Finshape acquires majority ownership in one of Central Europe’s leading innovation agencies, Direct People

By: Trademagazin Date: 2024. 09. 26. 10:30

Finshape, the leading international provider of digital banking solutions, acquires majority ownership in Direct People, one of Central Europe’s oldest innovation agencies based in the Czech Republic, Finshape’s management announced. This acquisition is Finshape’s first acquisition since the company was created in 2021 from the merger of the Hungarian W.UP and the Czech BSC with the support of PortfoLion Capital Partners belonging to the OTP Group. The purpose of the acquisition is to further strengthen Finshape’s digital innovation capability for its international banking clients with a broader value proposition.

Direct People is one of the oldest innovation agencies in Central and Eastern Europe, which has supported the innovation processes of hundreds of companies with its design-oriented consulting services over the past decade and a half. Its main mission is to help companies from a wide variety of business areas define and introduce new digital products and services. Thanks to the knowledge accumulated at Direct People, Finshape’s goal is to further strengthen its existing artificial intelligence capabilities, which are essential for the most modern banking developments, and to support its clients in rethinking their digital systems with an even broader and deeper consulting experience.

“This acquisition enables us to enter the banks’ innovation processes at an even earlier stage than before, even when developing the innovation or product strategy, and together we find the ideal solution to serve the constantly changing needs of bank customers. Finshape’s digital banking experience, supplemented by Direct People’s design-based thinking, will guarantee an even better banking experience for the customers of financial institutions.”

– emphasized József Nyíri, Finshape’s head of growth.