In this podcast episode, Otkrist Gupta, VP of Research and Development at LendBuzz, talks about the process he utilizes to evaluate machine learning (ML) models and handle the ever-changing landscape of ML with his team. He also highlights the core role of ML in the creation of LendBuzz’s proprietary financial scoring model to assist individuals often underserved in the lending market and explains how continued innovation via in-house development of models has maintained the company's competitive advantage. Gupta provides insights into various projects his R&D team has worked on, from financial to computer vision models, and discusses the balance of research, development, and product delivery. He underscores the importance of having well-defined metrics, continuous model improvement, and keeping current with technology trends. Although not directly involved in measuring particular models' profit and loss impacts, Gupta notes that all team members indirectly contribute to the company’s overall performance. Highlights: 01:50 Understanding the Lendbuzz Business Model 03:37 Exploring the Role of Research and Development in Fintech 07:35 The Intersection of Machine Learning and Product Development 13:35 The Process of Building and Evaluating ML Models 19:49 The Impact of Machine Learning on Competitive Advantage 23:20 The Relationship Between Machine Learning and Profit & Loss ---- Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Tech Trek. We would appreciate it if you would take a minute to rate and review us on your favorite podcast player. Want to learn more about us? Head over at https://www.elevano.com Have questions or want to cover specific topics with our future guests? Please message me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirbormand (Amir Bormand)