In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, we dive deep into the future of finance with Agne Linge, Head of Growth at WeFi. Fresh from Davos, Agne shares insights into the latest trends in DeFi, AI-powered fintech, and the evolving global economy. We explore how blockchain and AI are reshaping banking, why traditional financial institutions are falling behind, and how decentralized finance is unlocking economic freedom worldwide.

🎯 Key Takeaways

✅ Why DeFi & AI are disrupting traditional banking models

✅ How blockchain enables financial freedom & inclusion

✅ The role of AI in fraud detection, KYC, and wealth management

✅ The impact of US crypto policies and Trump’s stance on blockchain

✅ The latest insights from Davos on finance, trade wars, and digital assets

📌 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

🔸 What makes DeFi superior to traditional banking?

🔸 How AI is being used in neobanks for security, automation, and compliance

🔸 How global regulations—including in the UAE—are shaping Web3 and crypto adoption

🔸 Will blockchain disrupt central banking and government spending transparency?

🔸 How financial institutions are preparing for the AI-powered banking future

🔹 About Agne Linge

Agne Linge serves as a head of growth and board member of WeFi, with a robust background in the crypto, DeFi, and fintech sectors. She brings over eight years of experience in the crypto industry, complemented by more than ten years in consulting, where she has honed her skills in advisory services, strategic planning, and business development.Her expertise spans blockchain technologies, including Layer 1s and Layer 2s, as well as centralized and decentralized exchanges and DeFi protocols.

With a solid foundation in traditional finance, Agne’s hands-on experience in crypto and DeFi positions her as a knowledgeable voice in the field. She is an active participant in the crypto community, with a vast network that fosters collaboration and innovation. A sought-after speaker, Agne regularly presents at major global conferences, including Devcon, ETH Denver, and ETH Barcelona. Her previous roles as a director at Binance and head of communications at DeGate further highlight her influential presence in the evolving landscape of digital finance.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/agnelinge/

WeFi Website: https://www.wefi.co/

🎙 Episode Highlights & Timestamps

⏳ [00:01:00] – Agne Linge’s background in finance & crypto

⏳ [00:04:30] – The vision of WeFi: AI & blockchain in neobanking

⏳ [00:10:00] – Why crypto, AI, and blockchain are more than just buzzwords

⏳ [00:15:30] – Understanding DAOs: How decentralized governance works

⏳ [00:21:00] – Trump, Elon Musk & blockchain: The impact of US policies on DeFi

⏳ [00:27:45] – The role of AI in fraud detection, compliance, and risk management

⏳ [00:32:00] – The future of finance: How AI & DeFi will shape the global economy

⏳ [00:37:00] – Crypto regulation in the UAE & MENA: Why Dubai is the global Web3 hub

⏳ [00:40:30] – Final thoughts & Agne’s advice for embracing financial innovation

Struggling to scale your tech team? Not sure when to move beyond an agency and build in-house? In this episode, we dive deep into engineering team optimization, startup scaling challenges, and the future of AI in development with Vygandas Pliasas—a Fractional CTO and expert in engineering management.

🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ When startups should transition from an agency to an in-house team

✅ The common traps founders fall into when working with external dev teams

✅ The step-by-step process for fixing tech bottlenecks and improving team efficiency

✅ How to scale remote engineering teams without chaos

✅ AI’s impact on development and how to integrate it into your tech strategy

✅ The biggest mistakes startups make when hiring developers

✅ The red flags that indicate it’s time for a change in your tech team

🎯 Key Takeaways:

📌 Miscommunication with agencies can slow progress—here’s how to fix it

📌 The right moment to build an in-house team and hire a Fractional CTO

📌 Scaling tech teams requires balancing technical leadership & business goals

📌 AI helps but doesn’t replace human decision-making—how to use it effectively

About Vygandas:

