Join this insightful 20-minute Fireside Chat with Richard Davies, CEO at Allica Bank. Drawing on his extensive career, which spans both traditional banking and fast-growing digital-first FinTechs, Richard shares the crucial lessons he has learned from blending these two approaches at Allica. He tackles the central dilemma facing high-growth companies, discussing the crucial profitability versus growth trade-off and identifying the key indicators that signal a FinTech is on a truly sustainable path to profitability. The session focuses on Allica’s strategy of targeting the SME market, a segment often overlooked by larger players. Richard explains how building trust with this audience differs from consumer-focused models and advises on how to navigate the UK’s complex regulatory landscape, turning compliance from a roadblock into a competitive advantage. Furthermore, he discusses the challenges of establishing a cohesive talent and culture when merging traditional banking and tech-native talent pools. Finally, he outlines the "post-unicorn playbook" for transitioning from a start-up to a mature company and shares his vision for the long-term purpose of the human touch in banking.