As the world becomes increasingly digitized, we see digital natives stepping up and taking over key leadership positions within companies.
Last week, Turnaround Talk published an article focusing on the leadership agenda and whether younger leaders adopted a different approach from their predecessors. While the general consensus is that there is not much of a difference, younger leaders will most definitely have a different view on digitization and how it can benefit their company.
Forbes recently published an article profiling the 30 under 30 European Leaders who will be shaping the business agenda on the continent. In this article, we will take a look at the first ten.
Robert Pasco (29) Co-founder, Plend
Cofounder: Plend
In 2020, Robert Plasco launched his personal loan company to lend cash to millennials with low or no credit scores. He learned about the opportunity the hard way. An immigrant from New Zealand, Plasco moved to London to work in finance. Lacking the credit history needed for a loan, he turned to high-interest credit cards to cover the city’s notoriously high cost of living. “In 2017, I went bankrupt and had to go through a number of methods to get my life back on track,” says Plasco.
“The pain drove me to set up Plend for people who can’t access affordable credit.” Plend, cofounded with James Pursaill, ditches traditional credit scores, and instead uses a mix of indicators to offer cheaper loans to customers who would otherwise be charged high, subprime interest rates. “We look at new data points such as what you earn, which industry you work in, how you spend your money and are you paying your subscriptions on time?” says Plasco. Investors have given his new scoring system high marks. In November 2022, Plasco raised $45 million in seed capital from funds including Active Partners, Sivo, Velocity Juice, Tomahawk VC and DD Venture Capital.
Przemek Kowalczyk (29) and Szymon Sypniewicz (28) Cofounders, Ramp
Szymon Sypniewicz and Przemek Kowalczyk are the founders of Ramp Network, which has raised over $120 million to make web3 accessible to all.
They prioritize safety and compliance in crypto and have experience in tech solutions and blockchain lending. Ramp focuses on user experience and partnerships and is registered with financial authorities.
Founding Partner: Lavaliere Capital Management
Ibrahim Alkurd (26) Founding Partner, Lavaliere Capital Management
Lavaliere Capital Management is a digital asset investment firm with $30 million in assets under management.
Ibrahim Alkurd was previously attending medical school in the U.K. before leaving to pursue entrepreneurship. Alkurd also set up the Samar Foundation, which most recently has been supporting Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
Nils Feigenwinter (22) and Leon Stephan (26) Cofounders, BLING
Leon Stephan and Nils Feigenwinder launched the German fintech startup Bling to help families with young children bank better.
With Bling, parents can create a debit card account for teens-funding it with cash from chores, gifts, and odd jobs. The kiddos get a debit card to use at stores or online and can earn interest and make investments. The company has raised $4.5 million.
Thomas Bohner (28), Chaim Finizola (29) and Maxim Piessen (28) Cofounders, Credix
Credix Finance, founded by Thomas Bohner, Chaim Finizola, and Maxim Piessen, connects investors with fintech credit opportunities in Latin America.
The company offers financing to businesses in Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico and has provided $30 million so far. Credix has partnerships with Circle, Motive Partners, and Valor Capital and has raised $13.7 million.
Cofounder: Solvo Finance
Ayelen Denovitzer (29) Cofounder, Solvo Finance
Solvo Finance is a platform for complex crypto products led by Ayelen Denovitzer.
It has raised $3.5 million in less than a year and gained popularity on the App Store. Denovitzer aims to make crypto accessible to a wider audience. She previously worked at Bain & Company and Revolut, where she led cross-department projects.
