AntKast

What is the future of the music festivals in the digital age?
What’s the DNA of 57 years old world famous Montreux Jazz Festival?
What makes live music enjoyable?

Our guest for this episode is Nicolas Bonard, CEO of Montreux Media Ventures, a media, production and content creation company and subsidiary of the Montreux Jazz Festival.

00:04 Intro
03:26 What makes live music enjoyable now that we have online streaming?
04:43 Since when has Montreux Jazz Festival been embracing music genres other than Jazz?
09:27 How has the festival evolved since 1967?
13:15 How are the archival footage of the festival being used?
15:40 What are the biggest challenges for the festival going digital?
20:30 How will the economic recession impact the music and entertainment industry?
23:20 What kind of technologies would further transform the business?
24:40 What are the views on NFT in the live music business?
26:45 2023 Hangzhou Montreux Jazz Festival and the Chinese music market
29:22 What are some of the musicians that help shaped the festival?
33:13 Outro

If you would like to repost this episode or partner with AntKast, please reach us through: zhumei.wzm@antgroup.com

In AntKast’s first episode in 2023, we present to you a fintech conversation between Jennifer Tan and Andy Mok as we draw our focus to Asia.

In this episode, Jennifer and Andy reveal why some of the most important fintech developments in the world are unveiled in Asia. Listen in as they discuss misconceptions surrounding Asian countries, how these countries evolved beyond stereotypes, and what future developmental opportunities they may have.  

Our guest, Jennifer Tan, is the Executive Vice President for Ant Group’s strategy development and government affairs in the Greater Bay Area in China. Our guest host, Andy Mok, is a Senior Research Fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, as well as an advisor to venture capital and private equity funds and tech startups.

Sections in this episode include:
00:04 Intro
01:00 What is GBA? Why should we care about it?
05:50 What are some of the most important misunderstandings or myths about China?
10:16 Is it true that Asia is not as well-informed on sustainability?
14:56 What are some of the most interesting macro trends in Asia?
21;29 What can we learn from the success of digital payment in Hong Kong?
25:15 How does Alipay+ empower financial connectivity in the broader Asia region?
31:00 What are some of the biggest opportunities for innovation in 5-10 years in Asia?
35:35 Book recommendations
38:45 Outro

 If you would like to repost this episode or partner with AntKast, please reach us through: zhumei.wzm@antgroup.com

The world is expecting a resurgence in international tourism. Alipay+ is suite of cross-border digital payment and marketing solutions. It is working together with digital wallet companies around the world to create a better payment experience for international travelers and local merchants alike.

A popular destination in Asia, South Korea has connected many of its offline merchants with multiple e-wallet partners in the Asia-Pacific region via Alipay+, including Alipay HK from Hong Kong, GCash from the Philippines and TrueMoney from Thailand. In this special episode, we will be discussing how the revival of international travel will boost Korean tourism and how Alipay+ might play a key role in making that experience much more enjoyable.

We are also joined by FinTech leader, COO and co-founder of INVYO, Xavier Gomez, who will be sharing his insights on the topic.

Sections in this episode:
00:05 Intro
02:23 Alipay HK, Hong Kong
06:50 TrueMoney, Thailand
10:15 GCash, The Philippines
13:23 How will the partnership with Alipay+ enable local Korean merchants?
15:33 Outro

In this episode, we explore the history of QR code (Quick Response Code), the reason behind its rising popularity as a medium that connects the physical and digital worlds, as well as future developments for this technology.
Our guest for this episode, Richard Turrin, a former FinTech executive at IBM, now a best-selling author, will talk about how he witnessed firsthand the transformational power of QR code in China in the 2010s. Leading the conversation will be our guest host, Theodora Lau, founder of Unconventional Ventures.

