MALTA’S LARGEST DIGITAL ALLIANCE FORMED
Zak and Benji Borg, co-founders of ANCHOVY. plc and James Abela and Matthew Sammut, co-founders of NIU Ltd. have announced the formation of a comprehensive technology and digital services group, known as Capital 9H Ltd., with the goal of creating the largest digital services offering in Malta and paving the way for an international growth programme in the rapidly growing sector.
CHURNING THE WHEELS OF INNOVATION
Setting up your own company appears more and more appealing to many people across the globe. However, creating a product or bringing an idea to life can be both challenging and exciting. Dayna Camilleri Clarke caught up with Paul Waltzing to discuss his start-up journey.
HOW FINTECH AND ECOSYSTEMS ARE RESHAPING FINANCE
Looking back to 2015, the word FinTech brought palpitations to many leaders within the financial services industry. This shiny new word represented nimble tech-driven businesses ready to take on the big giants – and quickly displace them. They had seen this happen with the entertainment and retail sectors, and the omens were out that financial services were next. Consumers and businesses were frustrated with the pace of innovation, while industry giants worried that their archaic systems and processes could mean that meaningful transformation was beyond what they could deliver anytime soon. Theo Dix explains.
THE MALTA START-UP SCENE: UNCERTAIN OUTCOME, A WORTHY INVESTMENT
Federica Tadiello spoke to Adrian Galea, a passionate and savvy manager who knows the local start-up ecosystem very well and who critically thinks that Malta has still a lot to do to attract talents and gain a privileged position in the European landscape. However, the good news is that it looks like there is a vibrant community of entrepreneurs with compelling stories to tell.
ARE NFTs DISRUPTING THE TRADITIONAL BUSINESS MODELS?
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) are somewhat of a buzzword in today’s world, as the emerging concept has been attracting attention from all around the globe. It is no coincidence that recently, Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, announced a change in the social media platform’s name to ‘Meta’, signalling another shift in the digital world. NFTs could well become an integral part of the digital world is exciting. Jake Aquilina explains.
THE VOICE OF BUSINESS
Marisa Xuereb has been a member of the Malta Chamber of Commerce for over 20 years, becoming more engaged when she joined the council a little over six years ago. Thus, she was asked to join the management board during her second term in the council. Having recently reached a new milestone on the 24th of March 2021, in which the council elected her as president of the Malta Chamber 2021-2023, Lyndsey Grima caught up with Marisa to talk about the economy's strengths, struggles and how Malta can remain an attractive location for business.
LEADING IN DISRUPTION
Lyndsey Grima caught up with Dana Farrugia, Tech. mt’s CEO, to discuss the accelerating digital revolution and where Malta stands in building and expanding its digital backbone. What’s the way forward for businesses, especially after being crucially hit by several external factors in the last few years, and how can Tech.mt help local businesses get back on their feet? Dana Farrugia shares her insight.
BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE
Digitalisation is being heralded as the must-have solution for the advancement and prosperity of local businesses. Giselle Borg Olivier speaks to Hon. Silvio Schembri, Minister for the Economy, about the digital strategy and the plans that Malta must develop itself as a digital centre of opportunity.
NEW NORM OR NEW OPPORTUNITY?
Many great inventions around the world occur as a result of crises. Wars have powered the development of technology, bringing us aeroplanes. Plagues accelerated the development of medicine, resulting in significant drug advancement. After any crisis, the winners tend to see all these changes as an opportunity rather than a burden. Are you one of the future winners?
NOMADS LAND
Malta could very well be the next stop for digital nomads. Daniel Goebel and Minou Schillings, digital entrepreneurs, speak to Tech.mag on this phenomenon and on some projects including CoCohub, a community of digital nomads also operating in Malta.
IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE BIASED?
While machines are technically without bias, time and time again, we see cases of racism and sexism, to name a few. Veronica Stivala speaks to AI expert Dr Charlie Abela to find out whether AI can be prejudiced.
CROSSING THE POND
Dayna Camilleri Clarke caught up with Shane Hunter, chief executive officer at AquaBioTech Group, to discover the secrets to their resounding success.
THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK
In this 'new normal' COVID-19 tech world, how has Tech.mt coped during the pandemic? Dayna Camilleri Clarke finds out.
THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX
EBO.AI is an Artificial Intelligence enterprise which enables the automation and personalisation of engagement. Dayna Camilleri Clarke speaks to Dr Gege Gatt, chief executive officer of the London-based company; he is also a digital entrepreneur and IT-Law specialist.
A SCREENSHOT OF THE MDIA
Digital innovation can be viewed as a buzzword; however, Malta's vision in this sector is strong and forward-looking with the setting up of a dedicated Authority focusing on this element. MDIA chairman, Dr Joshua Ellul sat with Giselle Borg Olivier to delve into the function and need of such an Authority.
BREAKING BARRIERS
Techmag met up with Dr May Agius, a highly specialised speech and language therapist within ACTU (Access to Communication and Technology Unit) and a senior visiting lecturer at the University of Malta. Dr Agius has worked in the field of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) for over 20 years. Her key area of interest is how we can support children with autism who are minimally verbal to communicate.
A DIGITAL FUTURE
We may be in the same storm but not in the same boat. Theo Dix looks at the change the world is going through due to the pandemic that has changed the business landscape, some in a positive way, others not so much.
DON’T RISK A BYTE
Financial crime is a major concern for the business community, with numbers seemingly on the rise. Giselle Borg Olivier spoke to Nick Parfitt, head of market planning at Acuris Risk Intelligence to learn more about what goes on behind the scenes when it comes to weeding out the criminals.
LINE OF SIGHT
Giselle Borg Olivier spoke with architect David Xuereb, President of the Malta Chamber of Commerce, about the Chamber’s Economic Vision 2020 and the collaboration and vision between the Chamber and Tech.mt.
WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY
Giselle Borg Olivier sat down with Dana Farrugia, chief executive officer at Tech.mt to learn about the relatively new entity – what has it been up to and where is it going?