Tymon Wiedemair

🌟 N26 vs. Bunq: Which Neobank Offers the Best Features for You? 🌟 N26 and Bunq are leading neobanks with distinct offerings tailored to various banking needs. Our comprehensive comparison breaks down how these two platforms excel in terms of account features, fees, and overall user experience. Whether you’re interested in flexible account options, multi-currency support, or innovative banking tools, our analysis will help you decide which neobank best aligns with your financial goals. 👉 Read our full comparison to see which neobank is the best fit for you: https://lnkd.in/dWr-7-uH #Neobank #N26 #Bunq #DigitalBanking #PersonalFinance #BankingComparison #WhatNeoBank

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💥 I'm back from the FIBE Berlin, where we dug deep into crypto's leap from niche to mainstream through strong partnerships. 🤝 Thanks Stephan A. Paxmann from LBBW, Lukas Enzersdorfer-Konrad from Bitpanda, and Martin El-Khouri from Bertelsmann Investments for a great discussion! Key takeaway⁉ We're at the dawn of the crypto era, and strategic alliances are the fuel that will drive us forward. Partnerships power innovation and foster trust, critical in navigating the dynamic crypto ecosystem. Great seeing familiar faces and forging new connections as we run this marathon. Proud to journey with partners like Bitpanda and LBBW - we're not just observing the change, we're driving it! I'm curious, what do you think will be the most significant impact of crypto becoming mainstream? Kristin Möller Carola Bergmann Kevin Hackl Fabian Platzen Timo Binder Caroline Göllner Timo Binder Jana Becker Sven Haiges Benedikt Faupel Stefanie Weber Nergiz Günel Felix Mahnkopf Pierre Castronovo Sebastian Wolfmeier #digitalcurrencies #innovation #partnership

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🚀 Join us at the Agile Planning Face-Off: Upfront vs Just-In-Time at Hedwig-Dohm-Haus on June 11th! 📅 When: June 11th, from 7:00 PM 📍 Where: Hedwig-Dohm-Haus, Berlin 🔍 Topic of the Night: 'Agile Planning Face-Off: Upfront vs Just-In-Time' Dive into the dynamics of Upfront and Just-In-Time Planning within Agile and XP frameworks. Discover which approach could enhance your project execution strategies! 🌟 What to Expect: - Expert Insights: A concise, 5-10 minute presentation on the principles of Upfront vs Just-In-Time Planning and their real-world implications. - Interactive Discussions: Share your experiences in breakout groups, exploring the practical impacts of each planning style. - Thought-Provoking Debate: Engage with prepared questions designed to refine your planning processes for better agility and outcomes. - Networking Opportunities: Connect with fellow professionals passionate about effective project planning in software development. 🔗 Broadening Our Discussions: From Extreme Programming to lean theory and beyond, our discussions span a wide array of software development topics. Your insights as a newbie or expert are invaluable to us. ✨ Don't miss this chance to deepen your understanding and refine your development practices. Help shape our next discussion by participating in our interactive session! 👉 RSVP Now! Secure your spot and join a community of forward-thinking software development professionals. https://lnkd.in/ePKqUKzt #AgileDevelopment #ProjectPlanning #SoftwareDevelopment #ProfessionalNetworking #XTCBerlin #AgileManagement

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Is the digitalization of Germany finally getting the catalyst it so genuinely needs? It might. At least the administration is getting fundamental technology and legislation ready. I just spent a day in Berlin in the company of the EUDI wallet infrastructure project by SPRIND - Bundesagentur für Sprunginnovationen. As it says on the project site, "Germany must be bold in its digitalization." And after today, they are undoubtedly off to an ambitious start. The key takeaway is that there is a willingness and ability to actually adopt and implement the new EU #eIDAS legislation. The ambitious "Funke" wallet competition is a clear indication of that. The more mundane observation is that Germany has a vast bootstrapping challenge to gain the necessary wallet uptake just a few years from now. 83 million people in 11,000 municipalities must get their ID cards ready for online use. Today, only 20% of the population has used their ID card online once or more. The rest must go through a convoluted process that, in most cases, will lead to a visit to a municipal office! And don't forget the only motivation that counts: The Germans need private and public services that accept the new wallet and its credentials. Will Germany finally get there? Your guess is as good as mine. But at Criipto, we are ready to board the German digitalization - gravy(?) - train!

