The GapAI AutomationWho we work withApproachFintech GardenBlogStart a conversation

Operational & Compliance Cleanup. Then AI Automation That Sticks.

When operations are a mess, we come in and clean it up. Same for compliance. Then we design and implement AI automation so your team can focus on growth, not on running the machine by hand. Built for EMIs, PIs, MSBs, and PSPs across the EU & UK.

Start a conversationSee our approach
26+Licensing & Ops Procedures
5Licensing Jurisdictions
170+Fintech Garden Episodes

Most fintech failures do not happen because of bad ideas or weak technology. They happen because operations and compliance are bolted on instead of designed.

State A

Regulatory Approval

The license is granted. The policies are filed. On paper, everything works.

→
State B

Operational Reality

Operations are bolted on instead of architected. Payment stacks grow organically until acquirers or regulators say "no".

There is a gap between regulatory approval and operational reality. Novafin exists inside that gap.

Two problems. One team.

We clean up the mess first, manually, with people who have run this before. AI automation comes after, once the structure is right.

01

Operational Cleanup

Undocumented processes, no clear ownership, manual work outpacing growth. We map what actually happens today and rebuild the structure.

02

Compliance Cleanup

Gaps against DORA, the AI Act, licensing conditions, unresolved audit findings. We close them before a regulator or acquirer finds them.

03

AI Automation

Once the mess is cleaned up, we design and implement the workflows that keep it clean, so your team runs the business instead of the process.

Intentional selectivity.

We do not sell generic consulting hours. We work with leadership teams who understand that operations are a competitive advantage.

We work with

  • Fintech founders & CEOs
  • PSP / EMI / MSB leadership teams
  • B2B platforms embedding payments
  • Crypto–fiat or multi-rail businesses
  • Companies scaling across jurisdictions

We do not work with

  • Idea-stage startups
  • "Just build MVP fast" teams
  • Outsourcing or staff augmentation
  • Founders wanting advice without accountability
Operator Credibility

Led by Dumitru Condrea

Founder & Managing Partner | Ex-General Manager for Solaris Bank

15+ years leading licensed payment entities, PSD2 compliance frameworks, and multi-jurisdiction risk operations. Dumitru has opened EMI and PI licenses across Lithuania, Cyprus, Malta, the UK, and Romania, and builds risk engines for high-throughput PSPs.

Co-host of Fintech Garden (170+ episodes with global payment leaders) and architect of Novafin's AI automation methodology.

Connect on LinkedIn →

Diagnostic & architectural. Not open-ended consulting.

We integrate payments, compliance, and operations into a single operational model.

01

Operational Mapping

Clear current-state operational map identifying bottlenecks and inefficiencies.

02

Risk Architecture

Identification of regulatory, acquirer, and scaling risks before they break you.

03

Stack Analysis

Payment stack and provider dependency analysis to ensure redundancy and scale.

04

Gap Analysis

Bridging the divide between "what exists" and "what must exist to scale".

05

Scaling Roadmap

A prioritized, execution-ready roadmap for cross-border expansion.

06

Implementation

We don't just advise. We help you execute the architecture we design.

Our Product Ladder

Fixed-scope architecture and automation engagements designed for regulated entities.

Tier 1

Operational Diagnostic

€8,000 · 2 weeks fixed timeline

Complete operational map, payment stack dependency review, DORA/AI Act gap assessment, and 5 ranked automation opportunities with written audit report.

Tier 2

DORA & AI Act Governance Module

€35,000 · 4–6 weeks fixed build

Automated control mapping, transaction monitoring evidence harness, and examiner-ready compliance pack for regulated payment institutions.

Tier 3

Strategic Retainer

€8,000 / mo · Rolling retainer

Fractional regulatory and operations architect for multi-jurisdiction expansion and acquiring bank selection.

Tier 4

Managed Automation & Assurance

€2,800 / mo · Recurring service

Continuous automated health monitoring, model deprecation watch, and quarterly re-validation report for audit committees.

Novafin's perspective is reinforced through Fintech Garden, where ongoing conversations with operators, executives, and product leaders expose recurring patterns.

We don't invent claims we can't verify. This is a positioning based on actual profile, systems, operations, regulation, and payments expertise.

26+
Licensing & Ops Projects
Solaris Bank
Ex-General Manager
Vendor Risk & Security

Built for regulated environments.

01

Data Residency & Zero Exfiltration

Your compliance files, transaction logs, and internal audit records stay strictly within designated EU/UK hosting boundaries. Client data is never used to train public AI models.

02

DPA & DORA Alignment

We provide comprehensive Data Processing Agreements (DPA) and third-party risk documentation structured to satisfy bank vendor onboarding and regulatory examiners under DORA and PSD2/3.

03

Indemnity & Governance

Engagements operate under formal professional indemnity insurance and cyber risk controls tailored specifically for financial institutions and licensed payment operators.

04

Auditability & Human Control

Workflows operate with explicit human-in-the-loop approval checkpoints, deterministic fallback logic, and complete event logging structured for internal compliance and regulatory review.

Ready to architect?

Engagements are designed to transfer clarity quickly, reduce long-term operational risk, and enable founders to make irreversible decisions with confidence.

team@novafin.co