Sparados: The Recipe for Fintech Success
- Michał Stachera
- Oct 3
- 5 min read
The Sparados story demonstrates that success in the fintech industry isn't the result of a single groundbreaking idea, but rather the consistent integration of multiple elements: market analysis, developing a realistic business model, skillfully defining a minimum viable product, securing financing, and building a team that can perform under time and market pressure. Our path wasn't typical, but in the startup world, there's no universal formula for success. Every project has its own dynamics, market conditions, and launch timing, which, in practice, are as important as the idea itself.
Table of Contents:
First Challenge – Is the Startup Idea Profitable?
Every startup begins with an idea, but hard data determines whether it's worth investing time and capital in its development. In our case, the first step was to assess the project's potential profitability.
First, we analyzed similar companies to understand which revenue streams were performing well in the market and which models were unprofitable. We then identified our own revenue streams, which included transaction fees, subscription fees, and additional premium features.
A key step was creating a detailed financial model based on real market data and card transaction volumes. This allowed us to understand the path to profitability and what assumptions needed to be verified during investor discussions. A numbers-based approach was paramount at this stage. Before even the first functionality is developed, it's crucial to know whether the project has the potential to generate stable revenue.
Defining MVP – from Idea to Real Product
In the fintech industry, there's often a temptation to build a comprehensive platform from scratch. Our experience has shown that focusing on the bare minimum required to enter the market yields better results.
Competitive analysis helped us identify which features were absolutely crucial and which could be added later in development. We eliminated solutions that were too expensive and time-consuming to avoid overloading the team and risking delays. We also prepared a simplified technology estimate, which allowed us to decide what we could develop ourselves and which elements should be based on off-the-shelf components from partners.
The result was a business plan that, from the outset, embraced flexibility and evolution every few months. This document served not only as an internal roadmap but also as a tool for communicating our vision to investors.
Searching for Investors – Capital and Trust
Financing is one of the most challenging stages of building a fintech startup. In the venture capital market, it's not just the idea itself that matters, but also the way it's presented and the level of trust in the team.
We created a professional pitch deck that included a profitability model, product development plan, revenue forecasts, and key milestones such as achieving break-even, acquiring first customers, and an expansion schedule.
We also invested our own funds, as investors pay particular attention to the level of capital commitment from founders. In practice, this means not only a monetary contribution but also a willingness to share risk with other shareholders. For many funds, this is a necessary condition – proof that the project's creators believe in its potential enough to invest in it themselves. In our case, our own contribution signaled to investors that we approach the venture long-term, have a defined development strategy, and are willing to bear responsibility not only for the idea but also for its financing.
Krzysztof Drzyzga's industry experience and network of contacts also played a significant role. His reputation and connections with the Verestro, Fenige, and Quicko group of companies strengthened our credibility and opened many doors in discussions with partners and investment funds.
The timing of our market entry was also crucial. Capital availability and investor sentiment can significantly determine the success of securing financing. Proper timing made it easier for us to secure funding and begin product development at a crucial moment.
How to Build a Good Team – the Foundation of Success
Capital and an idea are only part of the puzzle. The true strength of a startup lies in its team. We sought individuals who possessed not only technical and business knowledge but also the ability to work under pressure and respond quickly to changing conditions. We prioritized synergy, meaning complementary competencies. One team member was responsible for product, another for sales, and yet another for operations, but all were willing to take on tasks beyond their daily expertise.
The level of trust and the ability to collaborate were also key criteria . In a startup, even minor conflicts can hinder development, so creating a group that can work effectively together and support each other was a priority.
The ownership structure also cannot be overlooked. Investors pay attention to the founders' share and their level of real involvement in the project. Too little ownership reduces the attractiveness of the venture for funds, so maintaining the appropriate proportions was a crucial element of our strategy.
Implementation – from Plans to Hard Work
Once the foundations were laid, the most important stage began: systematic work on the product and its improvement. This included the development of initial functionalities, implementations with pilot customers, testing and rapid iterations, and ongoing consideration of feedback in further development.
We were also prepared for the need for pivots, i.e. changes in the direction of product development, if the market or regulators required adaptation to new realities.
In practice, this stage determines whether a startup remains just a promising idea or becomes a real market player.
The Sparados Success Recipe: Key Lessons from Our Fintech Journey
Financial analysis and a realistic business model are the foundation of conversations with investors.
MVP and flexibility are key to a smooth market launch. It's better to launch quickly with a basic version than to spend years developing an overly complex product.
The involvement of own capital significantly increases investor confidence and enhances the credibility of the entire venture.
The team is the heart of a startup. Investors buy not only the product, but above all the people who implement it.
Time to market can be as important a factor as the idea itself. Even the best concept can fail at the wrong time.
Perseverance and adaptability are essential because fintech is a marathon full of regulatory changes, new technology trends, and unexpected challenges.
The success of the Sparados startup is proof that in the dynamic world of fintech, perseverance and agility are essential to weathering regulatory and technological storms, transforming challenges into next steps on the road to success. We invite you to join us on our continued journey in the world of fintech!
