All you need to know about Global Fintech Fest 2024 in Mumbai: Dates, theme, key topics & speakers

Fintechs are emerging as big lenders to small businesses

Global Fintech Fest (GFF), the annual fintech conference organised by the Payments Council of India (PCI), the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and the Fintech Convergence Council (FCC) will kick off tomorrow, August 28, 2024, at Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai.

Started four years back, the event claims to have emerged as the “world's largest fintech conference” and the “largest thought leadership platform” in the fintech landscape.

This year, GFF is scheduled from August 28-30, with the theme "Blueprint for the Next Decade of Finance: Responsible AI | Inclusive | Resilient”. The event will host over 800 speakers, including policymakers, regulators, and fintech founders across 300 sessions.

Report launch

The GFF will begin at 10 AM on August 28 with the panel on "The Next Decade of Finance," focusing on the transformative role of fintechs. This will see participation of Dammu Ravi, Secretary (Economic Relations), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India; Kris Gopalakrishnan, Chair - GFF 2024, Co-founder Infosys and Chairman, Axilor Ventures; and Ritesh Shukla, Chief Executive Officer, NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) among others. The panel will also launch a report titled ‘Building Bridges for the Next Decade of Finance’.

PM Modi’s address

Chief guest Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the GFF on August 30. The PM's address scheduled from 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM.

Focus on inclusiveness 

In a press interaction on August 6 in Mumbai, Kris Gopalakrishnan, Chairman, Axilor Ventures; Co-founder, Infosys; and Chairman of the GFF 2024 Advisory Council, said: “GFF 2024 is about crafting a future that is equitable, inclusive, and resilient. In the context of India being one of the fastest growing fintech markets in the world, this conference assembles the leading minds in global fintech to surge ahead ensuring inclusive and sustainable growth.”

“At the heart of GFF 2024 is the belief that a responsible and inclusive financial ecosystem is imperative for global progress," said G. Padmanabhan, Former Executive Director, RBI, and Former Chairman, Bank of India, and Member of GFF 2024 Advisory Council.

Hackathons

The National Agri-Innovate Hackathon aims to empower farmers, enhance agricultural productivity, and drive sustainable rural development.

With the theme of ‘Bridging the Gap: Digital Solutions for Agri Value Chain Financing’, the hackathon strives to highlight the critical need to harness technology to overcome the challenges hindering India's agricultural sector.

Investment pitches

The GFF will allow “top 10 startups” to showcase their solutions to industry leaders and investors.

Further, there will be ‘The Capital Access Workshop’, an exclusive event designed to provide in-depth insights and practical guidance for scaled fintech startups looking to further accelerate their growth.

How to attend GFF 2024

Interested candidates can register themselves on the official website, globalfintechfest.com.

There are three different passes: Platinum pass is by invite only, while Gold and Silver passes can be purchased - each of these offers access to a number of panel discussions at GFF.

5 key sessions to attend

August 28:

FinTech Innovations for India@100: Shaping the Future of India's Financial Landscape (5 PM - 5:30 PM) Speaker: Shaktikanta Das, Governor, Reserve Bank of India.

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Combat Digital Financial Frauds (3:45 PM - 4:15 PM)
Speaker: Vaidyanathan Vembu, MD & CEO, IDFC FIRST Bank
Host: Rajesh Bansal, Chief Executive Officer, Reserve Bank Innovation Hub

August 29:

Role of Fintech in Ease of Doing Business
Speaker: Madhabi Puri Buch, Chairperson, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
Host: Srinivas Jain, Executive Director & Head of Strategy, SBI Mutual Fund

Navigating Financial Crimes
Speaker: Rajesh Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C)
Host: Viswanath Krishnamurthy, Chief Risk Officer, National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)

August 30:

New Gen Finance: New Products, Behaviors and Dilemmas in the Social Media Age

Speakers: Nithin Kamath, Founder and CEO, Zerodha; and Pranjal Kamra, Founder, Finology Ventures