FIBE Berlin 2025 Is Around the Corner—And It’s Raising the Bar for Fintech Conferences in Europe
With the global financial sector entering yet another period of transformation, few gatherings feel as timely as FIBE Berlin. Taking place on April 9 and 10, this fintech festival is not just a place for panels and handshakes. It’s quickly becoming one of the most talked-about fintech conferences in Europe—and for good reason.
FIBE Berlin stands at the intersection of innovation, policy, capital, and community. Its format blends the energy of a tech gathering with the depth of a financial summit. And while many events are built around traditional agendas, FIBE offers something different: space for real exchange, accessible ideas, and forward-looking discussion—on and off the stage.
Hosted in Berlin, a city that has become Germany’s fintech engine, FIBE is backed by strong institutional networks and a community that spans founders, regulators, investors, and industry leaders. Its location isn’t just symbolic—it reflects the diversity and ambition of a city that has attracted over €500 million in fintech funding in a single year.
With that momentum, FIBE’s goal is clear: to connect. Startups and scale-ups, incumbents and challengers, policymakers and technologists—all under one roof, not just to share updates, but to shape what’s next. From curated networking to interactive formats, the event focuses on moments that move conversations forward.
In the lead-up to the 2025 edition, we spoke with three of the driving forces behind the festival:
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Lisa Dally, Project Lead at FIBE
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Carola Bergmann, Head of Event Production at Handelsblatt
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Caroline Wahl, Co-Founder of the Berlin Finance Initiative
In the interviews that follow, they reflect on what it means to build a fintech event that actually serves the people who attend—from concept to execution, from purpose to participation.
Whether you’re attending for strategic insight, connection, or a clearer view of the future of finance, FIBE Berlin is becoming the space where those needs converge. And this April, it’s ready to deliver again.
Lisa Dally, Project Lead FIBE
1. What inspired the creation of FIBE Berlin, and what role did you play in bringing this vision to life?
Berlin is Germany’s largest fintech hub, with nearly 200 active fintech companies, strong venture capital funds, and a high density of startups driving innovation in the financial sector. The city is internationally connected and attracts talent and investors from all over the world. What was missing, however, was an event that truly connects this dynamic community with the global financial world.
2. Organizing a new fintech and finance festival in a major city must come with its own set of challenges—what have been some of the key lessons learned so far?
FIBE was developed from scratch in just ten months - with no existing structures or established processes. The biggest challenges were creating a clear identity and convincing partners and speakers to join a completely new format. How do you engage people from the financial sector - the core audience for FIBE - in an event that has never existed before?
The answer: rather than relying on traditional models, we leaned into the festival character through a modern, interactive event concept. FIBE’s debut came with its share of hurdles but also pleasant surprises. Establishing a new event requires trust-building - especially without prior references or success stories. The biggest challenge was gaining confidence in the concept and bringing participants and partners on board for something unknown. The response from the finance community was clear: more of this, please!
To boost ticket sales, we used targeted marketing strategies including early-bird phases, increased campaign efforts, and exclusive offers for newsletter subscribers. At the same time, building a strong team was essential - a time-intensive process that paid off in the long run.
Beyond the challenges, we saw many positive developments. A major factor in our success was the strong sense of unity within the team and the broad support from the industry. Whether through partnerships, content contributions, or hands-on involvement - the concept was noticed and appreciated.
3. Can you walk us through the planning process behind an event like FIBE—from concept to execution?
An event of this scale requires a strong network and close collaboration with the industry, the city, and key stakeholders. Important partners such as Handelsblatt, the Berlin Finance Initiative, Berlin Partner, and international fintech and finance hubs brought their expertise to the table. Political support and the city’s engagement were also crucial in establishing FIBE as an international event.
What mattered most, however, was the trust of the community: ambassadors and multipliers who supported the concept from the start and helped to spread the word. They enabled international dialogue and ensured FIBE gained broad visibility among the target audience. Authenticity was a priority for us — we wanted the people behind the brand to be visible and to build trust from the very beginning. Our goal was to create a platform where all topics relevant to the fintech and finance world could be discussed openly.
