Category: Business Spotlight

AAZZUR stands out as a beacon of foresight and strategic thinking in an industry where innovation is the key to survival. The fintech has grown to be a trailblazer in the financial technology sector, navigating through waves of change and emerging as a leader in embedded finance solutions. We had the privilege of speaking with the CEO and co-founder of AAZZUR, Philipp Buschmann, who shared insights into the company’s journey, the challenges they’ve overcome, and their vision for the future.

The Birth of AAZZUR

The inception of AAZZUR coincided with the third wave of fintech, a period marked by the rise of app-based financial services like Railsr and Solaris. While the first wave focused on infrastructure, the second brought user-centric applications and the third introduced solutions providers. It was in this evolving landscape that AAZZUR was conceived. Initially, the goal was to establish a challenger bank for Europeans. However, the team quickly realised that the future of fintech lay in creating innovative solutions rather than traditional banking models.

Philipp reflects on this early vision: “We started with the idea of becoming a challenger bank, but as we looked at the broader fintech landscape, we realised that the future would be built on more than just banking. We envisioned a world where financial services were seamlessly integrated into everyday experiences, and that’s where we positioned ourselves.”

Advice for Startups: Think with the End in Mind

For startups looking to lead rather than follow, Philipp offers sage advice: “Think with the end in mind and work backward. Too many people start with a great idea and then try to figure out how to implement it. Instead, focus on your end goal. What do you need to achieve it? Start small, grow bigger. Look at your journey in reverse. It’s essential to begin with a well-defined, high-value idea—one that’s defensible and can generate revenue quickly.”

He cautions against getting caught up in the allure of grand ambitions without a solid foundation. “Nobody starts an airline by buying planes first. They start with a route, then expand. In fintech, it’s important to start with a small, high-value idea that you can build on over time. It took us four years to reach where we are today, and it was a learning process.”

Embracing Innovation

AAZZUR’s success can be attributed to its ability to stay ahead of the curve. Philipp and team credit this to a combination of foresight and a bit of luck: “We were always years ahead, whether by design or circumstance. The key is to keep innovating. Once you’re established, the momentum can carry you, but you can’t afford to stop. Technology is always changing, and so must we.”

This philosophy has allowed AAZZUR to maintain its competitive edge in an industry that’s constantly evolving. By continually pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, the company has ensured that it remains at the forefront of fintech innovation.

The Power of Embedded Finance

Embedded finance is at the heart of AAZZUR’s offerings. The founder is quick to highlight the advantages of adopting these solutions: “If you’re hesitant to embrace embedded finance, you risk falling behind. Your competitors will have a 5% revenue advantage, and you’ll lose customers over time. It’s similar to when the internet first launched; those who didn’t adapt were left behind.”

He explains how embedded finance can transform businesses by giving an example of a lending client: “Imagine a lender who traditionally processes loans and disperses them to an applicant’s account. By embedding a bank account into this process, where the borrower’s salary is paid into that account, the lender can reduce default rates and offer lower interest rates, making their product more competitive. This is something AAZZUR enables, allowing lenders to offer better rates and grow faster.”

Building a Winning Team

At the core of AAZZUR’s success is its team. The founder places a strong emphasis on values and what he calls ‘superpowers’—the unique qualities each team member brings to the table. “All people are different, but values are important. Things like being nice, punctual, and helpful—they don’t cost a thing, but they make you a better person and, by extension, a better company. Success comes when opportunities are given to you when you’re not even in the room.”

Achievements and the Road Ahead

AAZZUR’s innovative approach has not gone unnoticed. The company has been recognised with several awards, including the Techround Fintech50 Award, Sifted’s EU Startup to Watch, and the coveted Mastercard Pitching Competition. These accolades are a testament to the impact AAZZUR is making in the fintech space.

Looking to the future, AAZZUR remains tight-lipped about its upcoming projects, although the founder hints at exciting developments on the horizon. “We’re working on some very exciting things, but I can’t share too much just yet. All I can say is, watch this space.”

Conclusion

As AAZZUR continues to innovate and expand, its long-term goals remain focused on transforming industries through embedded finance. The company is already making strides in sectors like travel, employee benefits, and insurance, with a clear vision for where they want to go next.

In an industry as dynamic as fintech, AAZZUR has shown that the key to success lies in foresight, innovation, and a strong, values-driven team. With these principles guiding them, AAZZUR is set to continue its journey as a pioneer in the world of financial technology.

• Female Founder relaunches a line of waterproof headscarves after receiving 20,000 emails from passionate supporters worldwide
• 97% of Black adults and 82% of Black children don’t swim, and Black children are 3.5 times more likely to drown than White children
•  Founder Danielle Obe has created waterproof headscarves specially designed for textured hair

According to the latest Sport England stats, 97% of Black adults and 82% of Black children in the UK do not swim. That does not mean they can’t swim, rather they just aren’t in the water. Black Swimming Association (BSA) research cites the cost of equipment, swimming lessons, transport, locations, and accessibility, as major contributing factors. Furthermore, the largest barrier to participation for people of African, Caribbean and Asian heritage was concern over their hair, as haircare can be very expensive, whether it’s maintaining, styling or protecting. 

Textured hair is more susceptible to long-term damage from the chemicals used in swimming pools. Prolonged contact can cause the hair to become dry and brittle, leading to breakage. The time, effort and cost it takes to treat and style hair after swimming can be a particular deterrent. Equally, they do not swim due to a lack of representation, inherited fears of drowning, negative early experiences, and a lack of water safety awareness and aquatic skills. Danielle Obe, Founder of Obé, seeks to change this, because having confidence and knowledge when in, on, or around water is proven to save lives.

It all started with a Promise

Obé began as a promise from a mother to a daughter. After an incident involving a swim cap unsuitable for textured hair resulting in a lot of tears, when her daughter Kayla was just four, Danielle vowed to find a solution that would make Kayla feel empowered and unafraid of water. Seven years later, that promise has evolved into Danielle’s life’s work.

A lightbulb moment

After spending months researching swim caps and working with focus groups to understand the challenges they had faced from using them, it was clear to Danielle that swim caps were never designed with textured hair in mind. Nor were they even designed to keep hair dry. It was like a light bulb moment. Hair wraps! Wrapping hair is a cultural practice among people of African, Caribbean, and Asian descent — a tradition that if revolutionised, could protect hair from water whilst looking and feeling good.

Danielle launched Obé under Nemes in early 2019, before being let down by the factory, who took her investment and created products that resembled nothing of the design she had spent months curating. After personally contacting everyone who had pre-ordered the product, she received over 20,000 emails from customers all over the globe who showed their unwavering support for Danielle’s mission.

Obé was born

A year later, she received a life-changing message from a manufacturing partner, Justgood, who believed in what she was trying to do and wanted to help her achieve what she had set out to do before. 

With the help of Justgood, Danielle embarked on creating the perfect material. It needed to be waterproof, but behave like fabric to be comfortable, functional and available to everyone. Enter Obé, the further improved, stylish, waterproof headscarves designed to meet the needs of people of colour to help them find their place in the water.

Details & Specifications 

Obe’s headscarf is waterproof and hypoallergenic (no traces of latex). Designed to behave like fabric, the headscarf is not pre-tied, allowing wearers to control the fit and comfort. Made of thin, stretchy, and durable material, this comfortable and versatile headscarf protects hair and prevents damage to the hairline. 

The brand officially launched on the 15th of July, with products available for pre-order directly from the Obé website now. The headscarf is available in black, raspberry or mocha and has two shape options to suit the wearer’s personal style preferences:

• The NEMES is designed in a triangular, mountain-shaped that can be tied as a head wrap to achieve a stylish turban look. This is better suited to more above-the-water activities that do not require prolonged periods underwater.
• The PHAROAH is designed in an arch shape, featuring wings that better secure the hairline for above and below-the-water activities where you fully submerge for longer periods.

Danielle Obe, Founder of Obé, comments: “There are many barriers to people with textured hair participating in aquatics. Organisations such as the BSA are working hard to make swimming more accessible for all. But, there is one specific obstacle that Obé aims to tackle. A big barrier that impacts me, my daughter, and many others I have found on this journey… our hair.” 

“Being able to swim, and having water safety knowledge are more than just life skills, they are basic human rights. At Obé, we believe in empowering communities and creating opportunities to embrace being in, on, or around water. Without fear, without upset, without worry, just rejuvenated peace. Through Obé, we want to give others the courage to find their place in the water.”

By Simona Paganetto, Founder of I’m Plastic Free

How I’m Plastic Free was born

In 2013 Simona Paganetto left a promising career in the global MedTech industry to migrate to Australia and join her husband. She was living in the Whitsundays in Airlie Beach, Queensland, and volunteering for beach clean-ups for a local environmental organisation called Eco Barge Clean Seas in 2014 when she witnessed first-hand the huge amount of plastic in our oceans and its impact on marine life. Before that, she thought this problem was mainly confined to developing countries that didn’t have a solid waste management system, but after doing some research she quickly realised that it was a problem of the whole world at a time when there wasn’t much publicity in the mainstream media. So, she decided to do something about it… and a few years, a child, and a relocation later (the family moved from Queensland to the Northern Territory), she finally founded I’m Plastic Free in 2018.

It hasn’t all been “smooth sailing” … 

It hasn’t all been “smooth sailing” for Simona, however. Initially, she started her social enterprise by selling eco-friendly straws to the local hospitality operators but due to her regional location, she couldn’t compete with larger companies and warehouses around the country that delivered similar products to Darwin. So, she had the idea of developing a 3^rd party vendor e-commerce marketplace connecting eco-conscious consumers to sustainable vendors, like a mini-Etsy or eBay for plastic-free & recycled products only. However, the timing wasn’t in her favour as she launched it in the middle of a global pandemic, plus there were challenges again around the logistics side of the start-up.

