Those Beyond began its journey as a tech lab for fintech unicorn Thought Machine, which provides cloud-based core banking systems to major banks. But now, it has taken a new path, focusing on something unexpected: products for kids aged four to six.
This shift highlights the untapped potential of financial technology to make a real difference in people’s lives and energize the banking world. Their first product, Nestlums, is a mix of a digital and physical piggy bank and is already available at John Lewis. Mark Warrick, CEO and founder, refers to it as part of the “Apple-ification of banking,” aiming to modernize the way we approach finances.
Before launching Those Beyond, Warrick served as chief design officer at Thought Machine. He played a crucial role in developing a cloud-based platform called VaultOS, designed to help banks ditch outdated legacy systems. His experience at Thought Machine, which he joined shortly after its founding in 2014 by former Google executive Paul Taylor, equipped him with valuable insights into how technology could lead to a banking revolution.
Warrick’s team at Thought Machine Labs demonstrated innovative applications built on their platform. They created an app that helped customers manage their mortgages and software that personalized loans. It was all about showcasing what modern banking could look like. “It’s great to do cloud-based banking, but winning more customers is even better,” he says.
In 2021, Warrick led a departure from Thought Machine, taking the labs team with him to establish Those Beyond. Initially, he had a conversation with the Thought Machine board about the team’s contributions and the company’s readiness to fly solo. They agreed, and those investors became shareholders in the new venture.
With early funding, Those Beyond took five product ideas with them and zeroed in on Nestlums. Originally conceived as a toy linked to the Thought Machine platform, Warrick noticed a gap in traditional piggy banks, which no longer resonated with kids accustomed to seeing their parents use digital payments. “The piggy bank is dead,” he says. Instead, he envisioned a product to help young children understand money in a modern way.
Nestlums, dubbed a “pocket money pet,” serves as a simple tracker for parents to monitor how much pocket money their kids receive. It doesn’t connect to a bank yet, but it’s a starting point. Warrick wants to see if the idea resonates in the market, particularly since young children are starting to receive money from family.
The first challenge was getting the toy manufactured and certified, which led to its successful run as a bestseller at John Lewis for four consecutive weeks in December 2024. Alan Wright, a buying manager for toys at the retailer, described Nestlums as a clever update to the classic piggy bank, catering to today’s cashless society.
Looking ahead, the second generation of Nestlums will be subscription-based and will integrate with bank accounts through open banking. While Warrick is excited about other future concepts—like refining mortgage payments and personalizing loans—he knows these ideas require more time and development.
In the broader scope of fintech, Warrick sees plenty of room for disruption. “Banking is still evolving, and there’s a lot of creativity to unleash,” he remarks. He points out how other industries have quickly embraced innovation, citing Apple’s impact in transforming tech aesthetics. Banking, until lately, had been the opposite.
He draws parallels to Monzo’s vibrant pink bank card, which made banking stylish for the first time. “That’s the kind of transformation we aspire to bring,” he says. With those Beyond, Warrick believes every facet of banking—from children’s accounts to mortgages—has the potential for an Apple-like makeover. Banking, stripped of its outdated image, is ready for a youthful, imaginative approach.