How Will 24 Fintech Transform Fintech Globally?
There's a massive fintech event coming to Riyadh, called “24 Fintech”. This is set to be an annual event, hosted by several key Saudi institutions like the Financial Sector Development Programme (FSDP), Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), Capital Market Authority (CMA), and the Insurance Authority (IA). It's also co-organized by Fintech Saudi and Tahaluf, a collaborative venture that includes Informa PLC, the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones (SAFCSP), and the Events Investment Fund (EIF).
This event is scheduled for September 3-5, 2024, at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Centre, and it aims to put Riyadh on the global map as a fintech hub. Over three days, the event will feature a mix of exhibitions and a summit with 175 hours of expert-led content, including various satellite events running from September 1-6.
The goal here is to establish Saudi Arabia as a global financial powerhouse, driven by technology. Tahaluf wants 24 Fintech to be the most influential fintech event across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. They expect it to attract over 25,000 attendees, 300 exhibitors, 200 investors, and 80 fintech startups, with more than 200 expert speakers addressing pressing industry issues.
Key attendees will include central bank governors, regulators, policymakers, financial and non-financial institutions, big tech providers, investors, venture capitalists, academics, researchers, and professional associations. The idea is to bring together all these essential stakeholders to drive practical, worldwide fintech transformation in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
The event will have four stages hosting keynotes, panel discussions, and industry announcements, along with dedicated areas for investment, startups, technology, and academia. There will be special initiatives like the Regulators’ Village, connecting regulators and fintechs interested in setting up in the Kingdom. They’ll also have an investor program and a Venturescape pre-show initiative, which will bring together over 200 global investors and 100 fintechs for workshops, mentorship, and pitch practice.
Additionally, there will be a startup zone spotlighting 80 top global fintech companies across various verticals like payments, lending, insurtech, regtech, capital markets, compliance, and open banking. Startups can benefit from tailored mentorship, matchmaking sessions, and a pitch competition with more than SAR 900,000 (US$250,000+) in equity-free awards for the top startups.
Annabelle Mander, Senior Vice President of Tahaluf, highlighted that their vision is to drive forward finance by bringing together essential stakeholders and propelling practical, worldwide transformation in alignment with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. So, this event isn't just about showcasing fintech; it's about shaping the future of finance on a global scale.