Vygandad is a seasoned Fractional CTO and software development executive with over 18 years of experience. He specializes in scaling startups, building dedicated remote teams, and driving technical innovation. With expertise in SaaS, e-commerce, and compliance-driven industries, he helps businesses align their technology with strategic goals, ensuring impactful, sustainable growth. From mentoring engineering leaders to streamlining operations, he empowers teams to deliver excellence while cutting costs and boosting performance.

https://www.cortip.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/vygandas/

⏱️ Episode Highlights & Timestamps:

00:00 - Welcome & intro to Vygandas Pliasas

02:30 - Why founders struggle with agency-based development

05:15 - How to know when to bring development in-house

08:40 - The challenges of scaling remote engineering teams

12:10 - Hiring & firing: How fast is too fast, how late is too late?

18:45 - AI in development: What works, what doesn’t

30:10 - The biggest startup tech mistakes and how to avoid them

38:45 - Final thoughts & where to find Vygandas online

“Reducing the amount of time to receive cash unlocks working capital and fuels business growth. AI is transforming this process like never before.” – Fabio Fleitas

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, we dive into the world of fintech and AI-driven financial operations with Fabio Fleitas, Co-Founder and CTO of Tesorio. Tesorio is revolutionizing cash flow automation, helping businesses collect payments faster and optimize financial operations with AI.

We discuss:

• The biggest pain points finance teams face in accounts receivable and cash collections

• How Tesorio uses AI to automate collections, predict payments, and improve cash flow

• The impact of AI and automation on financial operations

• The challenges of integrating fintech solutions with banking systems

• How startups and enterprises can leverage AI to streamline financial workflows

🚀 Key Takeaways

✅ AI is revolutionizing cash collections by automating invoices, follow-ups, and reconciliation

✅ Tesorio helps reduce payment delays by analyzing financial data and predicting when invoices will be paid

✅ Businesses lose millions in bad debt write-offs—AI-driven automation can significantly cut these losses

✅ Even enterprise finance teams remain understaffed, making automation essential for scalability

✅ The rise of AI agents and operators is making financial workflows more efficient than ever

🎯 What You’ll Learn

🔹 Why late payments are a major financial bottleneck for businesses

🔹 How AI-powered tools like Tesorio improve cash flow predictability

🔹 The importance of automating financial workflows to scale without increasing headcount

🔹 How neobanks and fintech innovations are changing the financial landscape

🔹 Insights into how AI is being used in fintech beyond generative models

🎙️ About Fabio Fleitas

Fabio Fleitas is the Co-Founder & CTO of Tesorio, a fintech platform transforming how businesses manage cash flow. He started the company while studying at the University of Pennsylvania and later went through Y Combinator in 2015. Over the past decade, he has led Tesorio’s evolution from a startup to a key player in AI-powered financial automation.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/fabiofleitas/

https://www.tesorio.com/

⏳ Episode Highlights (Timestamps)

📌 [00:02:00] – What is Tesorio? The problem it solves for finance teams

📌 [00:04:30] – Fabio’s startup journey: from university to Y Combinator

📌 [00:06:50] – The pain points in finance and why late payments are a major issue

📌 [00:10:00] – How Tesorio automates cash collections and integrates with financial systems

📌 [00:14:30] – Addressing objections: Why companies still need specialized fintech tools

📌 [00:18:00] – AI-powered automation: How businesses can reduce cash flow risks

📌 [00:21:00] – Banking and fintech evolution: What’s changed in the last decade

📌 [00:28:00] – AI’s growing role in predicting payments and automating financial decisions

📌 [00:33:00] – The future of AI in fintech and Fabio’s take on rapid AI advancements

📌 [00:45:00] – How AI agents can now fully automate invoice submissions

📌 [00:50:00] – Advice for fintech entrepreneurs: How to build impactful AI solutions

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, we dive deep into the evolving landscape of digital marketing with Merag Shahzad, a digital marketing expert and strategist. Merag shares insights on AI’s role in marketing, how brands can balance automation with authenticity, and the future trends shaping digital engagement.

We explore the must-have tools for marketers, discuss the overuse vs. underuse of AI, and break down how businesses—especially startups—can leverage marketing as a growth powerhouse.

