#569 Human-Centered FinTech: Rethinking Credit in an Agentic World with Tamara Laine

In this episode, Mehmet sits down with Tamara Laine, Founder and CEO of MPWR, to explore how AI and agentic systems are reshaping the future of lending.

They discuss why traditional credit scores fail gig workers and modern professionals, how alternative data can unlock financial inclusion, and what it really means to build human-centered fintech in an AI-first world.

From explainable AI to ethical lending and the future of work, this conversation goes deep into how finance must evolve to serve the new economy.

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👤 About the Guest: Tamara Laine

Tamara Laine is the Founder and CEO of MPWR, an AI-native fintech company building agentic ecosystems for inclusive lending.

With a background in journalism and startups, Tamara focuses on system-level change in finance, helping underserved and “thin-file” borrowers access fair credit through behavioral and alternative data.

She is a strong advocate for ethical AI, transparency, and human-centered technology design.

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🔑 Key Takeaways

• Why traditional credit scores exclude more than 50% of potential borrowers

• How AI enables more accurate and fair lending decisions

• The role of behavioral and alternative data in modern credit models

• Why explainability is critical in financial AI systems

• How regulation can enable or block innovation

• The future of work and its impact on financial systems

• Why purpose still matters in an AI-driven economy

• How founders can build startups through complementary partnerships

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🎯 What You’ll Learn

By listening to this episode, you’ll learn:

• How agentic AI is changing lending infrastructure

• Why gig workers and freelancers are underserved by banks

• How financial identity may become portable in the future

• What “human-in-the-loop” means in fintech

• How to design ethical, transparent AI systems

• Why unintended consequences matter in technology

• How entrepreneurship is evolving in the AI era

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⭐ Episode Highlights

• The limitations of legacy credit scoring systems

• AI-powered cashflow and behavior analysis

• Explainable lending decisions in real time

• Financial inclusion for nomadic workers

• Surveillance vs. personalization in finance

• Universal Basic Income and purpose

• The rise of one-person, AI-powered companies

• Founder dynamics and team building

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⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction & Guest Background

02:00 – Why Credit Systems Are Broken

04:00 – Gig Economy and Underserved Borrowers

06:00 – Alternative Data in Lending

08:30 – Portable Financial Identity

11:00 – Regulation and Global Credit

13:30 – Explainable AI in Finance

15:30 – Trust, Transparency, and Surveillance

18:00 – Ethical AI and Unintended Consequences

22:00 – Future of Work and Solopreneurs

25:30 – Universal Income and Purpose

29:00 – Building Startups Through Partnerships

32:00 – Final Thoughts & Where to Find Tamara

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🔗 Resources Mentioned

• MPWR Website: https://mpwrai.com/

• MPWR Money Platform: https://mpwr.money

• Connect with Tamara on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamaralaine/