Issue 7 2020

14 CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 7 2020 , Innovation & Ingenuity In today’s business world, it can take a true visionary to bring to life the concepts that people need the most. In the United Kingdom, that visionary is Mihai Ivascu. Through his role as CEO and Founder of tech group M3 Holdings, Mr. Ivascu has had a key role in developing software, platforms, and applications that display true innovation for many industries today. M3 Holdings is comprised of three rapidly developing companies: Moneymailme (a money transfer and chat app), M3 Payments (forex management and global payments platform), and Modex (a blockchain company and software-as-a-service technology provider). As an early-stage tech investor, Mr. Ivascu also holds positions in various tech start-ups and advisory boards. However, his focus remains squarely on Modex, the blockchain database company. Running through the core of the M3 Holdings venture at the moment is Modex, the firm’s blockchain database technology. Modex BCDB is an embodiment of Mr. Ivascu’s desire to implement innovation that serves people; a truly cutting-edge product with several innovations. Modex has managed to make blockchain technology affordable and easy to get to every single company in the world, whilst offering data immutability, data integrity, and near real-time backup, which is the panache of blockchain in cyber security. Not only are Mr. Ivascu and Modex tackling the enterprise segment interested in blockchain services, but also the cybersecurity market, recognising that data is the future for businesses everywhere. We, at CEO Monthly, were fortunate enough to speak with Mr. Ivascu, and gain insight into the past, present, and future of Modex and M3 Holdings, as well as into his own journey to become one of the most innovative and forward-thinking business leaders in the United Kingdom today. CEOM: Talk me through your previous roles and how you came to achieve your position as CEO. How do you draw on past experiences in your current role? MI: I am the founder of the company. What started as a small team based in the Bucharest office has now grown into a fully-fledged blockchain development company with over seventy employees and additional offices in London, Gibraltar, and Silicon Valley. The entrepreneurship mentor and the speaker experience I have gained over the years, as well as the executive training programs from Harvard, MIT, Stanford University, and Silicon Valley Innovation Center I took part in, have shaped by professional course and are helping me successfully lead the companies I’ve founded. CEOM:What is your founding mission? What are your values? Have these changed at all since you were established? MI: I’m a huge supporter of innovation, of pushing the boundaries even further and changing people’s lives for the better with the help of creative technology. I strongly believe that if you set your mind to achieve something and you push tirelessly to reach that goal, you will overcome all the obstacles and get there. Since day one, I’ve tried to bring about change for individuals, for the companies I’ve collaborated with, but also for the society we live in. My values haven’t changed. CEOM: Tell me about your business and your ongoing strategy. What techniques do you employ to ensure that you achieve this? MI: I have always been focused on tech applied in social impact projects that range from financial inclusion, charity, and shared value initiatives. For each of our products we have a clear and strategic roadmap for the future. Whenever challenges arise - some of them unforeseen, others predictable - we come up with the best solutions to overcome them, then we move forward driven by the same passion for innovation. CEOM:What makes your firm successful? What is your unique selling point/ what distinguishes you from your competitors (if you have competitors in your industry)? MI: Modex was launched as a Smart Contract Marketplace and app ecosystem that allows for easy, user-friendly access to smart contracts. Developers can leverage Modex to monetize their skills and offer Smart Contract solutions to end-customers and companies. Modex’s latest innovative product, BCDB (Blockchain Database) enables enterprises to deploy their first blockchain project in days instead of months at a price point that small and mid-level enterprises can afford. Everything we do is based on a clear vision, on a strategic roadmap, and on cutting-edge technologies. CEOM:What is your approach when undertaking a new client or project? How do you ensure right from the start that the outcome meets the needs of everyone involved? MI: Whenever we partner with a new client, I always try to understand, right from the start, their priorities and what they want to achieve. Then, my team and I are proposing them our best business solution to meet their needs and we make sure to deliver the right product, on time. It’s the only way both parties can Mar20138 This age of technological development and rapid advancement we nowfind ourselves in has paved the way for truly inspiring leaders and visionaries to step forward andmake a name for themselves. One such individual is Mihai Ivascu, serial social impact and technology entrepreneur and CEO of tech groupM3 Holdings. CEOMonthly is proud to nameMr. Ivascu as our CEO of the Year 2020 for the United Kingdom, and we had the great pleasure of talking with him to learnmore about his innovative work and exceptional leadership skills.