Startup Competition

In her keynote, Anna will delve into the forefront of payment technologies. She will guide you through emerging technologies, including recent developments in AI and explain how they can be effectively integrated into payment solutions and platforms.

She will share her insights into the ways payment transactions can be redefined and reengineered. She will provide examples of how payment processes and flows can be streamlined through open banking, a2a payments as well as payment orchestration. Learn how these technology advancements are not only reshaping payment transactions but also enhancing the overall customer experience. In her session, Anna will also explore the evolving role of embedded payments and their transformative effect on the merchant payment value chain.

The discussion will focus on the impending digital and cashless transformation of the payments industry, driven by market participants including merchants, customers, banks/financial institutions, and payment networks. Key areas of exploration will include advancements in instant payments, the influence of the European Payment Initiative, and the future landscape of payment facilitation and acceptance.

Additionally, in this panel we will explore the impact of emerging technological trends such as SoftPOS adoption, regulatory frameworks like PSD3 and the Digital Euro, evolving business models like BNPL services, the diminishing use of cash, and discussions on cross-border payments and cryptocurrency integration, all of which are shaping the evolving nature of payment systems within Europe.

At Mastercard, we strive to connect and power an inclusive digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere. For almost 60 years, leveraging our global innovations capability, we work to digitize payment services across all channels and devices. Delivering payment value where speed, security and convenience matter most, and digital solutions solving consumers’, small and large businesses’ needs. Building trust in a digital world and embedding our social impact initiatives and ESG commitments into our core. Connecting everyone to priceless possibilities.

What changes has open banking brought so far? What difference has it made and how? Who are the main drivers and players? Can open banking replace cards and what will it take? We will explore some of the open banking models around the world, use cases, lessons learned and what will the transition to open finance entail.

The panel will cover the financial landscape's evolution from open banking to open finance. It addresses the development, challenges, and forward trajectory of alternative business models. The session will dive into impactful use cases while examining the implications of the latest EU regulations, lessons learned from existing regulations and anticipates changes with PSD3.

In an increasingly digitised world, an elevated level of sophistication and personalization is expected from the banks when approaching the customers. To meet such expectations, not only a thorough knowledge and understanding of the customers' needs, but also an attentive customer-centric relation is needed. The banks should be able to know when, how and what to offer to their customer, taking into account their financial profile, as well as contemplating a well-thought engagement and communication strategy.

In this panel, we will discuss the importance of data in today’s AI world.  First, we will cover what ChatGPT brings to banking and AI, demystifying whether it is a myth or a reality and how that fits enterprise users. Current generative AI offerings mainly focus on general models, but what about specialists’ models and their future?

The panel will delve into the intricacies of the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), the pioneering European framework that came into effect on January 16, 2023. By 17 January 2025, over 22,000 financial entities and ICT Service providers across the EU are expected to achieve compliance with this regulation. This, among other important activities, implies that millions of contracts within the EU will require renegotiation, placing a critical emphasis on fulfilling value chain requirements.

The panelists will try to unravel the essence of DORA by addressing key questions: What are the key requirements of DORA? How can financial institutions navigate their most pressing challenges, and why must organizations of varying sizes adopt distinct strategies? Is the talent pool of IT Risk managers adequate, and how will cyber teams be impacted? And most importantly, can we make it on time or are we already behind schedule in our preparations?

Experience the Battle of the Decade firsthand! 

Hrvoje Cosic, the CEO of Aircash, is set to go head-to-head with the heavyweight champion Andrius Biceika, a distinguished board member at Revolut. This epic showdown will delve into numerous sensitive and even a few embarrassing topics :) such as the role of neobanks in Croatia and the broader region. Join us as we explore their respective exit strategies, identify fintech champions and contenders, and uncover their perspectives on various subjects like gambling, digital euro, and Apple Pay.

The panel discussion explores Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), covering its definition, motives, and future implications such as its coexistence with current and future versions of digital money (deposit money, stablecoins etc). It addresses implementation challenges, competitive ecosystem building, CBDC as a public good, anonymity concerns, public authorities' roles, and the European Commission's digital euro proposal.

Why would anybody use stablecoins? Except for trading of cryptocurrencies, ofcourse. What problems do we have with the current financial system that stablecoins solve? And, are they really so dangerous that central bank digital currencies were created just to stop stablecoins from taking over the world? Nadiem and Nikola deeply believe that stablecoins will have a pivotal role in shaping the future of money, come hear them chat about that.

(coming soon)

We will discuss the evolving landscape of financial technology, highlighting both challenges and opportunities for the next decade. Sigal, with his extensive background in FinTech and venture capital, will share insights on recent trends such as the impact of rising interest rates on funding, the stabilization of FinTech exits, and the promising outlook for FinTech IPOs. The presentation will also look into emerging disruptive technologies and the importance of understanding investor motivations for startups navigating the FinTech space.