Sections in this episode:
00:04 Intro
03:44 The origin of the QR code
09:33 Where else do we see smart implementations of QR code outside of China?
12:51 EU's adoption of QR code as a standard
16:30 How does QR code enable financial inclusion?
19:56 How does QR code compare to NFC technology?
24:20 What role will QR code play in embedded finance?
33:30 Outro

If you would like to repost this episode or partner with AntKast, please reach us through: zhumei.wzm@antgroup.com

Join us in this episode of AntKast with FinTech expert and best-selling author Chris Skinner. Chris has been commenting on the financial markets through his blog since as early as 2007 with a focus on the revolutionizing capabilities of digital technology in finance.

Chris will be discussing how "going digital" can enable green and socially responsible initiatives. Throughout this conversation, we will be breaking down what it means to be digital, the validity of ESG, and the relationship between FinTech and traditional banks.

Sections in this episode:
00:08 Intro
03:21 Chris' new book “Digital for Good: Stand for Something or you will fall”
08:06 Is ESG simply a replacement for risk mitigation or does it actually promote long-term success?
12:24 Examples of digital for good and companies that stand for something
15:23 Factors that led to the developments of FinTech and open banking in the financial industry
19:10 Is the relationship between FinTech and traditional banks complementary or adversarial?
22:33 New technologies that will empower digital economies in the post-COVID world
25:25 Why is Asia the future of green FinTech?
29:55 How would Chris write his mission statement for a company?
32:06 Chris as a children’s book writer
34:01 What would the future of FinTech look like by 2030?
36:50 Outro

If you would like to repost this episode or partner with AntKast, please reach us through: zhumei.wzm@antgroup.com

Tune in for a 2022 mid-year review with Dr. Efi Pylarinou on the recent developments in fintech. Efi is an independent fintech and blockchain thought leader, author, and global influencer. We discuss the latest innovations in finance around the globe, covering topics on the SWIFT system, regional financial innovations, financial inclusion, blockchain, and decentralized finance.

Efi has been named one of the top influencers in the finance sector, and is the No.1 woman influencer by Refinitiv Global Social Media. She is the founder of Efi Pylarinou Advisory.

Sectors in this episode:

00:04 Intro

01:32 How do the US and Europe approach innovation?

07:33 How can different regions learn from each other?

09:18 Davos 2022: updates to the fintech industry

13:13 What is SWIFT?

14:47 Why, despite obvious limitations, has SWIFT dominated in the past 50 years?

20:20 How can we resolve imbalanced capital allocation and internet access?

22:03 How can innovations make the economy more equal for people?

27:17 What has led people toward innovations like the "Buy Now, Pay Later" model?

34:06 How should one analyze current developments in DeFi and blockchain?

41:38 Outro

If you would like to repost this episode or partner with AntKast, please reach us through: zhumei.wzm@antgroup.com

In this episode of AntKast, we welcome tech strategy expert Jeffrey Towson to share his insights on what makes a platform strategy successful. We'll discuss what makes platforms different from traditional business models, why they can be more effective, and what challenges they might face. Jeffrey will also be sharing his thoughts on Ant Group’s cross-border payment network, Alipay+, and why it can be valuable to the Asian region.

Jeffrey Towson is a consultant, investor, podcaster, and speaker in digital strategy with 20 years of experience across US, China/Asia, and the Middle East. He is also a professor at the China Europe Business School, and the Sasin School of Management. Jeffrey is also a best-selling author, with his latest book, "Moats and Marathons: How to Build and Measure Competitive Advantage in Digital Businesses."

Sections in this episode:

02:08 What's the winning strategy in this digital age, and what are the contrasts for Eastern and Western strategies?

07:52 What is so special about platform economies?

11:08 What makes a platform meaningful and attractive to its participants?

14:50 How do companies tackle problems as the platform becomes more difficult to manage?

17:38 Ant Group's platform strategy

21:12 East and West comparison on fintech’s development

23:31 What's Alipay+ and its potential?

