On February 22, 2018 UNIT.City and USAID presented their first review of the fintech industry. In 2017, the industry of financial technologies acquired $16.6 billion of investments. The highest figures are on the European market.
Ukraine also demonstrates an active growth and development in the fintech segment. Continuing the success stories column of the famous Ukrainian women, we would like to present a selection of the best projects in the sphere of financial technologies, created by the women’s representatives. Our conclusion: beauty and high technologies is a good combination.
Vira Platonova, 38 years old
Country Manager of MasterCard Europe representative office in Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan “I like to catch the rhythm of a constantly changing world” .
Vira Platonova is a legislator in the field of payment systems and innovations. As a head of the office in Ukraine, she strengthened the reputation of the brand as an e-commerce engine. MasterCard has more than 60% share of the Ukrainian e-commerce market as of 2018.
“It’s important to work with people, so they don’t leave”.
A member of the workgroup of the National Bank of Ukraine in development of non-cash economy until 2020, the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine (ACC), the Electronic Payments Committee of the European Business Association (EBA) and the US-Ukrainian Business Council (USUBC).
One of the main trends of the Ukrainian fintech market in 2018 will be a connection of the banks to the Android Pay, based on MasterCard payment solutions.
In 2016 company launched Masterpass digital wallet platform in Ukraine. In 2017 MasterCard & LeoGaming created Masterpass-based payment chat bot LeoBot for p2p money transfers and payments for services.
“In MasterCard, women are leaders of many company’s regional offices. Women’s Leadership Network in MasterCard unites 1,000 women in 36 countries”. In 2015 MasterCard was awarded as the best payment system in Ukraine by “Ukrainian People Award 2015”. Some of the latest achievements of Vira Platonova are: the rating in «The 100 Most Influential Women of Ukraine-2017» by Focus Magazine and «TOP 100 Most Successful Women of Ukraine-2017»by «Novoe Vremya» Magazine.
Hobby: yoga, running, travel.
Inna Tyutyun, 41 years old
Deputy Chairman of the Board in JSB Ukrgasbank
Inna Tyutyun has been working in the banking segment for more than 20 years, including experience as a manager in the Department of Information Technologies and Payment Systems of the National Bank of Ukraine.
As of February 2018, Ukrgasbank is among top 10 banks in Ukraine when it comes to reliability, stress resistance and loyalty of depositors. The bank is among three top industry leaders if we talk about the reliability for individuals.
An introduction of the innovative payment solutions and the improvement of payment instruments are the strategic directions of the bank for the next 5 years. In cooperation with «LeoGaming Pay» financial company, Ukrgasbank develops non-cash payments through the electronic money they issue.
At the FinRetail 2017 conference, Inna Tyutyun introduced a new technology of the bank – simultaneous management of the bank accounts on a single balance in all currencies in the 24/7 mode.
“Ukrgasbank has recognized all the projects related to ecology and eco-products as a strategic direction of its development”.
In cooperation with the partner companies,Ukrgasbank is developing other innovative projects. In March 2017, the financial institution presented a unique credit product “ECO-Energy”, which offers a purchase and installation of a solar power station or a heat pump on a turnkey basis. And all of this is offered to the individuals on the preferential terms. As Inna tells:
“Everyone can get a free project of the installation of a solar power station on their roof or heat pumps in the house are a from the companies verified by the bank, and issue a loan of up to one million UAH for a 5 years period with a minimum contribution of 15% of the project cost. Because of the savings on wholesale purchases, we are able to lend individuals with almost 0% interest.”
Inna Tyutyun actively promotes traditional banking products that we are missing in the market nowadays. For example, we are talking about the restoration of mortgage lending in Ukraine: «We need serious measures to reduce interest rates in Ukraine. Some of them should be implemented by the state authority, and some –by the banks and other market participants”.
Hobbies: travelling.
Alyona Suvorova
Head of Group of payments and transfers (financial services, e-commerce, mobile commerce) in Kyivstar. “There is no failure – only experience and your reaction on it”.
About “Kyivstar” says its own statistics: 26 million mobile customers and 810 000 customers of a fixed broadband Internet. It is the largest telecommunication provider in Ukraine, an innovator of IT and e-commerce solutions. The company promotes technological projects Radar TECh (creation of an ecosystem for the development of Ukrainian economy) and Kyivstar Business Hub (creation and development of socially important software products on mobile technologies).
Mobile Money from Kyivstar is one of the most convenient and safe ways to pay for various services: utility bills, communications, TV, network accounts, tickets and many other things. While paying for the services, you use funds from your mobile account. The idea of technology is simple: to use your mobile balance as a payment method.
Hobbies: traveling.
Vladislava Guzenko, 40 years old
Director for a Transactional Business in «Alfa-Bank Ukraine»
Alfa-Bank is one of the most active players on the Ukrainian e-commerce market. Bank holds its place among top ten the most stable and reliable banks, as well as among top 10 financial institutions by assets, according to the statistics of NBU. It is known as one of the largest innovators in the sphere of banking services. Lots of complex services of the bank are based on the platforms of advanced IT-solutions.
