With a record number of small to medium businesses uncertain about getting a loan, how are today’s lenders and fintechs innovating to meet the needs of these underserved companies? SMEs need and rely on quick decisions and access to finance, and although open banking has quickened the pace, there are still many barriers in place.

• Innovative means of access
• Roadblocks still in place and how they can be eradicated
• Data based decision making

Jeff Parker, Managing Director International, Marqeta
Sameh EL-Ansary, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Treyd

By 2030 we have to slash the world’s CO2 emissions in half. Nordic banks and policymakers are already leading the way, seeing sustainable investment as an opportunity combined with responsibility. Which solutions are available that can be scaled up in the short- and medium-term to accelerate the transformation towards a green(er) financial system? 

• Green bonds and sustainable credit cards  
• Socially responsible investing  
• Impact investing – measurement and benchmarking 

Moderator: Anders Norlin, Head of Nordics & Baltics, Tenity Invest
Jan Starmans, Assistant Professor, Department of Finance, Stockholm School of Economics
Markko Waas, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Claims Carbon Institute
Henri Taipale, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Qvalia
Jesper Jonsteg, Chief Executive Officer, Rison
Anette Andersson, Senior Sustainability Investment Specialist, SEB

The dash from cash. The first European country to issue banknotes, Sweden looks set to be one of the first European countries to get rid of them. With less than 32 ATMs per 100k people, over 98% of citizens owning a debit card, and one of the top countries for contactless mobile payments, physical cash is fast becoming a relic of the past in Sweden. 

• Mobile apps driving digital payments  
• Digital currencies – the next step of the journey? 
• Public sector support and private sector innovation 

Moderator: Louise Grabo, Secretary General, SweFin Tech
Ulrika Andersson, Chief Partnership Officer, Gimi
Huizi Ye, Former Digital Finance Consultant, UNCDF
Rita Mokbel, Head of Global Customer, Ericsson

Over the past few years, alternative lending has seen its position in the lending market grow considerably as needs and requirements change. One of the reasons it is continuing to take considerable market share is that working capital and short-term capital loans have played an increasingly important role for SMEs when they want to access funds to support their growth plans.  

• Online lending platforms versus commercial banks  
• Business models and market development 
• Financing SMEs and entrepreneurs  

Moderator: Liza Donskaya, Director, Plug & Play Tech Center
Vesa Riihimäki, Head of Start-up and Growth Business, Nordea Finland
Hamed Ordibehesht, Founder, Ponture
Harald Axelius, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Billender
Leonard Schreij, CEO, Monto

Led by ambitious investors and innovators, and supported by an enterprising government, the fintech landscape in the Nordic region is all set to define finance in the years to come. The region continues to be a global leader when it comes to digital maturity and seems best prepared for change. Who are the new fintech players and how will they shape global finance? 

• Collaboration culture – models of the future  
• Privacy versus transparency  
• Creating a safe and trustworthy AI  

Moderator: Bullish Dumpling, Educational Influencer, Cardano
Andréas Tegner, Chief Credit Officer,  DBT
Emil Sunvisson, Chief Executive Officer, Qred AB
Ebba Riismark, Fintech Investment Manager, Swedbank