Alexander Emeshev's ambition is to transform his business into a B2B marketplace
In an insightful interview, Alexander Emeshev, the founder of Vivid Money, discusses the strategic shifts and decision-making processes that have steered the company towards becoming a leading business bank.
Born in Vienna and a key figure in the Payment & Banking Bubble, Kevin Hackl, a community builder and lobbyist for financial topics at the digital association bitkom, also shares his perspectives on the transformation.
Vivid Money, which initially disrupted the retail banking sector, is now aiming to expand its horizons. Emeshev achieves this by acquiring fintech institutions and technologies, such as the Luxembourg-based Electronic Money Institution and Berlin startup Pile's treasury technology, to broaden financial infrastructure for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Emeshev's approach to getting the team on board seems rooted in building a highly qualified, international team and fostering a shared vision for innovation in financial services that balances personal and business finance management effectively. The company culture emphasises agility and responsiveness to customer needs, as seen in their expansion into SME financing and the rollout of interest-bearing accounts combined with automated treasury workflows.
The implementation of changes involves careful integration of new capabilities through acquisitions that complement the existing platform, expanding Vivid Money beyond retail consumers to serve business clients with enhanced treasury and asset management tools. This structured expansion shows a strategic transition influenced by regulatory permissions, such as the European investment services license, and market opportunities, onboarding over 30,000 new SME clients.
In summary, Emeshev drives strategy by leveraging acquisitions to add new B2B financial services and technology, steering the team with a clear, long-term vision of integrated financial services, responding flexibly to regulatory environments and customer needs, and implementing changes via technology integration and expanding product offerings specifically aimed at SME finance and treasury management.
While direct quotes on his internal leadership style or detailed decision-making processes are not available, the company’s actions reflect a focus on innovation, agility, and strategic acquisition as core elements in evolving their business model from retail challenger bank to a B2B fintech platform.
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- Alexander Emeshev is broadening Vivid Money's horizons by acquiring fintech institutions and technologies, such as Electronic Money Institution and Berlin startup Pile's treasury technology, which showcases a strategic shift towards providing enhanced treasury and asset management tools for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), aligning technology and finance in the company's business.
- Emeshev's strategic approach to growing Vivid Money involves leveraging technology by integrating new capabilities through acquisitions, expanding product offerings specifically aimed at SME finance and treasury management, and implementing changes that align with regulatory environments and customer needs, demonstrating a focus on innovation, agility, and strategic acquisition as key elements in the transition from a retail challenger bank to a B2B fintech platform.
