins, explains how Borderless.xyz operates without holding custody of funds, and explores how compliance and innovation can coexist in crypto infrastructure.   About Our Guest Kevin Lehtiniitty is the CEO of Borderless.xyz, a fintech startup building the world’s largest stablecoin orchestration network. Kevin’s journey began with a rejected Bitcoin transaction that led him to question the role of banks and the need for permissionless money. Before founding Borderless.xyz, he worked in regulated crypto custody and healthcare fintech. He’s a strong advocate for financial freedom, regulatory clarity, and building tech that levels the global playing field.   Topics Covered:   What stablecoins should be—and why algorithmic ones don’t qualify   How Borderless.xyz connects local payment rails via a global network   Dollarization and stablecoins as proxies for USD in emerging markets   Regulatory challenges and why being non-custodial matters   The rise of stablecoin-driven neobanks across Latin America and Africa   CBDCs and the looming impact of forced conversions in authoritarian regimes   Lessons from banking restrictions and the push for financial innovation