Episode 127
What Makes or Breaks a Startup: An Investor’s POV – Fintech Garden
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Episode 127: Michele Mattei: Fintech Funding, Product Ownership, and the 2% Future of Finance
In this episode, host Igor Tomych sits down with Michele Mattei, Product Owner at Bunq and investor at Syeew, to uncover what makes fintech startups stand out to investors, and how product thinking can redefine funding strategies. With a background in mergers and acquisitions and years of experience across Europe’s banking and fintech scene, Michele brings a dual perspective: that of a builder and a backer.
Key Insights from the Conversation #
- From M&A to Fintech: Michele’s journey from corporate finance to fintech product management gave him a front-row seat to the industry’s evolution, and a deeper understanding of what separates successful startups from the rest.
- The Product Owner’s Edge: Unlike traditional investors focused on numbers, Michele approaches investments through a product lens. For him, innovation, usability, and scalability matter just as much as financial returns.
- Funding Without Funds: With today’s tools and AI capabilities, Michele argues that founders can build meaningful MVPs without large sums of early-stage capital; technology itself can now replace early funding rounds.
- Smart Spending: The first budget priority is the product itself, but once built, founders must focus on positioning and user acquisition. “If people aren’t trying your product, it doesn’t exist,” Michele notes.
- Navigating Regulations: From licenses to compliance, every fintech must find its own path. For cross-border payments, for example, Michele highlights how stablecoins open new doors for cost-efficient, compliant solutions.
- The Art of Physical Products: In a world obsessed with digitalization, Michele admires fintechs that bring creativity back into tangible financial experiences, proof that innovation doesn’t always mean virtual.
- Luck and Lessons: His first investment success came almost by chance, but it showed him how serendipity, backed by insight and curiosity, can open new chapters in angel investing.
The State and Future of Fintech #
Michele believes fintech is still in its early innings. Despite the rise of stablecoins, AI, and new models of finance, the space remains only “2% done.” Every new regulation, technology, and idea opens further room for innovation, collaboration, and investment.
Why Listen #
This episode is a must for fintech founders navigating the complex funding landscape. Michele Mattei blends investor insight with the technical rigor of a product owner, revealing how founders can fund smarter, spend wiser, and build stronger.
If you’re seeking to understand when, how, and whether to raise capital, or how to leverage today’s tech to do more with less, this conversation offers a grounded, insider perspective on the future of fintech.
Guest Appearing in this Episode
Michele Mattei
Fintech expert | Manager | Investor | Advisor
Investor, manager, fintech expert, and advisor. Сollaborate with many incubators and accelerators all over Europe as a mentor, as well as an advisor with many VCs with a strong focus on the fintech vertical and angel investor with already one exit. Currently Product Owner at bunq, responsible for payments and international expansion. Formerly senior product manager at Qwist (part of Finleap) and product manager at Aruba Group SpA. Relevant previous experiences in Corporate Finance and M&A, during my time at KPMG and Accenture, had the opportunity to work in Italy, England, and Spain. Study abroad program in Business Management and Corporate Finance at Yonsei University in Seoul, with a final GPA of 3.49/4.0. Master's Degree in Management and Business Administration at Luiss Guido Carli University, Rome, with a final grade of 110/110 cum laude and academic mention for thesis: "M&A and technology performance: an empirical survey about the direct influence from the acquisition strategy".
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