3 Lines of Defence for EMIs: The Minimum That Works
A “Minimum Viable” 3 Lines of Defence Model for an EMI Startup Why this matters at all An EMI operates in a world where mistakes are expensive: AML, fraud, card risk, customer complaints, sanctions, incidents, data leaks, outages, safeguarding, and reconciliation failures. The three lines of defence are not “for show”. They exist so that: […]
What Consulting Looks Like in Practice
Diagnosis → Plan → Implementation → Control A lot of people think consulting is calls, slide decks, and smart-sounding words. Sometimes it is. But that’s not consulting, that’s paid therapy for a CEO. Real consulting is setting up a management system that produces outcomes: deadlines become more predictable, the team stops drowning in chaos, and […]
EMI vs PI vs Agent vs Licensed Partner
Which Route Fits Your Product in Czechia? First, the key point: who’s “in charge” in Czechia In Czechia, licensing and supervision of payment services and electronic money are handled by the ČNB (Czech National Bank). Applications are submitted electronically only, via datová schránka (data box). Legal framework: Act No. 370/2017 Coll. (Payment System Act / […]
MiCA Compliance Roadmap for 2026
A Practical Approach for Crypto Companies By 2026, the MiCA regulation (Regulation (EU) 2023/1114) will fully enter its mandatory application phase. For crypto companies operating or planning to operate in the EU, compliance with MiCA is no longer a purely formal requirement, but a key factor for business sustainability, banking relationships, and market access. MiCA […]
16–32 Week EMI Licensing Preparation Roadmap(2026)
Workstreams, Owners, Milestones & Critical Path Why saying “16–32 weeks” is honest (and “we’ll do it fast” is not) EMI licensing preparation is not a single “documents project”. It’s a full build-out that covers product, operations, compliance/AML, finance, safeguarding, IT controls, outsourcing, and corporate governance. Timelines usually break not on “paperwork”, but on evidence of […]
Management Consulting Is a “Management System,” Not Motivational Speeches
Why “motivation” doesn’t solve management problems If your company has: The issue is that management isn’t configured. Motivation can help you start. A system helps you execute: What a “management system” means in plain language It’s a set of repeatable rules that makes outcomes predictable: Goals and priorities Not 18 “important directions,” but 1 quarterly […]
Strategic Planning Is Choosing What You Refuse
And Why It Saves the Business The core idea A business always has more opportunities than resources. You have more ideas than people. More tasks than hours. More “potential” than money. So strategy can’t be a wishlist. Strategy is a filter. It says: “We do this” and, more importantly, “We don’t do that.” If you […]
EMI Unit Economics in Czechia (2026)
Wallets, Cards & Payouts Under CNB Reality EMI unit economics look “simple” until you build them for Czechia and realize the Czech National Bank (ČNB/CNB) doesn’t care about your pitch deck. CNB cares whether your model is auditable, evidenced, and operationally controllable from Day 1: onboarding controls, AML monitoring, safeguarding operations, and governance that survives […]
MiCA Whitepaper Requirements for Token Issuers (2026)
What You Must Disclose to Launch in the EU By 2026, MiCA is no longer a “coming soon” regulation. It is the operating reality for token issuers in the EU. If you plan to offer a token to the public or get it admitted to trading in Europe, you need a MiCA-compliant crypto-asset whitepaper. Call […]
Building a credible 3-year financial model for an EMI (assumptions, stress cases, burn rate, break-even)
A “credible” EMI model is not a pretty spreadsheet. It’s a traceable story where volumes → balances → revenue → costs → capital/own funds → liquidity and safeguarding operations all reconcile, and where downside cases don’t magically disappear. Supervisors across the EU consistently point to one core delay driver in authorisations: application quality and how […]
EMI IT Stack Blueprint
EMI IT Stack Blueprint: Core Ledger, KYC, Transaction Monitoring, Case Management, Reporting, Card Processing In 2026, an EMI’s tech stack is judged less by “nice features” and more by whether it produces audit-ready evidence: correct balances, traceable flows, controlled outsourcing, resilient operations, and repeatable reporting. A credible stack is one that can prove—at any time—what […]
Prop Trading Firm Business Models in Czechia (2026 Guide)
Evaluation-Only vs Live Funding vs Hybrid Retail prop trading has exploded across Europe — and Czechia is increasingly on the radar for founders who want a stable EU base, strong fintech infrastructure, and access to EU customers. But before you pick a platform, hire influencers, or launch a “funded trader” funnel, you need one thing […]