27:26 Jeffrey's career as a professor and a consultant

30:05 Jeffrey on his new book

33:37 Outro

If you would like to repost this episode or partner with AntKast, please reach us through: zhumei.wzm@antgroup.com

In this episode of AntKast, we welcome TMT industry expert Paul Lee to discuss some of the latest innovations in the sports industry. Paul Lee is a Partner and the Global Head of Research for the Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (TMT) Industry at Deloitte UK.

Topics include the digitalization of the sports industry and its business model, with a deep dive on the phenomenon of sports NFTs and blockchain technology, and what they mean for sports leagues, teams, players, and sports fans. Paul also sheds some light on the future of sports, the return to live sports, and technological changes in the overall TMT sector.

Paul Lee has authored over 80 TMT reports, and leads the Deloitte Digital Consumer Trends Survey. He has also authored companion reports for the Royal Television Society’s Cambridge Conference, the IBC Leaders’ Summit, and the Guardian International Television Festival.

Sections in this episode:

00:03 Intro
03:40 Big trends in sports digitalization in resent years
06:49 Sports NFTs and its different applications
10:12 Digital collecting as another form of engagement and revenue stream
13:24 How large is the current digital sports market?
21:38 What's important to a successful NFT release?
22:55 The move to greener blockchains
25:20 What does this mean for other media and entertainment players?
29:44 How has COVID been impacting consumer behavior?
38:24 Outro

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In this episode of AntKast, we welcome a top leadership member from Ant Group, Jia Hang(Panda) to share with us his experience of leading Ant’s global strategy and the latest projects of Alipay+. Jia Hang is currently Ant Group’s Regional General Manager for South East Asia. Prior to this role he has led Ant’s international projects in building key strategic partnerships across multiple regions. Before joining Ant, Hang worked at China Union Pay and Union Pay International, helping to build the UnionPay business across the Americas.

In addition to sharing the stories behind Ant’s global journey, Hang also offers his insights on how to lead a global team, how technology empowers businesses, and a sneak peek into the future of fintech.

Sections in this episode:

00: 03 Intro

02:23 Jia Hang on his new appointment as General Manager for South East Asia

04:33 Jia Hang on leading a global team

09:08 Ant Group's unique strategy overseas

14:23 Ant's local approach and cases working with local companies

18:19 Evolutions leading up to Alipay+

24:04 Alipay+ future products and projects in Southeast Asia: digital bank and mini programs

28:36 Future of fintech: Where does Jia Hang see mobile payment in ten years?

31:07 Outro

If you would like to repost this episode or partner with AntKast, please reach us through: zhumei.wzm@antgroup.com

We continue our conversation with Michael Rosen. In this episode Michael will be sharing his journey as a writer of children's literature, and discussing his writing process for poetry and stories. Tune in to hear about several instances where children inspired Michael's work and how his own childhood in post-war London shaped him to be the writer he is today.

Michael has written over 140 books and won over 30 awards. He was named UK’s Children Laureate from 2007 to 2009. He is also a professor of Children’s Literature at Goldsmiths at the University of London. 

Sections in this episode:

00:06 Intro

01:32 School children taught Michael how to perform his own poem

06:43 Michael on the importance of children's literature

10:45 Michael's journey of becoming a writer

17:10 Childhood in post-war London

22:11 Love of books as a child

27:51 Does Michael read his own books to his children?

30:35 Michael's working style

33:45 How stories are developed

40:34 Book recommendation for adult readers

42:28 Michael shares his favorite poems

46:16 Outro

*In our last special episode on World Book Day, Michael has shared his experience of recovering from COVID, the relationship between life and writing, and advice for new writers starting out. We welcome you to listen to it if you haven't!

In this World Book Day special episode of AntKast, we are joined by the renowned children’s author, poet, and performer, Michael Rosen, to discuss his inspiration in creating captivating works and past life experiences. One particular experience is his recent recovery from COVID, documented in his latest book, Many Different Kinds of Love. 