A story of resilience: re-launching as a “matchmaking” platform

Simona was nearly about to give up on her vision, when she met a web expert who advised her to pivot the site into an educational & information hub focused on solutions and linked to the affiliate marketing business model. So, I’m Plastic Free was re-born in 2022.

Today, I’m Plastic Free is a “matchmaking” digital platform for plastic waste reduction. It connects eco- and health-conscious consumers with plastic alternatives. In fact, it provides the easiest and fastest way to find such solutions.

Whether it’s bedding made of organic natural fibres, non-toxic cookware, refillable soap, or compostable underwear, the platform makes it easy to choose sustainable options:

• Discover innovative ways to reduce plastic waste.
• Find plastic-free alternatives made from regenerative materials.
• Reduce micro-plastic exposure risks.
• Stay informed about industry changes and developments.
• Connect with eco-conscious brands making a difference.

Over 100 blog articles have been published on the platform, all research-based and linked to studies published in peer-reviewed journals, particularly articles related to microplastics and human health.

The platform reaches a global audience, currently serving 312,000 organic users and generating close to half a million organic page views annually, with rapid growth continuing.

So, what are “solutions to plastic pollution”?

Most people don’t know that there are common household consumer products like dishwashing powder or laundry tablets that only need warm water to be activated.

Or beauty products like face cleansers in powder form, which again, only need water to be activated.

Such products are solutions to plastic pollution for many reasons:

1. They are low carbon, as they have very little weight which plays a role during transportation, as water makes up 90% of cleaning products, as an example.
2. The products contain only natural clean ingredients, so they’re non-toxic.
3. The packaging is plastic-free as such innovative products are packaged in certified home-compostable sachets. They are refills and you keep the “forever” container, with no waste.

These are only a few examples of innovative solutions to plastic waste, but many people don’t know that they exist. Some people spend hours googling for solutions… others don’t even know where to start….

“I’m Plastic Free” solves this problem by doing the research for them, testing many products for them, and ensuring only the solutions that meet the criteria are listed and promoted.

Founded by Sabine VanderLinden, Alchemy Crew is a platform that enables disruptive leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs to industralise, commercialise, and de-risk corporate venturing. With unrivalled experience in the insurance industry, the business aims to bridge the adoption gap between corporations and growth ventures using open innovation, design thinking techniques and digital ecosystems. Recognised in this year’s Most Influential CEO Awards, Sabine VanderLinden is a thought leader on a mission to revolutionise the industry through her work at Alchemy Crew Ventures.

Alchemy Crew acts as an architect, a translator and an educator to esteemed leaders and growth ventures, empowering them to unlock the full potential of open innovation and digital systems. The innovative business validates and de-risks corporate venturing activities and employs structured commercialisation frameworks to help corporations embrace state-of-the-art technologies from growth ventures. Alchemy Crew leverages its extensive global network of tech ventures, data, and AI experts to solve complex problems and turn emerging threats (cybersecurity, AI risks, environmental risks etc.) into opportunities for growth.

In the insurance and financial industries, new risks are appearing every day, resulting in significant damage to organisations. Alchemy Crew has developed Virtual Adoption Labs to provide vital expertise, assessing how these risks will affect clients’ operations and the future of their work. By implementing effective business models, Alchemy Crew can help clients to grow and scale their ventures to add measurable value to their business.

Sabine VanderLinden, CEO and Venture Partner, says, “We believe in the power of collaboration and building strong, mutually beneficial partnerships. We foster open communication, trust, and transparency in our interactions with corporate clients, startups, investors, and other stakeholders. We take full accountability for delivering on our commitments. Growth and impact are the direct results of our efforts, and we own the end-to-end process of achieving the desired outcomes for our clients and partners.”

Alchemy Crew emphasises responsible innovation and delivers solutions that address multiple current day challenges from cybersecurity and generative AI to climate change and environmental, societal, and public health risks. With its Sustainable Corporate Adoption Labs, the business helps organisations establish and foster an ecosystem-led transition to new digital operating setting or operating models that support emerging technologies. By combining the right data, AI algorithms, and APIs, companies can establish reliable digital operating environments that pave the way for sustainable long-term growth.

With over 25 years of insurance experience and gradually acquired skills in corporate innovation, venture capital, and academia, Sabine VanderLinden leverages her expertise to develop digitalisation-led growth strategies for the insurance industry. She helps seasoned players and emerging startups as well as more established players navigate digital transformation and detect new opportunities. In 2014/2015, VanderLinden was one of the few first to identify InsurTech as a growth market after discovering how financial technology innovation could shape the future of FinTech. In her multifaceted role, VanderLinden evaluates, sources, and eases engagement with promising growth ventures on a global scale. She has accelerated over 150+ ventures and facilitated numerous pilot projects between startups and financial institutions.

After completing her MBA, Sabine VanderLinden joined IBM UK in 2000, where she focused on identifying and recommending technology to overcome large organisations’ efficiencies and value creation challenges. VanderLinden then became the CEO and Managing Director of Startupbootcamp InsurTech in Europe and in Hartford Connecticut, a leading accelerator passionate about insurance innovation. In this position, she worked with over 30 corporate insurers and accelerated over 100 startup ventures.

