FinanceFeeds attended the fourth edition of Dealers Connect, an FX industry event hosted by Your Bourse and Yourfintech that brings together FX dealers and industry professionals for a memorable evening of networking, insights, and fun.
Dealers Connect 4.0, which took place earlier this month at Noa Restaurant in Limassol, promoted two engaging panel discussions, moderated by Elina Pedersen, Сo-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer of Your Bourse, and Roman Garanin, Founder and CEO of Yourfintech.
The first panel focused on the challenges and opportunities trading desks faced in 2024 and featured Miroslav Georgiev (Taurex & Zenfinex), Michalis Neofytou (ATFX & ATFX Connect), and Lochlan White (Scope Prime), who shared their experiences on how trading books evolved, new tools that worked, and how to address emerging risks.
The second panel explored the design of scalable and affordable trading platforms and featured Alexis Droussiotis (Match-Trade Technologies) and Elena Gorbacheva (Devexperts), who discussed building platforms that meet the needs of modern traders, integrating effective risk management tools, and supporting both startups and established brokers.
FinanceFeeds interviews Your Bourse and Yourfintech executives
FinanceFeeds Editor-in-Chief Nikolai Isayev had the opportunity to speak with Your Bourse’s Elina Pedersen and Yourfintech’s Roman Garaning to discuss innovation, industry challenges, and the mission behind the Dealers Connect initiative.
Elina Pedersen highlighted the centrality of vision in Your Bourse’s approach to innovation. “I think it starts with vision. Many companies talk about vision, but often it doesn’t translate into meaningful action. That’s not the case with Your Bourse. The founders have decades of experience in the industry. When we started, our goal was to develop innovative solutions that not only drive change but also provide exceptional value to our clients. Our solutions help our clients better serve their customers and, in many cases, remove inherent conflicts of interest.
Pedersen also elaborated on the driving force behind Dealers Connect. The initiative, which includes events, a Telegram group, and a podcast series, aims to break the closed nature of the industry.
“The idea aligns with our vision of driving positive change in the industry. Our sector has faced a lot of scrutiny and negativity over the years. It’s also a very closed industry, and we wanted to break that mold. Dealers Connect isn’t just an event; it’s an ecosystem. It includes a Telegram group, a podcast series, and knowledge-sharing initiatives. We’ve received fantastic feedback from brokers who say they now better understand the different departments within their businesses. It’s helping them operate more effectively and reducing the siloed nature of the industry.”
Breaking down the “Chinese Wall” in the FX industry
Roman Garanin reflected on the mission of Dealers Connect, emphasizing its role in fostering transparency and collaboration.
“Initially, the mission was to bring people from the same industry together to facilitate communication and problem-solving. Over time, we’ve seen growing awareness and understanding of the industry among participants. Traditionally, our industry has operated behind a sort of “Chinese wall,” with many unwilling to share processes or best practices. This lack of transparency often leads to inefficiencies and poor client experiences. Dealers Connect sheds light on these issues by promoting openness and the adoption of best practices. The ultimate goal is to improve both industry standards and client outcomes.”
Unlike larger conferences, Dealers Connect prides itself on being a boutique event. According to Pedersen, the focus is on knowledge-sharing rather than commercial agendas. “Dealers Connect is a boutique event, focused on knowledge-sharing rather than commercial agendas. We carefully curate the attendees to ensure high-quality discussions. Unlike larger events filled with salespeople, we prioritize content and meaningful dialogue. This approach has been so successful that demand for participation has outstripped our capacity. For this event, we even had to decline some applications. Perhaps next time we’ll need to book a stadium!”
Roman Garaning agreed that the Dealers Connect initiative has been a success and highlighted its value for FX industry participants. “In Cyprus alone, there are hundreds of dealers. Many of them have extensive histories, and what we do is break down these complexities into actionable insights. We’ve hosted previous talks about revenue models, cost structures, and operational efficiency. Most of our clients are startups or companies with traffic but no clear strategy to monetize it. We help them run their businesses efficiently and sustainably.
As the interview concluded, Isayev thanked Pedersen and Garanin for the conversation and their contributions to the industry. While the challenges of 2024 remain fresh, the optimism and collaboration showcased at Dealers Connect 4.0 hint at a promising future. “Happy holidays,” Pedersen said, reflecting the event’s warm and collaborative spirit.
