FMLS:23 panelists emphasized that entrepreneurs need to build solid fintech startups for the long haul.
"Investors are looking for startups with a clear path to profitability, a strong team, and a differentiated value proposition."
FMLS:23 panel discussion on "Investing in Financial Services: VCs and Startups Talk Funding"
The financial services industry is undergoing a period of significant change, and the startup landscape within it is no exception. In a panel discussion at Finance Magnates London Summit (FMLS:23), moderated by Veronica M Glab, the Head of Partnerships & Investment Lead at Innovate Finance, industry experts came together to share their insights on the current funding climate, what they look for in potential investments, and advice for founders navigating this new environment.
A Shifting Landscape
The most immediate change noted by the panelists is the altered funding landscape. Andrew Murray, the Head of Strategic Investments (Services, Markets & Banking) at Citi, stated: "We're seeing a flight to quality." Investors are now prioritizing stability and long-term viability over rapid, unsustainable growth.
Ingmar Mattus Co-Founder, Executive Director & COO at Tickmill Group
In this new environment, investors are placing a premium on strong business fundamentals. As Ingmar Mattus, the Co-Founder at Tickmill Group, put it: "Investors are looking for startups with a clear path to profitability, a strong team, and a differentiated value proposition." This emphasis on substance over hype is a significant shift from the pre-pandemic era, where high-growth potential often trumped other considerations.
Christian Frahm, Founder & CEO at United Fintech
Christian Frahm, the Founder & CEO at United Fintech, emphasized the critical importance of customer focus: "Founders need to be laser-focused on solving a real problem for their customers. It's all about understanding their needs and providing a solution that delivers tangible value." This customer-centric approach is essential for building sustainable businesses that can weather the ups and downs of the market.
In a market where caution reigns, founders are advised to steer clear of overhyped promises and unrealistic claims. As Mattso cautioned: "Don't overhype your product or service. Investors can see through empty promises, and they'll be looking for startups with a grounded understanding of their own strengths and limitations."
Guy Hopkins, Founder & CEO at FairXchange
Guy Hopkins, the Founder & CEO at FairXchange, said: “We are fortunate to have an investor, United Fintech, and that we are able to focus on engineering and growth without worrying about funding.”
Building for the Long Haul
Andrew Murray, Head of Strategic Investments (Services, Markets & Banking) at Citi
Finally, the panelists reminded everyone that building a successful startup takes time and effort. Fram offered this sobering advice: "Focus on the customer and get to the market as quickly as possible, but remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint. Be prepared for the long haul, and don't expect to get rich quick."
In conclusion, the current funding landscape presents both challenges and opportunities for startups in the financial services space. By focusing on strong fundamentals, prioritizing customer needs, avoiding hype, and embracing a long-term perspective, founders can increase their chances of success in this evolving market. The insights shared by the panelists in this discussion provide valuable guidance for company executives looking to invest in or support the next generation of financial services startups.
The financial services industry is undergoing a period of significant change, and the startup landscape within it is no exception. In a panel discussion at Finance Magnates London Summit (FMLS:23), moderated by Veronica M Glab, the Head of Partnerships & Investment Lead at Innovate Finance, industry experts came together to share their insights on the current funding climate, what they look for in potential investments, and advice for founders navigating this new environment.
A Shifting Landscape
The most immediate change noted by the panelists is the altered funding landscape. Andrew Murray, the Head of Strategic Investments (Services, Markets & Banking) at Citi, stated: "We're seeing a flight to quality." Investors are now prioritizing stability and long-term viability over rapid, unsustainable growth.
Ingmar Mattus Co-Founder, Executive Director & COO at Tickmill Group
In this new environment, investors are placing a premium on strong business fundamentals. As Ingmar Mattus, the Co-Founder at Tickmill Group, put it: "Investors are looking for startups with a clear path to profitability, a strong team, and a differentiated value proposition." This emphasis on substance over hype is a significant shift from the pre-pandemic era, where high-growth potential often trumped other considerations.
Christian Frahm, Founder & CEO at United Fintech
Christian Frahm, the Founder & CEO at United Fintech, emphasized the critical importance of customer focus: "Founders need to be laser-focused on solving a real problem for their customers. It's all about understanding their needs and providing a solution that delivers tangible value." This customer-centric approach is essential for building sustainable businesses that can weather the ups and downs of the market.
In a market where caution reigns, founders are advised to steer clear of overhyped promises and unrealistic claims. As Mattso cautioned: "Don't overhype your product or service. Investors can see through empty promises, and they'll be looking for startups with a grounded understanding of their own strengths and limitations."
Guy Hopkins, Founder & CEO at FairXchange
Guy Hopkins, the Founder & CEO at FairXchange, said: “We are fortunate to have an investor, United Fintech, and that we are able to focus on engineering and growth without worrying about funding.”
