Episode 45

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Published on:

26th Jun 2024

How Data, Simplicity, and Innovation Drive Payment Solutions | Robert Kraal, Co-Founder of Silverflow

Today DATA is a differentiated proposition! And that's why it matters who you select as your payments processor and partner in crime! I had the honour and pleasure to speak with Robert Kraal, Co-Founder at Silverflow, and hear all about how Silverflow has designed with data in mind!

Silverflow is a cloud-based payment processing platform that provides a state-of-the-art upgrade for payment-providers, shielding them from the current antiquated legacy technology still in use today. With Silverflow, PSPs can now directly access card networks, instantly add new functionality, have real-time insight into transaction fees and get smart data direct from the networks – all to better serve their merchants.

We may think payments and acquiring are purely infra, but actually acquirers are having a ton of impact on businesses who need it the most. We go behind the scenes on Silverflow’s culture and go deep on what’s so special about the leadership style in Nordic countries that many of us of the world can learn from. Robert’s mindset around entrepreneurship, Silverflow’s proposition, and how it actually makes them a DATA platform - unlike platforms built in the eighties who saved minimum data. We explore what are the challenges of his clients, and of course what’s the one thing he would change in FinTech to make the industry better for everyone!

We had a fascinating conversation, we discuss:

  • The role of data in building purpose driven FinTechs
  • Making payments acceptance accessible for everybody across the globe
  • Practical examples on pain points business owners have in Africa, and why the right payments acceptance solutions are key... and settlement times!
  • Why measuring impact based on number of bank accounts is an outdated metric...and instead why we should look at how many people have access to modern financial technology
  • All things leadership. He opens up on the what I call "Nordic countries" leadership style.
  • How that culture in turn creates education and inspires others... such that the biggest compliment as a leader and entrepreneur you can have is someone leaving to start their business...
  • How to nurture passion in employees... yes it's a very deliberate thing he does, almost like a principle for life.
  • How Silverflow differentiates with DATA, Simplicity and enabling Innovation!
  • Why solutions built in the 80s are legacy systems: back then they had a different mindset, it was expensive, and captured the minimum required data! - which is a blocker in today's world!
  • The role of Payments Processors and Data in the gigantic challenge of fighting fraud!
  • And of course the ONE thing he would change in the world of FinTech to have the most impact on customers, FinTechers and Shareholders!

If you enjoy this Purpose Driven FinTech pod, please subscribe in YouTube, follow and leave a 5 star rating. Remember to connect in LinkedIn to keep the conversation going.


👉 You can find Robert here


👉 And you can find Monica here:


Let’s dive into it!


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Production and marketing by Monica Millares. For inquiries about being in the show, coaching, consulting, creative collabs, sponsoring the podcast or creating or editing your podcast email fintechwithmoni@gmail.com


Disclaimer: This episode does not constitute professional nor financial advice and does not represent the opinion nor views of my current, past or future employers. The guest has agreed to record and release our conversation for the use of this podcast and promotion in social media.

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About the Podcast

Purpose Driven FinTech
Building products with impact
Welcome to Purpose Driven FinTech!

I'm your host, Monica Millares - Product Leader and fellow FinTecher.

These days, with the rising cost of living, financial stress among customers, loss of trust in banks, speculation of crypto, and uncertainty, we're facing unprecedented challenges. But there is hope. We as FinTechers have the power to make a positive impact.

Our products, the how we do product, and our people can make a difference on customers’ financial lives - and as a result, in the quality of their lives.

However, more than ever Founders, CEOs, Leadership teams and all FinTechers have a ton of pressure to build solutions that actually solve customer problems, that people want, that are differentiated And profitable

Yes that's you and me too!

That's why I've created this podcast!

I speak with Founders, Product Leaders, VCs, and industry experts to uncover their stories, challenges, and lessons learnt in building products with impact.

You'll get to hear real-life conversations, and you’ll walk away with practical questions, frameworks and insights that you can apply to your own FinTech products. So, are you ready to make a bigger difference in FinTech?

Let's come together and discover how Purpose, Product, and People can help us create a future of better financial wellbeing while building sustainable and profitable FinTechs.

Follow me on LinkedIn, TikTok, and  YouTube to stay connected and be part of the conversation.

Cheers to making better FinTech and making FinTech better!

Love, Moni 

About your host

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Monica Millares

Monica advocates for financial safety for all. She is the Product Principal at BigPay, where she leads Product and Design. As part of the founding team, Monica led building BigPay’s product from zero to one, to multi product line, and international expansion. Her leadership shaped the culture and ways of working to grow from startup to scaleup. BigPay has over 1.4 million customers, and has presence in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

Monica has almost 20 years’ experience in Financial Services. Prior to BigPay, she was one of the first joiners in UK’s challenger Tandem Bank, where she focused on building credit cards from scratch. Previously she worked in leading Financial Services brands like Visa, Barclays, and a Mexican Development Bank.

She sits on the Board of PayEd, and is recognised as Singapore’s #Fintech65 Product Leaders and Women in FinTech. She’s been multiple times speaker at the prestigious conference Money2020 and shared stage with JP Morgan, Standard Chartered Bank, Konsentus, and Money2020’s Rise Up. Her commitment to innovation and financial inclusion resonates in her podcast “Purpose Driven FinTech” where she explores how FinTech’s can have 10x more impact.

Monica has a background in Engineering and a Master’s Degree on Analysis, Design, and Management of Information Systems from the London School of Economics.