Ozan Ozark is a serial entrepreneur who founded and successfully exited Norway's most popular social media platform before going onto found a portfolio of 5 fintech companies, including OpenPayd, without any external funding. In this first episode of the Fintech Ventures Podcast, he explores his remarkable journey with your host Martin and discusses important topics along the way.

00:00 Introduction to the Fintech Ventures Podcast
00:56 Ozan Ozark's Early Life and Tech Beginnings
02:20 The Rise of Social Media in Norway
04:53 Transition to FinTech and Founding OpenPaid
06:49 Understanding Embedded Financial Services
11:40 Challenges and Opportunities in the FinTech Ecosystem
16:41 Founding European Merchant Bank
18:26 Exploring Eurotrader and the Future of Cross-Border Payments
22:01 Introduction to BitBase: A Web3 Business
22:47 Managing a Diverse Portfolio
23:17 Segregation and Culture in Business
25:26 Involvement and Strategy Across Companies
26:28 Criteria for Selecting Ventures
27:33 The Role of Regulation in Business
28:35 Financing and Market Timing
31:06 Views on FinTech Regulation
33:55 Open Banking: Current State and Future
37:13 Advice for Aspiring FinTech Founders
40:49 Conclusion and Contact Information