Building for the Long Haul
Andrew Murray, Head of Strategic Investments (Services, Markets & Banking) at Citi
Finally, the panelists reminded everyone that building a successful startup takes time and effort. Fram offered this sobering advice: "Focus on the customer and get to the market as quickly as possible, but remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint. Be prepared for the long haul, and don't expect to get rich quick."
In conclusion, the current funding landscape presents both challenges and opportunities for startups in the financial services space. By focusing on strong fundamentals, prioritizing customer needs, avoiding hype, and embracing a long-term perspective, founders can increase their chances of success in this evolving market. The insights shared by the panelists in this discussion provide valuable guidance for company executives looking to invest in or support the next generation of financial services startups.
Arnab is an electronics engineer-turned-financial editor. He entered the industry covering the cryptocurrency market for Finance Magnates and later expanded his reach to forex as well. He is passionate about the changing regulatory landscape on financial markets and keenly follows the disruptions in the industry with new-age technologies.
Finance Magnates 2025 Awards Return to Cyprus for a Night of Industry Recognition
Marketing in 2026 Audiences, Costs, and Smarter AI
Marketing in 2026 Audiences, Costs, and Smarter AI
As brokers eye B2B business and compete with fintechs and crypto exchanges alike, marketers need to act wisely with often limited budgets. AI can offer scalable solutions, but only if used properly.
Join seasoned marketing executives and specialists as they discuss the main challenges they identify in financial services in 2026 and how they address them.
Attendees of this session will walk away with:
- A nuts-and-bolts account of acquisition costs across platforms and geos
- Analysis of today’s multi-layered audience segments and differences in behaviour
- First-hand account of how global brokers balance consistency and local flavour
- Notes from the field about intelligently using AI and automation in marketing
Speakers:
-Yam Yehoshua, Editor-In-Chief at Finance Magnates
-Federico Paderni, Managing Director for Growth Markets in Europe at X
-Jo Benton, Chief Marketing Officer, Consulting | Fractional CMO
-Itai Levitan, Head of Strategy at investingLive
-Roberto Napolitano, CMO at Innovate Finance
-Tony Cross, Director at Monk Communications
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #FintechMarketing #AI #DigitalStrategy #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
As brokers eye B2B business and compete with fintechs and crypto exchanges alike, marketers need to act wisely with often limited budgets. AI can offer scalable solutions, but only if used properly.
Join seasoned marketing executives and specialists as they discuss the main challenges they identify in financial services in 2026 and how they address them.
Attendees of this session will walk away with:
- A nuts-and-bolts account of acquisition costs across platforms and geos
- Analysis of today’s multi-layered audience segments and differences in behaviour
- First-hand account of how global brokers balance consistency and local flavour
- Notes from the field about intelligently using AI and automation in marketing
Speakers:
-Yam Yehoshua, Editor-In-Chief at Finance Magnates
-Federico Paderni, Managing Director for Growth Markets in Europe at X
-Jo Benton, Chief Marketing Officer, Consulting | Fractional CMO
-Itai Levitan, Head of Strategy at investingLive
-Roberto Napolitano, CMO at Innovate Finance
-Tony Cross, Director at Monk Communications
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #FintechMarketing #AI #DigitalStrategy #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
Much like their traders in the market, brokers must diversify to manage risk and stay resilient. But that can get costly, clunky, and lengthy.
This candid panel brings together builders across the trading infrastructure space to uncover the shifting dynamics behind tools, interfaces, and full-stack ambitions.
Attendees will hear:
-Why platform dependency has become one of the most overlooked risks in the trading business?
-Buy vs. build: What do hybrid models look like, and why are industry graveyards filled with failed ‘killer apps’?
-How AI is already changing execution, risk, and reporting—and what’s next?
-Which features, assets, and tools gain the most traction, and where brokers should look for tech-driven retention?
Speakers:
-Stephen Miles, Chief Revenue Officer at FYNXT
-John Morris, Co-Founder at FXBlue
-Matthew Smith, Group Chair & CEO at EC Markets
-Tom Higgins, Founder & CEO at Gold-i
-Gil Ben Hur, Founder at 5% Group
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #Trading #Fintech #FintechInnovation #TradingTechnology #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
Much like their traders in the market, brokers must diversify to manage risk and stay resilient. But that can get costly, clunky, and lengthy.
This candid panel brings together builders across the trading infrastructure space to uncover the shifting dynamics behind tools, interfaces, and full-stack ambitions.
Attendees will hear:
-Why platform dependency has become one of the most overlooked risks in the trading business?
-Buy vs. build: What do hybrid models look like, and why are industry graveyards filled with failed ‘killer apps’?
-How AI is already changing execution, risk, and reporting—and what’s next?
-Which features, assets, and tools gain the most traction, and where brokers should look for tech-driven retention?
