In Check with Fintech

Is BNPL oversaturated, or just misunderstood? In this special In Check with Fintech episode recorded live at Money20/20 Europe, we sit down with Sabrina Flunkert, CEO at Ratepay, one of the sharpest minds in European payments. After starting as CFO and stepping into the CEO role, Sabrina has helped Ratepay solidify its position as a white-label BNPL leader. While others chase scale through branding and consumer-facing apps, Ratepay stays laser-focused on merchant value, seamless integration, and responsible credit. In this episode, Sabrina shares what it really takes to build a sustainable fintech that goes the distance. We cover: 🔍 What most BNPL players get wrong about scale and profitability 🧩 Why white-label solutions create more value than branded ones 🧠 How to lead high-performing teams without micromanaging 📉 How consumer behaviour, default rates, and economic shifts are impacting BNPL ⚖️ Why being regulated matters more than ever for building trust 📊 How Ratepay uses risk scoring as a true competitive advantage 🚀 Why saying no to the wrong partnerships protects long-term growth 🧭 How Sabrina created a culture of ownership, trust, and strategic focus Whether you’re building a fintech product, leading a team, or staying ahead of payments trends, this episode delivers clear, thoughtful insight without the noise. Listen in for a candid take on leadership, regulation, and the future of BNPL 🎧

Chargebacks are costing merchants billions and most still don’t have a system built to win them back. In this episode of In Check with Fintech, host Rogier Rouppe van der Voort sits down with Roenen Ben-Ami, Co-Founder and Chief Risk Officer at Justt, to unpack the $180B friendly fraud problem, why first-party misuse is rising, and what it takes to recover revenue at scale without compromising customer experience.   Key topics covered: 💸 The $180B blindspot – Why most chargeback losses are preventable, and how merchants are leaving money on the table 🤖 Fighting fraud with dynamic arguments – How Justt tailors evidence responses at scale using automation 📉 Why 90% of chargebacks are mishandled – The operational gap most merchants haven’t solved 🧠 From true fraud to first-party misuse – What makes friendly fraud harder to detect, and why it’s growing fast ⚙️ Scaling without the headcount – How merchants are replacing 15-person chargeback teams with API-based recovery 📊 Regulation, risk, and recovery – How Visa and Mastercard’s changing rules are reshaping chargeback strategy   Roenen shares practical insights from his time at Simplex and Justt, along with lessons in co-founding, team building, and product innovation. Whether you’re a fintech operator, risk leader, or scaling merchant, this episode is a deep dive into the hidden costs and massive upside of getting chargebacks right.   Tune in now to learn how leading fintechs are reclaiming revenue and staying compliant in a changing fraud landscape. 🎧

Founding a fintech isn’t just about product-market fit, it’s about resilience, timing, and making brutal calls when the stakes are high. In this episode of In Check with Fintech, host Rogier Rouppe van der Voort sits down with Thomas Vles, Founder of GoDutch, to unpack the emotional and strategic reality of startup life — from raising funding to walking away from a near-exit. Key topics covered: 🧗 Startup Setbacks & Survival – Why Thomas compares founding a company to climbing a mountain, and what it takes to keep going when the summit keeps moving 💸 Funding Without VC – How GoDutch raised €500K+ from users, and why traditional VC wasn’t the right fit 📉 When the Deal Falls Through – The hard lesson Thomas learned after celebrating too early 🔁 Building Again After Burnout – How previous exits, near-failures, and becoming a parent changed his leadership style 🔍 Founder Vulnerability & Truth-Telling – Why we need more honesty in startup storytelling and what it unlocks for teams and investors Thomas brings candid reflections from his journey building Poopy Cat, We Do I Do, and now GoDutch, including how he rebuilt after nearly losing everything. Whether you're a founder, operator, or investor, this episode is a reminder that growth is never a straight line and sometimes, the hardest climbs build the best entrepreneurs. Tune in now for real stories from the frontlines of fintech. 🎧

