“This year FinanceMalta already organized two BlockFinance events in Malta, with the first one discussing the application of distributed ledger technology (DLT), and another one on the AML [anti-money laundering] challenges relating to such innovative technologies. This time around we are putting the spotlight on STOs and the various aspects of this investment tool,” said Ivan Grech, Chief Operations Officer at FinanceMalta.

An STO is very similar to an initial coin offering (ICO): they are essentially tools used by blockchain and DLT startups for attracting funding for their ventures. In the case of ICOs, cryptocurrencies are offered, while in the case STOs, tokens are provided in exchange for investment.

Tokens differ from coins in that they fall under the status of securities. They are linked to an underlying investment asset in a way like stocks, bonds, real estate investment trusts (REIT) or other funds.

The BlockFinance event will cover various topics such as understanding STOs and the future of investing via new tokenised business models, the compliance element of STOs, as well as the opportunities, challenges and solutions in adopting STOs.

A key topic of the event will be the Malta Financial Services Authority’s (MFSA) consultation and feedback on STOs and the way forward as a result of this. One key presentation will focus on the advantages that blockchain technology applied to Corporate Governance could bring to companies in Malta, in particular with respect to the automation of tasks, documents and validations of legally binding actions.

FinanceMalta is a non-profit public-private initiative aiming to promote Malta as an international business and financial centre internationally. “It brings together and harnesses the resources of the industry and government, to ensure Malta maintains a modern and effective legal, regulatory and fiscal framework in which the financial services sector can continue to grow and prosper,” the press statement by FinanceMalta says.

The post FinanceMalta organises BlockFinance breakfast first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

During the open event, attendees will see how members participate in BNI by bringing bonafide referrals and/or visitors to their respective BNI chapter. Once a member, an individual gets access to BNI’s professional structure and a process of how that member can keep building relationships with other like-minded business people.

BNI also organises educational workshops and mentoring, in addition to the Members Success Programme (MSP): teaching members about more effective networking.

“BNI is about relationship-building. Therefore, the focus of membership is on the individual business,” BNI national director David Bullock said. “If one has a dream, if that person is focused, if the individual is ready to follow a process to become successful, then one has the right elements and fundamentals so that BNI generates more success for that particular business.”

Mr Bullock tags BNI membership as “exclusive”: only one person from each category, trade or profession is permitted to join a chapter, therefore, a member will not find competition from the same line of business in the same chapter.

“While all chapter members supply business referrals for the other members in that chapter. This way, all the members get access to more business opportunities. It is not rare to hear that two or three members join forces while retaining their autonomy, to create power groups and go for more and larger commercial initiatives,” added Mr Bullock.

Registration for the Malta BNI Joint Chapters event opens at 6.30 am. The event kicks off at 7.00 am and is scheduled to wind up around 9.30 am. Nevertheless, BNI advises to allocate up to 11.00 am for post-event networking.

It is recommended that one brings along about 100 business cards. Participation fee, including breakfast, is €13 per person. In case of interest, Maurizio Mamo and Carmel Bonello are to be contacted.

The post BNI Malta to hold Joint Chapter event on 7 November first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

The Malta Enterprise recently held the second edition of Startup Café; an event providing a space for newly established startups and the youth to meet and network with mentors from different fields and backgrounds.

During the event, seasoned entrepreneurs shared their experiences to help participants further develop their business enterprising skills. The event offers a venue to discuss ideas, pose questions or simply catch up with the current and emerging trends and business realities.

Startup Café is organised by Malta Enterprise with the support of the Ministry for the Economy, Investment and Small Businesses and Young Enterprise Malta Foundation (JAYE Malta), within the framework of the Malta SME Week.

Kurt Farrugia, CEO of Malta Enterprise has promised the startup community that the ME will continue working to help those interested in setting up their own business.

The post Malta Enterprise supports startups with €2m since 2015 first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

“Autumnal equinox”, as the Encyclopaedia Britannica says, happens when the Sun is exactly above the Equator and day-time and night-time are of equal length. Usually, the September equinox happens anytime on 21-24 September, due to the differences between the tropical and the calendar year. The spring equinox — or vernal equinox as the Encyclopaedia Britannica entry calls it — falls around 20-21 March.

A bit more than one month after the autumn equinox, on 27 October, the daylight saving time ends, which means that clocks are set back one hour at 3:00 am to 2:00 am. The resetting of the clocks, currently, happens twice a year. Although the European Union is drifting towards scrapping the DST and the majority of the Maltese public appears to be in favour of keeping to permanent summertime, it is still uncertain whether this very tradition will come to an end.

Due to the size of the venue, the tickets available for the HM tours are limited and the cost is €25 on online orders or on-site, while HM members only need to pay €15.

The post HM plans special tours for autumn equinox first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

Best-selling author and successful entrepreneur, Mr Ankersen has been the Chairman of FC Midtjylland — his childhood football club in Denmark — and director of the English club Brentford FC. His entrepreneur career allowed him to incorporate two fundamental life elements: work and passion.

Yet, how do business and football come together? “I believe that both worlds can learn a lot from each other. Running two football clubs today I take a lot of inspiration from best practices in the business life, especially in the way I think about business models and KPI [key performance indicator] systems,” Mr Ankersen says.

“At the same time, I believe business can learn a lot from sports, especially in terms of how athletes have to innovate to stay ahead of the game.”

Rasmus Ankersen, Brentford FC Co-Director of Football

Working with two clubs in two different countries, Mr Ankersen has to deal with cultural differences, especially in a sport such as a football, where connections between people are significant. Different countries have different approaches to playing sports, which is very visible when we see the national teams competing against each other during international events.

