Recorded live at Baltic Fintech Days in Riga, this conversation with Ian Kalla, head of the Fintech Working Group at Finance Estonia, might just change how you think about the future of financial services.
Ian makes a bold claim that every company, not just banks, not just startups, will eventually become a fintech. And once you hear his reasoning, it is hard to argue against it.
In this episode Ian breaks down why the old banks versus startups framing of fintech is completely outdated and what the landscape actually looks like today. He shares why Estonia punches so far above its weight in fintech talent and unicorn creation. He explains what really holds the Estonian ecosystem back despite all its strengths. And he gives a candid take on what it takes to bring an entire nation’s stakeholders around a single strategic vision for fintech.
Ian brings over a decade of hands-on experience connecting the fin and the tech across credit, capital markets, and technology infrastructure. His perspective is sharp, honest, and genuinely worth your time.