On April 9th and 10th, FIBE 2025 brought together leaders from fintech, banking, venture capital, government, and the startup community to discuss the future of financial innovation and regulation. Speakers and attendees engaged in over 120 sessions – offering a unique blend of high-level insights and interactive dialogue.

The two-day programme featured almost 50 sessions on the Festival Stage and Club Stage, 17 podcast recordings, 10 masterclasses, 14 networking sessions, and 38 FIBE Späti contributions. Compared to its debut edition, FIBE 2025 saw noticeable growth: “That shows that the industry not only sees us but speaks for us. We wanted to build a space that connects fintech and finance in a meaningful way – across sectors and borders – and this momentum confirms that the format resonates,” said Lisa Dally, FIBE project lead.

This year’s headline speakers included Federal Finance Minister Dr. Jörg Kukies, former PayPal CEO Dan Schulman, and N26 CEO and Co-Founder Valentin Stalf, who opened the festival with keynotes that set the tone for the event’s global and innovation-driven outlook. Other standout names included Hélène Falchier (Portage Ventures), Alexandra Mousavizadeh (Evident), and Veronique Fournier (Apollo).

Topics ranged from artificial intelligence and financial inclusion to digital regulation and green finance, offering a 360-degree perspective on what’s next in global fintech.

Teylor CEO Patrick Stäuble used the FIBE stage to publicly discuss the company’s recent acquisition of Grenke’s factoring business for the first time. The deal significantly expands Teylor’s operations, growing the SME lender from one to six countries and more than doubling its size and lending volume. Stäuble positioned the acquisition as part of a broader strategy focused on market consolidation in the European fintech lending sector. While many in the industry have long predicted a wave of M&A activity, he noted that limited access to capital has been a key barrier. He described the current conditions as a “window of opportunity” and emphasized that Teylor is moving forward with acquisitions now, taking advantage of the current market dynamics. Once the macroeconomic climate improves, the company will immediately benefit from these acquisitions, positioning itself for accelerated growth. Organic growth in SME lending, he suggested, remains complex, especially at scale.

In a session on sustainable finance and international competitiveness, several speakers addressed Europe’s role in the global green transition. Saskia Bruysten, Partner & Co-Founder at Carbon Equity, underscored the need for equity-based investment: “As Europe, we can be a driver of the green transition – we need to invest in it.” Tillmann Lang, Co-Founder and CEO at Inyova, emphasized that climate commitments should remain a priority regardless of political shifts: “The climate crisis does not care who is sitting in the White House.” Viktor Wingert, Co-Founder and CFO at Enpal, called for strategic alignment: “We need a green agenda for Europe. There is a big future for green tech.”

Preliminary feedback indicates a high level of satisfaction among attendees, with 89.5% stating they would recommend FIBE, and 86.9% already planning to return in 2026. Additionally, 8 out of 10 participants reported establishing new business connections, while 82% attended with networking as their primary goal. The share of decision-makers with key influence reached 26.8 %, compared to 20.9 % in 2024. “The topics discussed at FIBE were incredibly timely and relevant, and we were able to offer the ideal platform for the industry to engage on the pressing issues of today. With the current market dynamics and geopolitical tensions, FIBE was truly at the pulse of the moment," said Lisa Dally, FIBE project lead. "Our goal has always been to foster meaningful connections across fintech and finance, and the strong participation reflects that the industry not only recognizes this need but actively supports it.”

With a 18 % increase in attendance and 19 % increase in speaker participation compared to its inaugural edition in 2024, FIBE has cemented its role as a must-attend event for Europe’s financial innovation ecosystem. The festival continues to underscore Berlin’s position as a key node in global fintech, combining regulatory access, a thriving startup culture, and international relevance.

Save the Date: FIBE 2026

The next edition of the FIBE fintech & finance festival will take place on April 15 and 16, 2026, once again at CityCube Berlin.

Outlook reminder (MSG, 242 kB)

iCal reminder (ICS, 42 kB)

A full selection of press photos and impressions from FIBE 2025 is available here: Media library FIBE Berlin

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.

About Handelsblatt
Handelsblatt is the largest business and financial newspaper published in German. Around 200 editors, correspondents, and permanent staff ensure up-to-date, comprehensive, and well-founded reporting. With more than 70 domestic and foreign correspondents, Handelsblatt is represented on all continents. It is indispensable reading for decision-makers at first and second management levels. According to the crossmedial "Reader Analysis Decision-Makers in Business and Administration (LAE) 2024”, Handelsblatt reaches 1,035,000 top decision-makers every trading day.

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 and Caroline Wahl.