FIBE, taken from ’fintech’ and ’Berlin’, will take place for the first time on 24 and 25 April 2024 in the CityCube at Messe Berlin. FIBE sets new standards as a groundbreaking format that brings innovation, finances and policymakers together. Its aim is to create a platform for a wide range of actors from the financial world, elevating the exchanges to a global level. It is with these expectations in mind that the goal of FIBE is to become the leading event of its kind, where innovative ideas combine with inspiring personalities to shape the future of the financial sector.

FIBE was announced yesterday on 22 June at the summer festival of the Berlin Finance Initiative by the three partners Messe Berlin, BFI and Handelsblatt. Speakers present included Berlin’s Senator for Economics Franziska Giffey, who in her keynote speech underlined Berlin’s significance as Germany’s leading fintech hub.

Mayor of Berlin and Senator for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises Franziska Giffey:

“Berlin is home to forward-looking industries. Today, our city is already the leading fintech hub of both Germany and Europe. A modern financial sector requires a high concentration of talent from around the world, tech companies, startups and investors. That is exactly what Berlin offers, which is why this is the ideal place for the first International Fintech Festival. FIBE’s arrival here reflects how Messe Berlin is moving forward and also attracting new formats. Welcome to the German capital!“

“I am delighted that FIBE has joined the event portfolio of Messe Berlin,” said Dirk Hoffmann, CFO of Messe Berlin. “After looking at existing events and current activities in the fintech sector, we identified a demand that we want FIBE to exploit. As yet, Europe has no comparable event. Our aim is to make FIBE the signature event for Europe’s fintech eco-system. FIBE should not be regarded as a traditional trade fair. Its focus instead is on dialogue-oriented formats and a sophisticated supporting programme tailored to its audiences.”

“Berlin has become a leading hub for innovative financial services in Europe. In order to meet the demands of this dynamic sector it is time to establish an event format that not only promotes a close dialogue among the relevant actors and covers a wide range of topics, but also looks beyond national horizons,“ said Caroline Wahl, co-founder of the Berlin Finance Initiative. “We are therefore delighted to have created a unique event experience together with Handelsblatt and Messe Berlin that has a global outlook and encourages meetings at international level.“

“I am pleased that in establishing the FIBE Fintech Festival we have added an innovative event to the Handelsblatt live portfolio, where the focus is on tech trends and the disruptive business models of fintechs,“ said Andrea Wasmuth, managing director of the Handelsblatt Media Group. “Focusing on forward-looking topics is very important here at the Handelsblatt Media Group. Only recently, Handelsblatt chief editor Sebastian Matthes received an honour for his involvement with the startup eco-system. In creating FIBE we have established a unique platform for this eco-system that brings startups, investors, banks and policymakers together on a level playing field.“

You can download a fintech factsheet (PDF, 95 kB) with further details from our media kit.

About Messe Berlin
Berlin has been a trade fair destination for 200 years, and has been one of the most important such hubs for many decades. Messe Berlin – the state’s own trade fair company – conceives, markets and organises hundreds of live events every year. It strives to be an outstanding host for visitors at all events, generate optimal business stimuli, and provide fair conditions for everyone. This concept is reflected in the company slogan: Messe Berlin – Hosting the World. https://www.messe-berlin.de/en/

About Handelsblatt
The Handelsblatt is the largest business and financial newspaper in German. Around 200 editors, correspondents, and permanent staff around the globe ensure up-to-date, comprehensive, and well-founded reporting. Compared to other daily newspapers, the daily business and financial newspaper is indispensable reading for decision-makers at the first and second management levels. According to the "Reader Analysis Decision-Makers in Business and Administration (LAE) 2022, the Handelsblatt reaches 1,025,000 top decision-makers every trading day. The Handelsblatt can be reached online at www.handelsblatt.com.

About Berlin Finance Initiative
The Berlin Finance Initiative (BFI) sees itself as the umbrella of Berlin's fintech ecosystem, uniting traditional banks and fintech companies. As the voice of Berlin's finance and technology industry, the BFI actively advocates for its diverse interests and strengthens ties to global markets. The BFI is a proud partner of de:hub FinTech Berlin and Germany Finance and was founded in 2020 by Achim Oelgarth, Caroline Wahl and Maximilian Riege: www.berlin-finance-Initiative.de