Over the years, the Nordic and Baltic regions have emerged as vibrant hubs for fintech innovation, fueled and facilitated by advanced digital infrastructure and digitally literate populations, government support, and strong collaboration between traditional financial institutions, startups and technology companies.

The Baltics, which include Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia, boast a skilled workforce, favorable taxation and a strong startup culture, a favorable landscape that has contributed to the advent of a burgeoning fintech ecosystem of 600 companies.

The Nordics, which encompass Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark and Iceland, are home to more than 1,200 fintech companies, including some of Europe’s fastest-growing and highest-valued companies such as Sweden’s Klarna and Tink, Finland’s Enfuce, Norway’s Aprila Bank, and Denmark’s Lunar.

With fintech innovation continuing to take hold of the Nordics and Baltics, a plethora of events are being organized each year in the two regions to showcase their respective fintech landscape, explore the latest technologies and allow industry stakeholders to build meaningful business connections.

Today, we look at some of the most prominent fintech events taking place in the Nordic and Baltic regions in H1 2024, delving into must-attend gatherings that are expected to bring together some of the industry’s top innovators and decision-makers.

FinTech Day 2024

February 8, 2024

Vilnius, Lithuania 

FinTech Day is an annual flagship Baltic conference dedicated to FinTech innovation. Organized by ROCKIT Vilnius and endorsed by the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Lithuania, the event aims to bring impact to the future of finance in Lithuania as well as the Baltic region.

Industry leaders, disruptors, and visionaries converge at this physical event to explore latest digital finance trends, such as Web4, Artificial Intelligence (AI), sustainable finance, open banking and more.

Sthlm Fintech Week 2024

February 12 – 16, 2024

Sergel Hub, Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm Fintech Week 2024 will take place in Stockholm with a packed 2-day conference and a full week of side-events from industry leaders. The event features 10 fintech tracks, more than 200 startups and 70 world-class speakers who will be sharing their knowledge in keynotes, panel discussions and fireside chats. It also features an exclusive matchmaking session which startups and investors may interact for potential business opportunities.

During the event the focus will be on topics like Regulations, Embedded Finance, PayTech, RegTech, Combating Financial Crime, Open Finance, Impact Fintech, Web3, AI in Fintech and Cybersecurity.

TechArena 2024

February 22 – 23, 2024

Friends Arena, Stockholm, Sweden

TechArena 2024, scheduled on February 22 and 23, will take place at the Friends Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, aiming to unite thousands of industry professionals, including business leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, and decision-makers. The gathering seeks to serve as a platform for networking, knowledge exchange, and engaging discussions on various facets of innovation, entrepreneurship, sustainability, technology, and global megatrends.

TechArena 2024 will encompasses four stages, each featuring a diverse program that includes keynotes, fireside sessions, panel discussions, and knowledge tracks. Additionally, participants will get to partake in startup and scaleup pitches, expert seminars, investor meet-ups, and founder sessions. The agenda also includes curated side events, structured matchmaking, round tables, workshops, and networking activities. Tech exhibitions and experience areas will be set up, along with dedicated lounges for work and hosting meetings.

Tech Arena 2024 will revolve around four overarching themes, each explored through engaging panels, keynotes, and the showcasing of cutting-edge technology and the companies behind them.

Under the theme “Leading through Innovation,” the event will emphasize the role of innovation in addressing societal challenges, ranging from clean solutions in nutrition and energy to cutting-edge applications in health and education.

“World-class Entrepreneurship” will highlight the increasing significance of entrepreneurship, fueled by technology unlocking new possibilities and resources, leading to revolutionary advancements.

“Leveraging Tech for Sustainability” will underscore the transformative impact of technology on shaping a sustainable future, not only in how we live and work but also in contributing to the well-being of future generations.

Finally, the theme “Breaking Barriers through Leadership” will acknowledge the importance of staying abreast of evolving technology trends for business leaders and entrepreneurs. Topics such as adapting to artificial intelligence (AI) innovations, balancing ethics and progress, and building sustainable business strategies will be discussed.

Fintensity by NFM: Payments Tomorrow

April 04, 2024

Copenhagen, Denmark

Scheduled for April 04, 2024 in Copenhagen, Denmark, Fintensity by NFM: Payments Tomorrow will focus on the Nordic and Baltic payments ecosystem. With an exclusive gathering of more than 150 key influencers and decision-makers, the event will be meticulously curated to facilitate elite networking and to explore the future of payments.

Organized by Nordic Fintech Magazine (NFM), Fintensity by NFM: Payments Tomorrow will bring together a diverse group, including regulators, fintech innovators, and payment service providers (PSPs), in an immersive experience designed to foster meaningful conversations and propel businesses forward.

