Fintech District, the international community of reference for the fintech ecosystem in Italy, and Business International, a division of Fiera Milano SpA focused on the creation of business and networking events, management training and business consulting, are delighted to announce the launch of the fourth edition of the Milan Fintech Summit at the Allianz Mico - Milano Convention Centre in Milan, Italy, on October 2023, 9-11.  

Held in one of Europe's most prestigious financial hubs and proudly supported by the Municipality of Milan via Milano&Partners, the Summit offers hundreds of fintech companies and start-ups the opportunity to gain visibility and recognition, to demonstrate their innovative initiatives and solutions, as well as connect with potential investors, stakeholders, and customers.  

Last year's event saw the attendance of 120 Italian and European fintech representatives, including five unicorns (the two Italian ones Scalapay and Satispay, Scalable Capital, Bitpanda, Qonto), and 1,100 people - a 65% increase from the previous year. This year, the Summit is set to exceed all expectations, with four key aspects that will further encourage innovation and growth: 

• New format: An international call for speakers from the European fintech sector, and a call for incumbents to present their best open collaboration and innovation projects, will soon be open for applications. 
• New objectives: To consolidate the role of Milan as Europe's innovation capital and financial hub, bring the Italian fintech ecosystem into the next evolutionary phase, and strengthen interest and investment from international players. 
• New location: The Allianz MiCo - Milano Convention Centre will host the event’s attendees and participants comprised of international CEOs, financial players, institutions, investors, and industry leaders. 
• New inspiration: The 2023 edition will be inspired by renowned literary works. Each session will be aligned with the main claim "Tomorrowland is here" and speakers will be encouraged to share their favourite books for the #MFS TBR (to be read) list. 

The Italian Fintech sector has experienced remarkable resilience in 2022, with data from the Politecnico di Milano showing that more than EUR 900 million was raised and the number of new enterprises operating in the sector rose to over 630. Embedded Finance and Banking-as-a-Service models are fast becoming the go-to for new business opportunities, and Fintech is now an integral part of our daily lives. Despite this, there are still unexplored areas and operators yet to understand the full potential of Fintech. The Milan Fintech Summit aims to accelerate this trend and promote Open Collaboration and Embedded Finance in the traditional financial sector. 

From January 2024, the Milan Fintech Summit will embark on a roadshow in Italy to showcase the innovation and potential of the peninsular territory, whilst also celebrating the excellence of Milan. 

Clelia Tosi, Head of Fintech District, commented: "The data reveals that the Italian Fintech ecosystem is now thriving in every aspect: from the number of entities to its stability, to the ability to attract investments. Open Innovation has been confirmed as the path to a true financial sector transformation. It is necessary to direct the spotlight to the excellence of the rest of the country, beyond Milan, which requires less stringent bureaucracy and increased investment incentives. A systemic strategy is also required to both attract and retain talent. The Fintech District's mission, which includes the Milan Fintech Summit, is to promote initiatives that assist in the development of the fintech ecosystem and culture. Collaboration and dialogue among all stakeholders is essential to the healthy, steady growth of the sector. We are confident that the fourth edition of the Summit will bring the Italian fintech sector even closer to our mission and towards even more remarkable goals". 

Carlo Antonelli, Director of Business International - Fiera Milano said: "The fourth edition of the Milan Fintech Summit is a testament to Italy's ongoing progress, despite the economic and geopolitical uncertainty that has persisted for months. Our companies and the Italian Fintech supply chain have far surpassed expectations, with two unicorns born in 2022 that participated in the last edition of the event. This is a strong indicator of the innovative excellence of our talents and must remain the driving force of our future and economic growth. To this end, the new edition of the MFS will be held at the prestigious Allianz MiCo, a demonstration of Fiera Milano's commitment to supporting the Fintech sector and its development and growth in Italy."