Finshape buys majority stake in European innovation agency, Direct People

By Gloria Methri

Finshape, a specialist in digital banking and personalisation solutions, has acquired a majority stake in Direct People, one of Central Europe’s longest-operating innovation agencies based in the Czech Republic.

This acquisition marks a significant milestone for Finshape, being the first since its formation from the merger of Czech BSC and Hungarian W.UP in late 2021. It is backed by Budapest-based regional investor PortfoLion Capital Partners. The move bolsters Finshape’s ability to provide comprehensive innovation services to its international banking clients.

By integrating Direct People’s expertise, Finshape aims to extend its proposition with human-centred design and further strengthen its position with new AI-driven solutions and proper adoptions. Direct People brings years of experience helping institutions from various business areas launch new digital products and services while providing digital consulting to drive innovation.

This acquisition completes Finshape’s service offering, enabling the company to step into its clients’ innovation cycles at an earlier stage and deliver better digital experiences to banks’ end customers.

“Acquiring Direct People is a natural next step in Finshape’s journey. Their expertise in innovation and digital transformation complements our mission to help banks deliver superior digital experiences. Together, we will be able to introduce end-to-end solutions and consulting services at the heart of our clients’ innovation cycles, from a human-centred design of end-user experiences to the complete technology coverage,” said Petr Koutny, CEO of Finshape.

The acquisition is an organic step in Finshape’s and Direct People’s growth plans. While Direct People will gain larger international exposure and access to high-scale enterprise projects, Finshape will benefit from enhanced innovation consulting capabilities that it can bring to its global client base.

By integrating innovation-focused companies like Direct People, Finshape strengthens its position as a comprehensive digital banking solutions provider. Direct People will operate as a new, independent business line within Finshape while working closely with the company’s existing operations. This collaboration will ensure that both companies leverage their combined strengths to offer even more tailored and innovative solutions to financial institutions.

“This partnership gives us the opportunity to take our innovation expertise into a global space. Joining forces with Finshape will allow us to make a meaningful impact at scale, helping banks and financial institutions embrace the future of digital transformation,” said Michal Kalousek, CEO of Direct People.