2023 Programme
Programme at a Glance
Inclusive FinTech Forum 2024 | ||||
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Monday, August 26 | Tuesday, August 27 | |||
Morning | Leadership Dialogues | The Amazing Startups Day ft. The Founders Peak™ |
Talent & Careers Track | |
Afternoon | The Capital Meets Policy Dialogue™ |
Public-private Roundtables | FinTech Without Borders Track | |
Deep-dive Workshops | ||||
Evening | Speakers Dinner (by invitation only) |
The Founders ROCK™ + Industry Networking Party |
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Monday, August 26
- Morning
- Leadership Dialogues
- Afternoon
- The Capital Meets Policy
Dialogue™ - Public-private Roundtables
- Evening
- Speakers Dinner
(by invitation only)
-
Tuesday, August 27
- Morning
- The Amazing Startups Day
ft. The Founders Peak™ - Talent & Careers Track
- Afternoon
- The Amazing Startups Day
ft. The Founders Peak™ - FinTech Without Borders Track
- Deep-dive Workshops
- Evening
- The Founders ROCK™ + Industry Networking Party
Spotlight on Digital Inclusion, Policy & Regulation, Inclusive Payments & Digital Assets, Capital Market Stability.
A catalyst for igniting entrepreneurial endeavours and accelerating startup success rates across Africa and beyond.
Proudly returning to Rwanda, The Founders Peak™ is a global platform where exceptional startup founders connect, inspire, and empower the next generation of entrepreneurs. Hear local and international founders boldly share pivotal moments and untold stories from their entrepreneurial journeys—tales of grit, determination, and the unwavering pursuit of solving problems.
Explore opportunities and strategies for building and advancing careers in the evolving fintech landscape.
Influential policymakers and investors will debate pressing challenges in capital investment, value creation, and policymaking.
Discover how fintech innovations are transcending borders to create inclusive financial solutions
Deep-dive roundtables between policymakers, regulators & the private sector addressing opportunities & challenges with a goal to drive actionable outcomes.
Deep-dive workshops to drive confidence, adoption and growth of transformative technologies to enable economic inclusion, in Africa, and globally.
A one-of-a-kind industry networking event where founders, regulators, and business leaders jam together on stage!
Programme
20 June, Tuesday
9:15am - 9:25am
Framing the Capital Meets Policy Dialogue
The Capital Meets Policy DialogueTM
Speaker
Navin Suri
Chief Executive Officer, Percipient
Sharanjit Leyl
International Broadcaster
Framing the Capital MeetsPolicy Dialogue
The Capital Meets Policy DialogueTM
The rapid pace of technological innovation and adoption has resulted in increased regulatory and policy considerations, which in turn has investors seeking answers. The Capital Meets Policy Dialogue is a timely first-of-its-kind call for policymakers to share their strategic perspectives on FinTech regulations, including sectors of interest and concern as well as their view on emerging risks. Conversely, the Dialogue is an equal measure call for investors to share the likely direction of capital, including sectoral investment outlook, opportunities, challenges, and risks. Above all, the dialogue is an ask for both parties to share expectations more openly.
Speaker
Navin Suri
Chief Executive Officer, Percipient
Sharanjit Leyl
International Broadcaster
Date: 20 June
Time: 9:15am - 9:25am
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
20 June, Tuesday
9:25am - 9:55am
Keynote Address: The Capital Provider’s Perspective
Speaker
Tidjane Thiam
Board Chairman, Rwanda Finance Limited
Keynote Address: The Capital Provider’s Perspective
The Capital Meets Policy DialogueTM
- What were the key FinTech investment trends in Rwanda, and broadly, the African continent over the past 2 years?
- How did timely policy action, if any, help drive innovation, financial inclusion, capital deployment and value creation?
- Looking ahead, what are the key sectors in Africa that investors will likely allocate capital to in 2023-2025?
