How can financial infrastructure unlock the full potential of blockchain-based Real-World Assets? Tokenforge, an early and proven Web3 fintech from Hamburg and Berlin, is making this a reality. With a highly product-focused approach and strong industry partnerships, the company is pioneering solutions that are transforming financial markets. In this interview, learn how tokenforge is shaping the future of finance.
Congratulations, you are one of the finalists of the 5th Deep Tech Award! What does the Deep Tech Award mean to you and what was the motivation for your application?
Thank you very much! For us, the Deep Tech Award is an important recognition of our work and our innovative potential. Our motivation for applying was to demonstrate the capabilities of our technology to a wider audience and to network with other leading innovators. In addition, we are currently “trending” with our product for digital securities to map “Real World Assets” (RWAs) completely digitally. We are currently one of the leading players in Europe in this field and are happy to share our insights into the further development of Web 3 and AI technology. The award also offers an excellent platform to present our commitment to technological excellence and our vision of a future with relevant aspects and added value of tokenisation.
Berlin is considered one of the few German centres for technological innovation. How do you experience the local tech infrastructure and how is it influenced by the Deep Tech Award?
Berlin offers a dynamic and supportive environment for technological innovation. The local tech infrastructure is excellent, with access to world-class research institutions, a broad talent pool and numerous networking opportunities. The Deep Tech Award reinforces this positive effect by drawing attention to promising technologies and fostering dialogue between startups, investors and established companies. This creates an even stronger culture of innovation and supports the growth of the tech ecosystem.
Let’s change perspective and talk a little more about you. You have applied with your tokenisation solution. Please give us a little insight into your founding story and your main motivation to develop this product.
Tokenforge was founded on the belief that tokenisation will play a key role in the future of the digital economy. Our founding story starts with the vision to simplify and automate complex financial and legal processes. Our main motivation was to develop a platform that enables companies to tokenise assets securely and efficiently, creating new opportunities for easy and convenient investment and trading.
Why do you think tokenforge made it to the list of finalists and why is it deep tech?
We believe we made it to the list of finalists because of our forward-thinking, inclusive and open financial market infrastructure perspective as well as our clear focus on solving real-world problems.
We see ourselves as deep tech, as we had to complete a lot of in-depth research and development work within tokenforge (in the economic market, technical, regulatory and legal, business model as-is, business model demand in interaction with the market and current solutions, product-market fit) in order to be able to tap the potential of selected digital technologies (blockchain, AI, in the future also IOT) in combination with UI/UX, Convience and FinTech/ RegTech. We see the potential to shake up the entire (digital) world and achieve innovative breakthroughs and we are stepping up to replace entire business models for several industries in the coming years.
Our solution combines state-of-the-art blockchain technology (soon also AI in addition to the current operational use of chatGPT) with user-friendly interfaces, integrates all relevant players and partners along the value chain (e.g. Nyala, Cashlink etc.) as part of the one-stop-shop approach, making us a profound technical innovation.
What is the most important technological innovation in your tokenisation solution and why does it advance the state of the art?
The main technological innovation of our solution is the seamless integration of blockchain technology with legal and regulatory requirements and the required players along the value chain as well as the convenient settlement of securities/financial products. This integration makes it possible to automate complex processes such as the issuance and management of digital assets and to map them faster, better, cheaper and more easily accessible. Our innovative and integrative approach will make tokenisation accessible to a wider range of assets and significantly advance the state of the art.
What were the biggest obstacles in your development process? How did you overcome them?
One of the biggest obstacles was developing a solution that was both technologically robust and user-friendly in these complex areas between financial product, administration and integration of the various participants. We overcame this through an iterative development cycle where we continuously gathered feedback from users and experts and adapted our platform accordingly. Another obstacle was compliance with regulatory requirements and partners, which we have now overcome by working closely with legal advisors and regulators to the praise of various partners and clients.
How do you ensure a seamless and engaging user:inside experience in your tokenisation solution, especially given the complexity of Web3 technologies?
We emphasise an intuitive user interface and comprehensive user support. Through extensive user studies and regular testing, we have developed a platform that is easy and efficient to use despite the complexity of the underlying technologies. We also offer extensive training and support services to provide our users with the best possible support.
What measures have you taken to ensure the security and trustworthiness of your tokenisation solution?
Security is one of our top priorities. We rely on modern encryption technologies and regular security audits to ensure the integrity of our platform. We are also currently preparing for ISO certification. In addition, we have implemented strict access and authorisation controls and are continuously working to improve our security protocols to ensure the protection of our users’ data.
How do you navigate the regulatory environment and address ethical considerations related to Web3 technologies?
We stay informed of current regulatory developments and work closely with legal advisors to ensure that our platform complies with applicable regulations. We are also involved in various committees (Bundesblock, Hanseatic Blockchain Institute, Association of Crypto Securities Registrars, Bitkom) and thus stay informed and part of the discussion with the relevant players in regular dialogue groups. Ethics are of central importance to us; we have therefore implemented guidelines and compliance programmes to ensure that our technology is used responsibly. We promote transparency and responsible innovation in all our business activities.
What future trends do you foresee in the Web3 space, and how is tokenforge positioned to adapt to or drive these trends?
We foresee increasing adoption and integration of Web3 technologies in various industries, especially in the financial sector. We are currently fully in line with the RWA (Real World Assets) trend with our technology and are one of the leading players in Europe. We are currently acquiring new customers on a weekly basis. Generally speaking, trends such as decentralised finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and smart contracts will continue to gain in importance. Tokenforge is well positioned to capitalise on and drive these trends by continuously developing our technology and adapting our platform to new market requirements.
What do you wish for our technological or digital future?
We would like to see a future where technological innovation helps to create a fairer, more efficient and sustainable world. Technology should be used to break down barriers, create opportunities and improve people’s lives. We hope that digital technologies will continue to be designed inclusively, with ethically based values and accessible to all.
What advice would you like to give to young entrepreneurs and tech innovators who want to achieve their goals and perhaps also take part in the Deep Tech Award 2025? Since you made it to the finalists out of 100 applicants, we assume that you have some real pro tips here.
Our most important advice is to always believe in your vision and be persistent. Innovation requires courage, perseverance and the willingness to learn from mistakes. Network with other innovators, seek feedback and remain flexible in your way of thinking. Don’t be discouraged by setbacks, but see them as learning opportunities. And above all: always keep an eye on the benefits for your stakeholders.
Thank you very much for all your fascinating insights!
