The destiny is clear, and so is, how to get there
This September, it will be a year since I joined 11Onze as Chief Technology Officer. A year, now that I think of it, is not a long time, but in a young and dynamic company like 11Onze, the feeling is that I have been there for a long time.
Raul Arribas, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of 11Onze
As Chief Technology Officer of 11Onze, my task is to oversee the entire technology resources of the business. Nowadays, whether they want to recognise it or not, almost all companies are technology companies. From different sectors, but all technology based. Any company in any sector, in the 21st century, needs technology to operate efficiently and to be not only competitive, but even viable. And financial businesses are no exception.
At 11Onze, we use technology in all areas of the company. We use it, obviously, to create our product and reach our customers (with La Plaça and El Canut). But technology is also essential in the rest of our processes. Without it, it would not be possible to meet the needs of people the way we do, whether by chat or with 11Onze a Casa, for example. Nor would we be able to work collaboratively as we do between all internal departments, as well as with external suppliers.
Therefore, the word technology encompasses many aspects and functions within a company like 11Onze, sometimes visible and sometimes invisible to our customers. That’s why it’s vital to maintain order and outline our present and future in terms of technology, and take advantage of the best the market has to offer in order to constantly improve the products and services we can offer our community.
The power of teamwork
To achieve all this requires, to begin with, a talented team with diverse expertise to keep on top of each of these often very disparate technological aspects. And it is precisely the constitution and evolution of this team that is one of the main tasks of the Chief Technology Officer. At 11Onze, we are building our team, and as we do so, we also collaborate with external suppliers who help us where we fall short.
One of the other responsibilities of a position like this is to define what technologies we will use, how we will use them, and why. Technology must always be a means to an end, not the end itself. Therefore, analysing the different alternatives on the market and choosing the one best suited to our needs in each case is key to building the 11Onze we all want.
And, to cut it short, a third key responsibility of the Chief Technology Officer is to go out and explain our project, to be seen and, at the same time, to make the necessary contacts to establish the relationships and partnerships that will allow us to advance better and faster towards our ultimate goal: to be the financial institution that we all deserve. The road is difficult and long, but the destination is clear, and so is the way to get there.
11Onze is the community fintech of Catalonia. Open an account by downloading the super app El Canut for Android or iOS and join the revolution!
11Onze District is 11Onze’s in-house advertising agency, designed to serve other brands. Created in record time. It puts 11Onze at the forefront of programmatic advertising. Discover how 11Onze District was created, with Gemma Vallet.
Gemma Vallet, director and driving force behind 11Onze District
11Onze District Agency was born as a concept one summer afternoon in 2021 on the terrace of a country house in Maresme (Vallès Oriental, Barcelona, Catalonia). At that time, the president of 11Onze, James Sène, was clear that any social network such as the one that supports the 11Onze community, just like Meta or TikTok or Google, must have its own agency to provide service to brands.
James, at that time, called it 11Onze Agency, and entrusted its creation to Gemma Vallet, director and promoter of the 11Onze agency, who in addition to providing it with services aligned with the vision of the president of 11Onze and the market, added: District or District, because one of the main objectives of the agency is to provide a relevant space, a showcase or a digital or hybrid showroom to brands and companies within the 11onze.cat community, and around the world.
One year later, at 11Onze District, we have just passed the first start-up phase, the embryonic phase of defining the model and testing the business model. At this point, we have already defined the 11Onze District platform as an agency: what it is, the basic advertising and marketing services it offers, and the real value it provides in terms of branding and business.
Who's who, Gemma Vallet
As a result of 11Onze’s brand reputation and our background in large multinational advertising groups, we have been able to attract, in record time, leading partners in programmatic advertising to be able to activate digital campaigns both locally and internationally with all the guarantees. We will also soon be able to offer native video advertising content within 11onze.cat, thanks to a leading OTT platform.
We have equipped 11Onze District with the latest advertising and marketing technology in record time. Furthermore, we have to bear in mind that traditional media agencies and large general advertising service agencies have been digitising their services for more than a decade, while 11Onze District, in just 3 months, has been able to operate and offer leading, proven quality services in programmatic advertising, among other services.
We are preparing and working to enter into a phase of organic growth at the business level.
