The Connector.

What The Connector. does

The Connector. (legally The Connector BV) is a Belgium-based, founder-operated curation business that organises bespoke innovation meetings, peer forums, and roundtables connecting selected fintech innovators with financial institutions across Europe, the UK, and Asia. Founded in 2022 and headquartered in Kessel-lo (Leuven) with a second office in Vilnius, Lithuania opened in October 2025, the firm serves retail banks, private banks, wealth managers, insurers, payment service providers, eMoney/VASP/CASP entities, central securities depositories, exchanges, market makers, and central banks. The founders — Koen Vanderhoydonk (CEO) and Sean Murphy (COO) — position the offering as "innovation brought to the team," with no standing agenda, no pitch loop, and no obligation on the institution to take conversations further.

There is no proprietary software platform, API, or mobile product; the core technology is human-delivered editorial curation backed by a podcast distributed on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and Player.fm, and a sister publication, FinanceX Magazine. The company does not disclose any AI/ML capability, patents, or proprietary data assets. The offering is structured as a free 60-minute discovery call, followed by quote-based innovation meetings (one hour to half a day), peer forums (per session, no sponsors in the room), and sponsored roundtables (partners fund the gathering; curation governed separately). Marketing is content-led and event-driven, with official media-partner status at Money20/20 Asia, Singapore FinTech Festival 2025, Warsaw Finance Week 2025, Tokenize: LDN 2025, and Hong Kong FinTech Week x StartmeupHK Festival 2025.

The revenue model is three-stream and bespoke: (1) sponsored formats such as roundtables, where partners cover the cost of bringing participants together; (2) sales commissions when innovators introduced via the meetings close business with financial institutions; and (3) deeper advisory or execution support for institutions when relationships warrant it. No revenue, ARR, or contract value is disclosed; no external funding is recorded. Distribution is direct-to-institution only — no self-serve, channel, or partner-led sales motion. GTM is enterprise field-sales, event-led, with the founders and named advisors (David Haynes in Asia, Janet Chenery, Alessandra Guion-Gambrill) acting as the primary relationship surface, supported by a 500+ fintech interview back-catalogue built through FinanceX Magazine and the podcast.

Name

The Connector.

Legal name

The Connector BV

Website

https://jointheconnector.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Belgium-based curation business organising bespoke innovation meetings, peer forums, and roundtables connecting selected fintech innovators with financial institutions across Europe, the UK, and Asia. A human-delivered editorial matchmaking service supported by FinanceX Magazine and a podcast, with no proprietary software platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Financial Services Innovation Curation & Advisory

NAICS

Miscellaneous Intermediation (523910)

SIC

Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)

akta.pro primary industry

Fintech & Payments Partner / ISO Referral Networks (FSAEAMAK)

Keywords

• Fintech innovation curation
• Financial institution consulting
• Vendor discovery services
• Peer benchmarking forums
• Regulatory compliance matchmaking

Headquarters

HQ city

Leuven

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Roundtable Sponsorship: Partners cover the cost of bringing the right people together in sponsored roundtable formats. Curation is governed independently of any commercial relationship.
2. Sales Commissions: Commissions earned when innovators introduced through innovation meetings close business with financial institutions.
3. Advisory and Execution Support: Deeper advisory or execution support for financial institutions when relationships warrant it. Scoped per institution with no standard package.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Connector. is a curated innovation discovery service that introduces selected fintech innovators to financial institution teams through structured, editorial-format innovation meetings. It runs Peer Forums (closed, sponsor-free peer exchanges across markets) and sponsored Roundtables around defined themes, with no buying obligation placed on the institution. The company complements these services with a podcast and the sister publication FinanceX Magazine.

Product overview

The Connector is a curated innovation platform for financial institutions, offering a portfolio of human-delivered services centered around innovation discovery and peer learning. The core offering is the Discovery Innovation Meeting, where curated fintech innovators are introduced to financial institution teams in a structured editorial format. This is supported by the Peer Forum (closed peer-to-peer exchange) and Roundtable (sponsored themed gatherings). The company also produces a Podcast and partners with FinanceX Magazine (a sister publication) as an editorial content channel. The portfolio is unified by its focus on curated, obligation-free innovation exposure for financial institutions under delivery pressure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FinanceX Magazine: Editorial home for innovators and enablers across European financial services; a sister publication covering payments, regtech, wealthtech and adjacent themes.

Products and services

• Innovation Meeting (Discovery Innovation Meeting) A curated, editorial-format innovation session where The Connector selects a handful of fintech innovators on merit and maps them to a financial institution's stated priorities (e.g., payments rails, data infrastructure, agentic AI in compliance, embedded wealth, regulatory compliance, open banking, fraud prevention, cybersecurity). Sessions are sized for senior team calendars and run at the institution's offices but mostly virtually. Targeted at innovation offices, strategy & transformation teams, product management, compliance, and CEO/COO/CIO offices of retail banks, digital banks, private banks, insurers, wealth managers, PSPs, payment providers, exchanges, and other financial institutions.
• Peer Forum A closed peer-to-peer forum in which comparable financial institutions share insights and experiences with no sponsors present in the room. Composition is cross-market by design to ensure non-conflict and cross-regime comparison. Time commitment per forum is published in advance. Targeted at innovation, strategy, transformation, product, and compliance leaders across European, UK, and Asian financial institutions.
• Roundtable A sponsored roundtable organised around a defined theme in which partners (typically fintechs or ecosystem sponsors) cover the cost of bringing the right financial institution participants together. Curation and conclusions are governed independently of any commercial relationship with sponsors. Targeted at financial institutions and ecosystem partners seeking a themed, multi-party gathering.
• The Connector. Podcast A podcast featuring interviews with fintech founders and industry leaders discussing financial innovation, payments, regtech, and wealthtech topics. Distributed via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and Player.fm. Used as a content channel to build editorial credibility and reach across the fintech ecosystem.
• FinanceX Magazine Sister publication covering payments, regtech, wealthtech and adjacent themes across European financial services. Functions as the editorial home for innovators and enablers, providing editorial credibility and reach that complements The Connector's curation services. Co-founded by The Connector's founders.
• Advisory and Execution Support Deeper advisory or execution support for financial institutions beyond innovation meetings, scoped per institution with no standard package or list price. Engagements are bespoke and follow-on from innovation meetings or peer forums where the relationship warrants deeper involvement.