The panel will explore critical issues such as regulatory hurdles, market fragmentation, and funding challenges. It will look into the need for collaborative efforts between startups, investors, and other ecosystem stakeholders to foster a conducive environment as well as supportive policies to nurture the FinTech ecosystem.

The talk will delve into the hurdles startups face, the support provided by European public sector institutions, and effective strategies for securing public sector grants. It will outline the availability of grants and other forms of support from the European Innovation Council (EIC) for startups and scaleups. Additionally, the talk will highlight success stories of Croatian startups that have leveraged grants to develop and scale their innovative products and services, offering valuable insights and guidance for emerging fintech enterprises in Europe.

(coming soon)

The "Funding for FinTech Startups" panel will address securing funding, identifying promising regional fintechs, and exploring exciting technological innovations. It will also consider the impact of Big Tech and regulatory frameworks on fintech opportunities, the lean nature of financial institutions, deep tech's intersection with fintech, the characteristics of different fintech waves, and the potential revolution in Asset Management affecting the VC industry.

Explore the repercussions of Croatia adopting the euro: Did this move compromise our sovereignty, or paradoxically, did it enhance it? Is the logical progression towards a digital euro the next strategic move? Let’s check the intricacies of why banks are witnessing record profits, and discover the challenges hindering the adoption of instant payments in Croatia with Boris Vujcic, the Governor of the Croatian National Bank, who will provide insightful answers to these pressing questions.

The new toy is on the table. It's called AI. Many are striving to demonstrate skill and speed in implementation, but the fact is that everyone is still getting acquainted with the vast range of possibilities it offers. The banking sector has less room for maneuver because it is a relatively highly regulated industry. Nevertheless, progress is being made and it is significant. How much do they spend on IT solutions? What are the biggest benefits of artificial intelligence? Are the dangers of using AI greater than the benefits it brings? Is regulatory pressure so great that it hinders the full potential of the new technology? Péter Csányi, Deputy CEO and Chief Digital Officer, Member of the Board of Directors of OTP Group, will answer these questions.

The fascinating interplay between traditional banks and agile fintechs has for long captivated the attention of industry observers. This panel promises to provide a fresh perspective on this ever-evolving relationship, serving as a “status update” on how these two divergent business models may be getting closer, primarily from bankers’ viewpoint. While sharing perspectives regarding technology, product portfolios, and collaboration opportunities, the panelists will also dissect the emerging trends that are set to impact both banks and fintechs, although in distinctive manners.

Every industry is experiencing changes. Very often these evolutionary changes appear as technical innovation trickles gradually into industry. As decentralization (of work, ownership, incentives, etc.) is one of the megatrends of the next 5-10 years, we can expect that also the way how banks interact with clients and their new product wishes will change. In this speech, I will elaborate on those evolutionary changes in banking due to decentralization (blockchain technology) and new channels (incl. XR). In addition, I will outline what traditional banks can now do to prepare for these changes.

Leading experts will dissect the emerging trends, present realities, and future opportunities in the banking sector. This panel is a must-attend for anyone interested in understanding how the banking landscape is evolving and what lies ahead.

We will discuss technological advancements and the way they are revolutionizing banking services, we will reflect on some of the major hypes and trends that shaped banking industry in the recent years and anticipate the future opportunities in the banking sector, from new customer centric strategies to new business models and effect of the GenAI on the future of banking.

Eastern European banks and fintechs are uniquely positioned to lead the future of the industry, and modern embedded insurance solutions are one tool for achieving this. Today’s insurance is different: it's fully digital, frictionless, and dynamic… seamlessly integrating into ecosystems and leveraging API and AI technology to enhance banking customer lifestyles through even more flexibility and convenience. 

Attend this session to learn how banks in the region are using embedded insurance today to complement offerings, supercharge banking ecosystems, contribute to bottom lines, and increase NPS scores.

Our panel on Embedded Insurance and InsurTech, featuring esteemed industry experts, will explore key aspects of embedded insurance, from its definition and benefits to successful collaborations and market strategies. Join us as we delve into the evolving landscape of embedded insurance and uncover opportunities for innovation in the industry.

Nexi has been surveying consumer trends in ecommerce since 2007, monitoring how businesses are moving from cash to clicks. In this talk we want to share with you some of the insights that we have found. Amongst other insights we will look at how people’s attitudes and local pride help localism to win in the end. Then also explore how the subscription economy has established itself within peoples day to day lives but is it making people’s lives  easier?

Digital landscape is changing our habits and needs in all aspects of life with payments being given an extraordinary opportunity to address these changes. Increased acceptance in digital payments gained during covid is here to stay and consumers are demanding convenience, availability and ease of use. How is the payment landscape changing and which rails need to adapt to stay competitive.

(coming soon)

Payments Strategist Dwayne Gefferie explores why and how several external forces are disintermediating PSPs. And will explain what will happen to PSPs who decide to stay passive.