“I think there are some great cultural differences which you need to take into account when leading people. In the United Kingdom, there is a lot more respect for hierarchy than in Denmark for example,” the professional says. “But overall, I would say that the mechanics of running a football club are not too different. It is pretty much the same strategic challenges that both clubs face,” he says as he recounts his own experiences.

Tech bets its boots

Mr Ankersen appears to be highly enthusiastic about the possibility to improve the gameplay of football through technology.

In recent years, football has changed. What used to be more about passion, nowadays is often accompanied by figures and more and more by statistics. It is fundamental, therefore, to analyse a football club in different ways, and not just to talk about the ability of the players and the managers. Through the use of analyses, one can give a more objective idea of what the game is and how we should deal with it in this modern era.

“Football is a very emotional industry, and unfortunately, too many important decisions are still based on emotions rather than rational thinking. Analytics is a way of trying to take the emotions out of a decision, and if used correctly, I think it can make a huge difference to the quality of the decisions you make in a football club,” Mr Ankersen says.

His innovative vision of football is rooted in the inclusion of big data and is heartfelt across all his operations. He says big data analysis helps him to cut through all the evocative narratives created by media and fans. Since everyone has an opinion about how players play and how coaches manage — or should do so —, Mr Ankersen clarifies that analytics and hard facts can provide a much more objective answer, hence improving the decision making.

Celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, Business Leaders Malta is organising the Breakthrough – From Good to Great conference by Business Leaders Malta on 14 June at Teatru Manoel, Valletta. If you want to hear what Mr Ankersen has to share, come and see him in action at the event.

Business Leaders Malta started life as an alliance between three diverse companies in 2009 — Mdina International, Jugs Malta and Konnekt, fusing capabilities, experience, professionalism and creativity to pursue their original goal of creating a forum where thought leaders and professionals could come together to share knowledge and ideas.

The post Tech kicks off in football for better scoring first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

The show brought together key players from the sectors of artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and other emerging technologies to discuss and shape the future.

Prime Minister of Malta Joseph Muscat said in his keynote speech that emerging technologies should not be feared but rather embraced and utilised for offering a better life. He also said his government will keep supporting these verticals.

“The results have been overwhelming. We are staying a step ahead, helping the government bring all these great minds to Malta, fueling the Maltese economy by supporting the tech ecosystem,” commented Eman Pulis, Founder of Malta A.I. & Blockchain Summit and CEO of SiGMA Group. “There are plenty of incentives for A.I. and blockchain companies to relocate to Malta, so what better forum than a summit like this to bring everyone together. I think it is safe to assume that it is the largest show in its category worldwide so far this year.”

The list of VIP speakers included Brock Pierce, Ben Goertzel, Larry Sanger, Patrick Chang, and Noel Sharkey, all sharing valuable insights and enriching the audience in the process. Moreover, keynotes from industry giants Noel Sharkey and Bobby Lee had a fundamental meaning for the audience, with Bobby Lee emphatic on bitcoin’s staying power, saying he believed it would eventually go up to a million dollars, as the press release says.

The post AIBC Summit attracts 5,500 delegates for spring show first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

“The public the chance to get a taste of what the LifeCycle participants experience at the gruelling challenges organised annually in aid of renal patients in Malta,” the press statement says.

Three professional bikes, which have been used on past LifeCycle Challenges to Zambia, Tanzania and Oman, were set up at Nescafé stand, where participants were able to cycle on a static base for few minutes in return for a donation.

LifeCycle Founder Alan Curry thanked all those who took part, and the sponsor Nescafé 3in1 for making this another great event at raising money and awareness to help improve facilities for renal patients.

LifeCycle organises bike challenges in different countries to generate funding for the needs and care of kidney disease patients and their families. The foundation’s work focuses on three major areas; raising awareness, supporting treatment and research, and working hand in hand with the medical staff of Mater Dei Hospital’s Renal Unit.

This year, the LifeCycle Challenge is being organised for the 21st time, and it will be taking cyclists on a 2,000-km route from Vietnam to Laos and Cambodia ending at the World Heritage site of Angkor Wat temples. Training for the challenge starts this month.

The LifeCycle Foundation was founded in 1999 in Malta to create awareness and generate support for patients suffering from end-stage renal disease, according to the official page of the foundation. This year the challenge will take place between 9 September and 23 September across Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

The post LifeCycle charity event raises €1,142 first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

The Joint Chapters event will begin at 7:00 am with an early morning meeting at Salini Resort, bringing together representatives of various businesses to network practically with others.

Members participate in this global referral organisation by bringing “reliable referrals or visitors” to their BNI chapter. Once a member, BNI says will then offer “a professional structure and process” on how the member can keep building relationships with other business entities. This is done through educational workshops, mentoring and the Members Success Programme (MSP), which helps members learn how to become a more effective networker, the press statement says.

Only one person from each category, trade or profession is permitted to join a chapter. Therefore, one member would not have to compete with others in the same line of business, ensuring exclusivity, BNI says. Chapter members supply business referrals for fellow chapter members. “It is not rare to hear that two or three members join forces while retaining their autonomy, to create power groups”, says David Bullock, National Director of BNI.

The press release suggests that it is ideal to allocate up to 11:00 am for post-event networking. Participants are able to do 1-2-1 meetings with other participants and it is recommended that one brings at least 100 business cards. Participation fee, including breakfast, is €13 per person.

Registration for the Joint Chapters event opens at 6:30 am. The event will start at 7:00 am and end at around 9:00 am.

To find out more about BNI and its chapters in Malta, please contact either Maurizio Mamo or Carmel Bonello.

The post BNI to hold Joint Chapters event in Malta first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.