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Couchonomics with Arjun
Decoding the New World Order of Finance - Unfiltered, global, weekly
As tectonic shifts reshape the financial world, Couchonomics continues to explore the trends transforming commerce, capital, and culture. This season, we expand our lens - building on our deep focus in the MENA region while bringing in voices, stories, and innovations from around the globe.
Why? Because the future of finance is no longer regional - it’s interconnected.
Whether it’s AI in Asia, tokenization in Europe, or fintech policy experiments in Africa, today’s financial shifts cross borders, industries, and disciplines.
Whether you’re in the industry or just fintech-curious, tune in weekly as we decode the big moves, bold ideas, and brilliant minds shaping tomorrow’s economy.
Episodes drop weekly. Arabic subtitles available on YouTube: youtube.com/@couchonomicswitharjunsingh438
Learn more: www.couchonomics.com
Season 4 supported by:
Adyen | Mastercard | SC Ventures | Thunes | Hala | e& | Digit 9
About the host:
Arjun's expertise covers a broad range of areas including Fintech, Payments, Digital Assets, Embedded Finance, Application of Emerging Technologies, and the Emergence of New Business Models within the Financial Services Sector in the MEA region and globally.
Arjun is deeply engaged in the Tech Start-Up ecosystem. He serves as a passive investor, advisory board member, and a notable commentator on the rapidly evolving scene.
In recognition of his impactful contributions, Arjun was honored as a Top Voice of the region by LinkedIn in 2020.
Learn more at www.couchonomics.com.
Couchonomics with Arjun
Inside SMBC’s Asia Innovation Center: The Future of Corporate Banking
Rethinking Core Banking — From the Inside Out
In this special GFTN Japan edition of Couchonomics with Arjun, we welcome Mayoran Rajendra, Managing Director and Head of the Asia Innovation Center at SMBC — one of Japan’s largest financial institutions.
We discuss how his team is re-engineering the core of corporate banking using generative AI, automation, and agentic infrastructure — not just adding on shiny tools, but rebuilding from within.
🔍 In this episode:
- How data-driven dashboards are transforming CFO decision-making
- Why real innovation starts with fixing foundations, not chasing trends
- The hype vs. reality of GenAI in financial services
- The rise of Agentic BaaS — and what it means for the future of banking
🎧 Watch the full episode now — available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:39 Meet Mayoran from SMBC
01:05 Mayoran's Background and Transition to Banking
04:20 Role and Mission of the Asia Innovation Center
06:49 Challenges and Successes in Innovation
10:38 Asia Rising Fund: Supporting Startups
13:40 Generative AI: Hype vs. Reality
17:08 Limitations and Innovations in AI Models
18:14 CFO Agent: Revolutionizing Financial Reviews
20:12 The Rise of AgTech AI and Open Finance
21:30 Agentic Workflows in Banking
25:05 Challenges and Opportunities for Traditional Banks
27:00 Staying Relevant with Emerging Technologies
30:18 Fostering Innovation in Financial Institutions
33:22 Conclusion
Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0
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- Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/
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- 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
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