Nick Maybin’s Post

What are the ingredients and recipe for Ireland’s continuing success as a #FintechHub? Did you know that the Irish Government is keen to explore the potential for establishing ‘national fintech hub’. Along with many others, including representative bodies, the call for the establishment of national fintech hub is gaining momentum. The recent introduction of the #InnovationSandbox at the Central Bank of Ireland will help further momentum of this important topic. Join us at the Fintech Ireland Summit (with thanks to Investnet for organising the Summit) on Thursday 28th November 2024 (0800-1530) at the Radisson Blue Hotel, Golden Lane, Dublin 8. We are delighted to announce the Panel of Experts who will cover Ireland as a Fintech Hub during the afternoon session of the Agenda: * Suzanne Feeney, Country Head - Ireland at Robert Walters * Ruth Cosgrave, Course Director MSc Fintech Innovation at Munster Technological University * Darragh Deady, Director - Head of regulated Entities, EMEA at Optal - a WEX company (Optal Financial Europe Limited) * Billy Hanley, Fintech at Enterprise Ireland The experts will discuss talent (buy and sell side), the continuing educational skills required, government supports (with examples of success) for #Irishfintech and establishing a global innovative fintech brand in Ireland for a local and EEA base. This a must attend session for anyone considering establishing and scaling their innovative business within Ireland and from Ireland. There are only a few tickets left! We have no ability to increase capacity at the hotel and we are already at 170 confirmed attendees. As I have said elsewhere, try as I might to persuade Robbie Whelan and David Neville, "there ain't no more room at the Inn"! Get in ASAP to book your tickets at https://lnkd.in/e8-rXXtu and read more At a personal level, Ireland as a Fintech Hub, is important to the rationale for the establishment of Fintech Ireland way back in 2013. In fact we are ready to support with WWW.FINTECHHUB.IE Keep an eye for details of further speaker announcements in the coming days. #GoForGrowth #FintechIrelandSummit #warfortalent #FintechHub Learn more about the FintechIreland Summit at https://lnkd.in/eNMQ8vMr. There is a Linkedin Event page too - https://lnkd.in/eh6vx9tx

The next Fintech Ireland #FintechBridge is around the corner - in fact next week, Wednesday 18th September here in Dublin Ireland. It is aimed at Irish fintechs and tech companies looking to scale in the UK, particularly Wales, and the same type of UK companies looking to set up in Ireland for the local market or indeed to scale across the European Economic Area with a European Union financial passport. Seats for this in person event are limit and priority will be given to fintechs/techs fitting the above description. Hear insights from Eamon Tuhami, Peter Oakes (Fintech Ireland), Sarah Kocianski (CEO FinTech Wales), Louise Harris (Co-founder Tramshed Tech) Andrew O'Callaghan (Partner, Global Asset and Wealth Management Advisory Leader, PwC (and Chair of the British Irish Chamber of Commerce Financial and Professional Services Committee). Also thanks also to John O'Loughlin and Paul Lynam. Visit https://lnkd.in/ejUgdd7Z where you find the link to sign-up via Eventbrite. What: “An international fintech journey, what to consider when growing from domestic startup to international scaleup”. When: 0730am, Wednesday 18th September 2024. Concludes at 0915am. Where: PwC Ireland, One Spencer Dock, North Wall Quay, North Wall, Dublin 1 Cost: Free but you must register to attend. Registration: Visit https://lnkd.in/ejUgdd7Z where you find the link to sign-up via Eventbrite. #fintechinvestment #fintechseminar

