The inside track on fintech’s biggest event

To get a taste of next week’s fintech extravaganza, Finextra caught up with the conference’s chief strategy and growth officer, Scarlett Sieber, with a handful of questions about the event and what to expect.

Serena Williams & Takis Georgakopoulos’ fireside chat is a serious highlight on the agenda. What are the topics, trends and updates you plan to cover during this session?

This session will undoubtedly change the game. Digital identity, web3 and the entry of the creative economy into the world of e-commerce marketplaces are just some of the trends driving new business models worldwide. These new models bring new solutions, experiences and many questions. The companies best positioned to establish a competitive advantage are those that embrace a culture of prioritizing a diversity of people and a long-term vision and investment strategy, and a dedication to putting the user experience at the center of everything they do.

In March 2022, Serena Ventures launched its first venture capital fund of $111 million and currently has a portfolio of over 60 companies focused on diverse leadership. A longtime advocate for empowering marginalized business owners, Serena Ventures writes checks that power is shifting, investing in 76% underrepresented founders, 53% female founders, and 47% black founders.

We want to hear from Serena and Takis about what it takes to build a future where historically neglected people and markets are empowered for a more inclusive economy.

Who are some of your other favorites gracing the speaker line-up?

Our impressive range of speakers has been designed to help the industry tackle and meet some of its biggest challenges, and there’s so much to look forward to. I’m especially looking forward to hearing from Amrapali Gan and Lee Taylor of OnlyFans about how they can protect creators and their communities while giving them the resources they need. The creator economy earned over $4 billion in the past year, so it’s so important that we hear from those steering the ship at OnlyFans about how they see the future of the creator economy evolving.

Another speaker I want to spotlight is Kamran Zaki from Adyen, who will be speaking on a panel session on how embedded finance is reshaping fintech as we know it and how platforms and marketplaces will lead this revolution. I published a best-selling book earlier this year – “Embedded Finance: When Payments Become An Experience” – about how embedded finance is revolutionizing the future of fintech, so this is a special fintech sweet spot for me.

Not to bury the lead, but Adyen will also share a big announcement on stage with the potential to change the landscape of the financial ecosystem.

We’re riding hot on the back of a wave of welcome-back-to-the-real-world-in-person conferences. How does the M20/20 differentiate itself?

Last year we still held our show live and in person in Las Vegas, even when most other conferences didn’t. We will continue to prioritize the exceptional and emotional moments in the industry that can only happen in person. We address the intangible human-to-human experiences that drive innovation and get business done, creating unique and unexpected experiences for everyone involved.

Looking back at our European show in June, The Exchange stage is a great example of how we create experiences that can only be experienced live and in person. What’s so great about our off-the-record scenes is that they gave our speakers the opportunity to speak more openly and share more than they would under normal circumstances, and this wouldn’t be possible if it were streamed online.

What can’t we see in Las Vegas? What trends are you ready to kiss goodbye?

One of the things that makes Money20/20 really powerful is that we are a mirror of what is happening in the ecosystem. So as part of being at the center of that ecosystem, we represent and amplify the voices of everyone involved, so there’s nothing you won’t see. There will always be something for everyone, and our reputation for always spotlighting the hottest trends in fintech, payments and financial services precedes us.

How is the broader macro climate affecting US fintech? Why is it important to go ahead with conferences such as M20/20 in the face of such uncertainty?

With today’s economic climate, you can’t help but talk about what’s happening in the wider macro landscape. In times of uncertainty, we need fintech more than ever, so the show this year is not only an opportunity for the entire ecosystem to come together to build networks and partnerships that can help us weather the storm, but also to talk about where the industry goes and ensures that everyone who meets has their finger on the pulse of what will happen next.

At the heart of this sentiment is America’s Got Access, our brand new interactive pitch competition, which gives ten innovative startups focused on driving financial inclusion and empowering underserved markets the chance to win $100,000 in funding from venture capital firm Commerce Ventures. This is a great example of why we should press ahead with conferences like Money20/20 in the face of uncertainty, because it is during these times that real innovation and movement in the industry happens, whether it’s your first cheque, your first job or your first client.

Finextra will be on the ground at Money20/20, reporting on the event’s biggest updates and announcements. You can keep up to date with our coverage on Finextra’s Live@ page here.