Michael has written over 140 books and won over 30 awards. He was named UK’s Children Laureate from 2007 to 2009. He is also a professor of Children’s Literature at Goldsmiths at the University of London. You may have seen Michael from his viral performance of “Hot Food”, where he vividly performs eating a spoonful with his signature expression “Nice!” Hear from Michael himself on what it's like to be known as an internet meme. Michael also provides his insight and advice on how to be a writer and protect one's own copyrights. 

Sections in this episode:

00:06 Intro

03:38 Adaptation of folk literature

05:15 Michael’s encounter with his Chinese readership

08:25 Michael on being an internet meme

12:34 Michael on his latest book “Many Different Kinds of Love” and his experiences with COVID-19

21:50 Michael asked to describe “life”

26:40 Writing as a form of catharsis

29:56 Writing for children vs. writing for adults

33:42 Questions for Michael from his readers

37:25 Michael Rosen’s experience and suggestions on copyright protection

41:34 AntChain's copyright protection capabilities

43:39 Outro featuring Michael’s performance of “Hot Food”

If you would like to repost this episode or partner with AntKast, please reach us through: zhumei.wzm@antgroup.com

In this Episode of AntKast, we are joined by Fintech and Investment expert, Xavier Gomez, to discuss the topic of green finance. Founder and COO of Paris-based Data and Analytics consultancy INVYO, Xavier is an active speaker and thought leader in the technology and entrepreneurial world. 

Many may have heard of green finance, but why is green finance more important now than ever? What are the latest tools for green finance? Let’s dive deep with Xavier on the current prospect and challenges of green finance.

Sections in this episode: 

00:04 Introduction

01:49 What is green finance?

05:35 Why are investors transitioning to green finance?

07:27 What are happening with fossil fuel divestment campaigns?

08:30 Why is sustainability important for finance?

13:29 How can someone invest in an ESG-friendly way?

15:21 How are Fintech super-apps enabling green finance?

17:42 The role of blockchain in green finance

20:45 Are cryptocurrency and NFTs aligned with the philosophies of green finance?

25:03 Potential applications of cryptocurrencies and NFTs in green finance

27:07 Carbon neutrality and the current energy crisis

If you would like to repost this episode or partner with AntKast, please reach us through: zhumei.wzm@antgroup.com

Esports is estimated to reach a $1.8 billion market size in 2022 according to market research, with APAC being the largest market region. In this year’s Asian games in Hangzhou, China, esports will make its debut with a total of 8 medal events.

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of esports with League of Legends (LoL) host, Wendy Shi, to discover what it is like to work in this young and rising industry with intriguing behind-the-scene stories. 

Wendy is a multilingual esports host for China’s League of Legends Pro League (LPL) for Chinese, English, and Korean languages. Tune into this episode of AntKast on how a GenZ philosophy student found her interest and career in esports.

Sections in this episode:

00:02 Introduction

02:07 What is 'League of Legends' and what it takes to be a pro gamer

05:35 What is it like being an esports host?

10:56 What are esports tournaments like?

12:33 From a philosophy student to an esports host

15:14 Comparing esports and physical sports

19:24 What are the demographics of esports?

21:15 The work-life balance as an esports host

24:44 Which areas in esports are mostly likely to grow this year?

26:33 Esports in the metaverse

29:12 Anecdotes of esports athletes

35:50 How did Wendy learn English and Korean?

37:04 Why has AntKast invited Wendy as a guest?

If you would like to repost this episode or partner with AntKast, please reach us through: zhumei.wzm@antgroup.com

As we see athletes break new records in this year's Beijing Winter Olympics, technology has been at the centre of enabling athletic performance to improve. In this episode, we have three Finnish Sports Technology experts from CEMIS (Centre for Measurement and Information Systems) to share their innovations in winter sports training and their insights on creating a modern winter sports ecosystem.