The next Fintech Ireland #FintechBridge is around the corner - in fact next week, Wednesday 18th September here in Dublin Ireland. It is aimed at Irish fintechs and tech companies looking to scale in the UK, particularly Wales, and the same type of UK companies looking to set up in Ireland for the local market or indeed to scale across the European Economic Area with a European Union financial passport. Seats for this in person event are limit and priority will be given to fintechs/techs fitting the above description. Running order on the day will be: 0730am: Registration 0800 am: Eamon Tuhami, (Entrepreneur, Investor and UK Gov Dealmaker) “Hacking your way to UK success” Hear from serial entrepreneur Eamon Tuhami about crafting the perfect pitch to unlock UK-based financing at every stage of a scaling. Learn how Irish companies can access SEIS/EIS, the UK Angel Investor ecosystem, a £100+M new funding in the Wales Venture pool and the Welsh Development Bank match-funding initiative. 08:30am panel session: "Exploring the fintech growth life cycle in Ireland and Wales." Industry experts from financial institutions, fintechs and Government will provide the in-depth insights on innovation, artificial intelligence, open banking, future payments, customer experience and accessing the right talent. Panel Peter Oakes, Fintech Ireland Sarah Kocianski, CEO FinTech Wales Louise Harris, Co-founder Tramshed Tech Andrew O'Callaghan, Partner, Global Asset and Wealth Management Advisory Leader, PwC (and Chair of the British Irish Chamber of Commerce Financial and Professional Services Committee)   9:15am event finishes Also thanks also to John O'Loughlin and Paul Lynam. Visit https://lnkd.in/erRiGFds where you find the link to sign-up via Eventbrite. What: “An international fintech journey, what to consider when growing from domestic startup to international scaleup”.When: 0730am, Wednesday 18th September 2024. Concludes at 0915am. Where: PwC Ireland, One Spencer Dock, North Wall Quay, North Wall, Dublin 1 Cost: Free but you must register to attend. Registration: Visit https://lnkd.in/ejUgdd7Z where you find the link to sign-up via Eventbrite. #fintechinvestment #fintechseminar

Hi All Thought I would share a graphic of Fintech Ireland by the numbers to garner your interest in some of our upcoming initiatives for 2024. As you will see, #FintechIreland is a powerful network. Fintech Ireland has just concluded discussions with an excellent range of people and companies to co-host and sponsor its events. More details will follow via separate communications, however a taster includes our upcoming partnerships with: * CalQRisk - the award winning provider of Governance, Risk & Compliance solutions, which won the ‘Best Regtech Solution Award’ at the National Fintech Awards. I had the pleasure of MCing that evening. * Global Government Fintech - media and community for public sector #fintech innovators and sister publication of Global Government Forum. * Decentralized 360 Web3 Conference * Digital Malta Conference 2024 * One of the world's best know #digitalasset brands * And later in the year the first "Fintech Ireland Summit". If you wish to receive details about these events, the first step is to subscribe to our Newsletter at (1) https://lnkd.in/e_gMUaJX or (2) https://lnkd.in/eJWwUDW. If you are asked about your authorisation type and our map, and these aren't applicable, just type 'N/A'. Other events planned for the year include our fintech educational and careers series (calls for educational bodies and recruiters to be a part of this series is open now - it is not hard to find us to raise your interest to partner with us) and specialist meetups and webinars on regulation, digital assets, operational resilience and - dare I say it - the long overdue update of the famous Fintech Ireland Map. If you have ideas to partner with Fintech Ireland, get in touch. But please think through your concept and present your ideas in at least a bullet point format. Please note if your interest in partnering with us is solely about you and your business, don't bother contacting us as core to our ethos is running events and providing information that is of benefit to the #IrishFintech community (not purely your bottom line, as Fintech Ireland is a free network). Many thanks and watch this space.

Come along to the Fintech Ireland Summit where we will unpack the challenges and headwinds and of course the opportunities and tailwinds for #fintech, #regtech and #crypto companies s as they navigate the investment and funding life-cycle. We are delighted that Zendesk has joined as the Platinum Sponsor for this exciting event. Other sponsorship and also exhibition opportunities remain but they are limited. So get in while they remain by visiting https://lnkd.in/egCr9RTh (https://lnkd.in/eZ8k5nAH). You can also find the link to book as an attendee place at the same link if you wish to come along and soak it all up. Why the Fintech Ireland Summit? After years of requests, Fintech Ireland are delighted to announce its exciting new conference for the Fintech community in Ireland and visitors overseas.  The Summit will take place in central Dublin (Radisson Blu, Golden Lane) on November 28th 2024. Speakers will include keynotes from the Central Bank of Ireland, the Department of Finance, Zendesk plus many more speakers to be announced very soon. I have to get back to a few people! The news today, which is not new news to those that actively following the data on a regular basis is that funding for the fintech sector in Ireland is down 90% during the first half 2024 when compared to the same period last year. €22m was raised down from €212m during the first six months of 2023. This latest figure from Finch Capital (Mike Brennan). "While funding may be down overall, and unicorn chasing has slowed, there is plenty of opportunity for companies that are capital efficient and have a clear path to profit." Could not agree more with Mike there. We'll be joined by experts in this field to unpack what I expect to be a continuing stream of fintech funding news over the next while. Many thanks to the team at Investnet (Robbie Whelan and David Neville) managing the #FintechIrelandSummit2024 in partnership with Fintech Ireland. Don't delay, get you sponsorship and exhibition pack details via the form at the link above. And if you just wish to attend, you'll find the Eventbrite booking details at the same link.

