Company | Ephelia

Meet Ephelia

always by your side

We have been creating financial and technology companies from scratch for over 20 years.

We experienced every stage of growth. We have raised money for them to grow. We made mistakes. Lots of them. We have learnt. We have made mistakes again. We worked with private investors and venture capital funds. We sold and we made money. We have listed companies.

We want to share this experience. We want our customers to win challenges with us by their side. Not to make the same mistakes. To innovate even more.

Our Story

1996 - Family Office
At the request of few Italian entrepreneurs, a dedicated Family Office for English-speaking markets was established. The London office was opened.

2006 - Growing with an enhanced Asset Protection

Asset protection services need considerable improvement. The investment landscape demanded by our clients is increasingly focusing on venture capital. We have contributed to wealth growth, but now we need to strengthen asset protection and risk management.

2009 - A new vision on investments: FinTech

The world is changing fast, and so is the need to narrow the focus on investments. Strong knowledge of payment and wealth management financial services, combined with investments in technology infrastructure bring us into the FinTech world. Our offices in Auckland and Lugano are open.

2016/18 - Exit

Our strategy is paying off. Our FinTechs are performing brilliantly to the point of having the Asset Management FinTech as the number one Forex SICAV in the DB Select ranking for two years running. Our latest payments FinTech to be the first to be admitted to the Bank of England for sterling settlement. With over $1bn in AUM, in 2016 it began the process of exiting the various ventures which ended in 2018 with the sale of the entire group.

2020 - Ephelia

After two years of development and small acquisitions in stealth mode, Ephelia Group is launched. An innovative vision that combines the concept of Early Stage Venture Capital with the concept of Bank-as-a-Service. With a presence in five countries, Ephelia brings to the FinTech's arena the experience gained from more than 20 years of hard work and remarkable results.

2024 - The next step towards listing

After the year 2023 spent consolidating the group and its various subsidiaries, it is time to think bigger. The year 2024 began with the path towards a planned listing on NASDAQ in 2027. A year where the regulatory roadmap will also see consolidation, with the aim of providing full banking experience to all our associates.

What We Value

The Bank-as-a-Service industry has become a supermarket of services. Very expensive and therefore, a major cause of failure for projects and ideas.

Ephelia works at your side. Advises you on the best path to success.

If you fit into Ephelia's ecosystem, we support you either by investing directly or by organising investor clubs.

A project that does not succeed is a failure for everyone. Our mission and values do not contemplate a caused failure.

Meet The Team

Founder & Global CEO

Franco Mignemi

Entrepreneur, Executive and Board Member with 25+ years of experience in Asset Protection and Banking Services. Franco has lived in 5 countries and developed services in 9 countries always with a strong focus on business and technology innovation.

Franco has successfully established, developed, and sold three FinTechs, the last of which gained the first ever access to the Bank of England.

Franco’s has encompassed strategy and advisory roles at large Italian distribution groups as well as board and c-suite positions with various international entities.

Franco has served on several Payments and Banking advisory panels in the EU including as Member of the Bank of England’s Decision Maker Panel. The Panel advised on the economic uncertainties bought about by the UK’s decision to leave the EU.

Sergio Albarelli

Experienced Managing Director / CEO with a demonstrated history of working in the financial services industry. Sergio has been CEO of Azimut Italia, one of the biggest Italian advisory group.

Eddy Abramo

An expert in portfolio management, funds and private banking, Eddy has served for Banque Internationale à Luxembourg (BIL) and Societe Generale Private Banking as Chief Executive Officer for the UAE region.

John Shehata

John is a corporate, PE and M&A lawyer and has lead the Legal International Hub of PWC, having an expertise in establishment and management of cross-border joint-ventures, mergers, demergers and capital transactions.

Daniele Conti

Daniele is a Swiss financial advisory professional for over 20 years and FINMA authorised. Daniele sits on the board of two major Swiss asset managers including Ephelia Capital.

Simon Byrne

With over 30 year's experience in the financial sector Simon has worked in Standard Chartered, American Express and Anglo-Irish Bank, as CEO, COO and Board of Directors of companies within the UK and Ireland.

Massimiliano Forte

Expert on financial regulation, Massimiliano has started his career in the Enforcement Unit in CONSOB (Italian Supervisory Body), and subsequently in Citibank as Compliance Manager and UBI Banca as Head of Risk.