The VCXO Briefing with Lucile Cornet, Eight Roads Ventures

The VCXO Briefing is a crisp, data-driven summary of European FinTech, combined with insights from leading investors and acquirers, offering "VC thinking for CXOs". Learn about what VCs are investing in and why, what to expect in the months ahead, what’s on their bookshelves etc.
Enjoy the conversations, and subscribe here to get the Briefing (complimentary for financial institutions and VC / PE professionals.)
Enjoy the conversations, and subscribe here to get the Briefing (complimentary for financial institutions and VC / PE professionals.)
26.06.2017
1. Tell us a bit about yourself and your focus area(s) within FinTech?
I am a late stage venture investor at Eight Roads Ventures (series B, C and +) and have been following the fintech sector for more than 6 years now (when it was not even called Fintech I find incredibly exciting to see how many more areas of financial services and insurance are being disrupted by technology and AI. Some people call Fintech a bubble, but I personally think that we’re only at the beginning.
2. What are your key takeaways from the last 3 years in the European FinTech space?
- We are starting to see an increasing number of very sizeable acquisitions of Fintech companies by established institutions (Compte Nickel acquisition by BNP in France)
- It is also clear that Europe (and Asia in some respects) is at the forefront of Fintech innovation, as opposed to the US, which is obviously a great opportunity for entrepreneurs but also for European corporates who want to partner with start-ups
3. What trends or opportunities should we watch out for in the next 6-18 months?
Next-gen/ mobile-first banking will continue to be a very active space, with a number of emerging players addressing distinct customers: SME banking, kids, freelancers, etc. Fraud, authentication and KYC will see a new wave of innovation with technologies such as machine learning and continuous authentication
1. Tell us a bit about yourself and your focus area(s) within FinTech?
I am a late stage venture investor at Eight Roads Ventures (series B, C and +) and have been following the fintech sector for more than 6 years now (when it was not even called Fintech I find incredibly exciting to see how many more areas of financial services and insurance are being disrupted by technology and AI. Some people call Fintech a bubble, but I personally think that we’re only at the beginning.
2. What are your key takeaways from the last 3 years in the European FinTech space?
- We are starting to see an increasing number of very sizeable acquisitions of Fintech companies by established institutions (Compte Nickel acquisition by BNP in France)
- It is also clear that Europe (and Asia in some respects) is at the forefront of Fintech innovation, as opposed to the US, which is obviously a great opportunity for entrepreneurs but also for European corporates who want to partner with start-ups
3. What trends or opportunities should we watch out for in the next 6-18 months?
Next-gen/ mobile-first banking will continue to be a very active space, with a number of emerging players addressing distinct customers: SME banking, kids, freelancers, etc. Fraud, authentication and KYC will see a new wave of innovation with technologies such as machine learning and continuous authentication