Building the Future of
Finance, Talent & Innovation
Founder, investor, advisor, and global keynote speaker with 30+ years of experience across fintech, venture capital, and ecosystem building.
Meet Matteo Rizzi
20+ years shaping the future of FinTech.

Matteo Rizzi
Bio in 6 languages
1 / 6Matteo Rizzi is an unconventional entrepreneur with two decades of experience in Financial Services, constantly referred amongst the top executives in the industry. He spent 13 years at SWIFT - where he co-founded Innotribe, the innovation arm of the cooperative, launching the first global startup challenge. Since 2013, he has had a FinTech Investor and/or Venture Partner role with global VCs and CVCs (20+ deals, 5 exits). In 2015, he co-founded FinTechStage (FTSGroup.eu). In 2019, Matteo founded Timepledge. In 2025, he founded the African Talent Academy. He is the author of "The FinTech Revolution" and "Talents & Rebels" and is fluent in 5 languages.
Experience

Senior Partner - Africa & Middle East, Global Strategic Initiatives
Global Finance & Technology Network · Contract

Founder
Timepledge.org
Our mission: build innovation ecosystems, engaging incumbents, entrepreneurs and investors to boost FinTech innovation globally (via FTSgroup.eu).

Co-Host & Executive Producer
Breaking Banks Africa
Breaking Banks is the #1 radio show and podcast, with almost 7M audience across 117 countries. Breaking Banks Africa is the African edition dedicated to the continent's innovation scene.

Founder & Startup Coach
TimePledge · Full-time
Startup coach and advisor — and occasionally angel investor — connecting founders with partners and ecosystems. Trusted by large Financial Services players in their collaboration journey with entrepreneurs and innovators.
Venture Partner
NEVA Finventures
Intesa Sanpaolo's corporate venture capital arm. Strategic advisory and Venture Partner role.

Strategic Advisor
Finnovating · Contract
Trusted by industry leaders

















What People Say
Trusted by Industry Leaders
"Working with Matteo during the 3iAfrica Fintech Innovation Challenge was a valuable experience for our team. His mentorship helped us sharpen our fintech solution, improve our strategic thinking, and present our ideas with greater clarity and confidence. Matteo combines strong industry expertise with a practical approach to innovation, making him highly impactful to founders and startup teams navigating fast-paced environments."
Yaw Awuku Adu
UGBS | Banking & Finance Student Certified Data Protection Officer
"i had the privilege of working with Matteo during the 3iAfrica Fintech Innovation Challenge. As a coach, he provided invaluable insights that helped us sharpen our fintech solution on very short notice. His deep understanding of the industry and his ability to challenge our assumptions were instrumental to our progress. I highly recommend Matteo to anyone looking for a high-impact mentor in the fintech space"
Favour Betta
President University of Ghana Finance Students and Associate’s (FINSA)
"When pitching your startup, you want to have a clear story and focused message, that's where Matteo comes in with his vast experience and understanding of not just what makes a great pitch, but also the nuances of storytelling in the Fintech space. Matteo served as my coach for Fintech Islands 2025 and his feedback was critical in refining our story and landing dataffluent in the top 3 startups at the event. "
Raquel Seville
CEO and Founder @ Dataffluent | Techstars ’24
"Working with Matteo during the 3iAfrica Fintech Innovation Challenge was a valuable experience for our team. His mentorship helped us sharpen our fintech solution, improve our strategic thinking, and present our ideas with greater clarity and confidence. Matteo combines strong industry expertise with a practical approach to innovation, making him highly impactful to founders and startup teams navigating fast-paced environments."
Yaw Awuku Adu
UGBS | Banking & Finance Student Certified Data Protection Officer
Areas of Expertise
Thought Leadership
He delivers high-impact global keynotes focused on fintech innovation, talent transformation, and ecosystem building across Europe, Africa, and beyond.
Book MatteoAdvisory & Venture
Working with corporates, venture funds, and startups to navigate innovation and growth. Senior Advisor at GFTN, Venture Partner at SG Ventures & NEVA.
Work With MeEcosystem Building
Connecting startups, corporates, investors, and regulators. Founder of FinTechStage, TimePledge, and Co-Founder of the SWIFT Innotribe initiative.
Explore EcosystemsMedia & Insights
Thought leadership, interviews, and expert analysis on fintech, innovation, and the future of finance.
Let's Build Together
How would you like to collaborate?
Pick what fits — Matteo's team will follow up within 48 hours.
Not sure?