2017
Mission Europe!
Offering mobile payment combined with value-added services from and for Europe - that is Christian Pirkner's Mission, which he has been pursuing since its foundation.
The first European payment scheme
Before starting Bluecode, Christian lived in Silicon Valley, where he led his two previous startups to highly successful exits. His companies were responsible for path breaking innovations such as digital media recognition, music playlisting and video distribution serving clients such as Microsoft, Apple, Sony, Shazam and Netflix. When he came back to Austria he founded Bluecode, the first European payment scheme.
The bluecode family grows
The banking sector soon recognizes the need to promote European solutions and the first German and Austrian banks join the Bluecode payment scheme.
Leading in offering value-added mobile payments
The company is growing and app users are happy about the nationwide Bluecode acceptance at 85 % of all food stores in Austria (among others at Billa, Bipa, Merkur and the Spar Austria Group as well as the Globus Group and at Konsum in Germany)
2018
Over 700 Mio. Alipay users benefit from Bluecode
Since 2018, Alipay users have also been benefiting from the cooperation between Bluecode and the Asian payment giant. An expansion into the German market took place in the same year. This development was not only noticeable in Germany, but also throughout Europe.
2019
Bluecode makes new friends in Europe
Bluecode joins forces with ten leading European payment systems. The European Mobile Payment System Association (EMPSA) was born and has been working together on the European vision ever since. The future of mobile payments.
The vision one step closer
What the ECB and the Deutsche Bundesbank had vehemently called for in recent months is becoming reality: an independent payment scheme according to European standards.
Our values
Simplicity
We make complex things simple and easy to understand.
Growth
We focus on continuous innovation and grow by working hand in hand with our users and partners.
Transparency
We are fair and transparent in all our actions and avoid small print.
Fun
We all believe that it is important to have fun at work while being the best.
Management
Dr. Christian Pirkner
Chief Executive Officer
Christian Pirkner is a serial startup entrepreneur and CEO of Blue Code International AG. Bluecode is a highly disruptive, award winning mobile payment solution connecting European banks, merchants and customers. Before starting Bluecode, Christian lived in Silicon Valley where he led his two previous startups to highly successful exits. His companies were responsible for path breaking innovations such as digital media recognition, music playlisting and video distribution serving clients such as Microsoft, Apple, Sony, Shazam and Netflix. Christian also holds a Doctorate in Finance from the University of St. Gallen (Switzerland) and from New York University.
Dr. Jens Lütcke
Deputy Chief Executive Officer
As Deputy CEO of Bluecode, Jens Lütcke is responsible for partner management on the banking side. He holds a doctorate in law and has around 15 years of experience in the payment and e-commerce industry. As a co-initiator and former managing director of Sofort GmbH, he developed “Sofort Überweisung” into the leading direct transfer procedure in Europe within 12 years. After a successful sale to the Swedish European Klarna Group, he also managed the DACH region for Klarna from 2014 to 2017.
Georg Schardt
Chief Commercial Officer
Georg Schardt is responsible for the areas of merchant and bank cooperations at Bluecode. The payment expert has more than 30 years of experience from various management positions in the financial and retail sector. As co-initiator and managing director of Sofort GmbH, he was responsible for international sales and strategic cooperations in payment transactions for eight years. At the same time, he played a leading role in the development of the second EU Payment Services Directive (PSD2), which came into force in January 2018. Prior to that, he headed the Internet business of Conrad Electronic for nine years.
Daniel Koller
Chief Operating Officer
In his role as COO, Koller is responsible for operations, tech integration and project management and will drive the growth of the European mobile payment solution Bluecode by connecting new banks and merchants. The business graduate brings more than 15 years of experience from various management positions in the payment and e-commerce industry: As former COO of Sofort GmbH, he developed “Sofortüberweisung” into the leading European direct transfer method together with Jens Lütcke, ex-Sofort Managing Director and current Deputy CEO of Bluecode. After another stint at Klarna as Director Merchant Development, SME Sales & Commercial Operations for the DACH region, he was most recently responsible for more than four years as COO of Deutsche Handelsbank.
Mirko Thomas Oberholzer
Chief Corporate Officer
Mirko Thomas Oberholzer has many years of experience in the payment service and card business. As Head of Legal at SIX Group, he was responsible for building up the European acquiring business (PSD license in Luxembourg). After the takeover of Paylife Bank in Vienna by SIX, he was responsible as Managing Director for the “back office” division. For the Swiss Cornèr Bank (Lugano) he built up the international card issuing business (E-money Institute in Vaduz). For many years, Mirko Oberholzer was a member of the “Rules & Regulations” committee at MasterCard.
Would you like to become part of Bluecode?
Take a look at our vacancies and apply!
