Business

Essential Steps to Start Off Entrepreneurial Leadership

Published

1 year ago

November 26, 2023

Unlike other careers, being an entrepreneur leader means you need to establish strong businesses, witness their progress everyday and make sure that the company stays afloat in a competitive business world.

The only thing they need to focus on is making sure they continue to be consistent with their efforts, while being esteemed professionals who can tackle the challenges of their career on a daily basis. Fortunately, there are several professional entrepreneurs out there who can help to guide one in figuring out how to manage their entrepreneurship career. Veterans like Dr Shafiq Choudhary is a prime example of an individual who has paved the path towards success – becoming a renowned British entrepreneur who serves as the Managing Director of Tetris Pharma.

With more than three decades of work experience in the professional world, many people have known him to be an expert in fields related to pharmaceuticals, properties, and care homes. In 1988, he started off the beginning of his career with as a representative of SmithKline & French and then left the pharma industry for Sweden where he spent some time in Stockholm working for Thermometric AB as an International Application Specialist.

A few years down the road, Choudhary moved to the USA. Around this time, he started working for Thermometric’s US partner on the East Coast and even completed his Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the University of California, Davis, USA, before returning to the UK in 1992.

Over the course of his professional career, he has made many significant contributions – such as introducing Blue Chip Healthcare, which is a company centered around trading and distribution of low priced pharmaceuticals from Europe. His other roles include being the co-owner of Intrapharm Laboratories in 2009 and being elected the Cox Green Parish Councillor, Maidenhead, in 2000.

Therefore, as a successful entrepreneur, Choudhary has shared valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs to guide them towards their first steps into making it big in their profession.

Keep Your Energy On One Business At a Time

Sometimes when we are getting positive results from one of our business ventures, we let ourselves believe that we can start another company. But the time and effort that goes into being a serial entrepreneur is much harder than people would expect.

Managing a business means that you cannot afford to have your attention diverted. Hence, it is essential to make sure that your current business is established properly before moving ahead with other entrepreneurial plans.

Investing Your Time in The Right Place

Unfortunately, many people take one win from their business as a sign that they should start another. And what they do not realise is that that approach will lead to significant increase in work and becomes an immensely difficult task to take on.

As a professional, it is crucial that you are aware of where you should invest your energy and where you should utilise your resources and management skills. Only then will you be able to effectively make use of your time to give your best to all of your business ventures.

Business

How Black Banx Has Sped Digital Payments Into Its Global Phase

Published

1 day ago

March 13, 2025

Matthew Wiles

The payments industry has grown substantially in the last decade, with digital transactions now practically a given in most parts of the world. A key contributor to this globalization of payments has been Black Banx, a Toronto-based global digital bank founded by German billionaire Michael Gastauer.

Through innovative fintech solutions, a commitment to financial inclusion, and strategic investments in blockchain and artificial intelligence, the company continues to make transactions quicker and easier no matter where the sender or receiver is in the world.

The Cross-Border Payment Boom

Global transactions have never been more essential to the world economy. From businesses engaging in international trade to individuals sending remittances back home, the demand for fast and cost-effective cross-border payments has skyrocketed. In fact, FXCintelligence projects that the cross-border payments market will hit an astonishing US$290 trillion by 2030, driven by the rise of e-commerce and digital trade.

Historically, moving money across borders wasn’t simple. Traditional banking relied on a complex web of intermediaries, leading to slow processing times, high fees, and inefficiencies. But fintech has changed the game. Companies like Black Banx have introduced digital-first solutions that eliminate unnecessary middlemen, enabling instant, affordable transactions.

Black Banx’s Rapid Growth: A Testament to Demand

Black Banx has experienced explosive growth, reflecting the increasing demand for seamless global payments. By the end of 2024, the company’s customer base had expanded to 69 million users across 180+ countries—a staggering 76% growth from 39 million in 2023.

