By Sadig Javadov

Copyright trend

BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9.​ FinTech, or
financial technology, is one of the top three venture capital (VC)
investment priorities worldwide, including in Türkiye and
Azerbaijan, Günce Önür, General Partner at the European Startup
Wise Guys venture fund, said at the Baku Fintech Forum 2025,

“We invest in early-stage startups, and FinTech is one of our
main focus areas. It is even a pleasure to see the Azerbaijani
startup ePoint, one of our investment projects, participating as a
partner in this event,” Önür noted.

He explained that FinTech is not limited to a single sector,
encompassing over 20 subfields that touch many aspects of daily

“When we look at FinTech globally, it ranks among the top three
venture capital investment areas, not only for Türkiye or
Azerbaijan but worldwide,” he added.

Günce Önür also stressed that FinTech is more than an investment
area; it influences the entire ecosystem it touches.

“Because it is directly linked to money and finance, regulation
is inevitable, and rules are stricter due to the inherent risks.
For startups aiming to establish new FinTech companies, these
rules, permits, and licenses can be challenging. However, once
these barriers are overcome, they provide a protective framework
because trust and credibility are essential in FinTech,” Önür

When evaluating FinTech startups, the fund first looks at the
quality of the team.

“Strong, knowledgeable, and experienced teams are our most
important criterion. Next, we assess whether the startup is working
with the right partners and building ecosystem connections, even if
the product has not yet been launched. We check if they have
conducted proper research and analysis, and whether they understand
competition and regulatory requirements. These factors are very
important for us,” he said.

Önür concluded that for venture capital investors, FinTech is a
highly strategic sector, and the fund actively invests in it.

“There is even a saying in the world: every startup will
eventually become a FinTech startup. FinTech is attractive not only
for companies operating directly in financial technology but also
for startups in other sectors. The biggest venture capital funds in
the world invest in FinTech. Yes, there are certain challenges, but
these exist to protect the sector. Therefore, it is more important
for entrepreneurs to understand the reasons behind the regulatory
environment and learn how to navigate it, which is one of the most
valuable skills,” he said.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News
Agency’s WhatsApp channel