Season 2 Episode #9: In this episode of Tech Effect, we meet Uldis Tēraudkalns. Uldis has extensive experience in fintech and crypto, having worked on projects that merge cryptocurrency with traditional banking systems. He previously held management roles at Nexpay and is now building OkoRide, a ride-hailing fleet focused on maximizing car utilization through technology. Join us as Uldis takes us through his journey from fintech to crypto and back to local innovation, and shares his insights on crypto regulation in the Baltics, managing risk in fintech startups, building teams with limited resources, using AI for business growth, and why the Baltic states are punching above their weight in the tech industry.

Uldis's path from fintech to crypto and building local solutions

How working in fintech led him into crypto and his first experience with Bitcoin
The messy reality of crypto regulation and how it shaped his understanding of the industry
Why did he change from wanting to build globally to focusing on the Latvian market
Building OkoRide as a ride-hailing platform that uses technology to maximize car utilization

The Baltic crypto scene and regulatory changes

Estonia started it, Lithuania followed, and now Latvia is catching up with crypto innovation
How regulators went from being cautious to showing more enthusiasm for crypto companies
Why the Bank of Latvia's policy shift has created new opportunities for crypto businesses
The challenges of building for internal markets versus external crypto opportunities

Risk management and team building in fintech startups

How social engineering causes more crypto security problems than technical failures
How to pick which risks to address when you have limited resources
Finding technical leaders who can teach you what they're doing and make you understand it
Why good technical leaders should contribute to business decisions, not just build what they're told

AI's impact and lessons for Baltic startup founders

How AI has helped his current company achieve results across different areas
Why it's getting easier to start with AI but harder to succeed with it
The truth that AI won't fix all your problems right away
His advice: don't try to do everything yourself, spend money on user experiences involving money, and focus on reducing bugs in customer-facing features

And Much More

Uldis Tēraudkalns

Nexpay and OkoRide Founder

Uldis Tēraudkalns has over a decade of management and business development experience in finance and technology. His career has taken him from traditional banking at SEB Bank to building cutting-edge fintech startups like Nexpay. He is now building OkoRide, a ride-hailing platform that uses technology to maximize car utilization. Uldis has held board positions at various companies, including Globitex, and is co-host of The Pursuit of Scrappiness podcast, the leading tech business podcast in the Baltic region.

Josh William Burmistre-Griffiths

Digital Marketing and Paid Ad Specialist

Josh William Burmistre-Griffiths works at TestDevLab, focusing on digital marketing and paid advertising across multiple platforms. His past experience working at agencies and unicorn startups has equipped Josh with the expertise to bring valuable digital marketing insights to Tech Effect.

# 28 Uldis Tēraudkalns (NexPay, OkoRide): Leading Tech Innovation: Fintech, AI, & Beyond

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