11Onze District is working to achieve 3 major challenges:
–To bring differential value to the people who make up the 11Onze community, to the members registered in 11onze.cat, through innovative, sustainable brands such as Natulim or Basi Group, among other brands with which we build exclusive proposals for the 11Onze community.
-To bring a unique value to the brands that we incorporate into the 11onze.cat community through the creation of special campaigns and to offer them a space, a digital district, and in the future, a hybrid space.
At the 11Onze District agency, we manage everything from the ideation of the campaign, management, production and activation, to digital and business analytics. We are able to activate and disseminate the campaigns of 11Onze’s partner brands or friendly brands within 11onze.cat, their own channels. And to reiterate, 11Onze District is able to manage and contract campaigns in both local and international digital media, thanks to programmatic advertising and artificial intelligence. 11Onze District is able to innovate in branded content and advertising formats such as social selling and live shopping through our network of agents and brand ambassadors.
-The third challenge of 11Onze District is to create and activate a community of entrepreneurs, professionals, creators and creatives to promote knowledge around fintech and the new economy. We are working in this direction with the Fintech Talks, talks that promote critical thinking and open discussion as a way of contributing knowledge to anticipate the challenges of the new economy and finance. At this point, the Fintech Talks have their epicentre in Barcelona, a city that is a benchmark as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.
11Onze District, as an agency, is unique, almost pioneering, and innovative, and we will certainly be able to create quality jobs for marketers, creatives, strategy and programmatic advertising experts. We will also train new cognitive consultants who are experts in social media algorithms and search engines, to whom we will be able to bring knowledge, at the same time that we will be able to learn from them and grow.
In the next 2-3 years we have to be able to be a respected benchmark in the advertising and marketing world for quality and efficiency, as a leading agency in programmatic advertising, social selling and content marketing, and generate wealth as a top agency.
Welcome to 11Onze District!
11Onze is the community fintech of Catalonia. Open an account by downloading the super app El Canut for Android or iOS and join the revolution!
The Catalan community fintech has filed a complaint with the Mossos d’Esquadra against the Alicante entity and its collaborators for misappropriation of assets.
As we told you a few days ago, Banco Sabadell is illegally withholding money from 11Onze. Since July 7th, we have made repeated requests to clarify the reasons for the unjustified blocking of the operating account of one of 11Onze’s companies. Given the absolute lack of information, we have denounced them for misappropriation. We will keep you informed.
11Onze is the community fintech of Catalonia. Open an account by downloading the super app El Canut for Android or iOS and join the revolution!
El departament de continguts i mitjans té l’objectiu d’explicar què és 11Onze o, millor dit, d’ensenyar-ho. Enfoca la comunicació de l’empresa transmetent-ne els valors i les ganes de canviar-ho tot.
Toni Mata, director de continguts i mitjans d’11Onze
No us molesta quan qualsevol banc o empresa que us vol vendre alguna cosa us tracta com si tinguessiu problemes de comprensió? Com si el públic, el client potencial, fos un ramat al qual se li han de donar unes indicacions concretes per a que entri dins del tancat? A mi m’emprenya molt. I crec que els ciutadans (per a empreses: els consumidors) ja comencem a tenir prou cultura audiovisual per entendre quan ens estan intentant prendre el pèl i quan no.
La meva feina al capdavant del departament de continguts i mitjans d’11Onze va en una altra direcció. M’agrada que siguem útils, m’agrada que expliquem les coses tal com són, m’agrada que siguem imprevisibles. Per això no contractem caríssimes agències de publicitat que ens convencerien d’idees suposadament modernes però preconcebudes, amb una fotografia perfecta i uns actors guapíssims. No ho fem això. No ens interessa. Ja ho fan tots els altres. I fa una mica de riure, la veritat.
Deixeu-me explicar-me amb exemples. Quan La Caixa fa un espot que sembla una peli universitària ianqui on ens parla d’un noi que han ajudat i que no sap si fer-se ‘traper’ o jugar a futbol americà… està molt bé, però és mentida. Sóc de Sabadell i això està rodat a les pistes de la JAS (Joventut Atlètica de Sabadell), amb els preciosos cingles que obre el Ripoll de fons. El problema és que a Sabadell no hi ha cap equip de futbol americà i que en els equips de rugbi de la ciutat (que estan a l’altra punta de Sabadell, no pas allà), no hi consta aquest noi.