- What are critical policy-making bottlenecks that should be addressed (and how) to ensure predictable capital flow, continuous innovation, and long-term value creation?
Speaker
Tidjane Thiam
Board Chairman, Rwanda Finance Limited
Date: 20 June
Time: 9:25am - 9:55am
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
20 June, Tuesday
9:55am - 10:30am
Fireside Chat: The Policymaker's Perspective
Speakers
John Rwangombwa
Governor, Central Bank of Rwanda
Ravi Menon
Managing Director, Monetary Authority of Singapore
Moderator
Sharanjit Leyl
International Broadcaster
Fireside Chat: The Policymaker's Perspective
The Capital Meets Policy DialogueTM
- What are key recent policy announcements that accelerated innovation and enabled capital flow into FinTech in your jurisdiction?
- What was the impact of these actions on the broader economy?
- What best practices, if any, enabled an inclusive policy making process?
- What new initiatives are being planned to ensure FinTech policy objectives are aligned with market outcomes?
Speakers
John Rwangombwa
Governor, Central Bank of Rwanda
Ravi Menon
Managing Director, Monetary Authority of Singapore
Moderator
Sharanjit Leyl
International Broadcaster
Date: 20 June
Time: 9:55am - 10:30am
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
20 June, Tuesday
10:30am - 11:20am
The Deep-Dive: Thinking Solutions Together
Speakers
Arjuna Costa
Managing Partner, Flourish Ventures
Béata Habyarimana
Group Chief Executive Officer, BK Group Plc
Professor Esselina Macome
Chief Executive Officer, Financial Sector Deepening Moçambique (FSDMoç)
Iyinoluwa Aboyeji
Founding Partner & Chief Executive Officer, Funds for Africa's Future (Future Africa)
Richard Shearer
Chief Executive Officer, Tintra
Moderator
Navin Suri
Chief Executive Officer, Percipient
The Deep-Dive: Thinking Solutions Together
The Capital Meets Policy DialogueTM
- With momentum building around FinTech in Africa, how can capital providers and policy makers collaborate to attract more capital to the region?
- With the quality of first-time and repeat founders improving, what can capital providers and policy makers do to increase the overall talent pool?
- How does the region solve for regulatory fragmentation so as to facilitate faster scaling for FinTechs?
- As African financial services undergo a structural shift, do digital bank licenses hold the key to accelerating financial inclusion in Africa?
- In the next 3 years, what FinTech sectors will attract the most capital flow, and how aligned are these with policy priorities?
Speakers
Arjuna Costa
Managing Partner, Flourish Ventures
Béata Habyarimana
Group Chief Executive Officer, BK Group Plc
Professor Esselina Macome
Chief Executive Officer, Financial Sector Deepening Moçambique (FSDMoç)
Iyinoluwa Aboyeji
Founding Partner & Chief Executive Officer, Funds for Africa's Future (Future Africa)
Richard Shearer
Chief Executive Officer, Tintra
Moderator
Navin Suri
Chief Executive Officer, Percipient
Date: 20 June
Time: 10:30am - 11:20am
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
20 June, Tuesday
11:20am - 11:35am
Modelling for Inclusive Policymaking: The Think Tank Perspective
Speaker
Anna Ekeledo
Executive Director, AfriLabs
Modelling for Inclusive Policymaking: The Think Tank Perspective
The Capital Meets Policy DialogueTM
- What are examples (global) where value creation objectives of venture capital and financial inclusion policy objectives were achieved concurrently?
- What were the key actions taken by policy makers and capital providers in these examples?
- Can these be replicated in financial services/FinTech, and how?