What if the work ethic that built one of Europe’s fastest-growing fintechs could unlock an even bigger opportunity? In this episode of In Check with Fintech, host Rogier Rouppe van der Voort sits down with Jordan Lawrence, CEO and Co-Founder at Damisa and former CGO and Co-Founder of Volt, to explore the real playbook behind scaling, surviving hypergrowth, and why he’s betting on a bold new frontier.   Key topics covered: 📈 Lessons from Hypergrowth – What it really takes to scale from startup to global fintech player 🔍 Building vs. Burning Out – How to grow fast without breaking your team (or yourself) 🏦 Fintech’s New Frontier: Escrow and Stablecoins – Why cross-border payments are ripe for disruption 👥 Hiring Right, Scaling Smart – How the right early hires determine everything at scale ⚡ Why Speed Alone Isn’t Enough – The overlooked factors that separate long-term winners from flameouts 🌍 Global Expansion Playbook – Why founders must be hands-on when opening new markets   Jordan shares behind-the-scenes insights from building Volt, lessons learned from opening new markets like Australia, and why resilience, honesty, and smart risk-taking are non-negotiables for fintech founders.   Whether you’re scaling a fintech, launching a startup, or investing in the next wave of innovation, this episode is packed with real-world takeaways on how to build smarter and go further.   Tune in now and get the playbook for scaling beyond survival. 🎧

What does it take to move from a risk-focused career to the CEO seat at one of the UK’s most influential fintechs? And why is having a female CEO in fintech still seen as “unusual” in 2025? In this episode of In Check with Fintech, Emma Hagan, CEO at ClearBank, joins Rogier for a wide-ranging conversation that goes beyond her impressive career. From leading innovation in embedded banking and digital assets to advocating for inclusion in fintech, Emma shares the experiences, challenges, and decisions that shaped her path, and how she’s helping shape the industry. With over 20 years in commercial and corporate banking, Emma reflects on everything from early-career uncertainty to her current role driving ClearBank’s UK and European expansion. She also addresses the weight of being a visible woman in leadership, the importance of authentic mentorship, and why DEI must be treated as a core value and not a temporary initiative. Whether you're leading a team, navigating your next step, or pushing for greater representation in fintech, this episode offers real insight into growth, resilience, and leadership that sticks. Tune in to hear: 💼 How Emma built her career without a set roadmap and why that mattered 🧠 The mental shifts required to move from expert to executive 🏦 Why ClearBank is doubling down on embedded banking and digital assets 🌍 What Emma sees as the most overlooked opportunities in fintech today 🤝 Her take on mentorship, representation, and making DEI sustainable This episode is for anyone looking to grow in their career, challenge limiting beliefs, or lead with purpose in fintech. Tune in now to learn how fintech’s fastest movers stay ahead of the curve. 🎧

Scaling a fintech to 50M+ users isn’t just about speed—it’s about security, agility, and building IT infrastructure that won’t crack under pressure. In this episode of In Check with Fintech, host Rogier Rouppe van der Voort sits down with Felipe Peñacoba Martinez, CIO at Revolut Bank, to unpack how modular IT, AI-driven automation, and compliance-first strategies are shaping the future of fintech. Key topics covered: 🤖 The AI Advantage in Fintech – How artificial intelligence is transforming fraud detection, customer service, and IT automation   🔐 Fintech’s Biggest Risk? Security & Compliance – Why fintech leaders must shift their mindset from prevention to fast response and containment   🏗️ Modular IT & Scalability – How fintechs can avoid legacy tech traps and build infrastructure that supports rapid global expansion ⚖️ Agility Without Chaos – Lessons from Revolut’s high-velocity development cycle and how fintechs can ship fast without breaking everything   🏦 What Traditional Banks Can (and Can’t) Learn From Fintechs – Why speed isn’t the only differentiator, and what legacy institutions get wrong about innovation 📈 Leadership in high-growth fintechs – the mindset shift needed to scale without micromanaging Felipe shares first-hand insights from leading IT at Revolut Bank, navigating complex regulatory environments, and making the right tech choices to future-proof fintech operations. Whether you’re a fintech executive, product leader, or IT strategist, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways on how to scale smarter, innovate faster, and stay secure in an industry that never slows down. Tune in now to learn how fintech’s fastest movers stay ahead of the curve. 🎧

