How to Get Noticed by International Fintech Investors

Aleksandra Tyurina of 13books Capital shares practical insights on approaching VCs, building investor relationships, scaling beyond domestic markets, and why execution matters more than previous founding experience.

by Teodora Atanasova

November 10, 2026 ∙ 5 min read

For fintech founders in Bulgaria, Romania, or Czechia, getting on the radar of an international VC fund is not always straightforward. Distance from major investment hubs, limited investor networks, and less mature startup ecosystems can make breaking through the noise an uphill battle.

We meet with Aleksandra Tyurina, FinTech Investor at 13books Capital, during Unbundled, the fintech track of Engaged Investments in Prague. Ahead of her panel discussion, she shared her perspective on what it takes for founders to catch the attention of London-based investors.

Getting noticed by investors may be more straightforward than founders expect. Sometimes, all it takes is a well-targeted, one-line message.

At a recent fintech conference, Tyurina received a short introduction from a founder who was preparing to pitch later that day. The message contained little more than a description of a startup operating at the intersection of AI and fintech, followed by an invitation to connect. "I didn't know what they were doing, but that one-liner, of course, got my attention because that's 100% relevant to what I'm looking for," she told me.

For Tyurina, founders do not necessarily need an established network to reach international investors. They need to understand whom they are approaching and why their business is relevant. And as the competition for promising fintech companies accelerates, those early conversations are becoming even more crucial.