🔥 Key Takeaways

✔️ AI’s Biggest Impact on Digital Marketing – How AI tools like ChatGPT, Jasper AI, and Synthesia are revolutionizing content creation.

✔️ Too Much AI vs. Not Enough – Where businesses are going wrong in AI adoption and how to strike the right balance.

✔️ Must-Have AI Tools for Marketers – Essential AI-driven tools for content creation, search optimization, and audience engagement.

✔️ The Role of Personal Branding – Why founders and executives should invest in building their personal brands online.

✔️ Influencer Marketing & B2B Trends – How Gen Z and the creator economy are shaping brand storytelling across platforms.

✔️ Platform-Specific Strategies – Understanding the unique culture and algorithm of platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok.

✔️ Marketing as a Growth Engine – Why startups should prioritize marketing from day one to scale effectively.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

🔹 How to integrate AI into your marketing strategy without losing authenticity

🔹 The difference between AI-powered efficiency and over-reliance on automation

🔹 Why storytelling and emotional connection are key to marketing success

🔹 How businesses can tailor their marketing for different digital platforms

🔹 Why consistency is the secret weapon in content marketing

👤 About Merag Shahzad

Merag Shahzad is a seasoned digital marketing expert specializing in AI-driven branding and content strategies. His agency helps businesses optimize their marketing strategies by leveraging AI tools while maintaining authenticity and engagement.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/immerag/

https://instagram.com/immerag/

https://www.tiktok.com/@immerag

📌 Episode Highlights

⏳ [00:01:00] – Introduction & Guest Background

⏳ [00:04:00] – The Evolution of AI in Digital Marketing

⏳ [00:10:00] – Must-Have AI Tools for Businesses & Creators

⏳ [00:16:00] – The Balance Between AI and Human Touch

⏳ [00:24:00] – The Power of Storytelling in Marketing Strategy

⏳ [00:30:00] – The Rise of Influencer Marketing & B2B Branding

⏳ [00:40:00] – Best Practices for Digital Marketing in 2025

⏳ [00:49:00] – How to Choose the Right Social Media Platform

In this episode, Mehmet sits down withDaniel Andor, a seasoned product designer and founder ofDurran, a product design studio specializing in early-stage tech startups. With 15 years of experience in UX and product design, Daniel shares his insights onlean product design,common startup mistakes, andhow to build products that truly engage users. If you’re a founder, product leader, or UX enthusiast, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways to improve your design approach and enhance user experience.

Key Takeaways

✅What is Lean Product Design? – Understanding how rapid iteration and user feedback can shape successful products.

✅Common UX Mistakes Startups Make – Why technical founders often struggle with product design and how to fix it.

✅How to Identify User Engagement Issues – Signs your product isn’t working and how to address high churn rates.

✅Empathy-Driven UX – Why understanding your users’ journey is critical for product success.

✅The Role of AI in UX Design – Can AI assist in product design, or is it still unreliable?

✅Metrics That Define Product Success – The key indicators that show your product is resonating with users.

✅Resources and Frameworks – Daniel’s go-to books and methodologies for UX and product design.

What You’ll Learn

🚀 How to validate design decisions before building costly features

🎯 The importance of onboarding and user journey mapping

🔄 How to leverage feedback loops to continuously refine your product

📊 The difference between good and bad UX design for SaaS startups

🤖 Can AI improve UX design? Where it works—and where it fails

About the Guest

Daniel Andor is the founder ofDurran, a product design studio that helps early-stage startups refine and launch their products. He has mentored founders at top accelerators likeTechstars, guiding them through the process of product-market fit, UX design, and customer engagement strategies.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniandor/

https://www.durran.co/

Episode Highlights

⏳ [00:01:00] – Daniel’s journey from graphic design to UX and product design

⏳ [00:04:00] – The importance of lean product design in early-stage startups

⏳ [00:06:30] – Why startups fail: The dangers of feature parity and lack of customer feedback

⏳ [00:10:00] – How to measure user engagement and detect churn signals

⏳ [00:14:00] – The role of empathy in UX and best practices for user onboarding

⏳ [00:19:30] – The lean startup approach: Building, testing, and iterating quickly

⏳ [00:22:00] – AI in UX: Can generative AI enhance product design?

