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Dubai - Accelerating its global fintech strategy, KPMG Internationalhas announced an exclusive advisory alliance with Matchi.biz, the innovative fintechmatchmaking platform that connects banks and insurance companies with financial services technology start-ups and innovations sourced from across the globe.
Through the Matchi alliance, KPMG firms across the MESA region and globally will work with financial services clients to access the benefits of fintech innovation that is taking place globally - using the Matchi platform to identify quality innovation opportunities and advising clients on how to execute and deploy new solutions into the marketplace.
"Fintech is revolutionizing the financial services landscape and it has created a new marketplace for innovation," said Suhael Ahmed, who leads KPMG's Advisory practice in the Middle East and South Asia. "Matchi is at the forefront of identifying breakthrough fintechideas.Through our alliance, KPMG firms will now use the Matchi platform and Matchi's wider, global fintech communities when advising clients on the optimal innovations to help deliver on their strategic initiatives.
Since its launch in 2013, Matchi has evaluated, and brought to its platform,innovations from hundreds offintech firms, and has supported more than 50 fintechfinancial institution members seeking fintech solutions from outside their organisations.
"We are delighted to join in this new alliance with KPMG," said David Milligan, MatchiCEO. "Our members now have access to KPMG's extensive network of financial services professionals with on-the-ground experience in 155 countries to not only advise them in the fintech innovation matchmaking process but also in deploying new technologies."
"Our alliance with Matchi answers key questions for financial institutions of how they find the right fintech, how they can better evaluate its quality, and how they should engage with fintech companies, many of which are small start-ups," addedLesley Horne, who heads the financial services advisory practice in the UAE. "KPMG professionals will also be able to advise fintechfirms on how they can advance their businesses, whether it's help with M&A or in other ways to bring their innovations to market."
With the Matchi alliance, KPMG continues to expand its global fintech capabilities, which include innovation hubs in the U.S., UK, Australia, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. "Our professionals are focused with financial institutions in areas such as marketplace lending, next generation payments, wealth management technology, and cyber security and biometrics," saidRajesh Prasad, a director in KPMG's advisory practice in the UAE. "The Matchialliance will help add speed and value when deploying new fintech solutions to address critical needs and opportunities."
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About KPMG's Global FintechPractice
KPMG's Financial Servicespractice has identified fintech as a key strategic priority for clients globally. In order to enhance the ability to serve financial services clients, as well as fintech companies, it has launched theglobal fintechpracticethat will coordinate and leverage international investment activity and capability development across KPMG member firms. Warren Mead and Ian Pollari, partners with KPMG in the UK and KPMG in Australia respectively, have been appointed as global co-leads of the practice, along with a leadership team including partners from countries including the U.S., U.K., China & Hong Kong, India and Australia.
About Matchi
Matchi is a global innovation matchmaking platform that provides leading banks and insurance companies (fintech buyers) with access to a curated online showcase of the world's best, market-ready fintech and insurancetech innovations. Buyer members are able to search, view and connect with innovator members to establish collaborative relationships and explore new business opportunities to drive their organisation forward. Matchi analysts send regular recommendations to all buyer members showcasing innovations that address key focus areas for each individual client.
About KPMG International
KPMG is a global network of professional firms providing audit, tax and advisory services. We operate in 155 countries and have more than 162,000 people working in member firms around the world. The independent member firms of the KPMG network are affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International"), a Swiss entity. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such.
For media queries:
Andrea Lopes
BPG Cohn & Wolfe
(T) +971 4 2953456 Ext. 306
(M) +971 55 876 2816
(e) andrea@bpgcohnwolfe.com
Debjani Mukherjee
BPG Cohn & Wolfe
(T) +971 4 2953456 Ext. 312
(M) +971 50 1658989
(e) debjani@bpgcohnwolfe.com
© Press Release 2015
