Finance & Capital Market

FinTech AD set for kick-off with 10 key features

FinTech Abu Dhabi (FinTech AD) is set to go ‘live’ tomorrow (October 21) with ten key features and new initiatives that will look to solve issues in the Fintech industry, connect people, and recognise success.

The Mena region’s leading FinTech Festival is organised by Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the award-winning international Financial Centre, and supported by global innovation platform – Unbound.

The event runs from October 21 to 23 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec).

The festival is packed with initiatives, competitions and events, designed and organised to address real life challenges in the FinTech industry. A key philosophy of the festival is connecting entrepreneurs and start-ups to potential investors.

Abu Dhabi Global Market has announced 10 exciting features to look forward to at FinTech Abu Dhabi tomorrow:

1.    A new addition to the Festival is the Investor Forum, co-hosted by Hub 71, where regional and international venture capital investors will exchange ideas and their best practices with attendees. Comprising keynote addresses and panel discussions, the Forum will feature prominent FinTech investment powerhouses, covering current trends in the venture capital industry.

2.    The Etihad Challenge supports one of the key elements of the Festival - to address challenges in the FinTech industry.  Entrants for the Etihad Challenge will be asked to solve problems currently faced by Etihad’s finance and accounting teams. Start-ups will have the opportunity to compete in providing innovative solutions for specific FinTech-related problems.

3.    The Festival’s signature Innovation Challenge, in collaboration with KPMG, poses a set of 16 FinTech problem statements to selected FinTech applicants, and represents real challenges faced in the UAE and the wider MEASA region by financial institutions, corporate and consumers. This year ADX is the lead partner.

4.    The first FinTech-themed Youth Circle will encourage the next generation of potential entrepreneurs and problem solvers. This initiative, governed by the Federal Youth Authority, is designed to inspire youth-centric dialogue and engage young leaders to shape innovative solutions for global challenges. Speakers include: Alexander Graubner-Mueller, founder of Kreditech and Nicholas Cary, co-founder and Vice Chairman of Blockchain.

This year’s event will also celebrate the brightest and most creative ideas and initiatives driving the FinTech industry.

5.    The inaugural FinTech Abu Dhabi Awards this year comprise ten categories with a new category- the Islamic FinTech of the Year award - sponsored by Grant Thornton. The winner will be a role model who led innovative solutions in the financial services industry that are driving positive change in the UAE/Mena region.

Other awards include:

•    UAE FinTech Founder – sponsored by Anglo-Gulf Trade Bank
•    Mena FinTech of the Year – sponsored by ADCB
•    FinTech Investors – sponsored by the Department of Finance
•    Emerging FinTech Talent – sponsored by the ADGM Academy
•    FinTech Leader – sponsored by DEX
•    Emerging Markets FinTech – sponsored by Finablr
•    FinTech Accelerator – sponsored by Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange
•    FinTech Corporate Innovation Programme – sponsored by Etihad
•    FinTech Woman of the Year – sponsored by Abu Dhabi Finance

6.    The FinTech 50 will also be announced and those lucky enough to be selected will have the chance to pitch to investors on the show floor as well as enjoy benefits of increased brand awareness, the chance to listen and learn from the brightest minds in the Fintech industry and become part of the FinTech 50 global network.

7.    The Tokenisation of Assets Workshop, sponsored by multinational law firm DLA Piper, will answer questions around Asset Tokenisation and the opportunities it provides. By finding and creating new markets, tokenisation can generate value from otherwise illiquid assets, and create a more capital efficient and fair financial world.

8.    Further opportunities to bring attendees together are presented at the launch of the quarterly Crypto and Blockchain rendezvous – Token Night– powered by Abu Dhabi Global Market and the Mena FinTech Association. This will take place after the Investor Forum and attendees can expect to gain valuable insights from visionaries in the Blockchain and Crypto space as well as network with global leaders of the FinTech industry.

9.    Another new opportunity for attendees to connect at this year’s event is the Urban Experience. The Urban Experience, co-hosted this year by Finablr, on the evening of the 22 October provides an opportunity for Festival attendees to network and make new connections in an informal and relaxed setting.

10.    Key to connecting this year’s attendees is the launch of the inaugural FinTech Abu Dhabi app. The app enables users to access the agenda, speaker lists, delegates and partners, and interact with others at the event through the app. – TradeArabia News Service