What We Do
In 2025, forward-thinking founders are no longer asking “Which provider should we partner with?” They’re asking “Why don’t we just own the license ourselves?” Relying on someone else’s infrastructure or BIN sponsorship means your business, margins, and client experience all depend on another company’s risk appetite. Launching your own fintech with an EMI license changes that completely.
At Foundese, we help founders transition from dependency to independence. We guide you from company incorporation and documentation to regulator approval, safeguarding account setup, and operational launch - giving you the same structure established fintechs use, adapted to your scale and goals.
Owning your own EMI license isn’t just about independence. It’s a long-term strategy that improves control, margins, and valuation. With your own license, you define your onboarding and compliance policies, not someone else’s. You control your unit economics instead of sharing margins with third-party providers. You can build direct partnerships with Mastercard, VISA, and SEPA facilitators. And you can design your own suite of debit and prepaid cards, e-wallets, or currency accounts without needing approval from an intermediary. For founders in higher-risk sectors such as crypto, forex, gambling, or adult industries, an EMI license provides the credibility and stability that white-label solutions simply cannot.
Every EMI must maintain sufficient share capital to meet regulatory expectations around solvency and operational resilience. The minimum capital requirement for a full EMI under the E-Money Directive is €350,000, but in practice most European regulators expect €400,000–€500,000 in paid-up share capital. Higher thresholds are typically requested when the EMI plans to offer card issuing or acquiring programs, serve high-risk clients, or operate cross-border within the EEA. Foundese helps structure this efficiently, from initial capitalization planning and shareholder funding to ongoing capital adequacy reporting once licensed.
Each European jurisdiction interprets EMI requirements differently. Timelines, capital expectations, and substance requirements all vary. Foundese supports projects in key hubs such as:
• EU EMI structures aligned with ECB and SEPA frameworks
• UK EMI licenses for GBP operations and Faster Payments access
• Alternative EMI-equivalent regimes for strategic non-EU expansion (case by case)
We help founders find the balance between speed, credibility, and long-term scalability.
No two fintech founders start from the same point. Foundese offers three EMI pathways, depending on your team and goals.
For experienced teams with in-house compliance and technology staff. We review and finalize your existing documentation for regulator submission. Best suited for fintechs that already have structure and need precision execution.
For growing startups or PSPs establishing their first EMI. We prepare the full policy suite, business plan, and handle all regulator communication. Ideal for teams building from a smaller foundation who want expert guidance throughout the process.
For investors or operators seeking a complete, ready-to-operate EMI. We manage the full process: company incorporation, licensing, core banking integration, safeguarding setup, and debit/prepaid card issuing and acquiring programs. Perfect for those who want a compliant, operational EMI without building an internal compliance department first.
Foundese has delivered in various jurisdictions around the EU, UK, and beyond. We bring hands-on experience in high-risk sectors such as crypto, gambling, forex, and adult, and know how to structure them compliantly under current regulatory frameworks. Our clients gain access to trusted legal, banking, and card program partners, and a clear, milestone-driven licensing process. We have helped existing EMIs turn their operations profitable and supported many founders in obtaining their licenses both within the EU and beyond. Each project is built on a foundation of clarity, efficiency, and credibility.
White-label and referral arrangements can be useful early on, but they also limit your control. Your policies, pricing, and products depend on another company’s decisions. Owning your own EMI license allows you to build your business on your own terms - controlling your operations, compliance, and growth strategy. It’s the difference between operating under someone else’s framework and creating your own.
Move beyond dependency and start building your own regulated payments business with full control, compliance, and credibility.
Contact Foundese Advisory to discuss which EMI package best fits your fintech plans.