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Are we experiencing a paradigm shift in Human- Computer interaction? (according to Thomas Kuhn Structure of Scientific Revolution) During a #aisummitpoland I had the pleasure to moderate a very inspiring discussion about the topic i guess is valid for everyone. We explored whether we are in a revolutionary period in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) or still facing anomalies. Here are the key conclusions: 1. Prompts and the current paradigm: We are still operating within the existing interaction paradigm, dominated by prompt-based interaction. It's important to underline that prompts are a non-democratic method of communication—they require users to adapt their language to the limitations of the machine, which constrains freedom and reduces the intuitiveness of interaction. 2. Limitations of natural language: Although advances in natural language processing (NLP) have been made, we are still effectively translating our commands into machine-readable formats. AI has not yet reached the point where it truly understands human emotions or context in a meaningful way. This lack of genuine emotional comprehension, preventing a paradigm shift. 3. Deep personalization: Deeply personalized interactions, where AI acts as a personal assistant or even a "friend”, could be the key to a paradigm shift. However, this idea raises concerns, particularly about privacy and the potential for reinforcing information bubbles, isolating users more than ever. The ethical and psychological challenges of this level of personalization are significant. 4. Control paradigm: We remain firmly in a paradigm where humans are in control. While AI assists, humans remain in charge and, for the most part, want to keep it that way. There is a strong preference for maintaining this dynamic, with AI as a tool rather than an autonomous entity. 5. Generative AI as a precursor to revolution: Generative AI is a significant step toward a potential revolution in HCI, but we are still in the early stages. The path ahead is long, before we can achieve seamless, intuitive, and empathetic interaction between humans and machines. In summary, while generative AI and advancements in NLP mark important progress, we have not yet reached the kind of paradigm shift that Kuhn describes. Prompts, in particular, highlight the current limitations, as they are not a democratic or fully intuitive way of interacting with machines. Designers of Interactions with AI needs to overcome these challenges for a true revolution in Human-Computer Interaction to take place. Special thanks for participating in the discussion and for sharing your perspectives, and of course thanks to ChatGPT for correcting this text. #aisummitpoland #AI #sztucznainteligencja

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Not long ago, the German media Trend Report published my predictions about what awaits the financial industry in 2024. There are valuable insights that will be interesting not only to my German audience, so here are some valuable key takeaways from that article. 🤖 Algorithmic trading that works on self-sufficient trading bots is no longer an oddity but a part of everyday trading life. It’s even possible for AI models to become a staple in the industry, especially in terms of trading decisions and price prediction. 🔍 Know your customer (KYC) can be already fully automated by AI. For instance, verification through camera or ID photos is available for users and employees to save time, while companies like SCHUFA use AI to analyze loaners' backgrounds and calculate how likely they will repay the loan. 👮‍♀️ Fraud prevention evolves beyond its initial capabilities thanks to AI, which allows businesses to analyze money flow in real-time. As a result, they can monitor all transactions with ease and detect money laundering, sanctioned entities, or outliers. And it’s just the tip! I’m confident that the financial industry will broaden the adoption of blockchain and AI in 2024 even more. There are too many incentives to ignore the progress and stick to old ways. So, I suggest giving the topic more thought. For starters, you can employ the power of AI to automatically translate text and read my full article on https://lnkd.in/dG2KBbsj.

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An interesting FAZ article (in German only) with background infos on Siemens' €300M digital bond issuance on the SWIAT Blockchain. Written by Viktor Banh (DekaBank), Alexander Bechtel (DWS), and Manuel Klein (Deutsche Bank). 🔎 Transaction Overview: 🔹 Volume: 300 Mio. EUR 🔹 Issuer: Siemens 🔹 Registrar: DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale 🔹 Investors: DZ BANK AG, Bayerische Landesbank, LBBW, Helaba, DekaBank 🔹 Payment Service Provider for Siemens: Deutsche Bank 🔹 Technology Provider: SWIAT (regulatory-compliant Blockchain, Tokenization and Settlement Solution, and Integration with Bundesbank Trigger Chain) We are steadily progressing toward more natural transaction flows in the crypto securities space. Moreover, with Eurosystem Exploratory Toolbox enabling the payment leg with central bank money, the puzzle of a DLT-based financial market infrastructure is coming together piece by piece. Full steam ahead! 😉

