These last five years, alternative finance has become a central component of the fintech industry, and the recent growth trends in China, the US and the UK notably indicate a demanding market. Not only does the sector improve financial services performances at large, but it also redefines lending and fundraising both for consumers and businesses. This is why Holland FinTech included the field in one of its focus themes of the year; and what better way is there to have a good insight into an industry’s developments and opportunities than to scan its relevant events?
Here is a non-exhaustive list of the main global events alternative finance will rock this year:
AltFi London Summit 2018, 26th of March, London
In this 5th edition of the AltFi Summit, major changes impacting the industry this year will be scrutinized, such as open banking and PSD2. The ‘on-going maturation of the online lending sector’ and the consolidation of the market will be discussed as well, amongst other topics. Sponsored by Funding Circle, the event will feature numerous speakers from key players, Starling Bank, Kabbage and Revolut, to cite a few.
Securitisation Event, 22nd of March, Amsterdam
On March 22nd 2018, the Dutch Securitisation Association (DSA) and IIR host the 14th Securitisation Event in Amsterdam. The main focus will be on the impact of regulation of funding asset portfolios (New Covered Bond Directive, Basel 4, STS, IFRS 9 etc.), ABS market conditions and impact of the APPs, the future of the buy to let market, banks vs non banks, and the future of direct lending. Partnerships involve S&P Global and Dutch banks amongst others.
LendIt USA 2018, 9th-11th of April, San Francisco
With 5,000+ attendees, 1,000+ investors and more than 600 banks gathered at this year’s LendIt USA, the largest alternative finance event will attract a lot of key stakeholders. Digital banking, blockchain and lending will be discussed during this event, where LendingClub, LendInvest and other major parties will take the stage.
LendItFintech Europe 2018, 19th-20th of November, London
In this European version, more than 1,000 attendees and 150 speakers will be gathered to analyse innovation in financial services. Speakers and sponsors to be announced.
AltFi Australasia Summit 2018, 16th of April, Sydney
For its third edition, AlfFi Australasia will be held at the Dolton House in Sydney. Noah Breslow, CEO of OnDeck will deliver the Headline Keynote, after which several themes will be discussed, such as marketplace lending, the future of open data, the trends in international lending and small business lending, amongst others.
The Future of Alternative Finance, 16th of April, Washington
Facilitated by The Economist, this event will bring together editors from the newspaper as well as international experts and Fortune 500 executives to explore the future of alternative finance in front of a small attendance.
Africa SME Finance 2018, 8th of May, Nairobi
This event will gather African and global experts in SME finance to explore innovations enabling MSMEs to find capital. The discussions will encompass blockchain and SME finance, incumbent and “challenger” banking, electronic payments and remittances, and youth entrepreneurship finance.
Jean Leguy, Research Coordinator at Holland FinTech
