Q&A with Dean Little

Dean Little, CEO and Co-Founder of Proxymity

Q: Proxymity has quickly become a leader in digital investor communications. Can you tell us how the idea for the platform first came about?

A: The concept for Proxymity was birthed during my time as Director at Citi, where significant inefficiencies in the proxy voting system had become apparent. The process was slow, opaque, extremely inefficient and often led to internal and customer complaints. This led to shareholders being disenfranchised, particularly when it came to voting on important corporate decisions. Together with Jonathan, who was also at Citi and now is the co-founder and COO at Proxymity, we identified the market opportunity to improve proxy voting for both companies, shareholders and the intermediaries that service them. We founded Proxymity to digitise and streamline the entire voting process, ensuring that shareholders can exercise their rights in real time, with full transparency and regulatory compliance.

We initially secured backing from Citi’s D10XSM programme, which gave us the resources and platform to launch successfully. Our goal is to transform the current shareholder communication system to ensure all companies and shareholders have a clear, consistent way to communicate. We have made huge strides and are now the dominant communications platform in a number of markets, whereby our unique network allows issuers and investors to communicate directly in real-time. To date, we have over 700 issuers connected to the platform, including 87 of the FTSE 100. We also support many of the largest custodians including Citi, Statestreet, JPM and BNY together with many of their underlying investors.

Q: You are competing against an industry giant in Broadridge. How did you approach challenging an established player in such a niche sector?

A: You need a clear understanding of where the market gaps are and how technology can address them more effectively. Most importantly we focus on creating a solution that delivers value for all the key parties in the chain and delivering an innovative solution that solves the needs of the clients. It is not only faster and more transparent but also truly aligned with the needs of today’s shareholders and issuers.

From here, we have continued to scale Proxymity globally through a combination of fostering strategic partnerships with key backers such as Citi, Statestreet, HSBC, JP Morgan, BNP and Deutsche Bank, robust technology infrastructure, and a deep understanding of regulatory environments in different markets. This has allowed us to adapt to provide real-time solutions in over 25 markets worldwide. By refining our technology to meet the needs of each market, we have been able to differentiate ourselves to bring a fresh, innovative approach to a sector that has been slow to evolve.

Q: How do you think technology will change shareholder communication?

A: Digitisation can significantly solve problems in shareholder communication by streamlining processes, improving transparency, and reducing inefficiencies. Proxymity will completely transform the way issuers and shareholders communicate in the future, bringing a new age network that will enable key parties to identify, authenticate and communicate with each other.

Proxymity’s suite of solutions, including Vote Connect, Shareholder Insights and Vote Insights, provides users with a secure, cloud-native platform which can send and receive meeting announcements, track live vote progress, and enabling real-time digital transmission of proxy voting information. Such technology helps foster clear communication between companies and shareholders, strengthening their partnerships.

Q: What lessons have you learned about fundraising, particularly in the fintech space?

A: Fundraising in fintech is focused on demonstrating the potential for long-term impact and scalability. Investors want to see that your technology is solving real, pressing problems in the industry and that there is a clear pathway to adoption. For Proxymity, it was critical to showcase how our platform addressed inefficiencies in proxy voting and investor communications, while also emphasising the value we were delivering to issuers, intermediaries, and investors. Building strong relationships with financial institutions and maintaining a clear vision for growth has been instrumental for us in securing backing from the world’s largest financial institutions.

Q: As an entrepreneur, what advice do you have for others looking to also pursue their dreams?

A: Stay focused on your vision but be flexible in your approach. Markets will always change, and new challenges will arise, but if you stay committed to solving the core problem your business was built around, you’ll remain on the right track. Surround yourself with a strong team, be open to feedback, and don’t be afraid to pivot if necessary. Ultimately, your ability to adapt will determine your success and always focus on your customers’ needs

Q: What’s next for Proxymity, and how do you envision the future of shareholder communications?

A: Proxymity’s goal is to continue evolving and expanding our platform to meet the growing needs of global markets. We are focused on deepening our partnerships, enhancing our technology, and expanding our reach into new regions. The future of shareholder communications is digital, real-time, and fully transparent. We are committed to leading that transformation and ensuring that every shareholder, no matter where they are, can have a say in the decisions that matter.