⏳ [00:28:00] – Metrics for success: How to determine if your product is working

⏳ [00:32:00] – Daniel’s recommended books and frameworks for UX and product design

In this episode, we dive into the world ofdigital twins and AI-driven facility management withMarek Kozlak (CTO & Founder of SIMLAB) and Michał Szopa (Product Owner & Project Manager at SIMLAB). They share how their cutting-edge technology transformsconstruction, facility management, and real estate operations by creatingreal-time, interactive digital twins of buildings.

Whether you’re areal estate developer, tech leader, or entrepreneur, this episode providesinsights into AI, IoT, and smart building innovations that are reshaping the industry.

🔹 Key Takeaways

🚀What are digital twins, and how do they impact real estate and construction?

🏗️The role of AI and IoT in making buildings smarter and more efficient

📊How SIMLAB’s technology helps prevent costly construction rework and maintenance issues

🔍How facility managers, homeowners, and developers can leverage digital twins for predictive maintenance

💡The future of smart buildings and how this innovation can help cut costs and reduce carbon footprints

🔹 What You’ll Learn

✔️How digital twins bring real-world assets to life with data and visualization

✔️The difference between ‘as-designed’ vs. ‘as-built’ digital twins

✔️How SIMLAB integrates with IoT devices, sensors, and automation platforms

✔️The power of 3D scanning—how anyone can create a digital twin using just a smartphone

✔️Why AI-driven maintenance and predictive analytics are the future of real estate and construction

🔹 About Our Guests

Marek Kozlak is theCEO & Founder of SIMLAB, an expert inmechanical engineering, computer graphics, and digital twin technology. He founded SIMLAB to solve real-world challenges in theconstruction and property sectors using advanced 3D scanning and AI-powered analytics.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/marek-kozlak-82481258/

Michał Szopa is theProduct Owner & Project Manager at SIMLAB, specializing inbuilding automation systems, digital transformation, and facility management. His expertise bridges the gap betweentechnology, real estate, and end-user needs.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michal-szopa/

SIMLAB Website:http://www.simlabinc.com/

🔹 Episode Highlights (Timestamps)

⏳[00:00] Welcome & introduction to SIMLAB

⏳[02:00] Marek & Michał’s backgrounds and why they founded SIMLAB

⏳[06:30] What is a digital twin, and how is it revolutionizing real estate?

⏳[10:00] The role of IoT in building maintenance and automation

⏳[14:30] How digital twins help prevent costly construction errors

⏳[20:00] AI and predictive maintenance in facility management

⏳[27:00] Real-world use cases: Smart buildings, energy savings & sustainability

⏳[35:00] Live demo: A deep dive into SIMLAB’s technology (watch on YouTube!)

⏳[45:00] How anyone can scan their property and create a digital twin

⏳[50:00] Business model, pricing, and final thoughts

In this insightful episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, we dive into the world of smart cities, digital transformation, and AI-driven urban innovation with Lawrence Eta, a seasoned technology leader with experience spanning Toronto, Saudi Arabia, and beyond. Lawrence shares his expertise on how cities can harness AI, data, and infrastructure planning to build sustainable, people-centric urban environments.

🎯 Key Takeaways

🔹 Smart Cities as a Blueprint for the Future – Why digital infrastructure is essential for modern urban development.

🔹 AI & Data-Driven Cities – How AI is transforming city planning, public services, and security.

🔹 The Role of Government & Regulations – How policy plays a crucial role in creating innovation-friendly cities.

🔹 The 5S Framework for Smart City Success – Lawrence’s strategic approach to stability, scalability, security, sustainability, and integration.

