Valentin Stalf

Valentin Stalf is a fintech pioneer and co-founder of N26, Europe’s leading digital bank. He founded the company with longtime friend Maximilian Tayenthal in 2013, and served as CEO until September 2025. He has announced his intention to move to N26 Group’s Supervisory Board after a transition period. Today, N26 is present in 24 markets in Europe, and has transformed the way millions of people bank, save and invest.

An entrepreneur at heart, Stalf has always been close to the startup community. Before founding N26, he was an Entrepreneur in Residence for Rocket Internet, an incubator and investor in online startups. There, he helped to develop several companies in the mobile payments industry, including payleven and Paymill GmbH. Additionally, Stalf is an investor and has supported a number of startups in Europe as well as venture capital funds. He advises different investors across the globe. As Co-CEO of N26, Stalf was named one of Germany’s 50 most influential people by Business Insider, WELT, and POLITICO Europe recognizing leaders shaping the country’s future across politics, business, culture, and technology.

Beyond his entrepreneurial work, Stalf is a believer in digitalization and the role that education plays in creating our future. From 2018 to 2023, he was an active member of the University Council of the Vienna University of Economics and Business. Valentin has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management and a master’s degree in accounting and finance from the University of St. Gallen.