AI meets asset finance: the AFC Dragons are back
Sponsored by Lendscape
Published: 12th November 2025
The stage is set for one of the AFC Autumn Conference's most anticipated sessions: The AFC Dragons - AI Fintech Showdown. Three fintech teams will go head-to-head for the 2025 title and the attention of lenders who want AI that delivers measurable results.
The format: pitches, pressure, and potential
Each team will pitch live and face the Dragons' questions - led by Steve Taplin, Chief Product Officer at Lendscape, joined by Cat Powell, Head of Data Insight and Automation at Novuna Business Finance, and Andy Trimmer, Head of Technology at Simply. The audience holds 50% of the vote, so the winner must convince both experts and practitioners. It's fast, transparent, and geared for ideas you can deploy - not just demos.
The 2025 contenders
- Inspeq (Krank) - AI-generated inspection reports to assess asset condition in-life and at end-of-contract. The promise: faster cycles, consistent assessments, fewer disputes.
- Gralio - An AI platform that documents and analyses finance workflows, then recommends improvements. Built for efficiency, compliance alignment, and freeing up skilled teams.
- Generational - Battery-data AI for BEV diagnostics. It measures true battery health so lenders can set smarter residual values and reduce risk exposure.
Together, they cover workflow intelligence, asset inspection, and EV battery analytics - three areas where better data can move margin, reduce losses, and speed decisions.
One year on: last year's winner returns
VAMOS, the 2024 winner, returns to share what happened after the spotlight. They converted their win into a live partnership, secured a contract with Haydock Finance, and delivered results. It's proof this stage leads to production, not just press releases.
Why it matters for lenders
AI is now a capital allocation question. If a tool can tighten risk, shrink cycle time, or improve collections, it deserves budget. The Dragons' format helps separate credible solutions from nice ideas - with the audience acting as a reality check.
What to ask each team
- Inspeq (Krank): Accuracy vs. human assessors? Impact on refurbishment costs and end-of-term disputes? Integration with asset management and core platforms? Time-to-value and evidence from pilots?
- Gralio: Audit trail and explainability of recommendations? Data privacy and access controls? Throughput gains and error-rate reduction proven in production? Fit with existing risk and compliance frameworks?
- Generational: Correlation between battery health scores, RV performance, and defaults? Dataset breadth across OEMs and climates? How scores influence pricing, warranties, and repossession outcomes?
Metrics to track post-trial
- Time-to-decision and time-to-cash
- Default rates, LGD, and RV variance
- Operational cost per contract and rework rates
- Audit findings and model governance outcomes
- Customer NPS and dispute rates at end-of-term
The verdict: what's good - and what's not
The AFC Dragons work because they're honest. You see real questions, real pushback, and real adoption potential. The upside: industry engagement, transparency, and findable solutions you can put to work. The challenge: AI claims still outpace implementation, so the task is to sort proof from promise and make sure automation, data integrity, and ethics are built in from day one.
Event details
Date: Tuesday 25 November 2025
Location: County Hall etc.venues, Belvedere Rd, London SE1 7PB, UK
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