Third year in a row, Money Motion is giving FinTech startups the opportunity to shine and grow. Applications are open until February 28th with the most valuable prize pool so far
Micro, small and medium enterprises are the backbone of the European economy. More than 90 percent of all companies are small entrepreneurs who have been experiencing a decline in their productivity due to regulation and administration. A huge part of which is invoicing and financial reporting. It was also a great opportunity for a small Croatian team of a seasoned banking professional and two experienced engineers to offer an indispensable platform that will change the game for a growing number of their clients.
Their story started back in 2022, and a year ago, FIRA Solutions, an invoicing and financial reporting application that simplifies financial management, stepped onto the Money Motion Startup Pitch Competition stage alongside 14 startups from 12 different countries. Today, they’re doubling their user base, expanding internationally, and preparing for even bigger milestones.
We caught up with Marko Jurjević, CEO of FIRA Solutions, to talk about the impact of Money Motion, their journey since, and what’s next.
1. How was your experience at last year’s MoMo Startup Pitch competition?
It was a fantastic event – well-organized and professional. There were many interesting people, and the pitch competition was executed at a high level. It took me some time to practice my pitch to fit the 5-minute slot, and I happily managed to deliver it on time. It was engaging to both the audience and the jury which resulted in valuable positive feedback afterwards, even though we didn’t make it into the top three. Overall, it was a great opportunity to present FIRA and network.
2. Take us through your last year since the competition. Which major events have you gone through?
It’s been an incredible year. We’ve doubled the number of FIRA users and more than doubled our revenue. We’ve also added exciting features, like expanding open banking access to 30 European countries and integrating with about 2,500 banks and payment providers. We implemented an AI-powered OCR model for invoice scanning and data extraction. Our international expansion is underway, with Austria as our first target market.
3. How has being part of MoMo influenced your business since?
Although MoMo didn’t directly influence our business model – since we are bootstrapped and not seeking investors – the connections we made within the financial sector have been invaluable. They might lead to future partnerships. Plus, the company behind MoMo became a FIRA user, which has been great.
4. In terms of scaling your business further, what are your next steps?
We had an incredible start into 2025 with strong user and revenue growth, and we anticipate this trend to continue throughout the year. Starting in 2026, eInvoices will become mandatory for B2B businesses in Croatia, and we expect this to boost our growth, as FIRA fully supports eInvoice issuance. Austria remains a key focus for expansion, and we plan to enter Germany later this year.
5. Given the wide adoption of AI and the EU announcement of a 200-billion-euro investment in AI, do you see an opportunity there for FIRA?
AI will play a big role in FIRA’s future. We’re implementing an AI chatbot that, we believe, can handle 90% of customer inquiries. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella recently stated that SaaS will be replaced by AIaaS in the future, and I believe this vision is not far off. Imagine a future where a user can issue an invoice simply by talking to an AI, automating the entire process. However, while the frontend will evolve, the backend and system architecture will remain crucial for SaaS solutions like FIRA.
6. Where do you see FIRA in the next five years?
In five years, FIRA will transform from an invoicing and financial reporting app into a comprehensive financial management platform that entrepreneurs use daily. Our vision is to make FIRA not just a tool, but an active partner in managing and tracking finances. A key part of this goal is embedded financing – leveraging the deep data insights FIRA gathers about users’ businesses to provide smarter financial solutions. For example, if a user has outstanding invoices, FIRA could offer invoice financing to improve cash flow. If a user has excess liquidity, we could suggest investment opportunities. This combination of financial automation and embedded financing will make FIRA essential to entrepreneurs’ daily workflows.
7. Which advice would you give to our finalists this year? What is your secret spice in preparing a pitch?
Keep it simple. Do not overload your slides – sometimes just a few words are enough to make a lasting impression. The delivery is far more important than the deck. Remember, you are speaking to an audience that has no prior knowledge of what you are doing, so clarity is key.
8. Will we be seeing you again at this year’s MoMo?
Absolutely! The MoMo team has invited me to participate in a Fight Club format, and I have already started training for it. I’m really looking forward to being part of MoMo 2025 again!
Ready to pitch your startup?
The MoMo Startup Pitch Competition is open for innovative startups seeking their next big opportunity. Apply by February 28th for a chance to win a share of the 50,000€ prize fund.
The largest prize fund up-to-date includes cash prizes, a spot in the Fundraising Programme, a MoMo2026 booth, and 30,000€ worth of partner services.
Apply now, and be ready to take your startup to the next level.
