As the global economy becomes increasingly digital, traditional financial institutions are facing unprecedented challenges, especially with today’s geopolitical and economic context. The rise of fintech entrepreneurship has disrupted the financial industry and is reshaping the way we think about banking, payments, lending, and investing.
Philippe Ghanem, Founder and CEO of SquaredFinancial, envisions a future where financial services build relationships grounded on trust and empathy and where innovative solutions propel financial inclusion
“Looking back on my journey in the financial services industry, I can’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude and accomplishment. I’ve faced challenges, celebrated triumphs and learned invaluable lessons along the way.”
As a veteran in the FinTech industry, you have helped build financial institutions. Can you tell us a bit more?
In 2010, I co-founded ADS Securities, establishing it as a premier online brokerage firm serving both institutional and individual clients. I had a pivotal role in the growth and transformation of the company which was headquartered in Abu Dhabi, with offices in Singapore, London, and Hong Kong.
During this period, the Dublin based SquaredFinancial continued to serve international white labels.
In 2022, I took the leadership, driven by a strong determination to steer my company through its upcoming developments. Since then, the company has revamped the financial landscape and the essence of investor experience. SquaredFinancial marks the beginning of an exhilarating mission to empower global investors and enhance their interactions with the capital market.
What are the pillars of your success?
One of the key aspects of fintech entrepreneurship is its ability to democratize access to finance. I strongly believe that innovation is fundamental to success. Traditional banks often have stringent requirements for opening accounts or obtaining loans, which can exclude a significant portion of the population, especially those in underserved communities. Fintech startups, on the other hand, are leveraging technology to lower barriers to entry and provide financial services to a broader customer base.
Which is why SquaredFinancial extended its offerings, dedicated to meeting the diverse needs of traders to the global markets. Today, we find ourselves firmly on the path toward becoming a one-stop shop, diligently progressing towards the realization of our goal.
Over the course of the past three years, we have successfully attracted significant investors and notable entrepreneurs to our endeavors. We have expanded exponentially into challenging countries and jurisdictions. We have increased our products threefold and integrated high technology and automation into our systems. We are strengthening our payment system starting with a Visa card, a card that a few brokers around the world offer. We are providing cutting-edge trading platforms and a state-of-the-art mobile application because we aspire to provide our traders with the flexibility to engage in diverse investment opportunities, enabling them to trade anytime and anywhere.
What we have achieved so far would not have been possible without our team, because it’s all about people: our clients who choose us as their long-term trading partner and who believe that we can help them grow and diversify their investments; our team who live and breathe the service they want to give to our customers, who share with us the same culture and are investing their knowledge and know-how to further grow SquaredFinancial and within it.
“Technology has always played a significant role in finance, but the recent advancements have allowed for the emergence of fintech startups that are challenging traditional players.”
What role does technology play in the development of SquaredFinancial?
Technology has always played a significant role in finance, but the recent advancements have allowed for the emergence of fintech startups that are challenging traditional players.
I am an advocate of highly sophisticated and evolving technologies, such as AI. We, at SquaredFinancial, have incorporated them into our solutions to provide unparalleled prospects for our clients. We leverage a combination of technology, financial expertise, and automation to optimize our service quality, and our latest mobile app update is an example. This update places a significant emphasis on security and user experience, all made possible through innovative robotics and automation processes.
What’s the future of Fintech entrepreneurship ?
Looking back on my journey in the financial services industry, I can’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude and accomplishment. I’ve faced challenges, celebrated triumphs and learned invaluable lessons along the way. As technology continues to advance, fintech entrepreneurship is only expected to grow in the coming years and we can expect more innovative solutions to emerge. The digital age presents unprecedented opportunities for individuals and businesses to thrive in an ever-changing financial landscape.
Who is Who
Philippe Ghanem, a Swiss national, is a ‘C’ suite executive who is seen as an innovator and visionary in global financial markets. As an investor and an expert in trading a range of asset classes, he has developed a reputation for building financial services companies based on his insight and understanding of trading systems. Well-defined people management skills gained from 15 years of senior leadership and high-level management roles, with responsibility for over 300 employees across multiple international regulatory environments. He has a track record of building and maintaining the performance of teams to achieve financial and commercial goals. He has developed and launched a number of retail and institutional trading firms including the Abu Dhabi-based ADSS Group, where he was CEO and vice-chairman. In 2005, Philippe Ghanem and Georges Cohen co-founded the Dublin-based Squared Financial Services Limited. His departure from ADSS was announced on 25 June 2019.
In 2020, Philippe Ghanem returned to SquaredFinancial to take the company through the next stage of its development. In 2021, SquaredFinancial reported a 266% growth in its volumes, along with a 200% increase in gross profits.