This growth wasn’t accidental. Black Banx’s success stems from its ability to offer frictionless cross-border banking, catering to individuals and businesses worldwide. It’s offerings include:

Instant Multi-Currency Accounts – Customers can open accounts online within minutes, eliminating the need for physical bank visits.
Cryptocurrency Integration – Black Banx has accepted Bitcoin and Ethereum since 2016 and expanded its crypto services in 2024 by integrating Solana and the Lightning Network, allowing for ultra-fast, low-cost cross-border transfers.
Zero-Intermediary Transfers – By leveraging blockchain technology, the company bypasses traditional banking infrastructure, significantly reducing fees and processing times.

AI-Powered Payments: Enhancing Speed and Security

If there’s one technology that has reshaped digital payments in 2024, it’s artificial intelligence. AI is now at the heart of fraud detection, customer service, and transaction optimization, making global payments more secure and efficient.

Black Banx has fully embraced AI, using predictive analytics and automated systems to streamline operations. AI-driven chatbots handle customer inquiries, reducing response times and improving service efficiency. Meanwhile, real-time fraud detection algorithms flag suspicious transactions, preventing financial losses and building customer trust.

The results? Black Banx achieved a cost/income ratio of just 68% in 2024—one of the best in the industry—demonstrating how AI-powered automation can drive profitability while maintaining top-tier service.

Financial Inclusion: Breaking Down Barriers

Despite living in a digital age, over 1.4 billion people worldwide remain unbanked, according to the World Bank. Traditional banks have long failed to serve these individuals due to bureaucratic hurdles, geographic limitations, and high fees. Black Banx has made financial inclusion one of its core missions, particularly in underbanked regions like Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia-Pacific.

In 2024, the company’s impact on financial inclusion was profound:

32% year-over-year increase in SME clients in Africa and the Middle East – Black Banx empowered businesses in these regions with seamless digital banking services, reducing reliance on inefficient traditional banking channels.
Instant digital accounts with minimal documentation – Unlike traditional banks, which require extensive paperwork, Black Banx allows users to open accounts quickly, enabling greater access to financial services.
Affordable cross-border transactions – By eliminating intermediaries, the company ensures that even those in remote regions can send and receive payments without excessive fees.

The Future of Cross-Border Payments: Crypto and Blockchain

Cryptocurrency is no longer a niche asset—it’s gradually become a key cog in the global payments machine. Recognizing this early on, Black Banx became one of the first digital banks to integrate Bitcoin and Ethereum into its platform back in 2016.

In 2024, the company doubled down on its crypto-first strategy, incorporating Solana and the Lightning Network. These technologies allow users to complete cross-border transactions in seconds while avoiding the high fees and delays associated with traditional banking infrastructure.

Black Banx is also exploring crypto-based lending services, a move that could disrupt traditional financial models even further. If successful, decentralized finance (DeFi) solutions could provide businesses and individuals with access to capital without the constraints of conventional banking regulations.

A Year of Record-Breaking Financial Success

While many tech companies faced financial turbulence in 2024, Black Banx defied expectations, posting record-breaking numbers:

Annual revenue: US$11.1 billion (exceeding the forecasted US$10.8 billion)
Pre-tax profit: US$3.6 billion (far surpassing the original US$2.4 billion projection)
Customer base: 69 million users worldwide
Cost/income ratio: 68% – demonstrating operational efficiency
Capital distributions: US$2.90 per share

Black Banx’s financial success highlights the immense demand for efficient digital banking services, proving that fintech is not just a disruptor but the future of global finance.

What’s Next for Black Banx in 2025?

Given its past success, Black Banx is setting ambitious goals to build on its 2024 momentum. The company aims to:

Expand its customer base to 100 million users – By reaching more individuals in emerging markets, Black Banx hopes to further its mission of financial inclusion.
Strengthen its presence in digital asset banking – With growing demand for cryptocurrency-based financial services, the company will continue integrating blockchain solutions.
Enhance global payments infrastructure – By entering new markets and refining its AI-driven systems, Black Banx plans to make transactions even faster and more accessible.
Lower its cost/income ratio – Through further automation and AI optimization, the company aims to improve operational efficiency.

By embracing AI, blockchain, and a relentless commitment to financial inclusion, Black Banx has clearly been key in accelerating the transition of the world to a truly global payments system.