Themed “Payments Tomorrow: The Era of Unstoppable Transformation,” the event will address the rapid evolution of financial services. It promises insights into the forces and trends reshaping payments, unveiling opportunities for PSPs, acquirers, issuers, and network operators. Participants will hear, learn, and experience the dynamic landscape of the financial industry.

Baltic Payment Forum

April 09, 2024

Vilnius, Lithuania

Scheduled for April 09, 2024, Baltic Payment Forum is a hybrid event that brings together industry experts, consultants, regulators in the payments industry.

The event will be focusing on trending payments topics such as Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), payment technologies (PayTech) and cybersecurity. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn how payments have evolved over the years and what to prepare in the future.

At the Innovative Payment Solutions Showcase, visitors will also have the opportunity to listen to successful use cases of groundbreaking payments technologies, such as biometric authentication and more.

CIO Nordics 2024

April 16, 2024

Grand Hotel, Stockholm, Sweden

Scheduled for April 16, 2024, at the Grand Hotel in Stockholm, Sweden, CIO Nordics 2024 is an exclusive event tailored for Chief Information Officers (CIOs), Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs), Chief Data Officers (CDOs), Chief Technology Officers (CTOs), and IT professionals from non-IT services or consultancy companies.

CIO Nordics 2024 will be centered around peer-to-peer learning and networking facilitated by some of the most accomplished IT leaders in the Nordic region. Attendees will delve into industry-specific digital challenges and topics across diverse sectors, including manufacturing, retail, financial services, healthcare, and energy.

Tech topics to be explored include generative AI, the digital transformation journey, retaining top IT talent, sustainability, cybersecurity, cloud migration, digital healthcare, and more.

In addition to the knowledge exchange sessions, attendees will have ample opportunities to network in a relaxed environment, including networking coffee breaks, a networking lunch, and post-event networking drinks and canapés.

Norway Fintech Festival

April 16 – 18, 2024

Media City Bergen, Bergen, Norway

The Norway Fintech Festival, scheduled from April 16 to 18, 2024 at Media City Bergen in Norway, promises to be a distinctive conference uniting industry leaders, speakers, and artists to craft enchanting moments for the fintech community in Norway and attendees from the Nordics and beyond. The festival aims to provide a platform where the fintech community can come together, share knowledge, and experience magic moments in the picturesque setting of Bergen, Norway.

The Norway Fintech Festival will span three days and will feature a dynamic mix of expert talks, meaningful conversations, entertainment, and magic moments. Attendees can expect a unique blend of insights from top industry players, engaging workshops, and entertainment, creating an atmosphere conducive to networking and collaboration.

TechChill 2024

April 17 – 19, 2024

Riga, Latvia

Taking place this year from April 17 to 19, 2024, in Riga, Latvia, TechChill 2024 stands as a cornerstone of the Baltic tech scene. The event aims to provide the network, skills, and know-how to boost the success of Baltic founders and create meaningful connections within the tech ecosystem.

TechChill is an annual tech event. It’s not only known for its comprehensive program but also for the legendary afterparties, the Finnish sauna parked outside the venue, and more. TechChill uniquely showcases the essence of the Baltic startup scene, being run entirely by local techies and volunteers.

TechChill 2024 is expected to feature over 80 speakers, 300 startups, 200 investors, and 2,300 attendees, making it one of the biggest startup events in the Baltic. The event will feature pitch battles, an investor day, mind-blowing stage talks, and unforgettable parties.

BananaConf Tallinn 2024

April 22 – 24, 2024

Tallinn Creative Hub, Tallinn, Estonia

Scheduled from April 22 to 24, 2024, at the Tallinn Creative Hub in Estonia, BananaConf Tallinn 2024 stands as a flagship event in the realm of Web 3.0 innovation. The event aims to provide a vibrant platform for insightful discussions among Web 3.0 pioneers and industry leaders, fostering an environment where attendees can meet, learn, and share ideas on leveraging the latest Internet technologies, including non-fungible tokens (NFTs), decentralized applications (dApps) and AI.

The event will boast a lineup of 100+ speakers and will showcase from 25+ exhibitors across various industries. More than 1,500 participants are expected to attend the event.

Key highlights of BananaConf Tallinn 2024 include:

• All of Web 3.0 together: The event is part of Tallinn Web3 Week (April 19-25), aiming to bring together Web 3.0 builders and users for connection, learning, and enjoyment at BananaConf Tallinn and associated community events.
• Curated speakers and sessions: The organizers prioritize quality by carefully selecting top protocol, NFT, DeFi, dApp, and decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) builders, as well as notable artists, for the event. The focus is on providing meaningful and curated content.
• Community first: BananaConf Tallinn events are community-driven, emphasizing inclusivity and a multi-chain approach, avoiding maximalism.

The choice of Estonia as the event’s location is grounded in the country’s position as a digital pioneer, particularly in digital public services. Estonia has embraced the Web 3.0 revolution, evident in initiatives like X-Road, a proprietary distributed system launched in 2001, and the utilization of blockchain since 2008.

