Istanbul Fintech Week 2023 in pictures

Istanbul Fintech Weekbilled as the largest regional financial technology event in the region, hosted more than 50 sessions on April 13 and 14.

Supported by Financial Innovation and Technology Association (FINTR)the summit united entrepreneurs and companies active in fintech for the first time since 2019. Due to the pandemic, the 2020 and 2022 editions were virtual.

There was a lot of excitement about returning in person this year, with leading names in the industry on the billing for two days in Fişekhane, a redeveloped mixed-use area just on the edge of the city’s historic city walls.

The event included three separate summits: Blockchain Fest, Digital Finance Summit and Women in Fintech Summit.

Fintech focus

Ahead of the event, the FINTR chairman and KOOP Ventures co-founder Demet Zübeyiroğlu, said (translated from Turkish): “We see that the fintech industry is taking its place among the strong sectors in Turkey. In this context, we believe that gathering international stakeholders in Istanbul with such an organization is very valuable both for the development and globalization of the financial world and for Istanbul to become a center of attraction in fintech.

“On the other hand, we believe that the event will provide important opportunities for Turkish startups to meet global stakeholders and expand abroad.”

The host, Turkey, has a very vibrant and interesting fintech landscape. Turkey is an upper-middle economy that has a large population, and Istanbul itself is a major financial center in the Middle East and Africa (MEA). Its unique historical and cultural bridge between Europe, the Middle East and Asia puts the country in a favorable position for economic growth.

The participants were not only from Turkey, but also others from the entire region and the rest of the world.

Istanbul Fintech Week in pictures

The entrance leading to Istanbul Fintech Week in the exclusive redeveloped mixed-use area of ​​Fişekhane (below) as well as a selfie of the same entrance.

Areas for networking

Conversations and events throughout the two days

Participants and speakers were not only from Turkey, but from all over MEA and the rest of the world

The event made its triumphant return in person since the pandemic

I attended day two as a panelist with the title Are banking services only possible digitally? This included moderator and co-founder of Koop Ventures and FINTR Mustafa Baltaci and other co-panelists Sinem Canturk from KPMG Turkey.

There was also a series of round tables that I also participated in. One was called Future preparedness in finance.

And of course, a trip to Istanbul cannot be complete without some sightseeing!

It is of course the famous one Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque (pictured)

There was also some exploration involved Taksim the area as well

And last but not least – lots of fantastic Turkish food!