Però si busques en Munic HB veuràs que sí que li va molt bé en la música. Tot i que, és clar, aquesta potser no és la imatge que volen els promotors de l’espot. És el barri de Les Termes de Sabadell, allò s’assembla més al Baltimore de The Wire que a l’upper Diagonal dels directius de l’entitat valenciana. Total: que tot és mentida. Que s’han gastat una pasta per explicar-nos un conte de fades perquè la veritat, la realitat suburbial, no els deu agradar.
Un bany de realitat
Aquí som diferents. A 11Onze ensenyem realitat. Maca? Lletja? Això tant hi fa, és la que tenim. No és només La Caixa qui ho fa això, ho fa tothom, en una lamentable carrera per edulcorar el món en lloc de fer-lo comprensible o transformar-lo.
Aquests són per a mi els eixos de la comunicació d’11Onze. D’entrada fem servir el Magazine, 11Onze Podcast, 11Onze TV i Aprendre per entendre com funciona l’economia, quins són els mecanismes del món financer. Perquè, ens agradi o no, és la música que sona. Per tant, val més que aprenguem a ballar-la.
Un cop la comunitat sigui prou gran, ja mirarem de canviar la música. Perquè el següent pas és transformar la realitat, però això sí que ho haurem de fer entre tots. Per això els nostres treballadors fan l’esforç de fer-nos abastables temes d’interès, per posar damunt la taula coneixements que ens cal tenir. I pel mateix motiu transformador ens agrada comptar amb veus joves com les del Pasta Z o amb gent que posa en marxa idees en les que creu i que anem descobrint a Impulsors. Això és el que volem: persones que miren el món, es qüestionen què hi poden fer i es posen a construïr-ho. D’abaix a dalt.
Qui és qui: Toni Mata.
Aversió a la mentida
Mireu, és que soc escriptor, de formació periodista i de trajectòria guionista de programes d’entreteniment. És un poti-poti estrany, ho sé. Ho dic perquè es comprengui la meva aversió absoluta cap a l’artificiositat i la mentida. Quan un escriptor escriu des del cor, de coses que li importen, es nota. Quan un periodista explica els fets, és diàfan, no li cal recargolar l’explicació. Quan un guionista és divertit, la gent riu o no riu. Doncs per a mi, el funcionament empresarial hauria de seguir aquestes directrius: si el que fa la teva empresa és bo per a la gent, fes-ho. Si no, tanca. Si el que has dir és veritat, fes-ho. Si no, tanca. Si vols explicar una història, que sigui interessant. Si no, tanca. No m’atabalis.
És per això que per a mi la veritat no és que superi la ficció, és que la tritura. La mentida (en banca, en publicitat, en política, en màrqueting) ha fet massa mal i ha enveritat la comunicació. Prou. Ja no sabem què és veritat i què és mentida. Els missatges corporatius i la desinformació es barregen en una amalgama indestriable, per això vam posar en marxa 11Onze Check, perquè ja n’hi ha prou d’aquest putiferi on s’alliten la banca i els mitjans contínuament. Tenim dret a que no ens enganyin.
El pes del documental
En definitiva: el meu repte és força divertit. Entre d’altres coses perquè puc veure com l’antic model es dessagna intentant fer el que nosaltres fem, que els hi és antinatural. Nosaltres només hem de posar càmeres en el dia a dia d’11Onze, donant molt pes al documental. Amb L’Academy vam ensenyar com formàvem els treballadors, amb Coneixent van descobrir els primers caps d’11Onze, amb En 4 dies vam ensenyar el procés de llançament d’El Canut i vam destapar totes les traves que ens va posar la banca tradicional. Què més farem? Seguir explicant aquesta història. Tot just estem a la primera temporada.
Hem vingut a aprendre, a créixer junts, a triturar les mentides i a canviar allò que no ens agrada. I a més, ho farem fent festa, ballant rumba. Havíeu vist mai una entitat financera anunciada per gitanos? Bé, doncs hem vingut a fer coses que no s’han fet mai.
La rumba dels calerons.
The Catalan brand of ecological detergents presents new fragrances and a jasmine-scented floor cleaner. 3 lots will be raffled among the people who comment on this news!
