On 13 October 2026, FINTECH Circle brought together fintech founders, investors, board members and industry leaders for an evening of insightful conversations and networking at our Autumn Drinks, hosted by event sponsors MHA.
The evening centred on one important question:
What does it actually mean to reinvent your business with AI?
From leadership and innovation to funding, governance and practical implementation, the discussions explored how fintech businesses can move beyond talking about AI and start putting it to work.
R&D Innovation and Funding for Growth
The evening opened with Kanika Mishra, Partner and Head of R&D Tax at MHA, who shared important updates on R&D tax credits.
She highlighted changes to eligibility requirements, contracted R&D and claim notification deadlines, reminding founders to review their claims carefully. She also discussed how AI can support the detailed documentation required for R&D claims.
Andy Quinn, Director and Head of Debt Advisory at MHA, later explored the funding options available to fintech businesses, from traditional bank lending to alternative finance. His insights reinforced the importance of choosing funding that matches a company's stage, risk profile and growth ambitions.
Reinventing How We Work with AI
Philipp Buschmann, Co-Founder and CEO of AAZZUR, delivered the evening's keynote, sharing his journey of rethinking how his fintech scale-up operates in response to AI.
He challenged the traditional distinction between technology users and creators, highlighting how AI tools are making it increasingly possible for businesses to build their own applications and solutions.
But adopting AI is not simply a technology decision.
It requires leaders to recognise change early, challenge established ways of working and bring their teams along on the journey. One of the evening's strongest takeaways came from Philipp's warning: “Don't outsource your thinking.” While AI can improve productivity, leaders must remain engaged with the decisions and conversations shaping their businesses.
Reimagining Rather Than Re-engineering
During the nights panel discussion, moderated by Susanne Chishti, Founder & Chair of FINTECH Circle, Philipp was joined by Carl Engelmark, Co-Founder & Chair of Zestic AI, and Andy Quinn of MHA.
Carl encouraged businesses to think beyond automating existing processes and instead question whether those processes are needed at all.
The distinction is important: AI transformation is not just about making today's business more efficient. It is about reimagining how the business could operate, compete and create value.
The discussion also explored AI sovereignty, responsible model selection, the importance of human oversight and the role of boards in identifying risks around data, cybersecurity, regulation and customers.
For founders and board members alike, the message was clear: successful AI transformation needs both a bold vision and a practical framework for implementation.
Conclusion
The evening highlighted a growing need for entrepreneurs, boards and leadership teams to approach AI with curiosity, strategic intent and a willingness to experiment.
As AI reshapes financial services, those who question established assumptions, equip their teams and address governance early will be better positioned to lead the next chapter of fintech.
These are also the questions at the heart of the FINTECH Circle Board Programme, helping leaders navigate transformation and understand what effective governance looks like in practice.
Thank you to our speakers, MHA for hosting and sponsoring the evening, and everyone in the FINTECH Circle community who joined us and contributed to the conversation.
The question to take away is simple:
What is the first thing you would reinvent in your business with AI?
We look forward to continuing the conversation at our upcoming events.
Check out the photos of the Events below