As a thought leader, ecosystem builder, and tech ambassador, she authored and co-edited ‘The INSURTECH Book’ where she shares knowledge and best practices on insurance technology alongside other well-known experts. Building on her impressive experience, VanderLinden became the CEO and Managing Partner of Alchemy Crew, where she continues to guide her team in building white label and bespoke Tech accelerators and scaleup programs while activating and amplifying each programme’s brand awareness.

Sabine VanderLinden says, “At Alchemy Crew, we foster a culture of transparency, ownership, accountability, collaboration, and inclusivity. We believe that diverse teams perform better when collaborating together, and we are committed to making Alchemy Crew an equitable and inclusive place to work. I play an active role in maintaining this culture by leading by example and ensuring that our values are reflected in all aspects of our work.  By maintaining an enjoyable and driven working environment while supporting our staff’s wellbeing, we position ourselves to deliver exceptional results for our clients and drive positive change in our industry.”

Since the pandemic, digitalisation has rapidly evolved in all business ecosystems including the insurance industry. As an Insurance and Technology Leader, Sabine VanderLinden quickly identified the need for a venture commercialisation lab to support insurers with their digital challenges. Alchemy Crew utilises new technologies, such as cloud, IoT, AI, and Generative AI, to provide clients with significant opportunities to monitor and price risks more efficiently. Leveraging her many years of expertise, VanderLinden creates digital environments that facilitate collaboration and partnership agreements between insurers and startups, advancing the adoption of innovative solutions.

The acceleration of digitalisation has opened the door to risks as more people transition to remote working and AI becomes more widely used. Alchemy Crew works with insurers to help them develop solutions to address new and changing emerging risks, turning threats into opportunities. The business is committed to helping established players and emerging tech businesses navigate the challenges of the digital age, form mutually beneficial partnerships, and implement best practices into their operations.

Additionally, Sabine VanderLinden is passionate about nurturing new female talent and the next generation of diverse InsurTech leaders. She says, “Through initiatives like the Startupbootcamp InsurTech accelerator, I have had the privilege of supporting and accelerating the growth of over 100 startup ventures, 20% of these were female founded startups. I continue on that path. We have scouted over 55,000 over the past years and accelerated another 50 growth ventures over the past four years.  And seeing these founders succeed and drive innovation in the industry has been immensely rewarding.”

Looking to the future, Alchemy Crew has plans to enhance its acceleration as a service model to help existing players build more effective startups and scaleup adoption programs. Each program is tailored to suit the local market, the partners involved with the programme, and the companies’ stage of maturity. Alchemy Crew also intends to move much of its assets online. The advancement of edtech enables the business to share expertise acquired through 25 years in the industry and 10 years developing corporate-startup growth programs.

Moving forward, Sabine VanderLinden will continue to focus on facilitating communication through digital ecosystems and helping clients overcome their digital transformation challenges leveraging corporate venturing techniques. Alchemy Crew currently works with businesses across Asia, Europe, and the USA but has plans to expand its footprint to new markets and drive innovation on a global scale. As a thought leader, VanderLinden understands the importance of remaining at the forefront of emerging technologies and will invest further in areas like AI, Big Data, IoT, Cloud, and Quantum to explore how these technologies can create value for insurers.

Furthermore, VanderLinden will continue to build on Alchemy Crew’s success by supporting new partners that reach out from institutional venture funds and corporate venture funds focused on specific themes or geographies. Within any ecosystem-led environment, these funds are vital to support the most promising startups with innovation in essential areas such as climate risk, cyber insurance, and health tech. “All those are critical to make it more affordable to address the current protection gap.”

As the business continues to grow, Sabine VanderLinden is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of diverse leaders in Alchemy Crew and the wider Insurance Technology sector. She is passionate about being a voice for the industry, acting as a tech ambassador for BigTech, medium tech and small tech to facilitate collaboration between large incumbent corporations and growth ventures. Spearheaded by VanderLinden, Alchemy Crew strives to raise awareness and educate clients on how best to use emerging technologies to add value to their businesses. For her transformation-driven thought leadership, we have bestowed on Sabine VanderLinden this year’s award for Most Influential CEO – Central London (Insurance Corporate Ventures). We cannot wait to see what the future holds for VanderLinden and Alchemy Crew on its mission to inspire technological innovation in the insurance industry.

For business enquiries, contact Sabine VanderLinden from Alchemy Crew on their website – https://alchemycrew.com/

Work is in the City of London near Lloyds on London which is where insurers are located.

Clovio’s first and most impactful marketing channel, BestReviews.net, builds a foundation of trust between brands and consumers. With a strong focus on software and online services, Best Reviews publishes high-quality, thoroughly researched review content that cuts through the noise and provides honest thoughts.

Clovio is the digital media company housing BestReviews.net, whose experts publish extensive written and video reviews of products and services. From medical alert systems to small business marketing software and VPN services, Best Reviews tests all its reviewed products rigorously, translating the team’s first-hand experiences to thorough, informed, and trustworthy content.

