I build human-centric, scalable digital ecosystems that turn complexity into real-world impact
From regulated banks to high-growth startups: product engineering, AI & RegTech strategy, embedded finance, digital assets, and community-driven validation. I help leaders convert technical and regulatory complexity into predictable revenue.
Trusted by leading organizations
Engineering + Product + Compliance + Communities
I help regulated enterprises, ambitious SMEs, and founders turn technical and regulatory complexity into predictable revenue. I design pilot sprints, architect AI-driven roadmaps, and validate ideas with community-first experiments that scale.
RegTech Translation
Translate regulation and compliance into actionable product requirements
Embedded Finance Architecture
Architect secure, scalable cloud & embedded banking systems
Pilot Sprint Execution
Run repeatable pilot sprints that prove value fast and win stakeholder buy-in
Community Growth Systems
Build community funnels and cohort-based products for organic growth
Outcomes you can expect:
Why this matters now
There's a huge demand for leaders who can bridge the gap between strategic intent and measurable business outcomes. I sit at that intersection of engineering, product, compliance and communities.
I don't sell reports
I ship pilots that generate business decisions.
AI Adoption
Banks, insurers, and regulated firms are increasing tech budgets and must adopt AI responsibly
Embedded Finance
Product-led growth and embedded finance are transforming how services are monetized
Speed Matters
Digital transformation is no longer optional. It's the competitive advantage
Productized offers for fast decisions
Each service is packaged to make buying decisions fast and the impact measurable.
Pilot Sprint
Fast, pragmatic, outcome-driven pilot for regulated orgs and startups.
Ideal for: Heads of Innovation, Product Directors
€8k–€25k
Innovation Retainer
Exec advisory + delivery: technical-advisory, product leadership and execution support.
Ideal for: CTOs, Chief Innovation Officers
€5k–€20k/month
Embedded Finance & FinTech Builds
End-to-end product engineering for embedded banking, payments, e-invoicing, and digital assets.
Ideal for: FinTech founders, ecommerce platforms, SME marketplaces
Custom
Cohorts, Workshops & Training
Hands-on workshops and leadership training on AI strategy, PLG, and community-powered validation.
Ideal for: Product teams, Leadership groups
€3k–€12k workshops / €499–€1,999 per seat cohorts
Community Validation & Partnerships
Design and run community experiments that prove demand and create organic growth channels.
Ideal for: Local businesses, Digital product teams
Custom
Enterprise rigor meets startup velocity
A clear process that reduces buyer friction: low initial cost, high signal, and an easy path to enterprise procurement.
Discovery
Define outcomes, constraints (regulatory/compliance), stakeholders, and KPIs.
Sprint Design
Create measurable hypothesis, pilot plan, tech map, and compliance guardrails.
Build & Test
Prototype + integrations, rapid UX iterations, community/real-user tests.
Validate & Convert
Present results, procurement-ready documentation, next-stage plan.
This makes decision-makers comfortable: low initial cost, high signal, and an easy path to enterprise procurement.
Proof points
Enterprise & Regulated Innovation
Hands-on product & full-stack engineering experience in regulated settings with deep familiarity with stakeholder governance, compliance workflows, and procurement cycles.
SME & Productization
Led zero-to-one product builds and go-to-market work for SMEs. Pragmatic product strategy that scales.
Community-first Validation
Built community-driven validation systems that test demand through in-person events and digital engagement.
Content & Reach
Host of The Change Dude podcast, a consistent channel for thought leadership that amplifies reach and trust.
Full-stack Thinking
Engineering chops + product mindset = unique ability to bridge technical teams and business execs.
Client outcomes
A bank pilot that reduced time-to-validation and produced procurement-ready documentation.
An SME that turned a community experiment into an embedded payments pilot with local merchants.
A product team that adopted cohort-based training and accelerated product decisions.
Real client examples and testimonials available on request / in NDA scope.
Sharing insights on innovation, inclusion, and responsible tech
From industry conferences to thought leadership podcasts, I speak about building accessible, human-centric financial technology.
Who Gets Access in FinTech?
FinTech's DEI Discussions Podcast
Harrington Starr • December 2, 2025
A grounded conversation about access, opportunity, and inclusion in financial technology. Discussing how innovation depends on who is invited into the room and practical steps for widening access.
Human-Centric FinTech & AI-Driven Innovation
Stockholm FinTech Week
Stockholm FinTech Week • March 18-19, 2026
Keynote on building trustworthy financial ecosystems through human-centric design, responsible AI implementation, and compliance-ready digital infrastructure.
Interested in having me speak?
I speak at industry conferences, corporate events, and podcasts on topics like innovation engineering, AI strategy, RegTech, embedded finance, and building inclusive technology ecosystems.
Book a Speaking Inquiry CallStart with these free resources
Practical templates and guides for product leaders, CTOs, and innovation teams.
Pilot Blueprint
How to design a 6-week pilot that wins buy-in. Immediately actionable 1-pager.
Community Validation Playbook
10 experiments to validate local community demand and create organic growth.
Product Validation Mini-Course
3 short videos on product validation for regulated businesses.
Case studies, pilot templates & cohort invites
Join product leaders from banks, fintechs, and SMEs getting practical insights on product validation, AI strategy, and embedded finance.
Topics I write about
Common questions
Saeed Rafay
I'm a product & engineering leader who combines enterprise experience in regulated finance with startup-grade product delivery.
I've designed and shipped pilots in banks, built digital products for SMEs, and founded community experiments to validate real user demand.
I host The Change Dude podcast where I translate complex tech and innovation into practical lessons for builders and leaders.
Complexity doesn't have to become paralysis
If your organisation is exploring AI, embedded finance, digital assets, or product-led innovation but needs a repeatable, compliant path to value, let's design a pilot that proves the way forward.
Quick tests. Clear metrics. A real path to procurement or scale.