“We are trend setters and generators of the innovations. If you want to be a market leader, you need to keep adjusting your strategy, be useful and convenient for your customers here and now”. Alfa-Bank Ukraine develops «My Alfa-Bank» internet service for transfers, account management and payments for services. «Alfa-Mobile» is a new mobile banking application for various financial transactions. «In the recent years, Alfa-Bank has been evaluating the e-commerce market as one of the most dynamically developing market in our country. Such a rapid growth, of course, requires unconventional banking decisions»
Hobby: exotic travel.
Alyona Degrik, 30 years old
CEO and founder of fintech company LeoGaming
LeoGaming is dealing with payment processing and creates payment solutions for business. The company is a pioneer in the payment acceptance market in favor of the most famous online games in Ukraine (from 2010). “Being successful today means working on the embodiment of an idea that everyone thinks is impossible at the moment».
LeoGaming develops innovative solutions in the fintech segment on a par with the leading players in the e-commerce industry of Ukraine. In 2017, MasterCard launched a payment chat bot LeoBot (p2p money transfers and payment for services) and a Parking UA application (payment for parking in large cities).
UNIT City and USAID named LeoGaming one of the leading Ukrainian fintech companies (2018). LeoGaming became the winner of a PaySpace Magazine Awards 2017 –payment chatbot LeoBot took the second place in the nomination “The best p2p money transfer service”.
Alyona Degrik is the owner of the award “Person of the Year 2014” in the nomination “Internet Service of the Year”.
Hobbies: travelling, books, sports.
Janika Merilo, 39 years old
An expert on e-government issues, deputy mayor of the Dnipro city, advisor to the Minister of Infrastructure and the mayor of Lviv
“It’s more important for me to be a good IT specialist, than a well-known politician”. Janika Merilo is a well-known expert in e-commerce and IT solutions for business and public sector, an experienced investor and innovator. In 2015, Google and Financial Times named Yanika among 100 innovators, whose ideas changed the world. In 2016, she won a gold award in the PaySpace Magazine Awards-2016 for her contribution to the development of startups and investments.
As a deputy of the Dnipro city mayor, she implements innovative projects related to IT and e-solutions for the infrastructure facilities and industries of the city.
“First of all, it is necessary to give an opportunity to the citizens and business to do everything they are used to do through a paper, officials and queues, independently with the help of a computer device”.
She is recognized as one of the most influential women in Ukraine according to Focus Magazine (2015-2017). The Business Magazine noted Merilo’s achievements among 50 business women of Ukraine as one of the few successful examples in business and state segment.
Hobbies: cooking, cinema.
Victoria Tigipko, 44 years old
Founder and Managing Partner of TA Ventures venture fund, President of iClub
«It is very important for a woman to be successful in her professional life. Just like for a man – not less». TA Ventures is focused on investing in high technology and software, digital platforms, innovative developments in fintech, health care, telecommunications and other sectors.
Venture fund also supports technology and successful startups on the early stages. The portfolio of the fund includes 110+ companies. It is also engaged in the creation and support of the research centers in Ukraine and Europe.
The Fund owns TA Labs, which consults companies and clients in research and development, helps in the creation of advanced IT teams and offices across Ukraine.
Among the projects of the Foundation there are:
- $1 million of investments to the Ukrainian online auction of used cars eTachki.
- Involvement of funds for the European provider of mPOS-terminals SumUp.
iClub is a closed community of the TA Ventures investment fund. It invests in Ukrainian and foreign companies. iClub portfolio includes :Azimo, Dreamlines, FinanzCheck, SumUp, Pufetto, Wallapopetc.
“IClub targets people with the letter” I “. It includes investors and innovators –in other words, those who bring innovation to the industry. Our iClub is an Investors Club, involved in an innovative trend and investing in Ukrainian business: small, medium, large».
According to the results of the recent years, Victoria Tigipko is among “TOP 100 of the Most Successful Women of Ukraine” according to “Novoe Vremya” and “Focus” Magazines.
An initiator of the creation of Code Club – Ukrainian network of programming clubs for children.
Hobbies: cinema.
Galina Hailois
Chairman of the Board in iBox Bank
Galina Hailois being in the banking sector for 17 years. “IBOX Bank” introduces the strategy of a new mobile bank – without offices, cash departments and with an optimized staff. To use the company’s services, it is enough to have a smartphone and install a mobile application “iBOX Bank”. This is the second mobile-only banking institution in Ukraine.
“Convenient bank in your smartphone”. The idea of a “bank in your pocket” is to use the capital to give more opportunities to the customers instead of using it for a self-service of the company. More favorable conditions for deposits and lending, preferential return of funds, a high percentage of cash-back, and no charge for “with drawals + replenishment” etc.
The advantage of “iBOX Bank” is the widest terminal network in Ukraine for accounts replenishment. Their own “Internet-Banking” system offers payments without visiting offices in 24/7 mode: managing accounts and balance, replenishing deposits, paying loans, utility bills, transfers in Ukraine and more.
Galina Hailo is a certified specialist of GARP (certificate of the World Organization of Risk Professionals). She is giving lectures at the International Business School Nikland.
Hobbies: travelling, intellectual games.
www.leogaming.net
01014, Ukraine, Kyiv,
Zvirynetska st., 47