Speaker
Anna Ekeledo
Executive Director, AfriLabs
Date: 20 June
Time: 11:20am - 11:35am
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
20 June, Tuesday
11:35am - 12:00pm
The Path Forward
Speaker
Irene Arias Hofman
Chief Executive Officer, IDB Lab
The Path Forward
The Capital Meets Policy DialogueTM
Speaker
Irene Arias Hofman
Chief Executive Officer, IDB Lab
Date: 20 June
Time: 11:35am - 12:00pm
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
20 June, Tuesday
12:00pm - 1:00pm
Lunch & Networking
20 June, Tuesday
11:30am - 12:30pm
Industry Unplugged: Expert Conversations
Speakers
Crepin Kayisire
Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer, KAYKO
Professor Olayinka David-West
Associate Dean & Professor of Information Systems, Lagos Business School
Patrick Conteh
Chief Executive Officer, Africa Fintech Network
Robert Karanja
Senior Director, Co-Develop
Ross Nathan
Chief Operating Officer, Chancen International
Moderator
Matteo Rizzi
Co-founder, Investor & Author, FTS Group
Industry Unplugged: Expert Conversations
Careers Forum
This session is open to learners who have completed the Global FinTech Fundamentals programme, which gives participants an introduction to the impact of FinTech in financial services, exposes participants to the industry’s FinTech adoption roadmap, and provides them with the unique opportunity to engage with global FinTech leaders.
At Industry Unplugged, participants will gain valuable insights into the challenges, trends, and future of the finance industry from industry experts. The session will cover:
- Digital transformation in financial services,
- Pathway to FinTech adoption
- Innovation and entrepreneurship
- New career pathways in finance.
Speakers
Crepin Kayisire
Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer, KAYKO
Professor Olayinka David-West
Associate Dean & Professor of Information Systems, Lagos Business School
Patrick Conteh
Chief Executive Officer, Africa Fintech Network
Robert Karanja
Senior Director, Co-Develop
Ross Nathan
Chief Operating Officer, Chancen International
Moderator
Matteo Rizzi
Co-founder, Investor & Author, FTS Group
Date: 20 June
Time: 11:30am - 12:30pm
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
20 June, Tuesday
12:30pm - 1:30pm
20 June, Tuesday
2:00pm - 2:05pm
Opening Remarks
Speakers
Hon. Claudette Irere
Minister of State for ICT and Technical Vocational Education and Training, Republic of Rwanda
Opening Remarks
Careers Forum
Speakers
Hon. Claudette Irere
Minister of State for ICT and Technical Vocational Education and Training, Republic of Rwanda
Date: 20 June
Time: 2:00pm - 2:05pm
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
20 June, Tuesday
2:05pm - 2:20pm
Igniting Futures: Moulding the Industry's Future Architects
Speakers
Bertrand Ndengeyingoma
Chief Technology and Innovation Officer, National Bank of Rwanda
Sopnendu Mohanty
Chief FinTech Officer, Monetary Authority of Singapore
Igniting Futures: Moulding the Industry's Future Architects
Careers Forum
The history of the financial system can be traced as far back as 2000 BCE in the ancient empires of Egypt, Assyria, India and Sumeria, where the ancient marketplace used various purchasing methods, including grain banks, barter systems and metal weights to measure value.
The global financial system has undergone numerous transformations and disruptions since then, and has not stopped evolving. In such a rapidly evolving and dynamic industry, it is crucial to inspire the future generation of talent to pursue and advance careers in finance.
This fireside chat brings together two influential leaders who will share their insights and experiences on building their own meaningful careers in finance and their efforts in inspiring the next generation. The discussion will highlight the importance of nurturing young professionals, the strategies to attract and retain top talent, and the role of the youth in shaping the future of finance and driving positive change.