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FinanceX MagazinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinanceX Magazine is the sister publication of The Connector, serving as the editorial home for innovators and enablers across European financial services. The Connector's founders (Koen Vanderhoydonk and Sean Murphy) co-founded FinanceX Magazine. Editorial independence and curation standards are maintained separately from The Connector's commercial operations.
• ClausematchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPress release announces Clausematch partnering with The Connector to expand reach of compliance solution. Clausematch is a compliance technology provider seeking expanded market reach through The Connector's financial institution network.
• APIX PlatformminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPIX is an initiative backed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. The Connector has participated in APIX-hosted events (Tech@venture Singapore) and co-hosted sessions at Singapore FinTech Festival. APIX provides a platform for fintech-banking collaboration that aligns with The Connector's mission.
• AQRiskminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Connector has been doing business with AQRisk and supports connecting Northern European banks with AQRisk's quantitative risk and profitability optimization solutions. AQRisk serves 1,000+ of roughly 5,000+ financial institutions across Europe.
• Money20/20minorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial media partner for Money20/20 Asia. The Connector attends and covers Money20/20 events in Asia and Europe. Provides editorial coverage and audience reach for both parties.
• Singapore FinTech FestivalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial media partner for Singapore FinTech Festival 2025. The Connector's team (Koen Vanderhoydonk, Sean Murphy, David Haynes) attend and cover the event, connecting with global fintech leaders. One of the world's largest fintech events.
• Warsaw Finance Week 2025minorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial media partner for Warsaw Finance Week 2025, organized by FinTech Poland and Future Finance Poland. Extends The Connector's reach into the Polish and Eastern European fintech ecosystem.
• Tokenize: LDN 2025minorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial media partner for Tokenize: LDN 2025, co-located with FinTech Connect. Focuses on blockchain, web3, and real-world asset tokenisation. The Connector's team (Sean Murphy, Janet Chenery) attend.
• Hong Kong FinTech Week x StartmeupHK FestivalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial media partner for Hong Kong FinTech Week x StartmeupHK Festival 2025. Extends The Connector's editorial reach into the Asia-Pacific fintech ecosystem.
• VeracityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVeracity is a UK-based cybersecurity company (AI-powered bot detection) that is a client of The Connector. Founded in 2016. The Connector supports Veracity's mission to expand reach within financial institutions.
• AkkurominorGTM or Marketing PartnerAkkuro is a composable banking platform by Topicus (part of Constellation Software Inc.) and is a client of The Connector. The Connector supports Akkuro's market expansion to financial institutions across Europe.
• ContentifaiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerContentifai is a B2B content marketing company (human-led, AI-enhanced) that is a client of The Connector. The Connector supports Contentifai's growth through its fintech network.
• David HaynesminorOthersDavid Haynes serves as Asia Advisor to The Connector. Attends Regulation Asia Awards, Singapore FinTech Festival, and other Asia-Pacific events on behalf of The Connector.
• Alessandra Guion-GambrillminorOthersAlessandra Guion-Gambrill serves as an Advisor to The Connector. Attended Warsaw Finance Week 2025 and spoke on the panel about European digital finance.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Anthemis: Venture builder and advisory platform investing in and connecting financial infrastructure startups with incumbents; provides a fintech-to-bank matching function like The Connector, but through investment and operating support rather than pure curation.

Direct peers

• 11:FS: UK-based fintech research, advisory, and media firm that advises banks on innovation, produces podcasts and reports, and runs innovation programs for institutions — the closest competitor to The Connector in combining advisory + editorial + fintech-to-bank introductions.
• Finextra: Independent financial industry news and community site combining editorial coverage with member-only discussion forums and event participation — same trusted-editorial-plus-community model for the same bank and fintech audience.
• The Fintech Times: Independent fintech editorial outlet producing ongoing news, special reports, and events — analogous community-building role targeting the same fintech-and-institution readership that The Connector curates for.
• Tearsheet: Financial services newsroom and community producing editorial, podcasts, and proprietary research aimed at decision-makers in retail banking and fintech — a similar trusted-editorial niche targeting senior bank executives.
• Banking Scene: Events and editorial community serving retail and digital banking practitioners across Europe; The Connector is an official media partner, evidencing direct audience and brand overlap with bank innovation functions.

Others

• CB Insights: Market intelligence platform delivering fintech research, market maps, and buyer insights to enterprise financial clients — comparable as a fintech-scout-for-banks intelligence source, though data-led rather than human-curated.

Broad incumbents

• Efma: Pan-European financial services association facilitating knowledge exchange and innovation among banks and insurers via reports, events, and working groups; overlapping audience but cooperative-association rather than private curation model.
• Capco: Global management and technology consultancy serving banks and insurers on digital transformation and vendor selection; broader transformation scope, but reaches the same enterprise buyer evaluating fintech innovation.
• Money20/20: Largest global fintech event series; The Connector is an official media partner, making it a peer in audience and brand positioning even though Money20/20 is an event incumbent rather than a curation intermediary.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jointheconnector

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Connector.