Founder Sander Delabie has been active in digital marketing since 2011 and boasts an impressive resume, having worked for international brands such as Samsonite and Neuhaus Chocolates. He launched BestReviews.net as the flagship part of Clovio in 2012. Clovio has since taken on full-time employees and expanded to include its own content creation studio. Under Sander’s leadership, BestReviews.net has become a fast staple of the review content space. He keenly fosters a positive relationship with users, readily accepting feedback and review suggestions, and he hopes for even more in the years to come.

While BestReviews.net makes marketing efforts of its own, a favourable review is itself an opportunity for a brand or product to connect with audiences. The company takes its role seriously in maintaining the positive online presence of exceptional brands, products, and services. In confusing or oversaturated markets, Best Reviews guides discerning customers to make worthwhile purchases which suit their needs.

Best Reviews understands that a well-reviewed brand will outperform others, attracting greater traffic, sales, and customer loyalty. The company prides itself in playing a part to inform the relationship between consumers and brands, always doing so with integrity and the utmost due diligence.

With quality in mind, the company carefully selects which products and services to review. Either a company will contact the team to request a review, or the team will make a request to companies it takes a particular interest in. BestReviews.net attracts tremendous interest by maintaining an honest reputation, earning the respect of companies and users alike.

Once selected, the team at Best Reviews applies its “learning by doing” philosophy to test products, playing with functions, and exploring every nook of a product, website, or app, even testing factors beyond its basic usage like the company’s customer support availability and helpfulness. BestReviews.net is all about figuring out a product’s ins-and-outs to offer truly holistic opinions.

As a tech-oriented company, Best Reviews is set to embrace emerging technologies in its future. While the company is proud to publish entirely manmade content, it will continue to leverage AI tools to enhance its workflow and intends to publish reviews for a broader suite of AI programmes. At present, Best Reviews is covering AI-based products such as photo editors, video editing tools, marketing software, and more.

“Best Reviews wants to be a knowledgeable authority that guides users towards the best AI solutions for their personal or business lives.”

As well as adapting to new technological landscapes, BestReviews.net looks forward to expansion and reviewing new product markets, and it intends to grow its already vast reach by translating its content into other languages. Users can expect a much sleeker user experience and an ever-broader range of review content going forward.

As Clovia takes Best Reviews into the future, it hopes to form an even stronger relationships with both readers and companies. As a remote-first business with a dedicated staff base, its team stands as a shining example of how written and video review content is done, and even how to have fun in the process! The team is excited to be a part of Best Reviews and excelling it in years to come.

For business enquiries, contact Sander Delabie from Clovio on their website – www.clovio.com

Effective communication is key to business success, making it one of the most essential skills leaders and professionals must continuously hone. For instance, a previous post highlights how communication methods can play a vital role in company culture, from improving task delegation and work productivity to fostering deeper and more meaningful relationships with employees.

In addition to being crucial to one-on-one conversations and team meetings, communication is also fundamental to contract negotiation. For small businesses, contracts matter in safeguarding interests while mitigating potential liabilities when entering business partnerships. However, the contract negotiation process is often riddled with challenges, which may otherwise compromise resources and hinder the success of legal agreements. Below, we look at common pitfalls during contract negotiations and how lawyers can help their small business clients better navigate them.

Failure to listen and collaborate

While negotiation involves effectively communicating and harmonising each party’s interests, many small businesses fail to listen to and collaborate with their clients and partners. The absence of active listening and collaboration can thus lead to misinterpreting messages, misunderstanding objectives, and ultimately losing rapport. Fortunately, lawyers can serve the role of mediator and help small business owners better convey their intentions and expectations with clarity and proper legalese.

This process can start with personally meeting the clients to review the contract together, prioritising key business areas like payment terms, termination conditions, and liability concerns. It also helps to choose a communication platform through which business owners can connect and coordinate with their clients over contracts. A notable example is the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) provider RingCentral, designed to help businesses of any size improve their video conferencing and meetings through artificial intelligence-backed transcription and deep sentiment analysis of conversations. This way, small businesses can stay engaged during conversations and even navigate the emotional aspects of the negotiation phase with the help of AI.

Lack of clear documentation

Another common stumbling block when negotiating contracts is the lack of clear documentation. While business-to-business contracts can be finalised verbally or via email or letter exchange, it’s best to bind the agreement properly through a written contract. Doing so can make both parties, especially small businesses with limited resources, less vulnerable to signing onto terms they have not adequately reviewed and understood.

Drawing up a business agreement can be time-consuming, whether the negotiation concerns renewing a commercial lease or maintaining a relationship with a supplier. However, lawyers can use Definely’s contract drafting software to spend less time accessing and editing legal documents and thus focus on the more complex parts of negotiations. The software also deploys AI for the active drafting stage of the contract lifecycle. It can even be incorporated into existing MS Word workflows for easier cross-referencing and the tracking of changes.

