Launched in May 2020, Finscale is fintech expert and all-rounder Solenne Niedercorn’s podcast about finance and innovation. Solenne shares her journey, her excitement about crypto and the fintech trends worth keeping an eye on.
You started Finscale two years ago and have recorded nearly 100 episodes. How has your podcasting journey gone so far?
Since starting it two years ago I have released an episode every Sunday. This has been quite challenging for me because it’s not my full-time job. I started with one listener – myself – and I’ve grown it to thousands of monthly listeners which is great.
I was also hired by a label of independent podcasters which has helped my podcast become more professional and also reach a wider audience. It still takes up a lot of time and sometimes I shorten my nights but I’m still as motivated as ever.
Which one of your recent episodes did you enjoy making the most?
I usually enjoy any episode made with people active in crypto because their communication mode is different from people active in traditional finance. It’s often more freestyle and looser.
Which episode would you recommend to someone new to your podcast?
One of my favourite episodes is called “2050 – building tomorrow’s world via an evergreen fund”. It’s with Olivier Mathiot and it’s a must-listen about an impact investment fund.
“I usually enjoy any episode made with people active in crypto because their communication mode is different […]” Solenne Niedercorn, Host of the Finscale podcast
What are the major trends in fintech that you’ve come across in your podcast?
Anything related to embedded finance, so the capacity of companies to embed financial products in their user experience – so basically turning normal companies into fintech companies. Banking as a service has also really amazed me as well as any new payment solutions. These are especially interesting for small startups because it allows them to build a powerful product without too much investment.
Everything that happens in crypto is also amazing to me because the potential is just huge. This goes beyond investments and NFTs. But I think for people outside of the relevant industries it is hard to understand just how big the potential impact can be.
From your personal point of view, how is the Luxembourg fintech sector doing compared to its neighbours?
I would say it’s serving the needs of the local industry and it efficiently builds bridges with other ecosystems. However, due to its population size it can hardly compete with the UK, France or Germany. Hiring is also a major issue because many students leave the country to study abroad.
Which fintech startups recently caught your eye?
Vauban (which recently opened in Luxembourg from the UK), Coinhouse (which recently opened in Luxembourg from France) and Fiat Republic all impressed me because they are proposing new kinds of business models. They are smart, have an out of the box vision of investment vehicles or simple value propositions in a rapidly growing vertical such as crypto.
What are the main challenges the fintech sector has to overcome in the coming years?
I think that scaling up at an EU level needs to become easier. Very few startups succeed because of costly regulations which hinder their agility and growth. Regulators should consider the competitive landscape, have a risk-based approach, and be more proportionate. Too much regulation could damage Europe’s competitiveness and “kill” fruitful European initiatives.
Article courtesy of our content partner Silicon Luxembourg
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