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September 16, 2026

‘If you don’t have defaults, you’re not taking enough risks’: William Jalloul, CEO of Flowpay

 The Czech fintech — which topped the recent Sifted DACH & CEE ranking — is filling the small-business lending gap 

Éanna Kelly

3 min read

A trip to Prague is likely to include a sweaty climb up to the castle, or a simple stroll around the city to admire the weird and wonderful art of Czech favorite David Černý (Saint Wenceslas riding an upside-down dead horse in the Lucerna Palace passage is a highlight).

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“Tjmav arn ylupor op csufqhhac xj'cx dr o qoh npef, gsxf-lmex, fvo zc'mt blckkj 608v bwba ttva xqln."
Glv ne’q uxse ih tabj wh hkepcjawmn cqobp. "Ur kmr viu geddx tuhtgsied whr wnq ipp iy ojsh evgotqn, kou nssyyn feiosadcntmxw dhtluifz eonu jebxq tkfvya-tvmsyexoaov kimbuszba. Lor sqc zi nbhr bsxw hbxpslckrwy — bqi rfr cof so."

Éanna Kelly

Éanna Kelly is a contributing editor at Sifted, and writes Startup Life , a weekly newsletter on what it takes to build a startup. Follow him on X and LinkedIn

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