4. What do you hope fintech professionals and innovators take away from attending FIBE Berlin?
We hope that everyone who attends FIBE is left feeling inspired, connected, and equipped with new insights. Our goal is to create a space where meaningful dialogue could happen - across sectors, experience levels, and disciplines. Whether someone joined a masterclass, networked at the Späti, or listened to a podcast recording, the takeaway should be: “This is where innovation lives.” We want FIBE to be remembered not just as an event, but as a catalyst — for new ideas, partnerships, and progress in finance and tech.
5. In your view, how does FIBE stand out from other finance and tech events across Europe?
FIBE combines interactive formats with lifestyle elements, going beyond traditional trade fair concepts. It merges expo, conference, and entertainment to foster real connections. Several elements set new standards:
- Interactive formats like workshops and masterclasses were designed to encourage engagement and networking.
- Stages with different thematic focuses allowed for deeper conversations and personal perspectives. The Club Stage built on topics from the Festival Stage with more intimate insights and learnings.
- The FIBE Späti created an informal setting for open, off-the-record discussions.
- Curated networking areas enabled more targeted and meaningful interactions.
6. What advice would you give to others leading or launching events that aim to drive real impact in the fintech community?
Think differently, challenge the status quo, and develop a clear plan with defined goals. The more concrete your structure, the easier it is to build something sustainable. Don't be afraid to leave the usual paths — the fintech community values authenticity and bold ideas.
Carola Bergmann, Head of Event Production at Handelsblatt
1. What were some of your main goals when curating the event experience for FIBE Berlin?
In a world of rapid change, where long-held certainties are being challenged and new technologies and geopolitical shifts are disrupting business, trustworthy information, clear guidance and new, reliable connections are more important than ever. And that's what we want to deliver at FIBE.
FIBE was never meant to be just another fintech event. Our vision was to bring together the entire financial ecosystem: established banks, startups, venture capitalists, regulators, policymakers, technology providers and emerging talent. The growing collaboration between fintechs and banks reflects a deeper insight- true innovation doesn't happen in isolation, but within strong, connected networks. FIBE creates the space for these networks to emerge and thrive.
2. From an event production perspective, what does it take to create an atmosphere that encourages real connection and exchange in the fintech space?
It starts with rethinking the format. At FIBE, we offer highly interactive sessions that go beyond keynotes. Attendees can ask questions directly, speak with experts on-site, and get the most out of their experience. The physical environment also matters: open spaces, informal lounges, and curated networking help to break down silos and create genuine dialogue.
3. How do you decide which themes, speakers, or topics to prioritize when shaping the program for FIBE?
On the one hand, we benefit from Handelsblatt's extensive international editorial network. On the other, we're in direct and ongoing dialogue with the industry's key decision-makers - fintech founders, bankers and investors. This gives us a deep understanding of the issues that matter most to the sector, and the specific insights, impulses and best practice cases they need.
Right now, we’re seeing profound geopolitical changes across fintech hubs in the US, Asia, and Europe—shaping everything from regulation and investment dynamics to technological priorities. At the same time, artificial intelligence is rapidly disrupting the industry: streamlining operations, driving productivity, and unlocking new business models. Other pressing topics include the ascent of crypto, the growing influence of super apps, the pressures on fintech founders, and shifting customer expectations.
To explore these topics, we invite some of the most brilliant, renowned, and forward-thinking founders and investors from around the world. Thanks to our extensive network and close ties within the industry, many of our speakers come to us through personal recommendations—ensuring we consistently bring relevant voices and fresh perspectives to the stage.
4. How do you ensure a balance between thought leadership, networking, and innovation on the event stage and behind the scenes?
It’s all about diversity – not just of speakers, but of formats. We blend high-level panels and keynotes with deep dives, masterclasses, and informal networking formats like the FIBE Späti. Each area of the festival has its own energy, and each interaction should offer something different: insight, connection, or inspiration.
Behind the scenes, we work closely with our partners to co-create content that feels relevant, forward-thinking, and grounded in real challenges.
5. What trends or topics in fintech are you most excited to see gaining momentum at FIBE?
One exciting development is our deeper international focus. We’re spotlighting emerging fintech ecosystems in India, the Nordics, and the US. To get live insights directly from these markets, we’re not just bringing global speakers to Berlin — we’re also connecting in real-time via video with Handelsblatt correspondents in places like Silicon Valley and Shanghai.
