Volodymyr Gubskyi: The Co- Founder and CEO of IVM Markets, brings a wealth of 18 years’ experience in derivatives solutions and structured products. My career includes significant roles at top financial institutions such as Deutsche Bank

(where, I was the Regional Head of Structured Products), Royal Bank of Scotland, and Merrill Lynch. Co-Founder Ildar Farkhshatov’s expertise lies in the intersection of finance and technology, making him a key figure in the evolution of the structured products market.

Climbing to this position wouldn’t have been easy. Kindly share your initial struggles and how you tackled them.

Volodymyr Gubskyi: Our journey to establishing IVM Markets was not without challenges. One of the initial struggles was navigating the complex and traditionally manual structured products market and introducing a disruptive, AI-driven approach. The task involved not only developing advanced technology but also convincing a traditionally conservative industry of its efficacy. Overcoming these challenges required a combination of deep industry knowledge, technological innovation, and strategic partnerships. By focusing on the unique value proposition of IVM – optimizing structured products through AI – and leveraging his extensive network and industry experience, Myself and my Co-Founder Ildar, successfully positioned IVM as a leader in the space.

What services does your company provide?

Volodymyr Gubskyi: IVM Markets Inc. provides a cloud-based SaaS platform that performs distributed quantitative valuations, which, combined with big data, used in AI to guide investors towards optimal personalized investment choices within the structured products market. The platform enables wealth professionals to quickly convert client investment needs into actionable and optimal structured product choices. This includes AI curation of thematic stock/index lists, pricing thousands of equity structured product variations in seconds, and identifying ideas with high return potential and reduce the risk of investment.

What initiated you to start IVM Markets Inc?

Volodymyr Gubskyi: The motivation to start IVM Markets Inc. stemmed from my vision of making equity structured products the ultimate vehicle for personalized investing. During my two-decade career in bulge bracket banks, I observed a tendency towards repetitive, industrialized issuance of structured products, lacking personalization. This realization, combined with the understanding that distributors lacked the necessary tools to optimize numerous variations for each client, drove me and my Co-Founder Ildar to establish IVM. The goal is to empower financial distributors with an off-the-shelf online portal, enabling them to provide better service to their retail and high-net-worth clients through personalized structured product solutions.

As you work in different regions, how do you see the market, and what are the differences between regions?

Volodymyr Gubskyi: IVM Markets operates in a global landscape where the structured products market exhibits regional variations. In the United States, the market is rapidly growing, albeit from a smaller base, with a focus on digitalization and electronic access. Europe and Asia, with larger markets, are also experiencing growth but with decreasing brokerage margins due to increased competition and digitalization. The key trend across these regions is the shift towards digitalization and electronic trading, similar to what was observed in FX derivatives. However, each region has its nuances. For instance, in Europe and Asia, where the market is more mature, there’s a greater emphasis on optimizing existing structures and dealing with a more competitive environment. In contrast, the U.S. market, being relatively nascent, is witnessing a surge in new issuances and a rapid adoption of structured products. Over time USA is also starting to look at optimization, similarly to how Europe and Asia have been for a long time. Understanding these regional differences is crucial for IVM as it tailors its offerings to meet the specific needs and challenges of each market.

Through your experience, can you share how a new entrepreneur should plan their journey?

• Encourage diverse perspectives by dedicating 80% of your brainstorming efforts to discussions with individuals outside your organization, while allocating 20% to internal team members.
• Avoid developing use cases solely based on your own assumptions. Instead, actively listen to your clients’ needs and challenges.
• Explore and leverage the potential of social media. Find a way to make it work for your business.

“IVM Markets is the culmination of over eight decades of insight and experience in investment banking and capital markets”
“IVM’s platform is distinctive for its ability to guide investors towards the most optimal personalized investment”
“The key trend across these regions is the shift towards digitalization and electronic trading”