🔹 Tech Leadership & Innovation – Why city CTOs should be at the center of urban strategy.

🔹 The Future of Urban Mobility & Digital Identity – How AI, biometrics, and automation will change the way we interact with cities.

💡 About Our Guest: Lawrence Eta

Lawrence Eta is a global digital transformation expert and former Chief Technology Officer of the City of Toronto. He is currently based in Saudi Arabia, where he leads digital transformation and smart city initiatives for one of the region’s mega projects. With a background in technology leadership across North America, Europe, and the Middle East, Lawrence brings a unique perspective on urban planning, governance, and the intersection of AI and infrastructure.

Lawrence’s extensive educational background—including an Executive MBA—complements his commitment to innovation and continuous learning.

Lawrence Website: https://lawrenceeta.com/

Bridging Worlds: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D188F7WR

📌 Episode Highlights (with Timestamps)

⏳ [00:01:00] – Lawrence’s journey from Toronto to Saudi Arabia & the future of smart cities

⏳ [00:04:30] – Why digital transformation is critical for urban infrastructure

⏳ [00:09:00] – AI’s role in creating more efficient and sustainable cities

⏳ [00:15:00] – Balancing privacy, security, and innovation in data-driven cities

⏳ [00:20:00] – Real-world applications of AI: Biometrics, transportation, and governance

⏳ [00:26:00] – The Middle East as a hub for smart city development & investment opportunities

⏳ [00:34:00] – Why we should rethink IT departments as Technology & Innovation Teams

⏳ [00:39:00] – Leadership lessons & advice for tech professionals in public service

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, we dive into the evolving landscape of healthcare UX, AI-driven personalization, and innovative design strategies with Mary Borysova, a seasoned product designer specializing in healthcare.

Mary shares her insights on how AI, gamification, and behavioral design are transforming the patient experience, improving accessibility, and making health apps more engaging and effective. She also discusses the challenges of designing for diverse user groups, from Gen Z to senior citizens, and the privacy and regulatory constraints that shape digital healthcare solutions.

🚀 What You’ll Learn

✅ How AI is shaping healthcare UX and driving personalized patient experiences

✅ The role of gamification and behavioral design in keeping users engaged

✅ Challenges in designing healthcare apps for different demographics (Gen Z vs. seniors)

✅ Privacy and data security concerns in AI-powered healthcare applications

✅ Innovations in predictive analytics and digital health accessibility

✅ How AI-driven chatbots and voice assistants are revolutionizing mental health support

✅ What it takes to design for both patients and healthcare providers

🏆 About the Guest: Mary Borysova

Mary has a unique business and creative approach, backed by her 7 years of design experience specifically in healthcare design, and 12 years of experience in the design and marketing of tech products. Some of the highlights of her work are:

- Mary was part of the healthcare venture building studio, working on 5 products 0 To 1, one of them became a unicorn.

- She designed a new AI-powered app for CVS Pharmacy (about to launch). She was leading design projects at SaaS PandaDoc, a product used by Patagonia, Panasonic, and Autodesk and 50K more business users.

https://techmattersstudio.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-borysova/

https://healthmattersandme.substack.com/

⏳ Episode Chapters & Timestamps

🎤 [00:00] Introduction & Guest Welcome

👩‍⚕️ [02:00] Mary’s Journey in Healthcare UX & Product Design

📱 [06:30] How Healthcare UX Differs from Other Industries

🔒 [10:00] Privacy & Security Challenges in Healthcare AI

🎯 [14:30] Gamification & AI Personalization in Health Apps

🏥 [18:45] Designing for Accessibility: Seniors vs. Younger Users

🌍 [22:00] Bridging Healthcare Gaps in Underserved Communities

📊 [27:15] Predictive Analytics & AI in Healthcare Decision-Making

🧠 [30:45] AI Chatbots & the Future of Mental Health Support

🎙️ [36:00] The Future of Healthcare UX & Emerging Trends

👋 [40:30] Final Thoughts & How to Connect with Mary