One of the hottest topics about where 'the rubber hits the road' in #fintech is scaling such innovative and fast moving firms in a sustainable and resilient manner. And that is the very reason why we chased these five experts to participate in the "Scaling Fintech" Panel session at the Fintech Ireland Summit on Thursday 28th November 2024  (0800-1530) at the Radisson Blue Hotel, Golden Lane, Dublin 8. The Panel will be ably moderated by Mai Santamaria FCA (Department of Finance Ireland) who will elicit from #fintechscaling experts: * Feargal Brady, CEO & Co-founder at NoFrixion * Mary O'Neill, Senior Product Manager at Zendesk  * Chris Hanlon, CEO, CalQRisk * Colin Canny, COO, Paysend the strategies and execution models for compelling and sustainable growth in an ever changing digital world. This mix of fintech and #regtech firms, together with insights into how AI is empowering innovative firms to grow, is something all firms will benefit from. Those working in a regulated environment will appreciate that the management and organisation of their data through the proper use of AI not only advances a scaling strategy but helps manage compliance overheads and address regulatory scrutiny. If you have secured your ticket to this SOLD OUT event, this Panel will be a lively discussion of the key ingredients of success, the pitfalls/speed bumps your fintech may encounter and how to deal with same. Learn more about the #FintechIreland Summit at https://lnkd.in/eNMQ8vMr [There is a Linkedin Event page too - https://lnkd.in/eh6vx9tx]

Come along to the Fintech Ireland Summit where we will unpack the challenges and headwinds and of course the opportunities and tailwinds for #fintech, #regtech and #crypto companies s as they navigate the investment and funding life-cycle. We are delighted that Zendesk has joined as the Platinum Sponsor for this exciting event. Other sponsorship and also exhibition opportunities remain but they are limited. So get in while they remain by visiting https://lnkd.in/egCr9RTh (https://lnkd.in/eZ8k5nAH). Speakers will include keynotes from the Central Bank of Ireland, the Department of Finance, Zendesk plus many more speakers to be announced very soon. The news today, which is not new news to those that actively following the data on a regular basis is that funding for the fintech sector in Ireland is down 90% during the first half 2024 when compared to the same period last year. €22m was raised down from €212m during the first six months of 2023. This latest figure from Finch Capital (Mike Brennan). "While funding may be down overall, and unicorn chasing has slowed, there is plenty of opportunity for companies that are capital efficient and have a clear path to profit." Could not agree more with Mike there. We'll be joined by experts in this field to unpack what I expect to be a continuing stream of fintech funding news over the next while. Many thanks to the team at Investnet (Robbie Whelan and David Neville) managing the #FintechIrelandSummit2024 in partnership with Fintech Ireland. https://lnkd.in/eBgFt7Ri

🚀 Energising the Future of Fintech in Ireland 🚀 Yesterday, I had the privilege of taking part in an industry round table hosted by Dogpatch Labs. The goal was to kick off discussions on how to supercharge financial services and fintech in Ireland, positioning us as a leading country for business. We had a diverse group of participants including representatives from the Department of Finance, Central Bank of Ireland, VCs, startups, banking, academia, and fintechs. Minister Neale Richmond TD also provided an insightful introduction. Reflecting on the success of the Irish Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in the 80s, which brought together businesses, government agencies, and a strategic tax plan, we recognise the importance of a collaborative approach. Despite the original IFSC's success, it now operates at just 50% occupancy. Its time for a brave new initiative! The discussions made it clear that a dedicated physical space is crucial, along with strong buy-in and involvement from all stakeholders – government agencies, VCs, banks, startups, and firms from the UK & US looking to enter the European market. Kudos to Patrick Walsh and David Power from Dogpatch Labs for assembling so many senior stakeholders to initiate what could be a new golden age of Fintech in Ireland. Here's to a promising future! #Fintech #FinancialServices #Innovation #Ireland #DogpatchLabs #IFSC #Collaboration #FutureOfFinance

