Asia FinTech Awards: Joe Petillon, Corestrat

Joe Petillon, co-founder of Corestrat, spoke to FinTech Intel ahead of the Asia FinTech Awards 2023

Corestrat is shortlisted for the Asia FinTech 2023. Joe Petillon, co-founder of the fintech, spoke to FinTech Intel ahead of the awards ceremony.  

Can you tell me about Corestrat? 

Corestrat is a decision intelligence company that empowers businesses to make risk-informed strategic decisions through a combination of data analytics and machine learning. Since onboarding our first client in 2020, the company has emerged as a trailblazer in leveraging advanced decision intelligence technologies to optimise risk management and enhance profitability for organisations across various industries.  

Corestrat offers a comprehensive suite of products that empower businesses to leverage the power of data and technology. Our flagship platform, Model.ai, is a user-friendly, no-code model builder that enables financial services organisations to develop sophisticated predictive credit risk management models without requiring extensive programming knowledge. In addition, the company launched this year a digital lending automation platform, a decision management suite, and a credit lending portfolio simulator, all of which contribute to driving efficiency, mitigating risks, and enhancing profitable customer relationships.  

At Corestrat, diversity is embraced and celebrated. The company believes that a diverse workforce fosters creativity, innovation, and a broader perspective when approaching complex business challenges. All in all, we are a growing team dedicated to empowering organisations to unlock the full potential of their data, enabling them to thrive in an increasingly complex and data-driven business landscape.  

What is your role there and what does it involve?  

Kartik Ramachandran and I founded Corestrat to help businesses combine predictive data analytics and machine learning techniques to optimise risk, boost profitability, and gain a competitive advantage. 

I serve as chief operating officer at Corestrat. I oversee and manage diverse operational facets to ensure seamless growth and success. Collaborating closely with the chief executive officer and senior leaders, I shape and execute the operational strategy, setting goals, defining key performance indicators, and aligning activities with our mission and vision. 

Furthermore, I lead partnerships and commercial development, nurturing relationships, negotiating contracts, and driving collaborative achievements. I also oversee the development of the sales and marketing team at Corestrat to improve our presence in the fintech market and visibility in the artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning market sector. 

Are you excited to be shortlisted for the Asia FinTech Awards?  

Very much so!  

On behalf of the entire Corestrat team we are all extremely excited. We were overjoyed to learn about our nomination in two categories at the Asia FinTech Awards: Best Lendtech of the Year and Diversity and Inclusion Award. 

This nomination truly validates the hard work our team has put into developing high-quality products like the Decision Management Suite. This smart platform empowers lending institutions to automate the entire lending process. From accepting applications to reviewing and making decisions based on predefined criteria, thus helping them make well-informed decisions swiftly to minimise the risks. 

I want to take this moment to extend my congratulations and gratitude to our team for working hard to bring us to this point in terms of both the nomination and the outstanding products we’ve created. 

What are you looking forward to at the ceremony?  

Seeing our team in formal attire! Kidding aside, we are looking forward to ideally winning awards in both the nominated categories. We believe these awards would be an honour. And a testament to all of the hard work and dedication which has enabled our team’s success through today.   

Apart from winning we are looking forward to achieving two things.

Building relationships with the leading fintech organisations at the ceremony, establishing valuable connections and collaborations. Secondly, creating greater brand awareness about Corestrat, enhancing recognition and fostering a stronger industry presence.

Can you tell me about the fintech sector in Asia—the successes, trends, how it compares to other regions in the world?  

The fintech sector in Asia has recently made remarkable strides, emerging as a global leader in financial technology innovation. Reports suggest that by 2030, the Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to surpass the United States and emerge as the leading global fintech market. It is projected to achieve a compound annual growth rate of 27%. 

Asia has experienced a transformative shift in digital payments, marked by the adoption of QR code-based payment systems. These systems serve as an innovative solution to address the scarcity of point-of-sale terminals and the expenses associated with establishing a merchant acceptance network, thereby reshaping the way transactions are conducted. Mobile banking and wallets have facilitated financial inclusion, particularly in underserved areas. 

Peer-to-Peer lending has empowered individuals and small businesses with accessible credit. While blockchain and cryptocurrencies have found fertile ground, fostering growth and experimentation. Trends such as AI-driven personalisation, insurtech, cross-border payments, and sustainable finance highlight the region‘s forward-looking nature.  

With diverse economies, strong mobile adoption, government support, and the rise of global fintech hubs, Asia stands out more than ever on the global fintech stage. It is defining itself through a blend of technological innovation, cultural diversity, and regulatory dynamism. 

Image: Corestrat 

Josh Poyser Josh Poyser is an editor at FinTech Intel. He has written about fintech for several years and appeared at FinTech Connect 2023 on the 'Unlocking Success: The Art of Fintech PR' panel.