Why FinTech Needs Specialist Capital in New Zealand, with Mike Burke - Ways to Wealth EP127

In this episode of the Ways to Wealth Podcast, Charlie is joined by Mike Burke!Mike is part of the NZ Fintech Fund, and he takes us inside the day-to-day reality of running a boutique venture fund built specifically for early stage fintech in New Zealand.We unpack what makes a boutique VC different from a generalist fund, why specialist knowledge of financial business models and regulation matters, and where early-stage capital can genuinely reduce risk for founders. Mike breaks down the fund’s mandate, typical cheque sizes, how they think about deal flow, and what “active capital” looks like in practice through their three C’s: capital, connection, and capability.The conversation also dives into the structural shifts shaping fintech, including open banking, CDR, and upcoming regulation changes, plus why trust and adoption change generationally. We close on how Fintechscan survive while capital constrained, and why the best companies don’t just compete on pricing, they reframe the category and dislocate the market.Check out the Ways to Wealth Podcast here: eccuity.com/podcasts#WaysToWealth #FinTech #VentureCapital #StartUps #NewZealand #OpenBanking #CDR #Banking #Innovation #Investing