Speakers
Bertrand Ndengeyingoma
Chief Technology and Innovation Officer, National Bank of Rwanda
Sopnendu Mohanty
Chief FinTech Officer, Monetary Authority of Singapore
Date: 20 June
Time: 2:05pm - 2:20pm
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
20 June, Tuesday
2:20pm - 3:20pm
Women in FinTech Debate: Societal Challenges are Turning Girls Away from Tech
Speakers
Martha Mghendi-Fisher
Founder & Executive Board Chair, European Women Payments Network (EWPN) & African Women in Fintech & Payments (AWFP)
Marietta Gachegu
Global Head of Licensing, Chipper Cash
Mercy Mutua
Head, Access to Finance, Mastercard Foundation
Tesh Mbaabu
Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer, MarketForce
Moderator
Chanelle Umuraza
Product Owner, Bank of Kigali
Women in FinTech Debate: Societal Challenges are Turning Girls Away from Tech
Careers Forum
Fintech is regarded as one of the most forward-looking sectors to emerge in the last decade. The industry has spawned a great deal of innovative business models and digitally-native challengers, as well as creating entirely new jobs.
The business case for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) is stronger than ever.
Whilst the FinTech sector is making leaps and bounds when it comes to improving diversity and inclusion, there are still a number of challenges for women in the industry. For example,
Only 1.5% of global private fintech companies are founded solely by women and share just 1% of overall venture funding.
Around 3.2% of fintech firms in Africa are founded solely by women – double the global average of 1.6%, according to Findexable.
Women make up only 28% of the workforce in science, technology, engineering and math
From 2013 to 2021, less than 5% of the total $12.6 billion in funding to Africa’s tech startups went to all-female founding teams compared with 82% to all male-ones (data source: Better Bridges)
Promoting diversity within organizations is not only the right thing to do, but it also makes good business sense.
Several studies have found women play a critical role in improving a fintech’s performance by enhancing access to customers, increasing returns, improving employee retention and enhancing innovation.
From a skills lens, while some of the challenges include societal issues such as getting more girls to take an interest in tech in school, more can be done to make the field more appealing and inclusive.
Speakers
Martha Mghendi-Fisher
Founder & Executive Board Chair, European Women Payments Network (EWPN) & African Women in Fintech & Payments (AWFP)
Marietta Gachegu
Global Head of Licensing, Chipper Cash
Mercy Mutua
Head, Access to Finance, Mastercard Foundation
Tesh Mbaabu
Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer, MarketForce
Moderator
Chanelle Umuraza
Product Owner, Bank of Kigali
Date: 20 June
Time: 2:20pm - 3:20pm
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
20 June, Tuesday
3:20pm - 4:20pm
Future of Work
Speakers
Nguyen Tram Anh
Co-founder, Centre for Finance, Technology and Entrepreneurship (CFTE)
Nikola Pavesic
Director of Startups, Infobip
Tesi Rusagara
Managing Director, Kigali Innovation City
Moderator
Vanessa Umutoni
Technical Payments, AfricaNenda
Future of Work
Careers Forum
- The impact of technology on the future of work and the latest trends and disruptions in the workplace.
- The role of AI and other emerging technologies
- The new skills in demand in the workforce.
- How students can prepare themselves for these changes and enhance their competitiveness in the job market.
Speakers
Nguyen Tram Anh
Co-founder, Centre for Finance, Technology and Entrepreneurship (CFTE)
Nikola Pavesic
Director of Startups, Infobip
Tesi Rusagara
Managing Director, Kigali Innovation City
Moderator
Vanessa Umutoni
Technical Payments, AfricaNenda
Date: 20 June
Time: 3:20pm - 4:20pm
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
20 June, Tuesday
4:20pm - 4:30pm
FinTech: Embracing the Fourth Industrial Revolution
Speaker
Joris Cyizere
Managing Director, Rwanda Centre for the 4th Industrial Revolution
FinTech: Embracing the Fourth Industrial Revolution
Careers Forum
The Fourth Industrial Revolution, characterized by the convergence of digital technologies and their integration into all aspects of our lives, is reshaping industries across the globe. Finance, as a cornerstone of the modern economy, is no exception.
The integration of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, big data analytics, and the Internet of Things is poised to revolutionize the way we conduct financial transactions, manage risk, and interact with financial services.