Little to no negotiation strategy

Contract negotiations can also fail when small businesses enter a deal with little to no strategy. Yet again, lawyers can help them plan a negotiation strategy that strategically considers resource allocation, timeframes and deadlines for contract terms, and the best negotiation style with a fallback position.

An article on nibusinessinfo.com.uk illustrates the importance of goal-setting in contract negotiations, as it helps businesses avoid settling for less commercially favourable terms. Depending on the type of business and contract being pursued, this step usually involves determining price and payment terms, delivery and production times, quality standards, and service levels. Such factors can also be ranked in order of importance to identify potential areas of compromise.

In summary, lawyers can help small businesses mitigate legal risks during contract negotiations by overseeing communication methods, proper documentation, and overall negotiation strategy. Like any legal business relationship, contract negotiations must also be adaptive and flexible to changing market conditions, thus entailing active collaboration between the parties throughout the contract period.

For Bejan Choschnau, teamwork makes the dream work. Believing in the importance of collaboration and sharing ideas in order to create a better user experience for clients, Bejan is proud of what he and his team have accomplished with Infona AG. It is a team that comes together on the mission to streamline clients’ business processes through the development of advanced CRM/ERP solutions – and they come with an AI twist. Recognised within our C-Suite Awards 2024 for his remarkable contributions to Infona AG and the world of AI software development, we speak to Bejan himself to gain further insight.

“Our AI-powered CRM system is more than just a tool – it is a pioneer of innovation and efficiency in every industry. With over 140 tailored apps, we empower companies not only to save costs but also to redefine the horizons of what is possible. Imagine a system that not only responds to your current needs but also anticipates future challenges and provides solutions before you even recognise them. This isn’t just a vision for the future; this is the power of artificial intelligence in action.”

AI is a concept that has been around formally since the 1950s, defined as a machine’s ability to simulate human intelligence and problem-solving capabilities, particularly computer systems. It was in 1958 that H.A. Simon and Allen Newell predicted that “within 10 years, a digital computer will be the world’s chess champion” and “within 10 years, a digital computer will discover and prove an important new mathematical theorem”. By 1965, H.A. Simon was forecasting that “machines will be capable, within 20 years, of doing any work a man can do”. Then, in 1970, Marvin Minsky theorised in Life magazine that “in from three to eight years, we will have a machine with the general intelligence of an average human being”.

Fast forward to 2024 and artificial intelligence is very much a thing that has found its way into almost every aspect of our lives, from chatbots to resolve customer queries, to ChatGPT to create written content and itineraries, to asking Alexa to provide an update on the weather, and even to self-driving cars. Each of these utilises machine learning algorithms in order to generate a human-like, or intelligent, response.

Now, AI isn’t only playing a big part in our daily lives, but organisations around the globe are implementing it, too, in order to streamline their business operations. One such example is the all-in-one CRM/ERP solution, InfonaApp, created by the masterminds at Infona AG, which utilises AI to automate and manage work processes. With the comprehensive InfonaApp, users have access to a variety of revolutionary AI-powered features, including an internal app store which allows the downloading of more than 140 apps that communicate seamlessly with each other and support daily work; tailored industry-specific website homepage creation; automated accounting; and an integrated chat portal for video calling, messaging, and file sharing.

Powered by the intelligent AI technology named “EllaAi”, this comprehensive CRM/ERP platform caters for every industry and fulfils those tedious, time-consuming tasks so that team members can focus their time on more productive work. Observing and learning from users’ ways of working, EllaAi’s purpose is to enhance efficiency, working independently over a long period of time to get to know the business and its operations. By making work easier behind the scenes, this leads to a much-improved experience for the customer.

Bejan Choschnau has been in his role of COO at Infona AG for two years, and having successfully implemented AI within the CRM/ERP platform, he feels this to be his greatest achievement to date. Bejan states, “My efforts have directly contributed to a notable improvement in customer satisfaction. By offering an intuitive, efficient, and powerful tool, we’ve helped businesses streamline their operations, leading to increased productivity and success, which in turn, fosters long-term loyalty and satisfaction among our clients.”

In this, Bejan had a number of things he wanted to achieve with EllaAi and InfonaApp. First, he felt it important to enable the automation of those critical yet time-consuming tasks such as accounting and website creation. Thanks to EllaAi, this work can now be completed in a fraction of the time, with minimal human intervention needed, and it also reduces the potential for human error.

Then comes the focus on customisation and scalability. By harnessing AI, Bejan has been able to facilitate the customisation of the platform to meet the unique needs of various industries, ensuring that the solution is not just effective, but also versatile and scalable. This adaptability has allowed Infona AG to support businesses of all sizes by adapting to them and enhancing their growth and efficacy.

Alongside this, the integration of EllaAi into InfonaApp has significantly improved its data analysis capabilities, providing businesses with deep insights into their operations, customer behaviours, and market trends. As a result, clients are feeling empowered to make more informed decisions, with this optimising their strategies for better outcomes.

“As the voice behind Infona AG, I’ve had the unique opportunity to bridge the gap between our innovative technology and the people it serves. By providing clear, friendly, and helpful communication, I believe I’ve made a positive impact.”