The collaboration between 11Onze and Natulim continues with the aim of offering useful products for the people of La Plaça. Now, the company led by David Weiss and Lluís Montull, presents new fragrances for washing clothes and a product that customers demanded: a soil cleaner.
The detergents can be unscented, with a floral scent or with a lavender scent. The floor cleaner is available with a jasmine scent and can clean 100 square meters with just one soluble strip of soap, which is placed directly in the bucket. The product is designed for all types of floors, including wood and marble.
What can you win at La Plaça?
Among all the people who comment on this article, we will draw 3 Natulim lots that will include:
-2 Natulim natural detergent.
-2 Natulim floral detergent.
-2 Natulim lavender detergent.
-2 Natulim jasmine floor cleaner.
In total: clean clothes and floors for quite a long time, really.
How to participate?
All you have to do is comment on this article and tell us what you like most or least about Natulim.
Among all the participants we will do a draw and we will contact you to send you your Natulim lot. There will be 3 winners and you have time to participate until August 3rd.
Obviously, to participate you need to be registered at La Plaça, so if you know someone who might be interested in this promotion, let them know! If you want to register at La Plaça, click here.
11Onze is the community fintech of Catalonia. Open an account by downloading the super app El Canut for Android or iOS and join the revolution!
The Alicante-based bank has held up, without justification, an intercompany transfer from 11Onze for more than a week. From 11Onze, it is interpreted as a desperate manoeuvre to try to boycott the progress of the Catalan community fintech.
Last Wednesday, 6 July, 11Onze made a transfer between companies in the group, to carry out its ordinary tasks. A regular operation that has been carried out many times before in recent months without any issue. But this time, Banco Sabadell blocked the arrival of the money, without even notifying 11Onze.
When prompted by Oriol Tafanell, 11Onze’s financial director, Banco Sabadell has never justified the reason for blocking 11Onze’s funds. On Friday 8 July, 11Onze accredited the origin of the money, but it has continued to be blocked. “It doesn’t make any sense because we have made this same transaction many times for larger amounts. They know perfectly well where the money comes from and how we use it”, assured Tafanell.
On 14 July the money was still blocked, in an indisputably illegal manner and for no accredited reason. So Tafanell went to the Banco Sabadell branch in Terrassa, which held the account in question.
Bad faith and lack of knowledge
Once there, there is a new surprise: the head office (Alicante) has informed the branch workers that 11Onze’s money can be unblocked as long as it is used to pay salaries or taxes. One more abuse. “Banco Sabadell cannot tell 11Onze how to use its money, which, moreover, has been blocked for no accredited reason, which is blatantly illegal,” explained Tafanell. In the eyes of 11Onze, it is clear that there is a desire to cause harm to the entity, to a competitor that bothers them. “They have been watching the movement of money for months, seeing the flight of capital from their clients to 11Onze. And they are not amused. But just because they don’t like it doesn’t mean they can stop it”, Tafanell remarked.
The director who doesn’t manage
At this point, 11Onze forced an urgent meeting with the director of the office in question. An unsuccessful meeting because, as the director admitted to Tafanell, everything is decided from Alicante and the offices are purely intermediaries. Insisting on the illegality of the blockade, Tafanell demanded to know the reasons, based on some regulation or law. “For our part, there is no breach of the law against the prevention of money laundering and the financing of terrorism, which is what is normally monitored in international movements of so much money,” explained Tafanell. In this respect, the director of the office acknowledged that he was unaware of the law because it was long and complex. So, after more than 4 hours in the office, 11Onze considered it necessary to let the staff of Banco Sabadell know that by blocking the funds of the 11Onze community, their entity was committing an illegality.
The situation at Banco Sabadell
In the absence of any real reason for blocking 11Onze’s money, the most plausible explanation is the undisguised desire to harm an entity that is increasingly competing with the entity from Alicante. Moreover, Banco Sabadell’s delicate situation is no secret, as we explained in 11Onze Check (11Onze Check: Banco Sabadell is doing very well – 11Onze). In the last few weeks, the bank has fallen sharply on the stock market because of the doubts it generates and because it has always been seen as the weakest of the big banks. The emerging economic crisis could be the coup de grâce for the bank and has perhaps set off alarm bells at Banco Sabadell. So far, this is the only plausible hypothesis that justifies the bank’s strange manoeuvres against 11Onze.
