FinTech Magazine - February 2023 | Page 20

FIVE MINUTES WITH ...

Daumantas Dvilinskas

The CEO of international payments business TransferGo has first-hand experience of how difficult cross-border transactions can be . He ’ s used that knowledge to his advantage
Q . DESCRIBE YOUR JOURNEY INTO FINTECH . HOW DID YOU GET HERE ?

» Before starting TransferGo , I was running an import-export business , and making payments internationally was a challenging undertaking . I realised that the system was stacked in favour of traditional financial institutions , and I thought that it was ripe for disruption . The more I researched , the more I was convinced that there was a sizable opportunity for a fintech to offer fast , low-cost and convenient international payments .

Q . WHO WAS YOUR CHILDHOOD HERO AND WHY ?

» Ever since I was young , I have admired Steve Jobs . He had a unique ability to make the future , and all the innovation it may bring , feel as though it ’ s within easy reach . When he spoke , he could transport an audience into a new and exciting world that is not yet here . It ’ s such a rare skill but it ’ s a critical trait for any ambitious entrepreneur who wants to bring their customers along with them on their journey .

Q . WHAT ' S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU ’ VE EVER RECEIVED ?

» I was once told that people often overestimate the ups and downs in business , and over time , I ’ ve come to realise that it ’ s true . The highs are never quite what you imagine , while the lows do not have to indicate the end of the world . That means that leaders should seek to take more risks , especially during the early stages of a business , embrace

“ In business , the highs are never quite what you imagine while the lows do not have to be the end of the world ”

20 February 2023