After ten years in Africa I have made the jump to Europe. It was a successful ten years, and I’m proud of what I accomplished. My wife and I were considering other options, and after she got a great job here in Berlin we knew it was the right time. She is going to be Head of Product for European Markets at N26, a digital bank in Berlin. It’s a new challenge for her and I’m so excited to see how she succeeds at it.
I am taking some time off to think about what I want to do next. I’m thinking about an MBA, starting a business, or joining one of the many excellent fintech companies in Berlin. There will be lots more time on my hands, so I’ll write more as well.
From a fintech perspective, my first impression of Berlin is not positive. There is a severe lack of payment infrastructure in this city, and most small merchants will require cash to transact. This made for some interesting efforts to translate over the last few days.
On the other hand, this city is incredible from a personal perspective. The city is easily accessible, the food is delicious and you can bike everywhere. It feels good to be back in a big city, and I’m thrilled for the opportunities and adventures that await.
If you want to get in touch about Berlin you can slide into my DMs at @joncgore