For those of us in the startup and innovation space, sitting down on a hard conference chair to watch a slew of companies demo and pitch is a familiar position. After a while, year in and year out, patterns emerge. Four boys in branded t-shirts playing with a stalled app on their iPhones. The establishment vendor, trying to rebrand itself as a ‘cool, new FinTech’. The badly acted company skit – that usually reinforces outdated stereotypes such as ‘how to budget when your wife spends too much on shoes.’ 😐 Rarely do you see a company that makes you sit up and think ‘wow, that’s cool’. (I can think of three in my career and I have been in FinTech for 25 years).
There is a reason there is a ‘Bingo Card.’
What if there was a new way to experience buzzy and innovative FinTech companies? A narrative that was about sharing, interacting and storytelling?
That is why we at FinTECHTalents have created ‘FinTech Stories’. Over two days this October, companies will take the to the stage, not to demo, not to pitch, but to tell their stories. Investors, entrepreneurs, innovators and creators will gather to hear from unblu, Accountscore, Charlie India, Pushfor, YellowDog, DealMatrix, Divido, Be-IQ, RiskInnov, InvestSuite, Form3, Yukka Lab, Suburbia, BanqBridge as well as special cohort from Barclays Rise.
Why are we taking this approach? Because most of you know an investor deck is easily shared, due diligence takes time and any planning and commercial activity or partnerships, involve negotiations, product adjustments and procurement admin. However, that first contact, those first stirrings when you listen to a founder and think ‘wow, that’s cool’ happens not in your head, nor on a spreadsheet or in a lawyer’s office. It happens in your heart.
The companies of FinTech Stories will tell you tales of how the team came together, why they chose to solve the problem they are solving and walk you through the push and pull of interacting with their first large financial services partner. You may even learn what beer they would brew and what song they have added to the FinTECHTalents Playlist.
In addition to our featured companies, investors will discuss what makes them perk up and show interest and seasoned entrepreneurs will look back at their early days, offering wisdom and their lessons learned.
As part of FinTech Stories, Trade Ledger will reveal who will be setting sail for Australia as part of their Coding Challenge. While, Finastra will announce the winners of their FusionFabric.Cloud #CollaborateToInnovate Hackathon running in tandem with the Festival.
Join us for two days of innovation, collaboration, live stories, music & craft beer at FinTECHTalents at HereEast, London this 30th & 31st of October.