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🚀 Join Us at 'The Developercallcenter' Meet-up Hosted by XTC Berlin! 📅 When: May 14th, 7:00 PM onwards 📍 Where: RIDE Capital, Berlin 🔍 Topic of the Night: 'The Developercallcenter' Is direct interaction between developers and customers a recipe for success or disaster? Join us as we delve into this compelling question! 🌟 What to Expect: - Insightful Presentation: Begin the evening with a brief, expert-led presentation on the dynamics and impacts of developers interacting with customers. - Engaging Discussions: Participate in dynamic discussions with fellow attendees, sharing experiences and perspectives on developer-customer interactions. - Debate and Insights: Challenge your ideas and expand your understanding through curated questions about the practicalities and challenges of direct communication. - Networking Opportunities: Meet and network with professionals passionate about improving software development processes and customer relations. 🔗 Broadening Our Discussions: Our topics range from Extreme Programming and agile management to lean theory and career management. Whatever your level of expertise in software development, we value and welcome your contributions. ✨ Don’t miss this opportunity to explore how direct communication between developers and customers can affect both service quality and development practices. Come prepared to learn, share, and connect! 👉 RSVP Now! Secure your spot and contribute to our vibrant community: https://lnkd.in/dWZn5FuZ #XTCBerlin #SoftwareDevelopment #Networking #ProfessionalDevelopment #CustomerEngagement #DeveloperCommunity

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#notoptional is likely the most impactful startup policy initiative in Europe so far. Germany on par with US in stock option policy was unthinkable a few years ago. 1. Exposed the problem: Created global rankings that showed just how ridiculously bad Germany's policies were. 📊 2. United the tech community: Got top founders on board to demand change. 🤝 3. Offered solutions: Showed policymakers exactly how to fix the mess. 💡 Great work by Vojtech Horna and Index Ventures.

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Curious about the current powerhouse driving the stock market? In under 60 seconds, get a lightning-fast update on how NVIDIA is dominating the scene! With a share capital surpassing even the entire German stock exchange, their influence is undeniable. But what does this mean for the broader market? Join me in a video deep dive as we explore NVIDIA's impact and what it signals for market trends ahead. Don't miss out! Stay tuned for the full scoop! #StockMarket #NVIDIA #MarketTrends

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Deep Reflection on EU AI Overregulation and Luxembourg’s Role in Europe’s Future 🇪🇺🇱🇺 The EU AI Act raises essential questions: Was this legislation crafted to protect consumers from a technology that regulators themselves barely grasp, or is it a reflection of Europe’s inability to produce competing large language models (LLMs) and advanced AI technology? While the United States 🇺🇸 and China 🇨🇳 lead the AI frontier, Europe’s approach feels like a protective barrier—one that ironically expands regulatory bureaucracy rather than creating real value. 🔍 In aiming to safeguard its interests, the EU may be endangering the technological skills and competitive edge of its own member states. This impact is especially profound for smaller nations like Luxembourg 🇱🇺, a country that often serves as a micro-laboratory for EU regulations. For Luxembourg, AI is not merely an option but a necessity to stay relevant in the global arena. The finance industry, which relies on cutting-edge AI for data analysis and risk management, faces high compliance costs, threatening innovation. The stakes are equally high for Luxembourg’s startups 🚀, which drive economic diversity but are stifled by these costly over regulations. Even more pressing is the future of quantum technology. ⚗️ Luxembourg recently introduced the MeluXina-Q quantum computer, a key component of its broader digital strategy. With plans to scale from a 10-qubit to an 80-qubit quantum processing unit, Luxembourg aims to lead in data management, artificial intelligence, and quantum technologies. But we must ask: 🤔 Does this digital strategy stand at odds with the EU’s regulatory framework? If Europe continues on this path of stringent AI regulation, it risks stifling innovation rather than nurturing it. Instead of expanding bureaucracy, we must foster an environment that enables growth and global competitiveness. The cost of overregulation is high, not only for Europe’s economy but for its place in the technological world order. 🌍 🧠 Reflect on this: How can Europe balance the need for consumer protection with the demand for technological progress? Let us consider these questions carefully, as they will shape the future of European innovation. Stay tuned for more leadership insights and reflections. Be continued… #EUAI #Regulation #Innovation #QuantumComputing #EuropeanEconomy #AI #Leadership #Startups #DeepReflections #AI #Finance #FinancialStability #Innovation #Governance #Resilience #Undp #DigitalTransformation #FinTech #Regulation #Leadership #Finance #PRA #CFA #Ethics #Eu #Luxembourg

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Rafał Kruczkowski just got back from ProductCamp Berlin with insightful reflections on the current trends in product management. We've been discussing the MVP concept from Eric Ries in today's reality. Originally, the idea was to "use continuous innovation to create radically successful businesses". However, the challenge today isn’t just about creating something viable — it’s about making that viable product truly valuable and lovable for your customers. The shift from a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) to a Minimum Lovable Product (MLP) is crucial in today’s market. It’s no longer sufficient to have a functional product; you need to craft an experience that keeps customers coming back. In a landscape where creating apps has never been easier, achieving product-market fit remains the true challenge. Marissa Mayer $20M startup with just ~1,000 installs highlights this reality. It’s not about just building something; it’s about ensuring it fits the market perfectly from day one. Linear’s success further underscores this — today’s MVP must captivate, not just validate. So, what’s your take? In this hyper-competitive environment, how do we balance the ease of creation with the complexity of achieving market fit and user traction?

