Most fintech startups dream of building a bank, but Neo Financial is redefining what’s possible by starting in the cloud.

In this episode of the Code to Cloud podcast, host Kevin Evans sits down with Fahad Zaidi, Director of Software Development at Neo Financial, to discuss how a Calgary startup scaled into one of Canada’s most ambitious digital banks using a tech-first, customer-focused approach.

Fahad shares how Neo Financial built a cloud-native platform designed for speed, scalability, and innovation without the limitations of legacy banking systems. The conversation explores how modern engineering practices, strong developer experience, and disciplined execution allow Neo to serve millions of customers while continuously evolving its products.

In this episode, we discuss:

How Neo Financial built its banking platform using cloud-native infrastructure and microservices architecture How the team reduced developer onboarding from weeks to hours Balancing innovation with compliance, regulation, and security requirements How partnerships with established financial institutions enable rapid fintech growth The role of AI and automation in fraud detection, personalization, and customer experience Why a customer-obsessed mindset is central to Neo’s long-term vision

This episode is ideal for fintech founders, engineering leaders, software developers, and technology enthusiasts interested in modern banking, cloud architecture, and large-scale software systems.

Host Kevin Evans https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinevans01

Guest Fahad Zaidi https://www.linkedin.com/in/fahadzaidi/

Code to Cloud Podcast https://codetocloud.io

If you’re interested in building faster, smarter, and more customer-centric financial platforms, this conversation offers practical insights into what it takes to challenge established banking models and build the future of finance.