Lipis Advisors
Lipis Advisors is a Berlin-based boutique consulting firm founded in 2007 that advises banks, payment system operators, regulators, and fintechs on payment system design, modernization, and market entry across more than 60 global markets, supported by a proprietary payment systems database.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersBerlin, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Lipis Advisors does
Lipis Advisors GmbH is a privately held, founder-led boutique management consulting firm headquartered in Berlin, Germany, founded in 2007 by Leo Lipis. The firm specializes in payment system design and modernization, providing strategic consulting to banks, payment system operators, regulators and central banks, and fintechs across more than 60 markets in the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Its team is built around deep payments industry expertise, with over 50 years of combined experience spread across consultants drawn from 9 countries and speaking 11 languages.
The firm's core technology stack is centered on two proprietary assets: the Global Payment Systems Database (GPSA), which tracks more than 100 payment systems with detailed trend data on real-time payments and payment convergence, and the Payment Systems Scorecard framework used for comparative assessment across markets. Around these assets, the firm delivers a portfolio of consulting services including market and competitive analysis, technology and vendor selection, payment system design and modernization, product and market entry strategy, regulatory intelligence, profitability and cost benchmarking, fraud prevention and detection, expert testimony, and M&A support for strategic and financial investors.
Commercially, Lipis Advisors operates a sales-led, relationship-driven go-to-market anchored in thought leadership. Revenue is generated primarily through fee-based strategic consulting engagements, supplemented by sponsored white papers co-authored with industry partners such as ACI Worldwide, Ripple, Volante Technologies, Crunchfish, US Faster Payments Council, Finastra, and TietoEVRY. The firm markets through content (blog, white papers), industry conferences (NACHA Smarter Faster Payments, EACHA Payments Forum, Seamless Europe), webinars and podcasts, and leads the curriculum of the Euro Banking Association's Summer and Winter Schools. Pricing is quote-based on individual engagements, with no public price list disclosed.
Lipis Advisors firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lipis Advisors
- Legal name
- Lipis Advisors GmbH
- Website
- https://lipisadvisors.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Lipis Advisors is a Berlin-based boutique consulting firm founded in 2007 that advises banks, payment system operators, regulators, and fintechs on payment system design, modernization, and market entry across more than 60 global markets, supported by a proprietary payment systems database.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lipis Advisors industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Payment Systems Consulting
- NAICS
- Management Consulting Services (54161), Other Management Consulting Services (541618)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corporate Strategy Advisory (BPAHADAA)
Keywords
Where Lipis Advisors is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berlin
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Lipis Advisors business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Strategic Consulting Services: Fee-based consulting engagements providing payment system strategy, research, education, and operational support to payment industry players including banks, payment system operators, regulators, and fintechs
- Sponsored White Papers: Co-authored white papers with industry partners (such as Crunchfish, ACI Worldwide, Volante Technologies, Ripple) where partners sponsor the research and Lipis Advisors provides expertise and authorship
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Lipis Advisors product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lipis Advisors is a boutique management consulting firm providing strategic advisory services for the global payments industry. Its core offerings include market and competitive analysis, payment system design and modernization, technology and vendor selection, regulatory intelligence, fraud prevention and detection, product and market entry strategy, M&A and bid support, operational support, and bespoke lectures, workshops, and webinars. Services are delivered by senior consultants with deep domain expertise, leveraging the firm's proprietary Global Payment Systems Database and Payment Systems Scorecard.
Product overview
Lipis Advisors is a payment systems consulting firm offering a portfolio of strategic advisory services rather than a unified software product. Their core consulting services include market and competitive analysis, technology and vendor selection, payment system design and modernization, product and market entry strategy, regulatory intelligence, fraud prevention and detection, and operational support. These services are delivered through expert consultants with deep payments industry experience. In addition to consulting, the firm produces research publications and white papers—either independently or in partnership with industry players including Crunchfish, ACI Worldwide, Volante Technologies, Ripple, Digital Euro Association, and Finastra—covering topics such as offline payments, instant payments, CBDCs, ISO 20022 migration, and directory models.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Market and Competitive Analysis Qualitative and quantitative research engagements that evaluate the potential of new and existing payment services, technologies, and companies for payment industry clients.
