984. Insights: Are financial services still failing SMEs?
About this episode:
Small and medium-sized businesses -or SMEs - are the backbone of the global economy. But despite their vital role in the financial ecosystem, they’re still too often overlooked and underserved.
This week, we’re putting SMEs back in the spotlight - and for good reason. You might be thinking, “Haven’t we covered this before?” And yes, we have. But in 2025, the challenges have evolved - and so must our solutions.
So, how can we better meet the needs of SMEs, not just locally, but globally? What real steps can we take to close the gap?
At 11:FS, we never stop banging the drum for SMEs - and in this episode Benjamin Ensor is joined by a brilliant lineup of experts ready to tackle the hard questions and explore what comes next.
This week's guests:
Conrad Ford, Chief Product and Strategy Officer at Allica Bank
Robin Jones, Co-lead iwocaPay
Hanna Sommer, Director of GTM & Strategic Partnerships at Liberis
--
Links to check out:
Join our WhatsApp community, where you can get the inside track on all all things 11:FS, as well as having your say on the things we should be paying attention to.
https://chat.whatsapp.com/KpA4gFbbWDlLFm7kx39raf
Support our charity partner School-Home Support
--
About 11:FS
At 11:FS, we don’t just talk digital - we make it happen. We're building truly digital financial services by partnering with bold teams to take them from market insights to real-world products. Whether you're an incumbent innovating or a startup breaking new ground, we bring the strategy, research, design, and delivery to make it real. Less talk, more impact.Proud winners of the British Bank Award for Consultancy of the Year - five times and counting.
👉 Learn more at 11fs.com/ventures
--
Support our sponsors:
If you're running an early-stage business with Seed or Series A funding, Tide’s new savings account offers rates up to 4.48% (AER), with instant access to your money. Plus, get the best rates for free for 12 months at tide.co/insider.
--
About Fintech Insider:
Fintech Insider by 11:FS is a bi-weekly podcast that covers everything from finance and banking to technology and the latest trends in financial services.
Our expert hosts, with hands-on industry experience, are joined by key decision-makers, VCs, and top reporters from across the financial landscape, including guests from companies like Stripe, Revolut, Plaid, PayPal, and Monzo. Together, they break down the biggest news and innovations shaping the space.
Our weekly news show drops every Monday, covering major stories like mergers, new product launches, regulatory shifts, and emerging tech trends. On Thursdays, our Insights show goes deeper into the hottest topics driving the future of finance, including AI in banking, decentralised finance, and the evolving landscape of embedded finance.
Whether you're already in the fintech game or just starting to explore, this is the #1 podcast for you.
If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review!
Got a question for us? Email
[email protected]!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sverige