In the wake of this transformation, we can envision a future where finance is more accessible, efficient, and inclusive. This future presents new and exciting opportunities for professionals to participate in the growth and transformation of the financial services industry, especially in the emerging markets, where the effects of the Fourth Industrial Revolution will have the most impact. However, in order to thrive in the age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, we must address the mismatch between the industry's rapid progress and the skills of the workforce.
In this session, we will explore:
- What will be the transformative effects of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on finance, FinTech and the digital economy?
- What is the existing mismatch between the education system and the industry’s future requirements?
- How can students take control of their own future by enhancing their own learning and skills?
- What are the roles of industry and education to bridge the gap to nurture a future-ready workforce?
Speaker
Joris Cyizere
Managing Director, Rwanda Centre for the 4th Industrial Revolution
Date: 20 June
Time: 4:20pm - 4:30pm
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
20 June, Tuesday
4:30pm - 4:35pm
Presentation of Certificates
Speakers
Hon. Claudette Irere
Minister of State for ICT and Technical Vocational Education and Training, Republic of Rwanda
Michael Low
Deputy Director, Singapore Management University
Nguyen Tram Anh
Co-founder, Centre for Finance, Technology and Entrepreneurship (CFTE)
Sopnendu Mohanty
Chief FinTech Officer, Monetary Authority of Singapore
Presentation of Certificates
Careers Forum
Speakers
Hon. Claudette Irere
Minister of State for ICT and Technical Vocational Education and Training, Republic of Rwanda
Michael Low
Deputy Director, Singapore Management University
Nguyen Tram Anh
Co-founder, Centre for Finance, Technology and Entrepreneurship (CFTE)
Sopnendu Mohanty
Chief FinTech Officer, Monetary Authority of Singapore
Date: 20 June
Time: 4:30pm - 4:35pm
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
20 June, Tuesday
4:35pm - 6:00pm
20 June, Tuesday
1:50pm - 2:00pm
Opening Remarks
Speaker
Clare Akamanzi
Chief Executive Officer, Rwanda Development Board
Opening Remarks
Fintech Without Borders
Speaker
Clare Akamanzi
Chief Executive Officer, Rwanda Development Board
Date: 20 June
Time: 1:50pm - 2:00pm
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
20 June, Tuesday
2:00pm - 2:45pm
Great Debate: Role of Financial Centres in the Development of FinTech
Speakers
Amy Bryant
Deputy Chief Executive, Jersey Finance
Elsadiq Hamour
Managing Director, Financial Institutions, Qatar Financial Centre Authority
Hortense Mudenge
Chief Operations Officer, Rwanda Finance Ltd
Dr Jochen Biedermann
Managing Director, World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC)
Lacina Koné
Director General & Chief Executive Officer, Smart Africa
Moderator
Farai Gundan
Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer, Abantufy
Great Debate: Role of Financial Centres in the Development of FinTech
Fintech Without Borders
IFCs can support the development of FinTech in emerging markets by providing access to capital, regulatory expertise, and business networks. They can also help promote international collaboration and knowledge sharing to accelerate the development of FinTech solutions.
In this discussion, we will explore the role of IFCs in the development of FinTech in emerging markets and the potential benefits and challenges associated with this role.
- What specific services do IFCs offer FinTech startups in emerging markets, and how do these services help support the development of FinTec in these markets?
- What are some successful examples of IFCs promoting the development of FinTech in emerging markets, and what lessons can be learned from these examples?
- How can IFCs help address challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, talent gap, limited capital, and regulatory barriers to support the growth of FinTech in emerging markets?
- How can IFCs support the growth and scaling of successful FinTech startups in emerging markets, and what role can they play in helping these startups access global markets and expand their reach?