- Technology and Vendor Selection Identification and assessment of strategic partners or potential acquisition targets to support payment processing diversification for clients.
- Payment System Design and Modernization Design and development of services in domestic and international payment systems, including platform design and business model development to enable future growth.
- Product and Market Entry Strategy Collaborative development of innovative payment products and strategic preparation for market entry, including localization and go-to-market planning.
- Regulatory Intelligence Advisory helping regulators support competition and ensure equitable access to payment systems, and helping payment providers stay compliant with regulations such as PSD2 and PSD3.
- Profitability and Cost Benchmarking Operational efficiency evaluations with benchmarking exercises assessing transaction cost and service functionality across payment system types.
- Expert Testimony Expert witness and consulting services for legal cases including patent novelty assessments and expert testimony in payment fraud lawsuits.
- Lectures, Workshops, and Webinars Customized training and educational seminars on payment topics for companies, associations, and public authorities delivered in English and German.
- Faster Payment Services Advisory Support for clients joining specific payment schemes or systems, helping develop payment services that are operationally sound and regulation-compliant.
- Fraud Prevention and Detection Advisory Advisory services on preventing or resolving fraud and scams using deep knowledge of international payment systems, with measures aimed at minimizing consumer harm.
- Country and Topic Specific Payments Research In-depth research engagements drawing on the Global Payment Systems Database covering more than 100 payment systems and trends such as real-time payments.
- Compliance Support Framework for evaluating and mitigating substantial risks, with documentation for internal use and regulatory presentations.
- M&A Support Advisory for strategic and financial investors evaluating acquisition targets, market positioning, and future potential in the payments space.
- Operational Support Improvement of international payment operations through increased efficiency, cost optimization, and risk mitigation.
- Bid Support Drafting compelling bids for major RFPs for payment providers.
- Fintech Integration Advisory Overview of fintech tools and providers relevant to specific markets, helping align fintech offerings with financial sector partners or government-based FinHubs.
- Sponsored Research Publications and White Papers Co-authored white papers and report series developed with industry partners (such as ACI Worldwide, Volante Technologies, Crunchfish, Ripple, Digital Euro Association, Finastra, US Faster Payments Council, TietoEVRY, CMA Small Systems, Hedera, and Prosperus) covering offline payments, ISO 20022 migration, instant payments in Europe, CBDCs, real-time payment adoption, directory models, RTGS modernization, and stablecoins.
Quantifiable outcome
- Successfully supported clients in payment system modernization across multiple continents
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Lipis Advisors
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Lipis Advisors technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Lipis Advisors partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Crunchfish ABcoreCo-authored a six-part white paper series titled 'Enabling Offline Payments in an Online World' covering security, scalability, interoperability, and privacy considerations for offline payment systems. Lipis Advisors provided research and analysis while Crunchfish sponsored and contributed industry expertise.
- ACI WorldwidecoreCo-authored white paper 'Creating Value from ISO 20022 Migration' exploring the benefits and strategies banks can leverage for innovation and growth through ISO 20022 adoption.
- Volante TechnologiescoreCo-authored white paper 'Outlook for Instant Payments in Europe' detailing the implications of the European Commission's proposed instant payments regulation for Payment Service Providers.
- Digital Euro AssociationminorCo-authored white paper 'The Future of Machine Money: Opportunities for Stablecoins in Europe' examining stablecoin potential in the machine-to-machine economy.
- HederaminorPartnered on CBDC report series examining technology and design issues related to CBDC implementation.
- ProsperusminorPartnered on CBDC report series providing practical guidance on CBDC design and implementation.
- RipplecorePartnered on a three-part report series 'Decoding CBDC' providing practical guidance on CBDC design and implementation. Presented by Currency Research and Lipis Advisors.
- US Faster Payments CouncilcoreLed research for 'International Best Practices in Directory Models' report, comparing directory overlays to faster payment systems across the globe including Pix, UPI, Bizum, and Interac.
- CMA Small SystemsminorCollaborated on 'Imagining the Future of RTGS Systems' providing insights into new functionalities central banks should consider for RTGS modernization.
- TietoEVRYminorSponsored white paper 'Accelerating Real-Time Payment Adoption' providing comprehensive analysis of use-cases and real-world examples leading real-time payment adoption.
