10 Years of Raiz: $2.1 Billion - What's next? CEO, Brendan Malone

In this episode of Fintech Chatter, host Dexter Cousins sits down with Brendan Malone, Group CEO of RAIZ (formerly Raise Invest), to reflect on the company's remarkable decade-long journey since its 2016 launch as a joint venture with US-based Acorns. Malone shares insights into RAIZ’s evolution from a micro-investing platform focused on roundups and financial inclusion to a $2.1 billion AUM fintech with over 340,000 users, emphasizing the importance of staying true to core strategy amid hype cycles like Buy Now Pay Later and crypto. He discusses the strategic ASX listing in 2018, the challenges and lessons from expanding into Southeast Asia, and the critical role of customer feedback in product development. With AI now central to RAIZ’s operations—enabling a lean team of just 42 staff to scale efficiently—Malone warns against chasing 'bright, shiny things' and stresses that enduring success comes from deep customer relationships, sustainable ecosystems, and long-term vision. Looking ahead, he envisions consolidation in the fintech space to create better, more seamless experiences for investors. Key takeaways include: (1) Stay true to your core mission—RAIZ resisted the temptation to become a Buy Now Pay Later platform despite market pressure; (2) Customer feedback is non-negotiable—RAIZ built its Emerald and Sapphire portfolios based on direct customer demand; (3) AI is a force multiplier, not a replacement for people—RAIZ uses AI to enhance efficiency without sacrificing human touch; (4) Long-term sustainability beats short-term hype—Malone wouldn’t rebuild RAIZ faster today, even with AI, because customer trust takes time; (5) Ecosystems will outperform silos—RAIZ aims to create lifelong financial relationships across generations; (6) Regulatory friction remains a barrier—Malone criticizes the slow progress on CDR and calls for more consumer-centered policymaking; (7) Founder resilience is key—despite the challenges, RAIZ has grown through consistency, not disruption; (8) The next decade will be about consolidation and trust, not just innovation.