The Digital Euro and Wero are being positioned as the future of European payments - but will consumers and businesses actually adopt them? In this episode of In Check with Fintech, Clement Jozwiak, Chief Product Officer at Worldline, joins Rogier, our host and CEO at PCN, to discuss whether new payment schemes are solving real problems or just adding complexity to an already crowded payments landscape. With years of experience in issuing, acquiring, open banking, and digital banking, Clement shares his insights on the challenges of driving payment innovation in a market that’s already saturated with options. Key Topics Covered: Do we need both the Digital Euro and Wero, or is Europe overcomplicating payments? Why consumer behavior is the biggest hurdle for new payment methods. The regulatory landscape and what financial institutions need to consider. How AI, open banking, and new payment rails are shaping the future. Why businesses hesitate to adopt new payment systems and what would change that. As regulators, banks, and fintechs push for new ways to pay, the biggest question remains: will people actually use them? Listen now to get the full breakdown of what’s really happening in European payments!

At just 19 years old, Max Linden founded lemon.markets with a bold vision: to make capital markets truly accessible to everyone. In this episode of In Check with FinTech, we dive into Max's inspiring journey from a teenage entrepreneur to the CEO of a thriving FinTech company that has raised €28 million in funding from investors like Lakestar, Creandum, and Lightspeed. Discover how Lemon.markets is disrupting the investment landscape, the challenges Max faced in scaling a FinTech at such a young age, and the insights he’s gained as a leader committed to empowering his team and partners. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur, a FinTech enthusiast, or someone interested in innovation in the financial sector, this episode is packed with valuable lessons on leadership, resilience, and transforming industries. Key topics: The founding story of Lemon.markets Max Linden’s leadership philosophy as a "Chief Enablement Officer" The challenges and opportunities in democratizing capital markets Insights into obtaining BaFin licenses and launching with major partners Tune in to learn how youth, innovation, and determination are reshaping FinTech!  

What role will AI play in shaping the future of banking? In this episode of In Check with Fintech, PCN CEO and podcast host Rogier Rouppe van der Voort sits down with Bahadir Yilmaz, Chief Analytics Officer at ING, to explore the transformative power of AI in financial services. Together, they explore the transformative potential of AI in financial services and its impact on banking, payments, and customer experiences. Key topics include: Practical applications of AI in banking and how ING is leading innovation. Challenges of AI governance, regulation, and compliance in fintech. Generative AI in financial services: balancing innovation with risk management. Predictions for the future of AI and its role in reshaping financial services. Whether you're a fintech professional, banking executive, or someone curious about the future of finance, this episode delivers actionable insights and in-depth perspectives. Tune in to the full episode now 🎧  on your favorite podcast platform for insights into AI, banking, and fintech innovation. Keywords: AI in banking, fintech trends 2025, generative AI in finance, ING AI strategy, fintech innovation, banking technology, AI governance, financial services, fintech podcast, In Check with Fintech

What does 2025 hold for fintech recruitment? In this episode of In Check with Fintech, Rogier Rouppe van der Voort is joined by Shanone Kurca-Lopes, Senior Recruitment Consultant at PCN, and Calum Peacock, Director of PCN Projects, to explore the key trends shaping the year ahead. They dive into:  How AI in fintech recruitment is revolutionizing the hiring process. The challenges of finding talent for specialized roles in payments and compliance. How fintech companies can adapt to evolving candidate expectations. Why flexible work models are becoming a game-changer in the industry. Whether you're a fintech founder, recruiter, or professional looking to stay ahead, this episode offers actionable insights and predictions to help you navigate the fast-paced world of fintech hiring in 2025. Keywords: fintech hiring trends, AI in recruitment, fintech recruitment 2025, payments talent, compliance hiring, fintech job market, flexible work models, fintech recruitment insights, candidate expectations, hiring strategies.