For the past two years, I’ve had the privilege to attend the Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF) – covering the must-go event as media.
Organised by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN), and Constellar, and in collaboration with The Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS), the SFF has become one of the most relevant events for finance professionals around the world – drawing over 65,000 attendees.
Each November – from 6 to 8 November 2024 this year – the SFF brings together thousands of industry insiders, from representatives of nearly every FinTech brand in Singapore to global entrepreneurs, investors, regulators, policymakers, media and more.
For those looking to attend, here’s what you can expect at the Singapore Fintech Festival 2024. Get a 20% off on your SFF delegate pass now.
Unrivalled Networking Opportunities With FinTech Insiders
The Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF) offers unrivalled opportunities to connect with leaders in the FinTech industry. Last year, the SFF hosted over 66,000 attendees from 150 countries and regions – creating a melting pot of perspectives and ideas from all corners of the globe.
We can expect a similar number or more this year. At an exclusive media briefing, I was also reminded that the SFF will turn 10 next year – and this year’s event will be a lead-up to the 10th anniversary.
Just walking through the exhibition halls, you gain the rare chance to immediately connect with representatives from brands that stand out to you and capture your attention.
It will also not be surprising that you bump into industry contacts at the event – and dive into deeper and more meaningful conversations on collaboration post-event.
Networking sessions are also thoughtfully structured. This year, a new SFF MeetUp initiative, enabling double opt-in meetings – will help attendees connect, collaborate and foster partnerships more efficiently. So, make sure to download the Singapore Fintech Festival app to get the most out of your time at the event.
Cutting-Edge FinTech Content
Every year, the Singapore Fintech Festival brings a set of themes that are at the pulse of industry transformation. This year, the themes will again surround key topics at the forefront of the finance industry.
The Festival’s agenda has always been insightful, future-focused and content-packed. At SFF 2024, you will get to hear from speakers such as Chia Der Jiun, Managing Director of MAS, Forrest Li, Founder and CEO of Sea Limited, Sarah Breeden, Deputy Governor of the Bank of England, Richard Teng, CEO of Binance, Li Bo, Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Piyush Gupta, out-going CEO of DBS, Yang Peng, CEO of Ant International and many more.
Beyond the main keynotes and panels, SFF’s programme line-up offers diverse and in-depth discussions and workshops, enabling attendees to dive deeper into practical applications of new technologies, and takeaway actionable insights to for finance professionals to broaden their technical skills and stay ahead of industry developments.
“Side Shows” That Can Hold Their Own
Besides the main SFF programme at the Singapore EXPO, there are a range of other activities that you can get involved in.
This starts on Monday 4 November – where the invite-only Insights Forum takes place at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre. For those without some of these exclusive invitations, including me, there are also the SFF Innovation Lab Crawl to tour some of the most cutting-edge FinTech innovation labs in Singapore.
You can also join the SFF After Hours at Boat Quay from 7 to 10pm on Wednesday 6 November. Designed to be a relaxed and informal setting, you can enjoy a unique blend of professional and social interactions to deepen relationships you’ve built and make new ones.
Beyond these, there are are the Global Fintech Hackcelerator, and a range of side events that include the Digital Assets Week Singapore, Stablecoin Leadership Mixer, AI/Habits + You, and many more.
Showcasing Truly Global FinTech Brands
The exhibition halls at the Singapore EXPO are filled with disruptive start-ups, established companies and global fintech players eager to showcase their latest innovations. Here’s where you can get a hands-on experience with the newest financial solutions and connect directly with the brands.
The SFF exhibition space is also where you will get to make new connections with finance professionals from Singapore and around the region as you uncover the latest disruptive ideas in FinTech.
Singapore’s position as a global financial hub amplifies this further, with our own start-ups and financial institutions join the fray. Joining this are diverse International Pavilions, where FinTech brands from different countries converge under single flags, including Australia, Bahrain, Jordan, Denmark, Ireland, Germany, Taiwan, Philippines, Japan, Canada, Italy, India, South Korea, the Netherlands, and more.
The Singapore FinTech Festival will be broken into “Stages”, and you can easily navigate them in the different EXPO halls.
Singapore’s Growing Role As A FinTech Hub
Besides being a well-organised and well-connected global financial hub, there’s something undeniably powerful about hosting one of the world’s largest and most well-connected fintech festivals.
Singapore’s robust regulatory environment and commitment to innovation and technological advancements provides the ideal setting for such a festival. The Government’s support for innovation has helped position Singapore as a location for FinTech brands and innovators to both experiment and expand their solutions.
The festival is not all about the big names and brands either. There’s something for everyone from AI and Quantum computing to entrepreneurship and investment to regulation and talent development. At SFF, you’ll also see a diverse collection of brands, from the multinational corporations as well as start-ups, SMEs, Fintech Associations from many countries and more.
This diverse line-up provides a more comprehensive view of the global Fintech landscape, showing how different regions are tackling unique challenges in finance. This provides an invaluable perspective for finance professionals and offers a reminder that the finance world is interconnected and collaboration across borders is crucial for solving global issues.
For folks in finance, attending SFF isn’t just about being part of a relevant event, but about experiencing the dynamic finance ecosystem. Those who attend, including myself, often leave awed by the innovations and encouraged to learn about new opportunities in FinTech.
Being in Singapore, we should be grateful for Singapore’s role as a gateway to some of these innovations.
If you’re thinking about exploring the keynotes, speakers and stages at the Singapore FinTech, get 20% off on your SFF delegate pass now.
The post I’ve Attended The Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF) In The Past 2 Years, Here’s What Finance Professionals Can Expect At This Stand-Out Event appeared first on DollarsAndSense.sg.
