Couchonomics with Arjun

Every day we create data, but almost none of us know who really owns it.

In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, André Vellozo, Founder and CEO of DrumWave, joins the show to explore one of the biggest questions facing the digital economy: what if people could own their data the same way they own money?

André explains why privacy is only the beginning of the conversation, why AI is accelerating the need for data ownership, and why he believes the world needs entirely new infrastructure that allows people, businesses, and governments to exchange data securely while creating value for everyone involved.

🎙️ In this episode:
• Why owning your data is different from protecting your privacy
• The idea behind data wallets and how they could work
• Why AI is changing the value of personal data
• How people could eventually earn from the data they create every day
• Why governments, banks and technology companies are all competing around digital identity
• Brazil's national experiment with data wallets
• Whether data could become a new asset class
• What it will take to build a global data economy

⏱️ CHAPTERS
01:51 What DrumWave is building
09:01 Why data behaves more like money than information
17:12 How data wallets could work
24:00 Turning everyday data into an asset
31:49 Who should issue data wallets?
38:24 Can people really earn from their data?
43:19 Building the infrastructure for a data economy
50:22 Why governments are paying attention to data ownership

SOCIAL LINKS
Arjun's LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/
Couchonomics LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/
Twitter (X) → https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics
Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

PARTNERS
Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by:
Adyen → https://www.adyen.com/
Thunes → https://thunes.com/
Mastercard → https://mastercard.com/
e& → https://www.eand.com/
Digit9 → https://www.digitnine.com/
SC Ventures → https://scventures.io/
Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0

Find us on our social media platforms:
Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/
CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/
Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics
Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

Can Europe build the next generation of global fintech leaders?

In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Stefan Klestil, General Partner Fintech EMEA, joins the show to discuss venture capital, fintech investing, AI, digital assets, founder psychology, and why the Middle East and Africa have become one of the world's most compelling investment opportunities.

Stefan explains why Speedinvest launched its dedicated EMEA fund, what separates exceptional founders from everyone else, and why venture investors are increasingly looking beyond Europe for the next wave of global fintech success.

The conversation explores the rise of AI-driven fintech, stablecoins, tokenization, venture capital, cross-border financial infrastructure, regulation, and why governance often determines whether startups become lasting businesses.

🎙️ In this episode:

• Why Speedinvest launched a dedicated Middle East and Africa fund
• What makes founders capable of building regional and global companies
• Why AI could dramatically reduce the time needed to build fintech leaders
• The future of stablecoins, tokenization, and on-chain financial services
• Why venture capital is shifting toward growth markets
• How governance determines long-term startup success
• Why Europe still struggles to retain growth capital
• The fintech opportunities investors believe are still being overlooked

⏱️ CHAPTERS

01:51 Why the next fintech giants may come from emerging markets
09:13 Investing across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa
17:12 What investors really look for in founders
24:31 Stablecoins, tokenization, and on-chain finance
28:28 Is European fintech losing momentum?
36:05 Meta Reality: AI, MENA, and the future of fintech
41:31 The hardest lessons from backing founders
46:08 The fintech opportunities investors still underestimate

SOCIAL LINKS

Arjun’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/

Couchonomics LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/

Twitter (X) → https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh

TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics

Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

PARTNERS

Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by:

Adyen → https://www.adyen.com/

Thunes → https://thunes.com/

Mastercard → https://mastercard.com/

e& → https://www.eand.com/

Digit9 → https://www.digitnine.com/

SC Ventures → https://scventures.io/

Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0

Find us on our social media platforms:
Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/
CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/
Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics
Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

Is digital banking really about technology anymore?

It is becoming a battle for customer relationships, trust, data, and who owns the financial experience.

In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Raheel Ahmed, Group CEO of RAKBANK, returns to discuss open finance, AI, stablecoins, SME banking, regulation, and the future of financial services in the UAE.

Raheel explains why open finance is being built for customers rather than banks, why products and pricing are becoming increasingly commoditized, and how financial institutions must rethink where they create value in a more transparent and competitive market.

The conversation explores how AI is already being deployed inside banks, the opportunities around stablecoins and tokenization, the future of SME financing, and why customer relationships may become the most important asset banks have.

From digital transformation and regulation to competition and emerging technologies, this episode examines how banking is evolving and what it will take to stay relevant in the years ahead.

