We are changing the rules in favor of the real economy and business

Introduce yourself in a few sentences..

My name is Galia Dimitrova and I am a co-founder and managing partner at IRIS Solutions – the first licensed provider of open banking services (TPP) in Bulgaria, passported for Europe. After many years of experience as an executive director in the banking sector, today I am fully dedicated to building a sustainable European financial ecosystem – independent from global intermediaries and dominations.

 

How many years have you been with the company? How do you feel in it and what does this stage mean for you?

I am celebrating 7 years with the company. This is more than a jubilee – this is a journey where we transitioned from an idea to a real infrastructure for a new type of finance. I feel like part of a movement that not only creates products but defends principles: freedom, autonomy, and control over monetary flows in Europe.

 

What are the most memorable moments or achievements from your time here so far?

I will never forget the moment we received the first license from the BNB – a sign that a new era is beginning - the era of Open Finance. Today we are connected with over 70 banks in the region, and with IRIS Pay we built a mechanism for direct payments from account to account – without “tax” to card giants and without dependence on foreign infrastructures. This is an achievement that brings strategic value to the entire region. And it is not just about a new product – this is a natural continuation of our mission. For me, this is a big step towards true financial freedom for business – freedom from restrictions, from intermediaries, from old models. This is a moment of maturity for us as a team, but also of confidence that we are changing the rules – in favor of the real economy and business.

 

What motivates you to stay and develop specifically in this organization?

Because the company embodies the cause I believe in – the fight for financial independence in Europe. Open banking is not just a technical novelty – it is the democratization of access to finance, liberation from monopolies, a tool for economic sovereignty. The services we provide are our contribution to this fight. And I believe it is time for Southeast Europe to start the change.

 

How has your professional path changed from the first day until now – and what has it taught you?

The transition from traditional banking to fintech has given me a new perspective – I learned to think not within the framework of what is allowed, but in the direction of what is needed. I learned that it takes a lot of faith and conviction when you dare to question the system – and to build a new, fairer, and freer one.

 

What are your aspirations moving forward – both for yourself, and for the team or company that you are a part of?

I want our company to be not just a leader in open banking for the region, but a strategic player in building a digital financial sovereignty for all of Europe. I strive to build a real alternative to dependence on global card networks and foreign technology giants. For myself – to continue working for a Europe that controls its own data, money, and future. This is not just business. This is my mission.