FinTech.Lab | Bayes Business School

About the FinTech.Lab

Our mission statement

Research FinTech and its satellite technologies in business applications, explore how adjacent industries use digital technologies and Industry 4.0 tools for transformation; how do they influence upcoming disruptions
Encourage entrepreneurship with innovative technologies
Transfer newly acquired knowledge to higher and executive education.

Events

Crypto: Everything you need to know about

🪙Fintech.lab inaugural event tackles the topic of Crypto in the company of esteemed industry experts and academics.

We were honoured to have had nearly 200 registrations for the inaugural Fintech.lab Crypto Event ‘Crypto: Everything you need to know about’, held at Bayes Business School on Tuesday 3 March. The event was very well attended by a varied audience of students, alumni, academics, industry friends, crypto enthusiasts and lab friends.

Professor Sir Anthony Finkelstein, President of City St George’s, University of London, opened proceedings, sharing his experiences from the industry and reminding us that technologies are created to solve problems. This was followed by presentations from:

• George Politis (MSc Shipping, Trade and Finance, 1997), Bayes FinTech.lab director, with an introduction to crypto, bitcoin, security tokens, utility tokens, stablecoins, memecoins and crypto exchanges.

• Alexandre Gaillard, CEO InvestGlass, on API connectivity for crypto, stablecoin derived agentic AI, Crypto KYC onboarding frictions and agentic AI future on services.

• Dr. Tatiana Franus, Lecturer in Finance at Bayes Business School, discussing her research on crypto adoption, volatility, crypto correlations and trading characteristics.

• Avramis Despotis, CEO TRADEPEDIA LTD, with a colourful workshop on technical analysis, Dow theory, Fibonacci retracements, swings and time frames.

The session concluded with a vibrant round of Q&A, well into the reception time that followed. Thanks go to all who assisted in setting up the event as well as all attendees.

Technologies researched

Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Artificial Neural Networks, Deep Learning, Structured Data, Data Analytics
Blockchain, Cryptocurrencies, Crypto exchanges, Distributed Ledger Technologies, Smart Contracts, ICOs (Initial Coin Offerings), STOs (Security Token Offerings), NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), DeFi, DAOs (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations)
Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Mixed Reality, the Metaverse
Equity Crowdfunding, P2P Lending, Digital Fractured Asset Ownership, Wallets
APIs, Online Platforms, Cloud Technologies, Edge/Fog Computing
3D Printing, 5G, Web 3.0

Case studies researched

Artificial Intelligence: Predict asset price movements/freight rates, macro indicators, AML policies, psychology behavioural analytics, back office operations.
Blockchain: Securities settlements, international trade clearing, smart contracts, commodity traceability, digital ID.
Cryptocurrencies: Tokens (ICOs, STOs, NFTs), FIAT tokens, KYC issues, crypto ecosystem.
Crowdfunding: Equity/debt, institutional/retail, reward/charity, industry applications.
Virtual/Augmented Reality: Robo advisory, virtual office/business.
3D Printing: end consumer local manufacturing, additive printing economies.
Online Platforms: APIs, Online marketplaces, freight/energy exchanges, lending platforms, commodity trade, electronic bill of lading, electronic letter of credit, open banking
5G: Free ultra-fast broadband for everyone.

FinTech.Lab Director

George Politis has a combined 25 year experience in Ship Management and Finance. Since 2010, he is CEO of Capital Securities, a regulated global brokerage / asset management firm, operating in 25 EU countries, members of the Athens Exchange. Prior to that, he was CEO at ANPO Shipping, a family-owned ship owning/management group, operating a large specialized sugar carrying fleet. Earlier in his career, he was involved in equity and alternatives research and trading in the family office and in shipping software development. He started out as a shipbroker in the group’s London office.

He grew up in Piraeus, studied in Shipping and Finance at Southampton (BSc), Cardiff (MSc) and London/Cass (MSc), Fintech at Oxford/Said (Executive), and is currently a member of the Abundance Programme at Singularity University (Silicon Valley). Since 2017, he is an ambassador and mentor for City, University of London.

He created the Fintech in Shipping, Energy, Trade & Finance course at Bayes Business School and is a lecturer for the MSc Programmes at the Costas Grammenos Shipping Centre.