Our guests in this episode are: Marko Jäntti, the Director of CEMIS; Anni Hakkarainen, Project Manager of Sports Technology at the University of Jyväskylä; and Kyösti Koskela, Development Team Manager for Clever Simulation at the Kajaani University of Applied Sciences.

Sections in this episode:

00:04 Introduction
03:30 The charm of winter sports and Finland’s achievements in it
08:20 How has the winter sports industry evolved technologically?
15:34 Factors that promoted winter sports in Finland
18:45 How does science and technology support winter sports?
24:26 Innovations at the Vuokatti Sports Technology Unit at the University of Jyväskylä
28:33 What can other winter sports cities and sites learn from Vuokatti?
33:26 What is a VR skiing simulation and how was it innovated?
42:43 Simulated vs. real-world training
43:53 How can one stay safe while skiing?
47:32 Outro

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In this episode of AntKast, we are joined by two distinguished financial experts from Vanguard Group, Maria Bruno and Joel Dickson. Maria is the head of US Wealth Planning Research at Vanguard, and Joel is Vanguard’s Global Head of Advice Methodology.

Continuing from our previous discussion with Maria and Joel, in this episode we dive deeper into the different kinds of investments where they share insights on asset allocation and diversifying your portfolio. We will also cover younger generations’ investment patterns and discuss some of the recent hype in investment including no-cost investing apps, meme stocks, and cryptocurrencies.

Sections in this episode:

00:03 - Opening
02:16 - What are the different kinds of investment?
09:23 - What is enabling Generation Z to invest so early in their lives?
15:17 - How reliable are the no-cost investment Apps?
20:28 - Is investing in meme stocks a bad idea?
25:47 - How valuable is cryptocurrency as an asset class?
30:07 - Closing

If you would like to repost this episode or partner with AntKast, please reach us through: zhumei.wzm@antgroup.com

In this episode of AntKast, we welcome two distinguished financial experts from Vanguard Group, Maria Bruno and Joel Dickson. Maria is the head of US Wealth Planning Research at Vanguard, and Joel is Vanguard’s Global head of advice methodology. 

Our topic for this episode is investment advice for new investors. Maria and Joel will breakdown for us  what is investing vs. saving, the strategy around compounding, and why should you invest at an early stage of life. 

Sections in this episode: 

00:03 Opening 

02:46 Why invest at all? 

04:53 Why invest when there is risk present? 

10:03 When should you start investing?

12:56 What is "the power of compounding"? 

18:45 Planning and goal-setting in investment 

25:46 Investment advice to college graduates 30:19 Closing

If you would like to repost this episode or partner with AntKast, please reach us through: zhumei.wzm@antgroup.com

In this episode of AntKast, we want to share the story of a small business owner. 

Our guest today is Matt Balcerak, he is from Oklahoma USA and now the owner of Chengdu’s renowned comic book store Comic Book Ren. Growing up as Star Wars and Fantastic Four fan, he will be sharing his story of why he wanted to open a comic book store and how to build a business around your passion.

Today's Podcast's breakdown:

00:30 - Introduction
03:00 - Love for comics and building a business
08:44 - The customer demographics of Comic Book Ren
12:57 - The value of authenticity
19:08 - A bittersweet COVID-19 and the challenges of online retail
24:26 - Advice for starting a business from a hobby

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Happy new year!  

In today’s episode, our guest hosts, the founder of Unconventional Ventures, Theodora Lau and Bradley Leimer will talk about 2022 Fintech trends, some suggestions for working from home and other tips to start a new year.

If you would like to repost this episode or partner with AntKast, please reach us through: zhumei.wzm@antgroup.com

Our guest for this episode is retail expert Deborah Weinswig, founder and CEO of an advisory retail technology service, Coresight Research.

November and December holidays are the most important times of the year for the retail industry. Over the last five years in the US, according to the National Retail Federation, holiday sales accounted for nearly 20% of yearly revenue for retailers. Despite the pandemic, the 2021 holiday season's overall holiday sales are still predicted to grow from 8.5% to 10.5%.

