Andres Fontao

Partner at finnovista

Message Posts: 7 Comments: 2

Bio Empowering technology startups in the disruptive transformation of the financial services industry. Career History Andres is a digital banking and mobile payments executive with experience in product management, product marketing and business development. He has a successful track record in helping grow technology-driven businesses (consumer and enterprise) with a focus on identifying and executing new market an

Blogs

Finance 2.0

My take on MWC2013

28 Feb 2013

Hoping to unwind on the AVE back to Madrid after a frenetic 2 days at Mobile World Congress, I can't help but ponder my insights and learnings as we cut across the Spanish countryside at 300 KM/H. It's been an exciting two days, focused primarily on meeting with financial institutions and scouting for innovations and possible disruptions in fintec...

Payments strategies 2015-2020-2030

Cashless and cardless, take 2

14 Jan 2013

Following up on my recent blog entry regarding my attempt to go cashless and cardless for a week when in San Francisco late last year, it’s worth sharing observations of payment methods from a recent trip to Argentina and Uruguay in late December 2012. As those of you who know me, I am a strong advocate for mobile financial services, having spent ...

Payments strategies 2015-2020-2030

Is it time to leave the cash and cards at home?

19 Nov 2012

I am recently back to Madrid from a week-long business trip to San Francisco. Despite working in the mobile financial services industry for the past 5 years, until this week I had never encountered a true opportunity to engage in native mobile payment and commerce transactions. Before arriving in San Francisco on Tuesday night, I could count with ...

Finance 2.0

Gamification in banking

25 Sep 2012

I recently had the opportunity to attend Gamification & Banking: a passing fad or a serious business, at the BBVA Innovation Center in Madrid. It’s part of series of talks and discussions around innovation in retail banking. To be honest, I had not put much thought into this topic until I came upon an announcement, but a star-studded line up o...

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Andres is Commenting on

My take on MWC2013

It's not black or white, but the threat of disruption clearly exists. Industry execs admit first hand they feel the pain, which is one of the many reasons they send their troops to Barcelona. My point is, speak to those who are disrupting and not necessarily those whose interest it is to maintain the status quo.

02 Mar 2013 Reply Read article

Disruption Rocks! There are loads of jobs in ... Warrington

Here's my take on the subject - the Spanish banking crisis has already eroded 25,000 bank jobs and shut down 6,000 branches. Another 30,000 bank employees will be let go in 2013 together with the closing of 5,000 branches. And I would say we are just at the foot of the Pyrenees (no pun intended) in terms of disruption in financial services. Historically the mecca of innovation in financial services, there is a plethora of talent available in Spain with subject-matter expertise in financial services and technology. With the proper start-up ecosystem in place we can expect to see disruptive business models being brought to life in the very near future, most of which will creat jobs for some of the 55,000 individuals who have been put on the street since the crisis began in 2008. Disruption rocks!

16 Jan 2013 Reply Read article