Fintech Leaders Alex Prot, Qonto CEO & Co-Founder – €622 Million to Empower European SMEs, Building a Fintech Giant, & The Strategy to Reach One Million Clients
7 snips
Apr 4, 2023 Miguel Armaza chats with Alex Prot, CEO & Co-Founder of Qonto, a major fintech platform for SMBs in Europe. They discuss Qonto's explosive growth to 350,000 clients and its ambitious goal of reaching a million. Alex shares unique insights on navigating the European regulatory landscape and the importance of strong co-foundership. He reflects on challenges in scaling the team and maintaining connections in a rapidly growing company. Fundraising experiences and the evolving fintech scene in Europe also take center stage, painting a picture of innovation and opportunity.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
From Banking to Vaping
- Alex Prot's entrepreneurial journey began after business school, working in investment banking and consulting.
- He co-founded Smoke.io, a smart electronic cigarette company, which was later acquired.
Qonto's Origin Story
- Prot reconnected with his co-founder, Steve, at a birthday party, leading to their first venture together.
- After Smoke.io, they founded Qonto to address the pain points they experienced with traditional banking.
Rocket Internet's Impact
- Rocket Internet catalyzed European innovation by transitioning individuals from traditional finance into tech.
- Offering a blend of salary and equity, it bridged the gap between employment and entrepreneurship.