While Infona AG’s clients are reaping all the benefits of EllaAi and InfonaApp, so too is the company who created this technology. Bejan’s role involves the strategic deployment of AI to enhance Infona AG’s own efficiency and competitiveness. By utilising its own tech within its business operations, it has been able to develop over 140 apps with targeted solutions across a wide range of industries, expanding its reach massively. Bejan comments, “This achievement has not only expanded our market presence but also reinforced our commitment to providing comprehensive, industry-specific solutions.”

This has proven to be an integral element in optimising Infona AG’s operations and growth, not only driving its business strategy forward and improving its bottom line, but also allowing it to invest more in R&D and customer-focused initiatives. By understanding and anticipating client needs, EllaAi allows Infona AG to deliver tailored solutions and support so it can enhance customer loyalty and their trust in the company.

Bejan believes that it is his leveraging of AI’s unique capabilities in Infona AG’s technology that truly distinguishes his role and contributions, and which makes him stand out from other c-suite individuals within the industry. By integrating EllaAi into Infona AG’s core operations, he has demonstrated a commitment to cutting-edge technology and innovative leadership. With access to AI-driven insights and automation capabilities, the company can make informed decisions, streamline its own processes, and offer unparalleled service quality.

As such, this technology is enhancing his own team’s sense of empowerment in their daily work, too, saying, “Unlike traditional executives who may focus on direct management, my approach has been to empower my team by deploying EllaAi to handle routine and complex tasks. This allows our human talent to focus on innovation and strategic initiatives, thereby enhancing job satisfaction and productivity.” Bejan also emphasises his belief in teamwork and the importance of everybody having the opportunity to contribute their ideas. He expresses his pride in their dedication and passion, with them working relentlessly hard, and even volunteering to stay late in order to get things done. In this, he tells us how he feels assured that he is a good leader and that he is doing everything correctly.

“In essence, my use of EllaAi as a cornerstone of our operational and strategic initiatives embodies a modern approach to leadership. It reflects a forward-thinking mindset that embraces technology not just as a tool but as a partner in driving business success and innovation.”

But where did it all begin? Bejan’s expertise and experience is vast, and he started out in his career by spending five years as a Computer Scientist at FLÜCK IT, before joining an insurance company as CIO for almost three years. He tells us how, when working at the insurance company, he found there was a lot of paperwork and therefore a lot of steps for the customer to complete – and that’s how Infona AG came about. He recognised the need for change within the industry, with this leading to the development of the all-in-one solution we know today as InfonaApp.

During our conversation, Bejan goes on to acknowledge the question that he has noticed coming up a lot with regard to AI and the job market: “Will AI steal your job?” Bejan sees the positives here, pointing out that although one job might become obsolete due to technology, that’s not to say that this doesn’t open up a spectrum of new opportunities. For example, IT is one of the biggest industries in the world and with the ever-changing nature of technology, there are always new and exciting roles coming into existence.

In line with this, Bejan knows how crucial it is to remain up to date in terms of skills and knowledge in the evolving world of tech, whether completing courses or mentorship programmes with AI-focused companies. He adds, “Theory is crucial, but nothing beats hands-on experience. Work on projects that allow you to apply AI in real-world settings, whether through internships, personal projects, or as part of your job. This will deepen your understanding and enhance your problem-solving skills.

“[And] while technical skills are fundamental in tech and AI, soft skills like leadership, communication, and strategic thinking are equally important. A successful leader in this field must be able to bridge the gap between complex technical concepts and business applications.”

Meanwhile, Bejan and the team at Infona AG have once again achieved something innovative: the launch of the “Infona Academy”. With this new initiative, the company aims to foster young talents and acquaint a broad audience – from novices to experienced computer scientists – with the world of artificial intelligence. “Our goal is to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application,” explains Bejan. “The Infona Academy is not just a place of learning, but an innovation hub that prepares participants directly for the challenges of the real world.”

The Academy offers a series of courses that cover both practical and theoretical aspects of AI. At the end of each course, there is an exam, and successful completion is rewarded with a certificate. “We want to ensure that our graduates leave not only with knowledge but also with proof of their skills for the working world. It is especially important to us that these educational opportunities are completely free of charge, to include everyone,” Bejan adds.

The idea for the Infona Academy arose when the Infona AG team was increasingly approached about the prominent “Artificial Intelligence for Business” inscriptions on their vehicles. These encounters led to many interesting perspectives and sometimes fears about artificial intelligence. “It was a real ‘aha!’ moment when we realised how great the hunger for high-quality education in this rapidly growing area was,” recalls Bejan.

In addition to training young talents, Bejan sees the Academy as an opportunity to further strengthen Infona AG’s position as a leading innovator in the technology industry. “By fostering knowledge and innovation, we not only strengthen our own position but also elevate the entire industry to a higher level,” emphasises Bejan. With such ambitious plans, it’s clear that Infona AG and the Infona Academy have a lot ahead of them.

