Technology continues to deepen its imprint across every sector of the economy. Nevertheless, innovation still encounters hurdles when making inroads into deeply traditional fields. The Barcelona Innovation Finance Forum was conceived to bridge this divide, specifically within the financial industry. The international gathering sets out to link the traditional financial sector with technology firms, fintechs, and investors to debate how finance will evolve and to unlock new commercial opportunities in Barcelona. On 2 and 3 November, the Bolsa de Barcelona and the Deep Tech Summit at Smart City Expo will serve as interactive arenas for reflection, featuring addresses by prominent corporate leaders, collaborative activities, and practical showcases exploring the technological solutions shaping the future of finance.
The Barcelona Innovation Finance Forum has already drawn registrations from 130 financial industry leaders from 10 countries. The organisations represented at the forum command international networks and operations spanning more than 120 countries, encompassing an ecosystem of over 1,350 members and start-ups, more than 950 certified projects, 280 accelerated start-ups, 170 developed programmes, and 2,850 affiliated enterprises. Participating figures will include representatives from organisations including Revolut, Money20/20, ABAC Capital, the United Nations Development Programme, the Bank of Spain, and the CNMV. “Barcelona possesses the assets, the talent, and the business ecosystem required to hold a distinctive voice in transforming the European financial system,” affirms Alejandro Utrera, General Manager of the Barcelona Finance Cluster, which organises the forum. Utrera adds that “with this gathering, our aim is to move beyond debate and generate genuine opportunities for collaboration, investment, and business, connecting leading international financial players with our corporate network.”
Two venues, two days, and a single objective
On 2 November, at the Bolsa de Barcelona, proceedings will focus on the future of the financial system, innovation, and the fintech revolution. The programme includes the panel debate Conversations on the Future, moderated by Laura Subías, Vice President of ABAC Capital, featuring representatives from Money20/20, the United Nations Development Programme, Finance Innovation, and TechQuartier. In the afternoon, Santi Pérez Olano, CEO of Revolut Spain, will deliver a keynote titled The Fintech Revolution, alongside concise pitch presentations by diverse fintech ventures unveiling their innovative propositions. As a novel feature for events of this kind, the forum will also incorporate participatory workshops – dubbed Immersive Labs – dedicated to addressing challenges surrounding new business models, sustainable finance, digitalisation, talent, and financial education: “The aim is to leave the Bolsa having framed tangible solutions to tomorrow’s financial challenges,” explains Utrera.
On 3 November, as part of the Deep Tech Summit at the Smart City Expo World Congress, the forum will continue with a full day dedicated to connecting the financial industry with tech start-ups and investors. All too often, the divide separating emerging enterprises from traditional finance remains vast, making points of intersection difficult to establish. According to Utrera, the Barcelona Innovation Finance Forum will provide an ideal setting for “matchmaking between investors, corporations, and start-ups.” To this end, the agenda features specialised tracks, an innovation tour, a panel discussion on best practices in impact investing, and structured networking sessions to streamline engagement between investors and founders. The overriding goal is to foster fresh connections across the ecosystem while accelerating innovation, investment, and corporate scale.