On 18 November, students from the International Balkan University (IBU) attended a highly valuable lecture organized in cooperation with the Group for Non-Banking Financial Companies within the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia. Held at BISTLAB – the Laboratory for Balkan Economics and Finance – under the motto “By transforming financial transactions, we enrich our lives,” students had the opportunity to hear directly from experts about how fintech and the latest technologies are reshaping daily life and making access to financial services faster, simpler, and more efficient.

Lecturers from non-banking financial institutions shared real-life examples, current trends, and specific fintech products, offering students deep insight into how digital innovations—applications, software solutions, artificial intelligence, and machine learning—are already transforming financial decision-making for both individuals and businesses.

Biljana Mishikj, Executive Director of Iute Macedonia, presented how the company is already successfully applying AI, machine learning, and digital innovations in its everyday services. She pointed out to students that the future lies in the so-called embedded model of fintech services, which will become “invisible” and fully integrated into our daily routines. Payments, lending, and insurance will take place in the background of the apps we use to purchase goods or services—without the need to physically visit a bank or an insurance company. This will bring enormous convenience and a much deeper, closer relationship between the client and the fintech company. However, she stressed that the more invisible these services become, the greater the responsibility of companies: they must provide even more transparency, fair conditions, and absolute protection of personal data. The key to all of this is trust—without trust, the entire model loses its purpose.

Teodor Todorovski, General Manager of P2P.mk, presented the first Macedonian peer-to-peer investment platform that directly connects investors with financial companies. The platform stands out through full transparency, an intuitive user experience, and zero investment fees, making investing accessible, flexible, and modern—with just one click.

Georgi Rukov, Managing Partner at Kredisimo, emphasized that fintech is the story of how new technologies are changing the way we earn, spend, save, and exchange value. Its beginnings date back to 1866, when the transatlantic cable shortened the distance between continents and turned finance into pure information. From Morse code to blockchain, understanding this evolution reminds us that innovation is never merely technical—it continuously reshapes how people and markets interact. Technology creates tools. People transform the system.

This lecture is the first implemented activity following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia and the Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences at IBU. The goal of this cooperation is to improve financial literacy and inclusion, strengthen students’ digital and financial competencies, and prepare them for the rapidly evolving world of digital finance.