How many globally lack access to banking? Astonishingly, one in three. In this insightful conversation, Vera Futorjanski, former Head of Communications at Rocket Internet and founding member of Dubai Future Accelerators, shares her journey. Emphasizing the transformative role of technology, she explores challenges and strategies to enhance accessibility and diversity in finance through education and innovation.

Discussion Highlights:

• Dubai as a Hub for Innovation: Vera discusses the unique ecosystem in Dubai, where the government actively supports and accelerates innovation. Vera elaborates on her involvement with the Dubai Future Accelerators program, highlighting the collaboration between government entities and startups. 
• Female Representation in the Startup Ecosystem: The discussion delves into the challenges faced by female founders, investors, and leaders in the startup ecosystem. Vera shares a shocking statistic; only 2% of globally available funding for startups goes to female founders.
• Beyond Community and Empowering Women: Vera introduces Beyond, a curated community of female leaders launched by her that provides a safe and trusted space for women leaders to connect, collaborate, and grow.
• Web3 and Diversity in the Tech Space: Vera expresses her early optimism in the Web3 space and her disappointment in the progress made regarding diversity. She highlights her experiences in the Metaverse, NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), and the need for greater representation of women in key roles in Web3 technologies.
• AI and the Importance of Female Representation: Vera highlights the lack of representation of female voices in AI discussions, referencing that Sam Altman's quotes in AI news coverage last year surpassed those of all female AI experts listed in Times Magazine's top AI influencers combined. Read more in Where are all the ‘godmothers’ of AI? Women’s voices are not being heardfromLuba Kassova for The Guardian. 
• Importance of Funding for Women in Tech: Vera acknowledges the importance of funding in driving change in the tech industry. She emphasizes the need for more female Limited Partners who can influence investment decisions and stresses that change will come through a combination of education, funding opportunities, and increased visibility for women in the tech space.

About Fintech Files:

Are you ready to unravel the most innovative trends disrupting the world of Fintech today? Join us on Fintech Files from BCG Platinion, where we delve deep into the dynamic landscape of Fintech, NeoBanks, and the Digital Banking world, sparking insightful conversations with industry disruptors from around the globe. So, what are the most groundbreaking trends shaping the future of Fintech, and how will they impact your financial world? Fintech Files takes an accessible approach to technology. We break down complex topics and have our guests explain them in a relatable "explain it to your grandma" style. In every episode, we focus on real-world stories of how financial technology operates, demystifying complex concepts and making them relatable for both Fintech enthusiasts and professionals.

The Hosts of Fintech Files:

Hosted by Nora Hocke, a manager at BCG Platinion in Munich, and