And the money?
Banco Sabadell will have to unblock the money in its destination account or return it to its account of origin. They will have delayed some operations, but they will not, in any case, be able to stop the progress of 11Onze. Obviously, the Alicante-based bank will have to answer for this abuse to the relevant authorities.
11Onze is the community fintech of Catalonia. Open an account by downloading the super app El Canut for Android or iOS and join the revolution!
If you liked this article, we recommend you read:
We have redesigned El Canut and now, in addition to controlling your finances, managing all your accounts and operating normally… we have also integrated La Plaça and all our products.
11Onze continues with its commitment to constant improvement. That’s why we have redesigned El Canut so that, when you use it, you have access to everything we offer at 11Onze. Now, as well as being able to control your accounts, make transfers or manage your finances, you will be able to order gold with Preciosos 11Onze. Or read this news item from the Magazine. Or watch ‘La rumba dels calerons’, ‘En 4 dies’ or any audiovisual product from 11OTV. And all without leaving the application.
We have integrated all of 11Onze in El Canut so that you have La Plaça and all our products in one place.
Everything 11Onze at your fingertips!
We begin a series of ‘Who’s who at 11Onze?’ articles and videos to get to know one by one the members of the management team, their tasks and their vision. In this article, Sandra Molas, commercial director of 11Onze, analyses the story of love and rebellion that she sees in 11Onze.
Sandra Molas – commercial director of 11Onze
The way we visualise work, working, is different for each individual. Specifically, what do we prioritise when it comes to choosing a job or changing it? Some people put job security and stability first, others look for recognition, challenges, personal development, money… and we could go on. Neither option is better than the other, I think, as long as it is coherent with what each person wants, assuming what the decision taken entails.
In my particular case, coherence and values are essential, especially as I get older. Participate in projects that have similar values to mine. When faced with a new project, I ask myself if I, as a user, would consume the services or products offered by that company. If the answer is no, I don’t want to be part of it.
Where do we spend more hours than at work? So, you will agree with me that deciding where and what we work for is key to our happiness. It doesn’t matter what job it is, as long as it fits us.
Since I was very young, I have loved to travel, so I studied tourism. I was very attracted to the Chinese language, so I went to live in China and studied the language. I like wine, so I worked in a winery. The equation, “I like what I do” versus “I can make a living” has to be balanced. That is to say, the romanticism of ideals has to be linked to the practicality of working. Not unlike our famous Catalan tandem of ‘el seny i la rauxa’.
And with this philosophy, one fine day I discovered 11Onze. By chance. And I knew immediately that it had to be my next destination. Values totally aligned. Head and heart hand in hand. In short, love at first sight.
The role of money in our lives
For many years, I have been involved in the tourism sector. From the commercial and marketing side of tourist destinations, through consultancy, to directing the wine tourism department of a large Catalan winery or organising trips to Southeast Asia. I also spent a few years setting up companies in China and Vietnam.
Money management (budgets, balance sheets) has always been very present in my previous jobs, but never before had it been such a central theme, or so I thought. Why? Isn’t money what we use to pay for trips? The glasses of wine we enjoy? The theatre? The children’s expenses? The household bills? The dinners with friends/family/partner? Practically everything in life has to do with money. And that is why it is so important to be financially literate, to know how to manage it well. It’s all about getting the most out of the effort we all put into our work every day.
But there is a problem. Those to whom we have entrusted our money have failed us. I don’t know a single person who has not had a bad experience with their bank. Swindled, badly served, cheated, ignored, humiliated, neglected… And to top it all off, this happens with the connivance of those we voted for. Those who have promised to improve our lives with our money. And we are changing them, but the system does not change. Or if it does change, it often gets worse.
And that’s why 11Onze has so much meaning, so much romanticism, and so much rebellion. It is the love story of some people for their country, their neighbours, their community. And it is rebellion, towards a system that has to stop because it takes over us, outdated but still powerful. A monster with feet of clay.
And here I am, absolutely committed and excited to put my effort, my time together with the wonderful people I have met in this incredible adventure that fits perfectly with my values. Nothing more and nothing less than romanticism.