Estonian companies, including AlphaBill, Ready Player Me, NFT Port, 3 Commas, and BananaCorp, are actively leveraging Web 3.0 to innovate across sectors, from government systems and medical records to finance and gaming.

Iceland Innovation Week

May 15 – 16, 2024

Kolaportid, Reykjavik, Iceland

Held annually in May, the Iceland Innovation Week is a vibrant festival celebrating and showcasing innovation. The 2024 edition of Iceland Innovation Week will take place on May 15 and 16 at Kolaportid in Reykjavik. Throughout the entire week, various side events, including panel discussions, company visits, happy hours, and unconventional activities like an icy ocean dip, will be hosted at different locations in Reykjavík.

Each year, the festival attracts a diverse audience, including founders, investors, larger companies, and public institutions. The overarching goal is to boost the visibility of the innovation sector, provide a platform for knowledge-sharing, and serve as a dynamic international marketing window.

Day one of the event will involve a deep dive into inspiration with a stage program, pitches, workshops, networking opportunities, booths, and various activities. And day two will feature an “edu-tainment” experience focused on climate solutions, blending music and performance with keynotes from world-class climate experts. The day will conclude with the Silicon Vikings Pitch Competition and an energetic afterparty to celebrate the end of the festival.

The festival theme for 2024 includes “Waste not, want not”, focusing on innovations in the circular economy and sustainability; “Been there, fund that”, targeting startups and investors with a focus on funding and investments; “Health is wealth”, covering healthtech, medtech and mental health awareness; “Pardon the Disruption”, highlighting tech innovations; and “Fun and games”, exploring startups and companies in the gaming industry.

Nordics Fintech Summit

May 16, 2024

Wanha Satama, Helsinki, Finland

Nordic Fintech Summit is more than an event – it is an opportunity for the fintech and banking industry in Nordics to gather, interact and exchange knowledge.

The focus of the Summit is to explore fintech as the universal growth formula supercharging both financial services and innovative enterprises across all sectors.

Two tracks of content are featured – “Digital Banking 2024” and “Digital Payments 2024”. The Digital Banking 2024 track covers topics like digital baning, Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS), EU Digital Identity and Open Finance, while the Digital Payments 2024 track covers in-depth discussion about Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL), ISO 20022, Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC) and more.

Stockholm Tech Show 2024

May 22 – 23 2024

Kistamassan, Stockholm, Sweden

Scheduled for May 22 and 23, 2024, the Stockholm Tech Show 2024 is gearing up to be the pivotal tech event of the year. The event aims to provide an unparalleled opportunity for knowledge exchange, exploration of next-generation strategies, and a deep dive into various tech domains.

The Stockholm Tech Show 2024 will explore the challenges and opportunities of the fourth industrial revolution, and will feature over 200 carefully selected speakers participating in seminars, panel discussions, and various activities.

With over 3,000 anticipated visitors, participants can look forward to engaging in meetings, gaining new insights, developing skills, and exchanging valuable experiences. The event will boast a diverse audience, providing a dynamic platform for networking and collaboration.

The Stockholm Tech Show 2024 is expected to see the participation of 1,000 delegates, offering a unique opportunity to engage with inspiring and insightful lectures delivered by industry experts. Additionally, the presence of more than 250 exhibitors will add another layer of richness to the event, providing attendees with a firsthand look at the latest innovations and advancements in the tech industry.

Focus areas of the Stockholm Tech Show 2024 and key highlights include AI and big data, cloud services, cybersecurity, as well as the Data Center Expo and the DevOps Expo.

Latitude59 2024

May 22-24, 2024

Tallinn, Estonia

Since 2012, Latitude59 is one of the flagship events for startups to gather and interact with each other, to explore potential business collaborations and opportunities.

Featuring 30+ side events & after-parties, Latitude59 aims to create a platform for tech founders to showcase and interact with a like-minded community in the Baltics region. The Bold Stage, Community Stage and Founders Stage explores intriguing topics in technology, such as Generative AI, the state of venture capitals (VCs) and more.

The signature pitch competition, L59, is the highlight of this event. Startups who aspire to be the unicorn of the north may participate to win their share of a lucrative prize pool. Last year, the L59 Pitch Competition gave out more than 1 million Euros to 3 promising startups.

Arctic15 Helsinki 2024

June 6-7, 2024

Cable Factory, Helsinki, Finland

Arctic15 Startup Conference is designed to be purely focused on connecting people to making deals. With a strong focus on business matchmaking, the conference allows startups, businesses and investors to interact with each other to explore potential collaborative opportunities.

Since 2011, Arctic15 has emerged as a is a meeting spot for startup entrepreneurs, investors, corporates and media from 60+ countries. Upon registration, attendees will gain access to an exclusive event platform which allows them to connect with potential investors and startups easily.