🎙️ In this episode:

• Why open finance is a bigger disruption than many banks realize
• How AI is already transforming banking operations
• Why customer relationships matter more than products
• The future of stablecoins and tokenized deposits
• How RAKBANK approaches partnerships and innovation
• The evolution of SME banking and financing in the UAE
• Why regulation is accelerating change rather than slowing it down
• What banks must do to remain competitive in the next decade

⏱️ CHAPTERS

00:00 The future of banking, AI, and open finance
01:59 How UAE banks handled recent uncertainty
06:27 Regulation and the changing banking landscape
08:48 Why digital banking still needs a human touch
12:24 Payments, partnerships, and customer data
15:35 Stablecoins and tokenized deposits
22:11 Why open finance is a major disruption
27:13 The future of SME banking and lending

SOCIAL LINKS

Arjun’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/

Couchonomics LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/

Twitter (X) → https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh

TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics

Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

PARTNERS

Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by:

Adyen → https://www.adyen.com/

Thunes → https://thunes.com/

Mastercard → https://mastercard.com/

e& → https://www.eand.com/

Digit9 → https://www.digitnine.com/

SC Ventures → https://scventures.io/
Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0

Find us on our social media platforms:
Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/
CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/
Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics
Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

Digital finance is no longer only about banking apps and payments.

It is becoming a question of infrastructure, trust, customer behaviour, and how financial systems evolve in emerging markets.

In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Nika Kurdiani, CEO of TBC Uzbekistan, joins the show for a sharp conversation on digital banking, AI, open banking, and why Uzbekistan is becoming one of the most interesting financial markets to watch.

Nika explains how TBC built one of the largest digital financial ecosystems in Central Asia, why customer experience matters more than legacy banking scale, and how AI is bringing the relationship manager back into the app.

From cash economies and digital adoption to regulation, ecosystem strategy, and the future of financial services, this episode explores what happens when fast-growing markets leapfrog traditional banking models.

🎙️ In this episode:

• Why Uzbekistan became a major opportunity for digital finance
• How TBC scaled to millions of users in under six years
• Why “cash is not a competitor, it is an opportunity”
• How open banking evolved differently in Uzbekistan
• The strategy behind building a digital financial ecosystem
• Why AI is changing customer relationships in banking
• How TBC built its own AI and language models
• Why trust is the most important currency in finance

⏱️ CHAPTERS

00:00 Trust, AI, and the future of banking
02:37 Why Uzbekistan is attracting investor attention
09:22 Lessons from Kaspi and digital banking growth
11:41 Open banking and interoperability in Uzbekistan
18:18 Building a digital financial ecosystem
25:05 Why AI became a major bet for TBC
33:46 Competition and the financial services flywheel
43:50 Regulation, agility, and emerging markets

SOCIAL LINKS

Arjun’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/

Couchonomics LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/

Twitter (X) → https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh

TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics

Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

PARTNERS

Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by:

Adyen → https://www.adyen.com/

Thunes → https://thunes.com/

Mastercard → https://mastercard.com/

e& → https://www.eand.com/

Digit9 → https://www.digitnine.com/

SC Ventures → https://scventures.io/
Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0

Find us on our social media platforms:
Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/
CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/
Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics
Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

Cybersecurity is no longer just a technical issue, it is now a human, business, and financial system challenge.

In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun is joined by Ralph Echemendia, Ethical Hacker and Cyber Security Expert, for a sharp conversation on hacking psychology, cybercrime, AI-driven fraud, and why financial institutions need to rethink security.

Ralph explains why some of the most dangerous attacks are not built on complex code, but on human vulnerability, trust, and social engineering.

From banks and insider threats to AI, quantum computing, and the myths Hollywood created around hackers, this episode looks at the real risks sitting behind digital finance today.

🎙️ In this episode:

• How Ralph first entered the world of hacking
• What hackers really feel when they gain system access
• Why banks still underestimate human vulnerability
• How social engineering bypasses expensive security systems
• What Hollywood gets wrong about hackers
• Why cybercrime is becoming more organised and commercial
• How AI is changing the speed and scale of attacks
• Why trust, vulnerability, and security are deeply connected

⏱️ CHAPTERS

00:00 Inside the mind of a hacker
00:54 Meet Ralph Echemendia, The Ethical Hacker
02:34 How hacking started for Ralph
16:43 Why banks struggle with human vulnerability
23:05 The penetration test that exposed a data centre
31:32 Cybersecurity myths and realities
35:07 AI, quantum computing, and the widening security gap
44:07 Trust, vulnerability, and the future of cybersecurity

SOCIAL LINKS

Arjun’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/

Couchonomics LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/

Twitter (X) → https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh

TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics

Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

PARTNERS

Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by:

Adyen → https://www.adyen.com/

Thunes → https://thunes.com/

Mastercard → https://mastercard.com/

e& → https://www.eand.com/

Digit9 → https://www.digitnine.com/

SC Ventures → https://scventures.io/
Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0

Find us on our social media platforms:
Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/
CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/
Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics
Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E