Banking is being rewritten. Not by banks.
AI agents are underwriting loans. Stablecoins are moving billions without a single bank involved. Embedded finance is turning every app into a financial product. And the institutions that were supposed to lead this transformation? Most of them are still debating their cloud migration strategy.
At Podim’s Digital Disruption track, we’re not speculating about the future of finance. We’re putting the people who are building it — right now — on the same stage.
You’ll hear from a former Accenture Global Director who has advised central banks worldwide on digital currencies. From the founder of FlowX.AI ($44M+ raised) who is cutting bank development costs by up to 90%. From the strategist behind Paynetics, leading provider of advanced payment solutions in Europe and the UK. From executives who led global developer strategy at Microsoft, Atlassian, Roblox, and MongoDB. And from the former Rakuten Viber growth leader who scaled user acquisition across EMEA, APAC, and the US.
The program brings together a powerful panel discussion, 3 focused talks, and a hands-on DeepDive workshop — covering everything from central bank digital currencies and embedded payments to AI-native banking platforms and corporate innovation gaps. This is where you hear what’s actually working, what’s failing, and what’s about to change everything.
Why This Matters for You
The financial industry is splitting into two worlds:
Companies that are digitally transforming — and companies that are already digitally native.
The gap between these two is growing every quarter. And the people who understand both sides — the legacy systems and the new infrastructure — are the most valuable people in the room.
This track is designed for:
- Fintech founders building the next layer of financial infrastructure
- Banking and insurance professionals navigating AI-driven transformation
- Corporate innovation leaders looking for real answers, not vendor pitches
- Investors tracking where real value is being created in digital finance
- Anyone building at the intersection of finance, technology, and regulation
What You’ll Walk Away With
- A clear picture of what banking will look like in 2030 — and what’s already happening today
- How AI-native platforms are replacing legacy systems 90% faster and cheaper
- Why most corporates are missing the biggest AI opportunities — and how to fix that
- Practical frameworks for AI transformation that actually work in regulated industries
- How embedded finance and stablecoins are reshaping how money moves globally
- The mindset, team, and tools behind hypergrowth in digital finance
On Stage: The People Reshaping Finance
🏦 Panel: How Will the Bank Look in 2030? Reinventing Finance in the Age of AI, Embedded Services & Radical Transparency
Banks are no longer just competing with other banks. They’re competing with every platform that can embed a financial service. This panel brings together operators from both sides — those transforming banks from within and those building the infrastructure that makes traditional banking optional.
John Velissarios — Founder & Director, Otranto Limited (Monaco)
Former Global Director at Accenture with 30+ years advising central banks and top global institutions on digital currencies, CBDCs, and security protocols. One of the world’s foremost experts on digital financial markets.
Alexander Sirakov — Partner, Innimmo & Paynetics (Bulgaria)
15 years across M&A, venture capital, and fintech. Key player in the Phos acquisition by Ingenico. Extensive experience spanning Europe, China, India, Pakistan, and Australia in cross-border fintech investments.
Ioan Iacob — Founder & CEO, FlowX.AI (USA)
Serial tech entrepreneur behind FlowX.AI — an AI-native platform enabling financial organizations to deploy mission-critical digital flows in weeks, not months, reducing development costs by up to 90%. Previously built QUALITANCE to 200+ engineers serving Fortune 500 clients like IBM, Virgin, and IKEA.
Sven Jakić — Director of Digital Strategy & Governance, OTP banka (Slovenia)
Leading key elements of OTP banka’s digital transformation from the inside — including new technology approaches aligned with a newly established IT strategy. Deep experience in core banking system implementation and IT governance.
Moderated by Dilan Sisu — Investment Team, e2vc (Turkey)
Part of the investment team at e2vc, a venture capital fund backing globally ambitious founders from Turkey, Central Eastern Europe, and the Baltics.
⚡ Talks: Where AI Meets Real Business
Three focused, 20-minute talks from operators who aren’t theorizing about AI — they’re shipping it.
The Opportunities Corporates Are Missing in the AI Sector
Grace Francisco — Co-Founder & Partner, EMG Worldwide; Former Global Developer Strategy Lead at Microsoft, Atlassian, Roblox, MongoDB, Cisco (USA)
Grace has co-authored three patents and led worldwide developer initiatives across some of the world’s most influential tech companies. Now an AI-focused strategic angel investor and LP at Emmeline Ventures, she brings a unique vantage point on where corporates consistently underestimate AI’s potential — and where the real opportunities are hiding in plain sight.
Back to Startup Pirate Mode: Setting the Fundamentals for AI Transformation
Mary Hurd — Co-Founder, Haavn; Former Google & Meta (UK)
Over a decade building products, shaping brands, and leading teams at Google, Meta, and early-stage startups. Mary now builds AI tools and practices for creative, product, and engineering teams at Haavn. Her talk cuts through the AI hype and gets back to what actually matters: the fundamental building blocks that make AI transformation stick.
The Perfect Cocktail for Hypergrowth: Mindset, Team, and AI Tools
Zarena Kancheva — Co-Founder, Two-Plus.ai; Former Sr. Director of Global Growth & Marketing, Rakuten Viber (Spain)
15+ years scaling B2C and B2B digital businesses globally. At Rakuten Viber, Zarena led user acquisition, international expansion, and revenue diversification across EMEA, APAC, and the US. Now she advises founders on building AI-driven go-to-market strategies. Her talk breaks down the three ingredients that separate companies that grow fast from companies that grow fast and survive.
🔬 DeepDive: Reinventing the Bank — From Digital Transformation to AI-Native Banking
What happens when digital transformation is no longer a competitive advantage — but the baseline?
This workshop goes beyond the panel and into the specifics. Led by practitioners working directly with financial institutions, the session explores how banks are evolving toward AI-native operations, embedded financial services, and platform-driven business models.
Through real-world examples and open discussion, you’ll address the key question: how should banks reinvent themselves today to stay relevant by 2030?
Topics include:
- Moving from digital transformation projects to AI-native operating models
- Embedded finance: when every platform becomes a bank
- Technology stack decisions that will define the next decade
- Customer strategy in an increasingly fragmented ecosystem
Georg Kolin — Account Executive, Appian Deutschland (Austria)
Works closely with banks and insurance companies to improve efficiency through process automation. Previously led Group Customer Experience & Digitalization at Addiko Bank, bringing deep banking industry perspective.
Sven Jakić — OTP banka (Slovenia)
Driving OTP banka’s digital strategy from the inside, with hands-on experience in implementing new core banking systems and leading technology transformation.
Moderated by John Velissarios — Otranto Limited (Monaco)
30+ years advising the world’s leading financial institutions on digital markets, digital currencies, and secure operations.
Beyond Digital Disruption
Digital Disruption is just one part of the Podim experience. When you join, you step into a much bigger ecosystem:
- 80+ speakers — from founders of global tech companies to investors backing unicorns
- 60+ VC funds actively looking for the next opportunities
- 150+ selected startups carefully curated from across the region
- Curated networking, side events, and real deal-making opportunities
Partners
Powered by: Equaleyes & OTP banka
Finance Is Being Rebuilt. Be in the Room Where It Happens.
The biggest shifts in finance aren’t being announced at press conferences.
They’re being discussed in rooms like this one.
If you’re building, investing, or leading in digital finance — this is where the conversations that matter are happening.