Speakers:
-Stephen Miles, Chief Revenue Officer at FYNXT
-John Morris, Co-Founder at FXBlue
-Matthew Smith, Group Chair & CEO at EC Markets
-Tom Higgins, Founder & CEO at Gold-i
-Gil Ben Hur, Founder at 5% Group
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #Trading #Fintech #FintechInnovation #TradingTechnology #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
Educators, IBs, And Other Regional Growth Drivers
Educators, IBs, And Other Regional Growth Drivers
When acquisition costs rise and AI generated reviews are exactly as useful as they sound, performing and fair partners can make or break brokers.
This session looks at how these players are shaping access, trust and user engagement, and what the most effective partnership models look like in 2025.
Key Themes:
- Building trader communities through education and local expertise
- Aligning broker incentives with long-term regional strategies
- Regional regulation and the realities of compliant acquisition
- What’s next for performance-driven partnerships in online trading
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Zander Van Der Merwe, Key Individual & Head of Sales at TD Markets
-Brunno Huertas, Regional Manager – Latin America at Tickmill
-Paul Chalmers, CEO at UK Trading Academy
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #BrokerGrowth #FintechPartnerships #RegionalMarkets
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
When acquisition costs rise and AI generated reviews are exactly as useful as they sound, performing and fair partners can make or break brokers.
This session looks at how these players are shaping access, trust and user engagement, and what the most effective partnership models look like in 2025.
Key Themes:
- Building trader communities through education and local expertise
- Aligning broker incentives with long-term regional strategies
- Regional regulation and the realities of compliant acquisition
- What’s next for performance-driven partnerships in online trading
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Zander Van Der Merwe, Key Individual & Head of Sales at TD Markets
-Brunno Huertas, Regional Manager – Latin America at Tickmill
-Paul Chalmers, CEO at UK Trading Academy
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #BrokerGrowth #FintechPartnerships #RegionalMarkets
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
The Leap to Everything App: Are Brokers There Yet?
The Leap to Everything App: Are Brokers There Yet?
As the arms race to bundle investing, personal finance, and wallets under super apps grows fiercer, brokers are caught between a rock and a hard place.
This session explores unexpected ways for industry players to collaborate as consumer habits evolve, competitors eye the traffic, and regulation becomes more nuanced.
Speakers:
-Laura McCracken,CEO | Advisory Board Member at Blackheath Advisors | The Payments Association
-Slobodan Manojlović,Vice President | Lead Software Engineer at JP Morgan Chase & Co.
-Jordan Sinclair, President at Robinhood UK
-Simon Pelletier, Head of Product at Yuh
Gerald Perez, CEO at Interactive Brokers UK
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
As the arms race to bundle investing, personal finance, and wallets under super apps grows fiercer, brokers are caught between a rock and a hard place.
This session explores unexpected ways for industry players to collaborate as consumer habits evolve, competitors eye the traffic, and regulation becomes more nuanced.
Speakers:
-Laura McCracken,CEO | Advisory Board Member at Blackheath Advisors | The Payments Association
-Slobodan Manojlović,Vice President | Lead Software Engineer at JP Morgan Chase & Co.
-Jordan Sinclair, President at Robinhood UK
-Simon Pelletier, Head of Product at Yuh
Gerald Perez, CEO at Interactive Brokers UK
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
Mind The Gap: Can Retail Investors Save the UK Stock Market?
Mind The Gap: Can Retail Investors Save the UK Stock Market?
As the dire state of listing and investment in the UK goes from a financial services problem to a national challenge, the retail investing industry is taken to task.
Join a host of executives and experts for a candid conversation about the future of millions of Brits, as seen from a financial services standpoint:
-Are they happy with the Leeds Reform, in principle and in practice?
-Is it the government’s job to affect the ‘saver’ mentality? Is it doing well?
-What can brokers and fintechs do to spur UK investment?
-How can the FCA balance greater flexibility with consumer protection?
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Nicola Higgs, Partner at Latham & Watkins
-Dan Lane, Investment Content Lead at Robinhood UK
-Jack Crone, PR & Public Affairs Lead at IG
-David Belle, Founder at Fink Money
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #RetailInvesting #UKFinance
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
As the dire state of listing and investment in the UK goes from a financial services problem to a national challenge, the retail investing industry is taken to task.
Join a host of executives and experts for a candid conversation about the future of millions of Brits, as seen from a financial services standpoint:
-Are they happy with the Leeds Reform, in principle and in practice?
-Is it the government’s job to affect the ‘saver’ mentality? Is it doing well?
-What can brokers and fintechs do to spur UK investment?
-How can the FCA balance greater flexibility with consumer protection?
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Nicola Higgs, Partner at Latham & Watkins
-Dan Lane, Investment Content Lead at Robinhood UK
-Jack Crone, PR & Public Affairs Lead at IG
-David Belle, Founder at Fink Money
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #RetailInvesting #UKFinance
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