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Infografik: Overview Germin Fintech-Ecosystem by Payment & Banking

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Statements on yesterday’s crypto correction by Florian Wimmer Blockpit, Paul Klanschek Bitpanda & me 🦋 Validvent Article by Dominik Perlaki via media startup brutkasten (thx! 🥰) Full article here https://lnkd.in/drJnuJkQ 🇩🇪 Deepl summary of the brutkasten article: There is broad consensus in the scene that the current price slump had little to do with developments in the crypto sector itself. "Global fears of recession, weak US labour market data, Warren Buffet selling Apple shares on a massive scale, the risk of war spreading in the Middle East - these are the triggers of this crisis. It was different during the last crypto crash in November 2022, when the FTX crypto exchange scam was exposed and led to panic selling," Robby Schwertner, alias "Cryptorobby", analyses for brutkasten. Nevertheless, Blockpit founder Florian Wimmer tells brutkasten that there are also some crypto-specific developments that could affect the price: "The Mt Gox bitcoin will be distributed over time, Jump Capital will probably have to sell Ethereum reserves and the US government has also started to sell bitcoin," he says.[...] Nevertheless, Wimmer is clear: "The price drop on Monday was mainly triggered by the crash on the Japanese stock exchange." Bitpanda co-founder Paul Klanschek agrees: "There was a real panic. In these situations, this dynamic tends to spill over into the most volatile assets. Investors usually sell the assets with the highest potential volatility first, in this case many tech stocks, derivatives and cryptos," analyses the founder. For him, however, this has its place in the crypto market: "The willingness of the market to pay excess returns for risk-taking has to come from somewhere. Otherwise, tech stocks and cryptos would not perform so well on average." [...] Robby Schwertner also emphasises the overall performance: at yesterday's low point, Bitcoin was still up 80 per cent compared to August last year. "Bitcoin may be volatile, but price corrections no longer carry much weight due to the upward swings. Bitcoin is proving to be a safe haven in this crisis," says the expert. Although he notes: "In any case, the crypto market is going up the stairs and down the lift." [...] For Schwertner, one thing is clear: "I see the correction with a smile. You can buy BTC and cryptos more cheaply than ever." If the price falls even further, there could even be a "Bitcoin summer sale". brutkasten link: https://lnkd.in/drJnuJkQ

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Business angel statistics: How to come from 500 contacts to 5 deals a year.   Here is what it looks like from my perspective:   500 to 250: Not relevant Like many well-connected angels and VCs, I receive approximately 500 requests to meet through various channels yearly.   I have an Open-Door policy, where I try to meet all startups that fit my primary investment criteria (stage, company type, location, etc.). This results in meeting around one new startup a day for a brief introductory meeting. For example, I am having 13 online meetings today, as it’s one of my Open-Door days.   I politely decline meetings for the remaining contacts, as it would be a waste of their time. I’m not going to invest in a US Series C round of $50M or in a pre-seed round for a German restaurant chain, for example.   250 to 50: Not a good fit Most initial meetings don’t lead to further action, as there isn’t a good fit. This goes both ways and is just part of the process for both parties.   The startup might be looking for a different type of investor (VC?) or may have misunderstood my investment criteria.   I’m a pre-seed investor, which means there isn’t much data available in these early stages. Therefore, I mainly rely on gut feeling about whether the opportunity is exciting and if I believe these are the founders worth betting on.   It’s important to quickly say “not for me” to most opportunities, so nobody’s time is wasted.   50 to 20: Digging into the opportunity Most angels are not experts in the specific fields of the opportunities they evaluate, so even though we may initially be excited, we need to dig in and learn more.   Personally, I do this through two main sources:   1. My personal network. If you’re presenting software for industry X, I will consult someone in my network (ideally potential customers) and use their input to further validate the opportunity. 2. My business angel network. I’ve built an angel network that currently has 20 members. They possess a wealth of industry insight, and in most cases, we have experts in each field. Their opinions and potential co-investments matter greatly. Many opportunities fail in this process. Perhaps the solution isn’t unique, or the assumed problem doesn’t truly exist.   20 to 8: Due diligence Even if the opportunity seems promising from a market/problem/solution perspective, many things can still go wrong. I can’t list them all, but common issues include: Founder due diligence (reference checks) and ownership issues (messed-up cap table, dead equity) 8 to 5: I also lose deals Remember, selection goes both ways. Sometimes, I lose deals to other investors, either because they offer better terms or valuation, or simply because they are more attractive. For example, it’s hard to compete with Sequoia if they want to invest.

