
LATVIA - THE NEW HOME FOR GLOBAL FINTECH
Where?
Digital Art House
Skolas street 2, Riga, Latvia
When?
September 13th, 2022
ABOUT THE EVENT
For the first time in Latvia, the Financial and Capital Market Commission and Investment and Development Agency of Latvia are bringing FinTech ecosystem players and the best minds under one roof to discuss how to drive FinTech development in Latvia. The event will have 20+ speakers and presenters with extensive industry experience.
The FinTech market in Latvia is well diversified and growing. Around 100 active FinTech companies and 400+ StartUps are operating in Latvia in payment & remittance, investment services, lending services, crowdfunding platforms, data and analytics services or as emoney institutions. Financial software developers and IT companies, RegTech and SupTech are an integral part of the sector. Low costs, access to local banking infrastructure, fundraising and getting the Financial and Capital Market Commission license in crowdfunding, payment or investment services provides an opportunity to operate successfully throughout Europe. Support programs by the Innovation Hub and Regulatory Sandbox help create an environment for growth.
KEY FOCUS AREAS

Industry development
FinTech strategy
Directions for development
Why Latvia
Goals for 2023

Access to funding
FinTech funding
Crowdfunding regulation

FinTech regulation
Crypto and blockchains
The future of payments
Challenges raised by MiCA
RegTech and compliance

Innovative technologies and talents
Future Tech trends
Digital transformation: AI,
Web3
Talents and competencies
Latvia’s FinTech forum 2022
On 13 September, Riga hosted Latvia’s FinTech forum bringing together representatives of FinTech companies and industry experts from Latvia and other European countries. Participants discussed FinTech development trends and growth perspectives, capital availability for FinTech companies, the regulatory framework and talent attraction.
Opening of the forum and part I The acceleration of FinTech industry
The forum was opened by Santa Purgaile, Chairwoman of the Financial and Capital Market Commission (FCMC), Ņikita Kazakevičs, Director of the Innovation and Technology Department of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) and Mārtiņš Staķis, Chairman of the Riga City Council.
Marine Krasovska, Director of the Financial Innovation Department of the FCMC, gave a presentation about the Latvian FinTech ecosystem.
The presentation was followed by a discussion on development trends and industry forecasts.
Moderator: Ņikita Kazakevičs, LIAA
Participants:
- Dina Buse, Ministry of Finance (Latvia)
- Fredis Bikovs, Riga Investment and Tourism Agency
- Tīna Lūse, FinTech Latvia Association
- Mārtiņš Valters, Mintos
Part II Access to funding
Māra Pērkuma-Masļakova, PR Manager at Nordigen, gave a presentation “European Success Story of Latvian FinTech Nordigen”.
The presentation was followed by a discussion Crowdfunding and capital availability for FinTechs and startups.
Moderator: Krišjānis Znotiņš, Eleving group
Participants:
- Jānis Blaževičs, CrowdedHero
- Renāts Lokomets, Venture Faculty
- Karsten Wenzlaff, Cambridge Centre for Alternative finance, German Crowdfunding Association
- Matīss Ansviesulis, Creamfinance
Part III Regulation and innovations: opportunities and risks
The presentations by Cristian Rau, Mastercard, and Polina Brottier, Binance, were followed by a discussion FinTech regulation: global challenges and new opportunities.
Moderator: Marine Krasovska, FCMC
Participants:
- Christian Rau, Mastercard
- Ben-Benedict Hruby, Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Austria
- Karolis Jonuška, Binance
- Mārtiņš Puķe, Gravity Team
Part IV Innovative technologies and talents
The presentations by Ieva Ilvesa, adviser to the President of Latvia for information and digital policy, and Kristaps Banga, head of innovation & growth at Accenture Baltics, were followed by a discussion New competences, talents and technologies.
Moderator: Ivars Svilāns, LETA
Participants:
- Kristaps Banga, Accenture
- Dmitry Tsymber, Dyninno FinTech
- Armands Broks, Twino
- Artūrs Kostins, Altero
The forum was organised by the FCMC and the LIAA.
WHO IS ATTENDING?
- FinTech founders
- Bankers
- ITC and tech companies
- Policy makers
- RegTechs
- Venture capitalists
- Investors
- Digital innovators
- Start-Ups
- C-level executive in digital transformation
- Media representatives
WHY ATTEND?
- Leading founders and industry professionals will share their vision on recent development directions on the main stage
- 4 hot discussion panels, where European and Latvian speakers will discuss challenges and seek answers
- All the latest info and updates directly from regulators, executives and founders
- Unique presentations from International FinTech players
- Face-to-face networking during the event at the Digital Art House. Join the community of industry professionals, founders, FinTech experts and policy makers
- Live-stream sessions
- Get a free personal consultation by the FCMC Innovation Hub and Regulatory Sandbox
SPEAKERS