We will delve into crucial topics such as the integration of AI tools for client identification and digital onboarding processes. We'll also explore the ideal timing for startups to commence implementing security measures in their Minimum Viable Product (MVP). Furthermore, we'll examine the expectations of banks and financial institutions from fintech partners regarding security measures. Lastly, we'll ponder whether our everyday digital lives are more secure now compared to the past. Join us for an insightful conversation on these pressing matters.

The panel discusses the role of universities in the development of FinTech. It explores how universities can support the FinTech industry through academic research and education, adapt curricula to the sector's needs, and overcome challenges while seizing opportunities in FinTech development. The panel also looks into fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, partnering with the industry for innovation, the impact of international collaborations, and adapting to new trends in FinTech education and research.

Take a stroll across the timeline of innovations to answer one seemingly simple question. What is the future of fintech? The answer might not be what you expect but for sure it’s going to be interesting. We are going to go through all of the cycles including the dotcom boom into today.

In his talk Mario will stress how big corporations like KPMG are still considering blockchain as a branch of fintech rather than its future infrastructure and how HyFi and CeDeFi are shaping the future of it.

We will start our discussion by exploring the societal meaning of tokens at large and how we can recognize in DeFi tokens, beside the market value, such social cues as there were before traditional bills and coins were introduced. Each of such transactions is based on trust, so we explore where we currently stand in terms of the trust DeFi tokens imply for an economic system, but users as well - is the acceptance of traditional institutions pivotal for a widespread use of tokens. Here we touch base on Facebook, AliPay and WeChat's attempt to offer an alternative by creating tokens of their own, but those were also the loudest pushbacks we have seen by national entities and users themselves. We then turn to the digital euro project as a current example of a centralized effort and what it might mean for us longterm. Finally, we turn to what kind of future those working firsthand on DeFi tokenization imagine by 2030.

Everything you have thought about the world of GenZ is wrong. They are one of the most challenging generations of today,  and they are becoming critically important for any business. 

In this talk I’ll unwrap the secret principles of how to capture their attention, talk to them in their own language and retain them as one of the core customers. 

I’ll teach you the core principles that will allow you to unlock not only GenZ, Alphas but any generation that will follow onwards. Dive deep into the psyche of Gen Z, explore their values, financial behaviour, and the digital trends that drive their decisions throughout this talk.

Crypto is in the news again and this time for a very long time want it or not. But is market volatility and price excitement correlated with the application layer? In this talk we find out why onchain crypto is not ready for mobile world. What are the two wolves in every crypto developer. What do onchain primitives miss in the world of attention span economy.  And finally, where are our unicorns.

This short presentation focuses on what you need to know to get tax planning right from the start. For non-tax professionals, curious "how the sexy stuff happens" without the need to dive between the spreadsheets. This session will cover the fundamentals and highlight the nuances modern-day businesses must know about. Whether you're in block-chain or supply-chain, you should listen in.

In today's investment landscape, the bulk of funds flow into traditional options like stocks and bonds. However, alternative investments offer a diverse range of opportunities beyond these standard avenues, both for legal entities and natural persons. 

While traditional investments cover stocks, bonds, and money market instruments, alternative investments, such as hedge funds, private capital, venture capital, real estate, commodities, digital assets and cryptocurrencies – also provide unique opportunities for alternative capital raising. Challenges in traditional fundraising highlight the need for alternative approaches.

In this panel discussion we'll explore the current state of crypto adoption and the challenges faced in onboarding users (regulations and governmental policies, issues of scalability and user experience). We'll dive into the innovations and solutions that can help overcome existing barriers to adoption and talk about how collaboration between traditional finance and crypto can be driven by genuine synergy. Can the user experience become more user-friendly, while still preserving the fundamental advantages of Web3? What trends or needs are pointing towards a broader acceptance of crypto? Join us for a look forward into the visions for the future of crypto and what achieving the next billion users might look like.

Why does it make sense for Fintechs to look at alternative partners vs. »traditional« fintech funding (VCs)? What is eNLaB ventures and which sorts of collaboration do we offer? What types of products & services within the Fintech world and which startup maturity stages we are most interested in? What can we as NLB Group bring to the table?

We will look into the future of climate risk technology, highlighting the crucial role of data modelling, assessing, and managing climate risks for every portfolio asset. We will explain which climate hazards are crucial for assessment and classified as either a chronic or an acute hazard. In addition, short overview of the evolution of ML and AI climate risk tools, will enhance importance to move beyond conservative approach of parametric and Nat Cat data-driven tools. These advancements will empower banks and insurers to enhance their resilience and sustainability strategies, effectively addressing the challenges posed by compliance with Taxonomy and CSRD regulations. We will talk about future financial landscape that is more climate resilient and sustainable.

In a world where every transaction tells a story, the fusion of traditional fintech with blockchain technology within super apps paves the way to unprecedented opportunities. This presentation will explore the challenges and opportunities presented by this integration, while envisioning the future contours of fintech.