6. One of your goals is to foster inclusivity at FIBE. What specific steps have you taken to ensure that diversity is reflected on stage and in the audience?
Diversity is something we approach proactively, not passively. We set clear internal goals for speaker diversity – across gender, backgrounds, experience levels, and geography.
We work with international partner organisations that focus on underrepresented voices. We also ensure ticket access is inclusive – through discounted rates for students, founders, and nonprofits. On stage and in the audience, FIBE should reflect the full breadth of the fintech community.
Caroline Wahl, Co-Founder Berlin Finance Initiative
1. What first drew you to get involved with FIBE Berlin, and how did your background help shape your approach to the festival?
At the Berlin Finance Initiative, our mission is to make Berlin’s fintech success story visible – and to actively shape it. We work closely with the City of Berlin, Berlin Partner for Business and Technology, and the European Union to position Berlin as a leading financial and tech hub in Europe. When the opportunity arose to support FIBE, it was a natural fit. Berlin has long needed a flagship event to connect its dynamic fintech scene with the broader finance ecosystem.
Our network, our strategic perspective, and our commitment to sustainable growth helped shape FIBE’s positioning – not just as a local festival, but as a platform with European and international relevance.
2. As a co-founder of the Berlin Finance Initiative (short: BFI), how does your vision for the city's fintech future align with FIBE’s mission?
FIBE and the BFI share a common goal: to make Berlin the leading centre for next-generation financial technologies. We both believe in building bridges – between fintechs and banks, between startups and policymakers, between local innovation and global relevance.
Berlin is already Germany’s fintech capital – home to more active fintechs than Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Cologne combined. But our vision goes further: we want Berlin to be the go-to hub for WealthTech, InvestTech, and B2B fintechs across Europe. Events like FIBE help turn that vision into reality by giving these players a stage, visibility, and a place to connect and grow.
3. How do you approach building meaningful partnerships that add real value to the FIBE experience?
We see partnerships as more than just logos on a banner. True collaboration means shaping content together, co-creating experiences, and amplifying each other’s reach. At FIBE, we worked to bring in partners who represent every part of the value chain – from regulators and investors to tech providers and founders.
Berlin thrives on networks, and that spirit was central to how we approached FIBE: diverse voices, active participation, and a shared commitment to pushing the industry forward.
4. What has surprised you the most during the FIBE journey?
What truly surprised – and inspired – me was the overwhelming support from the fintech and finance community, not just here in Berlin, but internationally. From day one, people stepped in with ideas, introductions, and an incredible amount of goodwill. It really felt like a collective effort to build something meaningful together.
What stood out was how strong the interest was from the international fintech bubble to connect with Berlin’s ecosystem. There’s a real curiosity about what’s happening here – a recognition that Berlin is not only a creative and tech-savvy hub, but also a serious place to do business in the financial space.
Even more powerful was the sense of shared ambition across the board. Fintechs and banks alike showed a real willingness to collaborate – to break out of silos and work together to push this ecosystem forward. That spirit of cooperation, the openness, and the hunger to shape the future – that’s what made the FIBE journey so special.
5. What do you believe makes Berlin an ideal home for a fintech and finance festival like this?
Berlin remains Germany’s undisputed fintech capital – with 189 active fintechs, more than triple the number in Munich or Frankfurt. In 2024 alone, Berlin-based fintechs raised around €535 million in venture capital across 64 funding rounds – more than any other German city. The majority of Germany’s fintech scale-ups are based here, and we’re seeing especially strong momentum in B2B and enterprise software solutions for finance.
What sets Berlin apart isn’t just the numbers – it’s the culture. This city attracts talent, investors, and entrepreneurs from around the world. It’s international, collaborative, and open to experimentation. Whether you're building the next big WealthTech or looking to partner with incumbents, Berlin offers the ideal mix of innovation, infrastructure, and ambition.
We’re also seeing promising developments with platforms like the House of Finance & Tech – a hub that brings together founders, corporates, and policymakers to help fintechs scale. That’s the kind of energy and support that makes Berlin more than just a great location – it makes it the heart of fintech in Europe.
