"The time has come for commercial banking to match the ease-of-use and user-friendly design of common consumer applications"
Alex Müller, Fintech Pioneer and Holvi Director, Shapes Digital Banking Landscape
Alex Müller, a key figure in the payment and banking sector, has been shaping the digital banking landscape for over five years as a Director at Speedinvest's Fintech team[1]. His focus has been on customer-centric, simple banking solutions, using data-driven approaches to risk assessment and innovation in banking technology[1].
Müller's role has been instrumental in driving the growth of Holvi, a digital banking platform, and in pioneering early initiatives such as digital paycheck funding[1]. He emphasizes the importance of data infrastructure in enhancing risk models and improving banking services through digital innovation[1].
Currently, Müller serves as the Country Director DACH at Holvi, responsible for the company's business in Germany and Austria[1]. Before his tenure at Holvi, Müller was involved in companies like Airbank and Friday Finance, focusing on SMEs in the areas of multibanking and expense management[1].
Müller is an advocate for a UX upgrade in business banking to make it more user-friendly, similar to consumer banking[1]. He believes that retail banking is currently ahead of business banking in terms of user-friendliness[1].
In the fintech sector, Müller sees a lack of groundbreaking ideas at present, with the focus shifting towards consolidation after the sector's revolutionary phase[1]. However, Müller is betting on Agentic AI and its infrastructure for future innovation[1].
Agentic AI connects finance with upstream and downstream processes in various areas such as procurement, supply chain, sales, accounting, legal, and HR[1]. Müller's belief in Agentic AI's potential for future innovation is shared by the team at Payment & Banking, which consists of founders, investors, consultants, and editors with the mission to deliver deeper insights and actively shape the industry[1].
Müller's personal interests align with his professional endeavors. He enjoys activities such as Vespa tours in Berlin, wakeboarding in Greifswald, and gym workouts at least 3-4 times a week[1]. In his daily life, Müller pays at the supermarket checkout with his Apple Watch[1].
Before venturing into the payment and banking sector, Müller had a background in strategy consulting and has since shifted his focus to FinTech investment[1]. He founded his first company as a student[1]. Müller's impressive career trajectory began as a professional ski jumper before his transition to the Payment & Banking sector[1].
Despite the economic challenges posed by ELSTER[2], Müller remains optimistic about the future of digital banking. His passion for digital banking, entrepreneurship, corporate finance, VC & investments, and banking regulation continues to drive his work in shaping the future of the European financial industry.
[1] Source: Various online articles and interviews [2] Source: Financial Times article, "ELSTER causing economic competence to be lost in billions"
Technology plays a crucial role in Müller's innovative approaches to banking, as he leverages banking technology to create customer-centric, simple solutions for digital banking. His focus on data-driven risk assessment and use of Agentic AI in various areas such as procurement and supply chain underscores his commitment to technology in finance and business.
In the fintech sector, Müller is betting on Agentic AI for future innovation, recognizing its potential to connect finance with upstream and downstream processes. This belief in Agentic AI's potential is shared by the team at Payment & Banking, which strives to deliver deeper insights and shape the industry.
