The Milan Fintech Summit is returning for its fourth edition, continuing its commitment to driving innovation in banking and financial services. This international event, organized and promoted by Fintech District and Business International, the knowledge division of Fiera Milano, is scheduled for October 10th and 11th, 2023, at the Allianz MiCo in Milan. The summit’s mission is to position Milan as a hub for innovation in Europe, highlight the significance of the Italian fintech ecosystem, facilitate its growth, and attract international interest and investments.
The theme for this edition is “TOMORROWLAND IS HERE,” chosen to reflect the current state of Fintech. It signifies that Fintech is no longer just a glimpse into the future of financial services but a vital component of their evolving present. This is underscored by the continuous growth of fintech and techfin enterprises globally, the notable achievements and maturity of many of these companies (Italy, for instance, has 2 unicorns), and the increasing frequency of partnerships with firms from various industries.
Thanks to its ability to attract innovation, Milan continues to play a central role in the sector’s evolution. Over the past two years, the Soft-Landing Program, aimed at simplifying the entry of foreign companies into the Italian market with the assistance of Milano & Partners, has attracted approximately 190 companies from various nations. This includes interest from the USA (from which 18% of these originate) and Canada (8%).
Sector trends at the heart of the event agenda
Embedded finance has certainly emerged as a reference point for the birth of new business models: the European market reached €42 billion by the end of 2022, and it is estimated to reach $183 billion globally by 2027.
To illustrate how it is also revolutionizing sectors far from finance, companies such as Spotify and Booking.com will take the stage in separate sessions.
Another prominent theme will be Artificial Intelligence, whose centrality and relevance are undisputed – 44% of the 280 companies in the Fintech District community (which has become a true reference point for the sector in Italy) use AI in their business operations. The second day will feature a session dedicated to this topic, in which international techfin companies like Clearbox.AI, iGenius, and Wealthype will engage in discussion with an incumbent like Oracle, with a particular focus on generative AI.
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Given the increased interest in Cryptos, from CBDC to cryptoassets, including the presentation of the new DGI report, the Summit’s agenda will include multiple segments focused on this topic. Web3, Metaverse, and digital assets will be discussed by Matthias Kroener, an expert in financial services disruption and keynote speaker on the second day, who will illustrate how gaming serves as an effective medium for disseminating these concepts.
The agenda will also include a segment dedicated to FinCrime, encompassing RegTech solutions like Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML). Key figures in these areas include Jonathan Levin, co-founder of Chainalysis, and Reem El Seed, co-founder of Cleverchain. Additionally, a session is scheduled to address the topic of digital identity.
Culture and educational references are integral in an agenda that draws inspiration from literary works. The event will commence with Leda Glyptis as the opening keynote speaker, drawing inspiration from George Orwell’s masterpiece “Animal Farm.” During her presentation, she will delve into her perspective on what hasn’t been effective in the past 15 years of digitization. On the second day’s opening, a session will be dedicated to university students, highlighting the diverse opportunities that fintech presents. It will underscore fintech’s role as a facilitator of everyday life and a promising avenue for new career prospects.
Beyond the boundaries of the event, the “Out of summit” begins
This year, the Milan Fintech Summit extends its reach beyond the traditional confines of the event, taking over the entire city with a series of supplementary activities. The “Out of Summit” commences well before the official event and extends beyond the two scheduled days.
The Conference&Expo, which launches the two-day discussions, is scheduled to commence at 9 a.m. on October 10, with a welcome party for partners and speakers scheduled for the evening before. On the same day (October 09), the Milan Fintech Summit will convene at Palazzo Mezzanotte for the Starting Finance Investment Meeting, featuring a session titled “The Shape of Investment – Fintech and Techfin to Support Wealth Choices.” Simultaneously, at Brussels House, a multifunctional space bridging Brussels culture with Italy, there will be a session in collaboration with Hub Brussels, exploring the differences between the fintech ecosystems of the two nations and identifying common avenues for growth.
Thanks to the VIP Program organized by Milano&Partners and the Milan Fintech Summit, Milan will welcome representatives from several international fintech companies and global leaders who, in addition to participating in the event, will have the opportunity to experience the innovative nature of the city firsthand. These companies, including some unicorns, are expected to appear on stage and engage in live LinkedIn video interviews under the title “Unicorn Tales.” The first pre-event on October 02 will feature Ignacio Zunzunegui, Head of Growth Southern Europe at Revolut, sharing the evolutionary journey of a company capable of transforming its offering from a travel card to a global digital bank.
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Starting in January 2024, a roadshow will begin across the rest of Italy to promote the excellence of Milan and highlight the entire peninsula’s innovative capabilities and potential.
As of today, the event’s partners include FTS Group, Mastercard, Sella, Visa, Fabrick, Oracle, eToro, Banca CF+, Swag, Treezor, ATS, Geniodiligence, Inversis, Spendesk, Affirmdata, Boerse Stuttgart Digital, Complyradar, Confinvest, Knobs, Mia Fintech, Lexia, OCS Group, Sparkasse, Thales, Banqup, BKN301, Chainalysis, Checksig, Coverflex, Creative Bulls, DGI, Earnext, EasyTrend, Finanza.Tech, Fourthline, Keyless, Gambit, GrowishPay, Lokky, Maind Capital, MindoverMoney, modefinance, Modulos, Profit Farm, Qi4M, Trustfull, Veridas, Wallife, and Wealthype.aiYounited.