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"Code is Law? How our legal system must adapt to smart contracts and legal tech" was the topic of the 4th Blockchain Roundtable in the Bundestag with Federal Minister of Justice Dr. Marco Buschmann and Frank Schäffler. An exciting topic! IMHO: Smart contracts are just plain old computer code. The only difference from the current status quo of computer code is that the integrity of the "execution machine" on which this computer code runs is ensured by a blockchain/DLT network instead of a trusted third party. That's all! This means that the only responsibility that shifts here is ensuring the integrity of the "execution machine." The remaining responsibilities largely stay the same: software developers/maintainers, software deployers, software operators, etc. Moreover, there is no guarantee for error-free code, and the code is subject to change because the requirements for the code change. Additionally, every change represents a new potential for errors. Finally, I do not believe that legal agreements and laws can be completely encoded in computer code, and smart contracts face the same limitations. I assume, this is because agreements and laws are not entirely deterministic in the sense of a computer algorithm; they also contain elements that describe intent and allow for interpretation. Any PhD theses on this topic? cc Anjuli von Huelst, Johannes von Selle

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Investing in restaurant software sucks! So why did 20VC lead the Seed round for allO, the all-in-one software platform for ethnic restaurants!? 👉 Team - Cancan Liu, Teodor Rupi & Benedikt von Lewinski are absolute execution monsters. Deeply understand the customer segment they are servicing... so much so that they actually waited on tables for free to work closely alongside their customers 👉 Clear ICP - churn is big at the lower end of the restaurant market and so they target customer generating a min of €500k ARR, which is not the focus of incumbents and at much lower risk of churn and much higher expansion potential 👉 Product - they have released 450+ updates in the App Store in under 12 months. Their feature shipping velocity is insane 👉 Numbers - servicing 200+ locations in Munich, grown ARR and ARPU 10x and 4x respectively in the past 12 months Fun story, I spent time in Munich, door stopping 30+ restaurants pretending to be a restaurant owner setting up a new location in Munich - "I heard about this software called allO, do you think it's worth me looking into" - honestly, never seen so much customer (and waiter!) love for a software product like I did for allO ❤️ And check out the co-investors in the round - 20Growth, 20Product, Daniel Khachab, Claire Hughes Johnson, Mario Götze, Dr. Martin E. and many more. And a special shout out to Abdul Afridi for seeing their potential early and being a true champion on the inside! $5m Seed round LFG!

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Bank CTOs dread modifying their core banking systems. So, how can they best accommodate digital assets? The answer is Trever. We are thrilled to announce our investment in Trever, a most innovative Austrian company that will enable countless banks worldwide to offer digital assets to their customers without the need for risky, lengthy, and expensive transformation projects. Trever acts as a Digital Asset Operating System, bridging the gap between traditional banking and the fast-evolving digital asset ecosystem. It ensures seamless compatibility with legacy systems, allowing banks to connect to multiple trading venues and custody partners, guaranteeing competitive pricing across all trading centers. We firmly believe that, just as the rise of e-commerce was inevitable with the advent of the internet, the future financial systems will be fundamentally based on blockchain technology. And Trever has the right software to make this happen. Together with our wonderful co-investors—Krzysztof Bialkowski and Krisztián Gyepes Gyepes from TX Ventures, Jacek Łubiński from Market One Capital, and Alex von Frankenberg—we had our kick-off workshop last week in Graz, Austria. Congratulations to Hans-Juergen Griesbacher, Benjamin Rath, Marcel Schreiber, Thomas Langbein, and the entire Trever team for your incredible achievements and the exciting milestones ahead. We are delighted to join you on this journey and promise to do our part to make Trever the go-to digital assets platform for banks that want to integrate the future into their IT systems. By the way, if you are wondering, the name comes from “Tr(ading cl)ever.” Once you remember this, you will never misspell the company name again! Go Trever! #trever #digitalassets #fintech #blockchainfounderscapital #blockchain #venturecapital #austria #graz #crypto

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