Who's who: Sandra Molas.
What do I do at 11Onze?
My task focuses on promoting the entry of funds into the project from two very different perspectives. On the one hand, through the marketing of our products and on the other hand, with the entry of funding through investors.
On the commercial side, I coordinate a team of agents in charge of getting all the products we generate to our community. There are already quite a few: El Canut, our financial app, the purchase of gold to safeguard savings, products to help reduce fixed expenses and, therefore, grow savings, and all the new products that are about to arrive.
We generate and analyse metrics, to fully understand the customer journey, we try to target products to those we see as the best fit for them. We also have to make sure that the agents have all the tools and information they need to do their job well.
The other part of my time is spent coordinating with the incoming investors. Together with the rest of the investment team and the colleagues from Content, Art, Marketing, Legal, Finance, we create the campaigns and all the necessary documentation. My task is to explain the project to people interested in investing, manage the documentation and be the contact person for any questions they may have.
And this is probably the biggest challenge. To be able to transmit the vision of the project, to transmit confidence, and to explain a company as unique as a fincom. And here let me say one thing. My most sincere admiration for all those people who have believed in this project. Who have understood the need for a fair, ethical financial institution that sincerely wants to serve its community. And who, despite all the difficulties we have encountered, have placed their trust, their effort, and their money to make it possible. To make this love story possible for a country, for a community. To question the status quo and act to change it. And this is also rebellion.
Work and romanticism: incompatible? No.
11Onze is the community fintech of Catalonia. Open an account by downloading the super app El Canut for Android or iOS and join the revolution!
The premiere of “La rumba dels calerons” has been a great success, and we believe it could become a summer hit. Help us spread the word on social media and enter a prize draw among all participants!
It’s very easy to take part in the competition, here’s how to do it!
Instagram:
We have published a reel of “La rumba dels calerons” on our Instagram. What do you have to do? Comment on our reel mentioning two friends. Then share it on your profile, mentioning @11onzecat and #larumbadelscalerons.
TikTok:
The music of “La rumba dels calerons” is available on TikTok. We think the song goes with everything, so we ask you to make a video with our song and tag @11onzecat and #larumbadelscalerons. In fact, some TikTok users are already sharing “La rumba dels calerons”!
What can you win?
- 1 bottle of 11Onze Closca to cool off this summer.
- 6 months free account at El Canut.
- 1 free debit card for 3 years.
- €20 on your new account.
You can enter the competition from 07/07/2022 until 14/06/2022.
Once the deadline to participate in the contest is over, we will make a draw among all participants who meet the requirements, and we will announce the winner the following week on our networks. You can read the legal bases of the contest here.
11Onze is the community fintech of Catalonia. Open an account by downloading the super app El Canut for Android or iOS and join the revolution!
11Onze is delivering the new cards to customers. They have an exclusive design and are made of higher quality, eco-friendly plastic, which extends their useful life and allows them to be recycled. We explain what you have to do to receive the new card.
On 1 October 2021, we launched El Canut and opened the first digital accounts with the possibility of having physical cards and also in virtual format to pay by mobile phone. Even so, we announced that the design of the first physical cards was provisional and that we would update them when we were able to deliver higher quality and environmentally friendly cards.
Well, the time has come. Members of our community who open an account through El Canut and order a card will receive this latest version within 14 calendar days.
The new cards have arrived!
Automated replacement of original cards with new ones
And what do I have to do if I have one of the original cards and I want to replace it with the new one? The good news is that you don’t have to do anything. The replacement process is completely automatic and little by little we will be sending the new cards to customers so that they can replace the original card with the new one at no additional cost.
As Iu Alemany, head of the 11Onze support office, explains, “the old cards will be replaced by the new ones, free of charge, to all users, who will receive a letter with the card and instructions”.
Visually, the new cards are very similar to the old ones, but the improvements in the quality of the graphics and in the plastic used increase their resistance to use and, therefore, we ensure that their useful life is extended until the renewal period. In addition, we have made sure that once they have done their job, they are fully recyclable, reducing the impact of plastic waste on the environment.
11Onze is the community fintech of Catalonia. Open an account by downloading the super app El Canut for Android or iOS and join the revolution!
