SINGAPORE: On Friday, Nov 24, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) announced the conclusion of the eighth edition of the Singapore FinTech Festival 2023, which drew a record-breaking 66,000 participants, surpassing last year’s 62,000 attendees.
The festival, which concluded on Nov 17, saw an expanded global footprint, with representatives from 150 countries and regions, marking an increase from the 115 nations participating in 2022. The event featured a line-up of 970 speakers, highlighting the growing significance of the fintech sector on a global scale.
Notable festival highlights included the Regulation Zone, which attracted more than 2,400 government and regulatory attendees from 530 central banks, regulatory institutions, and other government organizations.
In the Technology Zone, 56 sessions took centre stage, offering insights into the latest artificial intelligence and quantum technologies. These sessions also explored practical applications in e-commerce and payments, providing a comprehensive overview of the evolving landscape of financial technology.
The Founders Zone introduced a novel Investor Office Hours platform, facilitating connections between more than 200 investors and 270 startup founders.
With over 240 mentorship sessions, the Talent Zone collaborated with four Institutions of Higher Learning to offer certification programmes.
The ESG Zone witnessed the launch of MAS’ Gprnt digital platform, a culmination of Project Greenprint. The platform is set to become a business baseline, enabling seamless reporting of their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) information.
An exclusive event, the Elevandi Insights on Nov 14, garnered participation from 1,500 individuals. This invite-only session hosted 28 deep-dive roundtables focused on shaping the future of technology adoption in financial services for the upcoming year. Key outcomes from these discussions are anticipated to be published by the first quarter of 2024.
Reflecting on the success of SFF 2023, the organising team expressed gratitude to sponsors, speakers, partners, and attendees. Plans are already in motion for SFF 2024, scheduled from Nov 6 to Nov 8, 2024. The curtain raiser to next year’s festival, Elevandi Insights, is set to unfold from Nov 4 to Nov 5, offering a glimpse into the innovations and discussions that will shape the fintech landscape in the coming year. /TISG