- FinastraminorSponsored white paper 'The Future of Payments in South Africa' tracking how modernization efforts in South Africa and SADC are affecting payments technology.
- ACI WorldwidecoreCo-authored 'Get More from Real-Time' examining the implications of real-time payments and open banking convergence.
- Euro Banking Association (EBA)coreLipis Advisors chairs the faculty and leads the delivery of the Euro Banking Association's Summer and Winter Schools. The biannual programs are attended by payments professionals seeking insights into business, technology, and regulatory developments impacting European payments.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Lipis Advisors competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Icon Solutions: UK-based payments consultancy and software firm behind the IPF (Immediate Payments Framework) for instant payment modernization. Comparable payments focus with an emerging software product angle that complements Lipis's pure advisory model.
Direct peers
- Flagship Advisory Partners: Independent boutique consultancy providing strategic advice across payments, transaction banking, and capital markets infrastructure. Comparable boutique positioning serving banks, operators, and investors with overlapping modernization and strategy mandates.
- Innopay: Amsterdam-based boutique consultancy specializing in payments, digital identity, and open banking. Comparable boutique profile, similar customer base (banks, regulators, fintechs), and overlapping modernization advisory offering.
- Aite-Novarica Group: Research and advisory firm focused exclusively on financial services, with a strong payments, banking, and fraud practice. Competes with Lipis for advisory mandates and thought-leadership audience among banks, processors, and vendors.
- Glenbrook Partners: US-based payments-focused consulting firm offering strategy, research, and education services to financial institutions, networks, and fintechs. Highly comparable in business model, focus, and customer segments to Lipis Advisors.
- Edgar, Dunn & Company: San Francisco-based boutique payments consultancy offering strategy, benchmarking, and modernization advisory to banks, processors, and fintechs globally. Closest comparable to Lipis Advisors in both scope (payments-specialist) and scale (small boutique with deep domain focus).
Broad incumbents
- McKinsey & Company (Payments Practice): Global management consulting firm with a dedicated payments and transaction banking practice. Competes with Lipis for top-tier bank and central bank mandates, with vastly greater bench size and preferred-vendor status at large institutions.
- BCG (Payments Practice): Global management consulting firm with an active payments and fintech advisory practice. Competes with Lipis for bank and processor strategy engagements, with broader transformation capabilities and a global delivery network.
- Accenture (Payments Practice): Global professional services firm with a large payments, banking, and capital markets practice spanning strategy through implementation. Overlaps with Lipis on strategy/assessment work and dominates the larger transformation mandates.
Regional players
- NETinfo: Cyprus-headquartered payments and digital banking solutions provider with consulting, system integration, and software offerings. Comparable payments-modernization focus but primarily serves emerging markets (Africa, Eastern Europe, Middle East) rather than Western Europe.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Lipis Advisors social profiles
Digital presenceLipis Advisors financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lipis Advisors leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Lipis Advisors funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lipis Advisors M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Lipis Advisors
What does Lipis Advisors do?
Lipis Advisors is a boutique management consulting firm providing strategic advisory services for the global payments industry. Its core offerings include market and competitive analysis, payment system design and modernization, technology and vendor selection, regulatory intelligence, fraud prevention and detection, product and market entry strategy, M&A and bid support, operational support, and bespoke lectures, workshops, and webinars. Services are delivered by senior consultants with deep domain expertise, leveraging the firm's proprietary Global Payment Systems Database and Payment Systems Scorecard.
Is Lipis Advisors a public or private company?
Lipis Advisors is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Lipis Advisors founded?
Lipis Advisors was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Lipis Advisors based?
Lipis Advisors is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Lipis Advisors make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Strategic Consulting Services are the primary driver. The others are sponsored White Papers.
Who are Lipis Advisors's main competitors?
Icon Solutions is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Flagship Advisory Partners, Innopay, Aite-Novarica Group, Glenbrook Partners and Edgar, Dunn & Company. Broad incumbents are McKinsey & Company (Payments Practice), BCG (Payments Practice) and Accenture (Payments Practice). NETinfo is listed as a regional player.
Does Lipis Advisors have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lipis Advisors.
What industry is Lipis Advisors in?
Lipis Advisors's product category is Payment Systems Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHADAA, Corporate Strategy Advisory. Its NAICS code is 54161 and its SIC code is 8742.