The Embassy of the Czech Republic in London, in cooperation with the Czech Fintech Association, Innovate Finance, and with support from the City of London, organised a business seminar on cooperation in the rapidly developing financial technology sector.

The seminar was attended by entrepreneurs, banks, investors, associations and, government institutions. Mr. Michal Vodrážka on behalf of the Czech National Bank and, Mr. Aleš Králík from the Ministry of Finance of the Czech Republic, introduced the regulatory environment in the Czech financial sector. Mr Peter Cunnane from Innovate Finance spoke on the situation in Britain. The Czech Fintech Association and the fast growing Czech fintech business sector were introduced by its director Ms. Maria Staszkiewicz. After which short presentations were made by the Czech and British companies, banks and, associations.

The presentations were followed by a discussion with the panelists and all those present. The event finished with a networking opportunity for the Czech technology companies and British investors on possible cooperation.

Czech Companies attending were:

Czech Fintech Association, Maria Staszkiewicz: We represent the Czech fintech sector and support the ecosystem of financial innovation in the Czech Republic. Blockchain Republic Institute, which she also represents, focuses on research of decentralised technologies.

Synthetic Labs, Mr. Jakub Langr: We are helping businesses adapt their data to new financial problems for analysis and Machine Learning. Effectively solving the data quality issues & allowing business to leverage their existing datasets in novel domains.

Bullteproof AI, Mr. Martin Rehák: We design cybersecurity systems with a focus on the security of AI and the protection of algorithms against attacks, our main customers are banks.

Twisto, Mr. Matěj Vácha: We developed a credit-based mobile payments app using a special scoring system Nikita (risk engine). The app is integrated with many e-commerce providers.

Liberis, Mr. Petr Hojný: We develop technology and build key partnerships to improve small businesses’ access to finance. An UK company now looking at markets in CEE.

ZNpay, Mr. Radovan Průša: We are a PISP & AISP native organisation, providing a frictionless interface exactly where commerce happens: between merchants and consumers.

The UK, and especially London, is one of the global fintech sector centers and a leading European center. In 2018, IT services and software exports from the Czech Republic to the UK amounted to almost GBP 252 million, of which GBP 9 million was in the financial services sector. These figures represent significant business opportunities for dynamic Czech companies.

Aleš Opatrný, Head of the Economic and Commercial Section, Embassy of the Czech Republic in London