Over the past decade, the Baltic region has emerged as a recognised hub for financial innovation within the European Union. Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have built fintech-friendly ecosystems defined by advanced digital infrastructure, responsive regulators, and a highly skilled technology workforce.
These conditions have enabled locally founded companies to compete well beyond their home markets.
Despite the region’s relatively small population, Baltic entrepreneurs are increasingly building international financial services businesses.
One example is Aventus Group, a fintech-driven lending group led by Andrejus Trofimovas, which today operates across four continents and 20 countries.
As geopolitical risks rise and regulatory frameworks evolve globally, scaling a fintech business internationally requires not only capital and technology, but also adaptability, diversification, and strong governance.
In this interview, Andrejus Trofimovas shares how Aventus Group has navigated growth, disruption, and uncertainty while maintaining operational stability.
Building a fintech business after the financial crisis
Andrejus Trofimovas:
Aventus Group was established in 2009, at a time when many traditional sectors were still recovering from the global financial crisis. Before that, I worked in real estate, which was one of the industries most affected by the downturn.
Together with a few fellows, we decided to pivot toward consumer lending and launched our first operations in Lithuania and Latvia.
Very early on, it became clear that technology would be the foundation of sustainable growth. Financial services companies that invest in digital processes, automation, and data are simply more efficient and scalable. That is why we built our own IT infrastructure from the start, rather than relying on third-party solutions.
Local Baltic markets offered a strong testing ground, but our growth ambitions required access to larger and more diverse economies.
We therefore expanded first into Ukraine and Poland, and later into other markets across Europe, Asia, and other regions. Today, Aventus Group is active in 20 countries, with further international expansion planned for 2026.
Aventus Group today: scale, technology, and diversification
Andrejus Trofimovas:
Over the years, Aventus Group has issued more than EUR 7 billion in loans across multiple jurisdictions. Our focus remains on continuous product development and operational efficiency, supported by a large in-house IT team.
The goal is to ensure that our lending process is fast, transparent, and user-friendly in every market where we operate.
The Group’s business model is diversified across short-term and long-term consumer lending, leasing solutions, technology projects, and real estate development. This diversification allows us to balance risk and adapt to changing economic conditions.
Currently, Aventus Group operates in 20 countries worldwide. We continue to assess new markets as part of our long-term growth strategy, with particular attention to mature, well-regulated markets.
Operating through geopolitical disruption: lessons from Ukraine
Andrejus Trofimovas:
The war in Ukraine has had a profound impact on both a personal and professional level. Ukraine was an important market for Aventus Group, and I spent a significant amount of time there before the war.
I have immense respect for the resilience of the Ukrainian people and for our colleagues who continue working under extremely challenging conditions. All Aventus Group companies that operated in Ukraine prior to the war have continued their activities, maintaining operational discipline despite the circumstances.
From a business perspective, the war reinforced a critical principle: geographic diversification is essential. Aventus Group entered the crisis with a diversified portfolio, which allowed us to continue meeting our obligations to investors on the PeerBerry platform.
Within less than two years, profits generated by companies operating in other countries enabled us to repay over EUR 40 million, including interest, in war-affected loans to PeerBerry investors.
To date, PeerBerry remains the only platform that has fully repaid all loans impacted by the war, while many other market participants continue to face unresolved exposures in Ukraine or Russia.
Following the invasion, Aventus Group exited the Russian market immediately.
In parallel, the Group continues to support Ukraine through humanitarian initiatives. Over recent years, several million euros have been allocated to assist people affected by the war, including support for seriously ill children.
Managing complexity across multiple jurisdictions
Andrejus Trofimovas:
In an international fintech business, people and governance are the most important success factors. It is impossible to manage operations across multiple regions without strong local teams and trusted leadership in each country.
Regulatory compliance is another constant challenge. Each jurisdiction has its own legal framework, consumer protection rules, and supervisory expectations. The ability to monitor regulatory changes and adapt quickly is essential for long-term sustainability.
Beyond regulation, daily operations are influenced by macroeconomic trends, political developments, currency fluctuations, and local market dynamics. Managing these variables requires both strong systems and experienced decision-making.
Leadership, focus, and sustainability
Andrejus Trofimovas:
The strength of our team is what allows Aventus Group to continue growing. Our people are not only operators, but also a source of new ideas and strategic insight.
The nature of the business requires extensive international travel and constant engagement with different markets. This exposure helps me better understand cultural differences and customer behaviour, allowing us to tailor our services more effectively.
Featured image credit: Aventus Group
