Introduction from The Bancorp I am sure anyone currently operating or looking to operate in the FinTech space – specifically in PayTech – will enjoy the key findings of this EPA Whitepaper, “Investment in PayTech: A study of investments in payment technology companies.” For European Senior Executives, the study contains some great insight into the challenges and opportunities involved with funding, an analysis of the investment trends currently being witnessed, as well as an assessment of the business and investor lifecycles currently anticipated in this exciting and accelerating sector. As one who has been involved in financial services for nearly 20 years, it’s clear to me that we are currently witnessing a speed of evolution in payments that is unprecedented. This is truly a fantastic opportunity for the companies and individuals who have compelling use cases and solutions that businesses and end-user consumers can adopt. The Bancorp is pleased to have taken a leadership role in the development of this EPA Whitepaper as we believe that the PayTech market will continue to witness significant growth, particularly in the two key markets of our involvement – the US and the UK. With PayTech companies now representing more than 40% (and growing) of the space in FinTech, it clearly is THE sector of the moment, further evidenced by the increasing rate of investor interest. It is our pleasure to support the Emerging Payments Association and their ongoing commitment to PayTech. Dedicated to setting a new standard in financial services innovation, The Bancorp is proud to support the EPA and the PayTech industry in their continuing efforts to create disruptive, customised finance solutions for partners, ranging from entrepreneurial start-ups to those on recognised global indices. Kriya Patel European Managing Director, The Bancorp An advisory board member of the Emerging Payments Association, Kriya Patel has served as European Managing Director for The Bancorp since 2010. Prior to joining The Bancorp, Kriya was Chief Operating Officer for Newcastle Card Solutions from 2008 to 2010, founding the very successful Newcastle Building Society prepaid cards subsidiary, which became the largest prepaid Issuer of MasterCard prepaid in Europe and fifth largest globally. He also served previously as Managing Director for Newcastle Mortgage Services and Newton Facilities Management Ltd, in addition to IT and project management roles for Newcastle Strategic Solutions Ltd. Kriya holds a diploma in Management Development from Northumbria University and a BSc in Business Information Systems from Sheffield Hallam University, as well as qualifications in ITIL, Business Systems Analysis, and Software Testing. EPA WHITE PAPER, PAYTECH INVESTMENTS, COPYRIGHT © MAY 2016 3