In this podcast, we discuss how retailers respond to challenges brought in by the pandemic, followed by how they create more engagement with customers, utilizing both physical and digital retail spaces.

Today's episode breakdown:

00:06 - Introduction
02:47 - The latest developments in retail
11:22 - What is 'live commerce'?
15:52 - Inflation and its impact on retail
18:59 - How the pandemic is changing physical retail
22:58 - Future trends and opportunities
27:33 - Closing

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In this episode, we discuss algorithms with Science fiction authors Ken Liu and Qiufan(Stan) Chen. 

Ken is the author of epic fantasy series Dandelion Dynasty. He has won the Nebula, Hugo, and World Fantasy Award as well as top genre awards in Japan, Spain, and France among other countries. 

Qiufan is a well known Chinese science fiction writer, the author of Waste Tide, which was translated to English by Ken Liu, and his latest work AI 2041 is co-authored with AI expert Kai-fu Lee. 

Lets hear from Ken and Stan on how they see the relationship between reality and Science Fiction, as well as their views on the advancements of algorithms and technology in general in today’s world. 

Sections in this Episode: 

1:00 - The relationship of technology in reality and Science Fiction

3:40 - The positive impact of algorithms

6:26 - Are algorithms a concern for us?

11:48 - Algorithms and human biases

18:36 - The human storytelling behind Technology

24:25 - Solutions to address current concerns on algorithms

27:52 - Ken and Qiufan’s new projects and recommendations

Ken’s The Hidden Girl and Other Stories is set be adapted into an animated series named Pantheon    

Ken recommends Why Fish Don’t Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life by Lulu Miller 

Qiufan recommends Novacene: The Coming Age of Hyperintelligence by James Lovelock

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What are NFTs and what is behind all the hype about it? In this episode, we’ve invited renowned futurist, Brett King, who is an Amazon Best-Selling author and a global speaker, to share his thoughts on NFT and its future. Also joining us is Char Zhang, chief designer at ATTA, a blockchain-based content creation studio in China; Char has helped developed NFT digital assets in multiple categories including music, designer toys, digital art, e-sports, and charity. We will be covering not only the potential future applications of NFT and blockchain technology, but also current concerns over NFT.

Sections:

00:59 - Introduction
02:14 - NFT technology explained
05:43 - the valuation of NFT assets
09:40 - What NFT means to artists
11:46 - Financial concerns about NFTs
13:12 - Is NFT taking a toll on our environment?
14:54 - Is NFT here to stay?
18:14 - Give NFT a try
20:49 - Brett King presents his new book - The Rise of Technosocialism

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Hi I’m Joe Wong, a standup comedian and TV talk show host.
Today, November 11, is a special day. And that’s why I’m here as your special guest host.

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In this episode, we take you on a sneak peek behind the scenes of the 11.11 Global Online Shopping Festival and the digital payment technology that drives it.

Since its 2009 launch, 11.11 has grown into the world’s largest online shopping event, with more than 200,000 brands participating globally last year, while total value of orders settled via Alipay reached more than $74 billion.

Where did 11.11 come from? And how did it grow to be a global phenomenon that deals with billions of transactions in a single day?

Sections:
0:42 - Origin of 11.11 as Singles Day, as told by David Lloyd, GM of Alibaba, UK, Netherlands & Nordics
4:24  - Role of digital payments and the technology behind it, featuring Chuanhui Yang, CTO of OceanBase
8:26  - Global reach of 11.11 and digital payments, by Vincent Iswara, CEO of the Indonesian e-wallet Dana, and online shopping fan Louis Raffin
12:05 - How e-shopping festivals are a boon for SMEs trying to sell globally, featuring Huishi, owner of Chipchipshop

If you would like to repost this episode or partner with AntKast, please reach us through: zhumei.wzm@antgroup.com