Santa Purgaile
Chairwoman, Financial and Capital Market Commission of the Republic of Latvia

Mārtiņš Staķis
Chairman of the Riga City Council

Ģirts Rūda
Moderator, Member of the Board, Financial and Capital Market Commission of the Republic of Latvia

Ņikita Kazakevičs
Director of Innovation and Technology Department, LIAA

Ivars Svilāns
Head of Data Services Development, Latvian Information Agency LETA

Mārtiņš Puķe
CLO, Gravity Team

Marine Krasovska
Director of Financial Innovation Department of Financial and Capital Market Commission

Mārtiņš Valters
Co-Founder and CFO/COO, Mintos

Karsten Wenzlaff
Secretary-General of the German Crowdfunding Association and member at Cambridge Centre for Alternative finance

Tīna Lūse
Head of FinTech Latvia Association

Armands Broks
Founder & Chairman of the Council, TWINO

Kristaps Banga
Head of Innovation & Growth, Accenture Baltic

Dmitry Tsymber
Co-Founder and Director, Dyninno FinTech Holding

Renat Lokomet
Co-Founder and strategic partner of Venture Faculty

Dr. Ben-Benedict Hruby
Senior Legal Expert and Policy Advisor
Federal Ministry of Finance of Austria

Karolis Jonuška
Head of Regulatory Nordics, Baltics, Binance

Polina Brottier
Country Manager, Binance

Artūrs Kostins
CO-Founder&CEO, Altero

Krišjānis Znotiņš
CEO, Mogo AS,Renti AS, Primero finance AS

Fredis Bikovs
Managing director, Riga Investment and tourism agency

Ieva Ilvesa
Adviser to the President of Latvia for Information and Digital Policy

Christian Rau
Senior Vice President – Crypto and Fintech Enablement Europe, Mastercard

Dina Buse
Deputy Director of Financial Market Policy, Ministry of Finance Republic of Latvia

Matiss Ansviesulis
Co-founder & CEO, Creamfinance

Mara Pērkuma-Masļakova
PR Manager Nordigen

Jānis Blaževičs
CEO and Founder
CrowdedHero
AGENDA
9.00
Arrival and coffee
10.00
Opening of Latvia FinTech forum 2022
Santa Purgaile, FCMC
Ņikita Kazakevičs, LIAA
Mārtiņš Staķis, Riga City Council
PART I
The acceleration of FinTech industry
10.15
Latvian FinTech ecosystem overview
Marine Krasovska, FCMC
10.45
Discussion: Development
trends and industry forecast
Moderator:
Ņikita Kazakevičs, LIAA
Participants:
Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Latvia
Riga Investment and Tourism Agency
FinTech Latvia Association
Mintos
11.30
Coffee, networking and digital FinTech
expo
PART II
Access to funding
11.50
European Success Story of Latvian
FinTech Nordigen
12.15
Discussion: Crowdfunding and
capital availability for FinTechs and
StartUps
Moderator:
Krišjānis Znotiņš Eleving group
Participants:
CrowdedHero
Venture Faculty
Cambridge Centre for Alternative finance
Creamfinance
13.00
Lunch, networking and digital FinTech
expo
PART III
Regulation and innovations:
opportunities and risks
14.00
New payment
era and blockchain
Mastercard, Binance
14.25
Discussion: FinTech regulation:
global challenges and new opportunities
Moderator:
Marine Krasovska, FCMC
Participants:
Mastercard
Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Austria
Binance
Gravity team
15.10
Coffee, networking and digital FinTech
expo
PART IV
Innovative technologies and talents
15.30
Tech Universe
Accenture
Ieva Ilvesa, Adviser to the President of Latvia for Information and Digital Policy
15.50
Discussion: New competences,
talents and technologies
Moderator:
Ivars Svilāns, LETA
Participants:
Accenture
Dynatech
Twino
Altero
16.50
Closing Remarks & Key Takeaways
PARTNERS

Investment and Development
Agency of Latvia

Financial and Capital
Market Commission