🚀🌟 EU FT Pitch Battle: Call for Applications 🌟🚀 Don't miss the golden opportunity to showcase your innovative ideas in front of the most influential European decision-makers at the Digital Finance Summit, Belgium's premier FinTech conference. With over 700 attendees, this is your chance to make a lasting impact on the European financial scene. Event Highlights: - 700+ attendees - Four Prestigious Awards: Prize of the Public, Start-up, Scale-up, and "Coup de Coeur" prizes of the jury. - A chance to win fantastic prizes: Coaching sessions, Free membership at Fintech Belgium, Coworking spaces, and more. 🏆💼🎉 This is the perfect opportunity for international FinTechs, RegTechs, InsurTechs, and other innovative companies to boost their visibility, expand their network, and potentially attract new stakeholders. And the best part? It's absolutely free for all European FinTech startups and scale-ups. Interested? Here's what you need to do: 📅 Apply before November 8th at 23:59 📅 👉 Apply now! https://lnkd.in/exkvKtHF Don't miss this incredible opportunity to make your mark on the European FinTech landscape. Share the word with your colleagues and friends, and let's together pave the way for exciting possibilities!🚀💰🌐 Join us at the Digital Finance Summit and get ready to pitch your way to success! 🚀  #fintechbe #DigitalFinanceSummit #FinTech #EUFTPitchBattle

Wider thoughts from the excellent #FintechIrelandSummit24 Thanks and congratulations to Peter Oakes and team, speakers and panellists at yesterday's very well attended Summit. It was a great pleasure to meet so many fabulous people. Rather than rehash the excellent presentations and panels, I'm sharing some more general thoughts that occurred to me during the day. The challenge with all fintech conferences is that we look at the market through product lenses, rather than from the customer standpoint, but it was great to see so many impressive fintech businesses and smart, talented people in the space. This is no surprise, of course, and a key reason why my practice has brought me to Ireland (pop. 5.3m) as well as being in the Common Travel Area with Brexit-blighted Britain (pop. 67m), home to numerous US (pop 345m) and global finance and technology firms and a well educated multi-lingual workforce, with rights of access to/from the entire EEA market (pop 455m), not to mention the diaspora (pop 50-80m) that sees St Patrick's Day celebrated as far afield as Australia and the NZ parliament. In this market context, I took the insightful Mai Santamaria (Ministry of Finance) to be hinting that we must be careful to distinguish a typically warm and welcoming patriotic sense of what businesses can achieve globally in or from Ireland - whether as host to founders, headquarters, a datacentre, globally experienced advisers and service providers or merely some managers and staff - from a far more limiting, nationalistic obsession with creating and growing 'indigenous' firms that must cautiously establish themselves within the borders before moving beyond them. To put it bluntly, there are opportunities in other regions/countries for Irish solutions to problems that simply do not exist in Ireland. Time was limited, and it was definitely important, fascinating and rewarding to hear the topics that were covered, especially after a hiatus of such conferences due to Covid etc.. But at the next FinTech Ireland Summit it would be great to see and hear a more confident regional and global vision for the sector, and demonstrations of its strengths and achievements on a regional and global scale, as well as examples of where the Ministry, Central Bank, Enterprise Ireland and the IDA have helped or supported firms in serving customers throughout the EEA, UK, US, Africa, Asia and the Pacific. I'm also an example of the many UK-based personnel who could fill shortages of expertise and experience where opportunities have shifted away from the UK due to Brexit - bearing in mind that the vast majority of EU payment firms and staff, for example, were based in the UK, albeit they've since splintered into EU subsidiaries across the trade bloc. In reality, remote working and the Common Travel Area mean the Irish fintech sector has another 67m people to draw from. If you've been affected by any of these thoughts, please don't hesitate to respond below 😉