Ultimately, it is easy to see how Bejan Choschnau has come to be named our Software Development COO of the Year 2024 (Europe), being the strong leader and extraordinary visionary he is. As our conversation with him comes to a close, he is keen to share some advice for those who might be looking to follow a similar career path to himself. He tells us that one should: embrace continuous learning, gain hands-on experience, develop technical and soft skills, cultivate a problem-solving mindset, build a strong network, be adaptable and resilient, understand ethical implications, focus on user-centric design, champion innovation, and last but certainly not least, prepare for leadership.

He states, “If your aim is to reach a c-suite position, prepare by understanding the business aspects of technology. Learn about finance, marketing, HR, and operations, as leading a tech company requires a well-rounded understanding of all these areas.

“By maintaining a passion for technology and its potential to transform businesses, you’ll be well on your way to forging a successful career path similar to mine in the tech and AI industry.”

For business enquiries, contact Bejan Choschnau from Infona AG via email – [email protected] or on their website – infona.app

Based in London, Artvera Private Wealth Management (APWM) is an independent wealth management boutique, providing alternative investment management, comprehensive wealth planning solutions, and corporate advisory services to high-net-worth individuals (HNWI) and private businesses. Artur Bounegra, Founding Partner and CEO, leverages his extensive financial experience to lead the company and for his efforts, he has been honoured as this year’s Most Influential CEO 2024 – UK (Investment Management).

Established in 2012, Artvera Private Wealth Management is fully focused on managing clients’ wealth, providing them with a full spectrum of investment opportunities. Its wide range of wealth management services strive to go beyond managing clients’ assets and encompass all financial aspects of clients’ life.

APWM offers clients various alternative investment strategies in four major alternative asset classes: private equity, credit, real assets, and hedge funds. The company’s investment philosophy focuses on helping clients achieve their long-term investment goals while assuming the least amount of risks across alternative asset classes.

The experienced team takes the time to understand clients’ risk profile and returns’ expectations in order to offer them the most suitable investment strategy for sustainable long-term returns. APWM invests across the world and diversifies its investments across alternative asset classes to maximise returns while minimising risks.

Through its wealth planning solutions, APWM helps clients to protect their wealth and preserve it for future generations. APWM’s comprehensive wealth management solutions include financial planning, wealth structuring, tax planning and legal issues, estate planning and business succession planning, fiduciary and trust services.

Financial planning is an important part of wealth management and APWM is dedicated to working with clients to analyse their current financial situation and help them identify unnecessary spending. With its in-depth understanding of investments, the company is uniquely positioned to help individuals plan their budget and locate possible savings to achieve their financial goals.

The independent company complements its alternative investment management and wealth planning solutions with corporate advisory services for clients with privately held and family companies. Its professional team work as trusted advisors for businesses, providing them with hands-on guidance as they navigate strategic decisions and important transactions.

To fully meet the needs of its clients and their families, APWM also provides lifestyle advisory services on a wide variety of family issues such as international relocation, tax residency and citizenship advisory, education and healthcare advisory, and concierge services worldwide.

With over 29 years of experience across banking, investment management, and financial consultancy, Artur Bounegra has held top managerial positions in several renowned banks including banks belonging to large international banking groups such as Raiffeisen Bank and Nordea Bank. He has also had experience working in different boutique hedge funds and investment advisory firms in the USA.

As CEO of Artvera Private Wealth Management, Artur is responsible for the company’s strategic management but devotes much of his time to providing clients with boutique wealth management services. Artur has extensive knowledge of macro and microeconomics, financial management, accounting, reporting, and auditing which allows him to navigate challenges in the financial landscape. Artur skilfully leverages his experience in managing investments in emerging markets to advice his clients on a wide range of financial endeavours.

In his role, Artur understands the importance of continuous learning and has deepened his knowledge to expand his professional development. In addition to his MBA degree from Duke University, Fuqua School of Business, USA, and his PhD degree in Economics from State University of Management, Russia, Artur has also received numerous professional certifications and qualifications. Among them is a qualification certificate in Brokerage and Dealer Activity from the Federal Financial Markets Service, Russia, and a number of professional certificates from the UK including several from the Senior Managers Certification Regime (SMCR).

With his solid working experience and commitment to ongoing education, Artur Bounegra is uniquely positioned to provide his clients with valuable wealth management services to help them secure their financial futures. With a focus on serving clients from emerging markets, APWM provides clients with a wealth of investment opportunities worldwide. Through its wealth planning services, Artur and his experienced team help clients to structure and protect their wealth and to pass it down for future generations.

Recognised in this year’s Most Influential CEO Awards, Artur Bounegra uses his expertise to guide clients through financial decisions and help them improve their finances. Under his strategic leadership, APWM has established itself as a trusted leader in wealth management and Artur will continue to help clients navigate the evolving financial landscape. For his inspiring leadership, we have bestowed on Artur Bounegra this year’s award for Most Influential CEO – UK (Investment Management).

For business enquiries, contact Artur Bounegra – Founding Partner and CEO from Artvera Private Wealth Management on their website – www.artverawealth.com