ABN AMRO and Motive Partners: A Powerful Partnership Driving Fintech Innovation and Growth

In a time when funding in the financial services industry is on the decline and venture capitalists are shrinking their investment programs, ABN AMRO and Motive Partners are forging a strategic partnership. This alliance brings together two leading venture platforms, combining their decades of fintech expertise and commitment to innovation. The goal is to strengthen the fintech sector and drive innovation by leveraging Motive Partners' ecosystem and experts with ABN AMRO's extensive network. As part of this partnership, Motive Ventures will manage the ABN AMRO Ventures Fund (AAV), consisting of 15 early-stage companies, while ABN AMRO will become a significant investor in Motive-managed vehicles.

The partnership between ABN AMRO and Motive Partners is founded on two key pillars. First, Motive Ventures will take over the management of AAV, which currently has €150 million in assets under management. Motive Partners' breadth and depth of expertise will ensure a seamless transition and enhance the capabilities of AAV. To facilitate this integration, Hugo Bongers, Managing Director and Head of ABN AMRO Ventures, and Tim Wanders, Executive Director at ABN AMRO, will join Motive Ventures as Partner and Principal, respectively.

Second, ABN AMRO will make substantial investments in Motive-managed vehicles. This demonstrates ABN AMRO's commitment to exploring new frontiers in fintech innovation in collaboration with Motive Partners.

Edwin van Bommel, Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer at ABN AMRO, is thrilled about the partnership and sees it as a significant milestone for the bank. He believes that joining forces with a leader in the rapidly evolving fintech landscape will not only drive innovation but also enhance ABN AMRO's competitive edge. This partnership aligns with ABN AMRO's strategic ambition to be a personal bank for their customers in the digital age.

Ramin Niroumand, Partner at Motive Partners and Head of Motive Ventures, praises ABN AMRO's leadership in European fintech investing. He highlights their successful investments and exits, along with their deep understanding of delivering strategic value to the global ecosystem. Having already collaborated on several co-investments, Ramin is delighted to welcome Hugo and Tim to the Motive Ventures team.

The strategic partnership is expected to be finalized in Q4 2023, with Hugo Bongers and Tim Wanders joining the Motive team by the end of the year.

About ABN AMRO:

ABN AMRO is a Northwest European bank headquartered in Amsterdam, serving retail, corporate, and private banking clients. Their aim is to be a personal bank in the digital age, supporting the transition to a sustainable society. With over 20,000 employees, ABN AMRO serves more than 5 million clients in Northwest Europe.

About Motive Partners:

Motive Partners is a specialist private equity firm with offices in New York City, London, and Berlin. They focus on venture, growth equity, and buyout investments in technology-enabled financial and business services companies in North America and Europe. Motive Partners brings differentiated expertise, connectivity, and capabilities to create long-term value in financial technology companies.

About Motive Ventures:

Motive Ventures is the early-stage investment arm of Motive Partners, focusing on pre-seed through Series A financial technology investments in North America and Europe. The team consists of 13 employees across Berlin, London, and New York and is backed by globally recognized tech entrepreneurs, industry veterans, leading institutions, and venture investors.

In conclusion, the strategic partnership between ABN AMRO and Motive Partners marks a significant step in driving fintech innovation and growth. By combining their expertise, resources, and networks, they aim to strengthen the fintech sector and deliver value to their clients and the wider ecosystem. This partnership comes at a crucial time when the financial services industry needs support and investment to fuel innovation and drive the digital transformation of banking and financial services.