de Risk Partners is a global regulatory compliance consultancy that uses a blend of human expertise and AI to help financial institutions, including banks, credit unions, and fintechs, manage their compliance and internal audit functions, transforming regulatory obligations into a strategic advantage. They provide a range of services from fractional Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) support to AI-driven financial crime prevention solutions. Pulse 2.0 interviewed de Risk Partners founder and CEO Ravi De Silva to gain a deeper understanding of the company.
Ravi De Silva’s Background
Could you tell me more about your role and your background? De Silva said:
“I am the Founder and CEO of de Risk Partners. My journey spans roles at Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, and American Express—where I led global compliance across AML, sanctions, and anti-bribery. From Sri Lanka to Wall Street to building a global compliance powerhouse—I turned decades of saying “no” into a company that says ‘yes, and here’s how.’”
Company Focus
Who is de Risk Partners and what is the company focused on? De Silva shared:
“We are former Citigroup, Barclays and Goldman Sachs executives leveraging our knowledge to turn regulatory nightmares into competitive advantages for crypto exchanges, fintech companies, banks and more. In our view, compliance shouldn’t kill innovation—it should fuel it.”
Core Services
What are the company’s core services and unique offerings? De Silva explained:
“Our core function is to cover all aspects of compliance, from the stages of licensing all the way to running growing financial services businesses. We offer fractional CCOs, compliance transformation, AI-powered compliance agents, regulatory remediation and more. We aim to transform compliance from a regulatory obligation into a strategic advantage.”
Significant Milestones
What significant milestone led to the company’s consideration of establishing a new European headquarters? De Silva cited:
“In our first year, our revenue hit seven figures. We achieved that while still building our client roster, which spanned from crypto exchanges to community banks. We knew that our next step was to take what was working in the U.S. and bring it onto the world stage. It made practical sense: our work is inherently global, but having a European headquarters allows us to be closer to clients, regulators, and partners in key markets.”
Expansion Decision
What market opportunities was de Risk Partners facing when this expansion decision was made? De Silva revealed:
“Regulatory complexity is surging worldwide, challenging companies eager to expand. Yet, this complexity creates fresh opportunities for us to apply our regulatory expertise where it matters most. Markets across Asia, the Gulf, and Europe are urgently seeking partners fluent in both U.S. regulations and local nuances. While many organizations are overwhelmed by these changes, we provide the clarity they need to succeed. Switzerland, with its mix of technological innovation, regulatory transparency, and ‘light touch’ bureaucracy, offers the perfect base for our next stage of growth and global reach.”
Picking Switzerland
What made de Risk Partners choose Switzerland for its European Headquarters Location? De Silva pointed out:
“Swiss quality and precision aren’t just reputation—they’re reality. But that’s only the beginning. Switzerland has evolved into the neutral heart of Europe, a magnet for high-tech innovation, and a home base for world-class research institutions. We’re tracking the trend: a growing wave of global tech giants — Microsoft, Google, TikTok, and many others — have chosen Switzerland. Why? Because they saw what we see: an unbeatable mix of a highly-skilled workforce, stable and transparent regulation, and infrastructure that sets the global standard. We’re building a global compliance powerhouse – not by aiming for “good enough,” but by demanding excellence. That’s the Switzerland advantage.”
Why Lucerne Was The Choice
Why specifically was Lucerne the choice? De Silva elaborated:
“Lucerne offers exactly what a leading global compliance firm like ours needs: regulatory credibility, access to cutting edge crypto and fintech innovation, and the talent to build next-generation solutions. By establishing de Risk Suisse here, we’ve found a location that allows us to stay close to Europe’s evolving frameworks like MiCA, while remaining globally connected. For us, Lucerne is not just a base…it’s a launchpad for scaling compliance services across the world.”
“On top of that, we also received an incredible amount of support from Michelle Abboud of Lucerne Business North America, the local team in Lucerne (a big shout out to Mathias Lischer), and the initial support from the Swiss Business Hub USA (a special thank you to Dan Bangser). All of those teams were unbelievable in making the transition a smooth process, which made the decision to go to Switzerland easy, and the choice of Lucerne, even easier.”
Hiring In The New Office
How does the company plan to hire and staff its new Switzerland office in Lucerne? De Silva revealed:
“We’re approaching hiring with a long-term mindset. Switzerland’s reputation for producing top-tier professionals in finance and engineering gives us a tremendous foundation to build on.”
“Our goal is to assemble a diverse, high-caliber team that reflects both local Swiss expertise and international experience. Lucerne became our command center because of its strategic advantage as a location and its capability to produce the right talent pipeline for us, especially in the core industries where we’re diving deeper, such as AI and cryptocurrency. It’s the kind of environment where high-performance teams can do their best work.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition regarding its approach to operating in Europe? De Silva affirmed:
“We have deep U.S. and global regulatory frameworks that few European firms can match. We don’t just parachute in with off-the-shelf U.S. solutions; we blend Wall Street expertise with Swiss precision and operational excellence. It’s a combination you won’t find anywhere else.”
Future Goals
What are some of the company’s future goals for international growth? De Silva emphasized:
“We have a growing footprint with offices in the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia—and we’re just getting started. At the center of it all? Our Swiss office, serving as the ‘nerve center’ driving global innovation and client service. We’re investing heavily in technology and will be launching an AI compliance platform that will revolutionize how compliance officers work. Our mission? To make compliance so efficient, so strategic, that it becomes every institution’s secret weapon.”
Maximize Presence In Switzerland
How does the de Risk Suisse team plan to maximize its Swiss presence in the years ahead? De Silva concluded:
“Our Swiss headquarters is more than an office—it’s our Rest of the World hub for global transformation. Switzerland is a natural launchpad for working with leading technology firms at every stage of their growth. Just as Lucerne connects Switzerland’s major financial centers—Zurich, Geneva and Lugano— de Risk Suisse bridges continents, regulations, and innovation. Swiss firms expanding to the U.S.? We’ve got them. American crypto companies navigating EU rules? Covered. We’re building the future of global compliance—right from the heart of Europe, where the peak of innovation is happening.”
