#27 - Hadar Siterman Norris, Partner at Team8

Join us on this week's episode of the Slice of Finance podcast, hosted by Jared S. Taylor!

Our Guest: Hadar Siterman Norris, Partner at Team8.

What you’ll get out of this episode:

Cross-Border Payments Innovation – How FinTech startups are making transactions faster, cheaper, and more secure.
CFO Tech Stack Evolution – The shift towards strategic decision-making through automation and data-driven insights.
Compliance and Risk in FinTech – The growing need for continuous monitoring and AI-driven compliance solutions.
Infrastructure Investment Trends – Opportunities in KYB, onboarding, and financial compliance tech.
Advice for FinTech Founders – Key lessons on corporate development, go-to-market strategies, and operational efficiency.

Cross-Border Payments: Faster, Cheaper, and More Secure

Cross-border transactions are an essential yet traditionally inefficient part of global finance. Hadar Siterman Norris, Partner at Team8, explains that these payments remain costly and fragmented due to complex regulations and multiple intermediaries. However, FinTech companies are actively innovating to streamline the process.

Platforms like Airwallex and Wise are introducing real-time, transparent solutions that reduce transaction costs. Despite these advancements, traditional players like MasterCard and Visa still dominate the space. The real shift will come when newer solutions gain wider adoption and claim a larger market share.

The Evolution of the CFO Tech Stack

The role of CFOs is changing dramatically as financial leaders embrace technology. Norris highlights a growing trend where CFOs move beyond administrative tasks to focus on strategic decision-making, thanks to automation and real-time financial insights.

For example, companies like Deel and Papaya Global have integrated cross-border payments into HR tech, allowing businesses to hire and pay employees worldwide effortlessly. However, gaps still exist, particularly in finance-first payroll solutions, creating new opportunities for innovation.

Navigating Compliance Complexity in FinTech

FinTech companies face mounting regulatory challenges, making compliance a major area for innovation. Norris explains that while Know Your Business (KYB) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) solutions exist, they often fail to provide real-time monitoring. This creates operational bottlenecks, slowing down company growth.

The future lies in continuous monitoring solutions, similar to cybersecurity practices, where real-time compliance checks become the norm. AI-driven automation will be a game-changer in this space, allowing businesses to stay ahead of regulatory demands while reducing manual work.

Infrastructure Investments: Opportunities in FinTech

The FinTech infrastructure space is experiencing rapid innovation. Norris shares insights on the KYB and merchant onboarding sectors, emphasizing that many processes remain outdated. Large institutions and FinTech companies alike struggle with inefficient compliance measures, creating opportunities for startups to step in with flexible, next-generation solutions.

Advice for FinTech Founders

For Israeli founders and those in the FinTech space, Norris emphasizes the importance of understanding corporate development and go-to-market strategies. While technical expertise is a strength, successfully working with large organizations and navigating the corporate landscape is crucial for scaling a business.

Her key career takeaway? Always tie your work back to measurable results. Whether it’s a new strategy, investment, or operational decision, clarity on the expected impact is vital, especially for time-strapped startups.

Final Thoughts

FinTech is at the forefront of financial transformation, from cross-border payments to CFO tech stacks and compliance solutions. As startups continue to innovate, the industry will see increased automation, strategic decision-making, and regulatory advancements that reshape global finance.