Speakers
Amy Bryant
Deputy Chief Executive, Jersey Finance
Elsadiq Hamour
Managing Director, Financial Institutions, Qatar Financial Centre Authority
Hortense Mudenge
Chief Operations Officer, Rwanda Finance Ltd
Dr Jochen Biedermann
Managing Director, World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC)
Lacina Koné
Director General & Chief Executive Officer, Smart Africa
Moderator
Farai Gundan
Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer, Abantufy
Date: 20 June
Time: 2:00pm - 2:45pm
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
20 June, Tuesday
2:45pm - 3:15pm
Fireside Chat: With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility - Can African Unicorns Redefine Sustainability and Impact, and Become a New Unicorn Role Model?
Speakers
Kizito Okechukwu
Executive Head, 22 On Sloane
Olugbenga Agboola
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Flutterwave
Moderator
Pascal Murasira
Managing Director - East Africa, Norrsken Foundation
Fireside Chat: With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility - Can African Unicorns Redefine Sustainability and Impact, and Become a New Unicorn Role Model?
Fintech Without Borders
Can African unicorns redefine sustainability and impact, and become a new unicorn role model?
Speakers
Kizito Okechukwu
Executive Head, 22 On Sloane
Olugbenga Agboola
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Flutterwave
Moderator
Pascal Murasira
Managing Director - East Africa, Norrsken Foundation
Date: 20 June
Time: 2:45pm - 3:15pm
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
20 June, Tuesday
3:15pm - 4:30pm
FinTechs United: An Ecosystem Learning Dialogue
Speakers
Ali Hussein Kassim
Chairman, Association of Fintechs in Kenya
Dr Babatunde Obrimah
Chief Operating Officer, FinTech Association of Nigeria
Ernest Kayinamura
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Rwanda Fintech Assocation & Nokanda
Joao Gaspar
President, Mozambique Fintech Association
Rashmi Pillai
Group Head of Public Policy, Wave Mobile Money, and Board Member, FITSPA Uganda
Dr Segun Aina
President, Africa Fintech Network
Sanjiv Purushotham
Founding Partner, Bridge DFS
Shadab Taiyabi
President, Singapore FinTech Association
Moderator
Esther Kunda
Director General, Innovation & Emerging Technologies, Ministry of ICT and Innovation, Rwanda
FinTechs United: An Ecosystem Learning Dialogue
Fintech Without Borders
According to Juniper Research, the global fintech platform revenue is expected to reach $ 638 billion by 2024.
However, the opportunity is hindered by the challenges FinTechs face in regulatory compliance.
From expanding digital investment products and services into another country to offering credit cards in another country, Fintechs face long frustrating processes and in many cases, do not find a regulatory environment that enables them to scale across borders.
For FinTech companies that want to scale globally, understanding the lay of the land in each country and region is more than just a competitive edge.
It decreases the number of mistakes, enables the right partnerships and allows an expansion that is a lot more calculated and set up for success.
This session is the start of the Forum’s Initiative, FinTech without Borders, that will promote dialogue & partnerships in the emerging markets as well as provide thought leadership to the fintech ecosystem.
Focus areas of the interactive discussion will be
- What frameworks exist that promote collaboration?
- How do we scale collaboration?
- How do Fintech’s find a common platform to promote regulatory frameworks that support scaling?
Speakers
Ali Hussein Kassim
Chairman, Association of Fintechs in Kenya
Dr Babatunde Obrimah
Chief Operating Officer, FinTech Association of Nigeria
Ernest Kayinamura
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Rwanda Fintech Assocation & Nokanda
Joao Gaspar
President, Mozambique Fintech Association
Rashmi Pillai
Group Head of Public Policy, Wave Mobile Money, and Board Member, FITSPA Uganda
Dr Segun Aina
President, Africa Fintech Network
Sanjiv Purushotham
Founding Partner, Bridge DFS
Shadab Taiyabi
President, Singapore FinTech Association
Moderator
Esther Kunda
Director General, Innovation & Emerging Technologies, Ministry of ICT and Innovation, Rwanda
Date: 20 June
Time: 3:15pm - 4:30pm
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
20 June, Tuesday
4:30pm - 5:15pm
When Money Gets REALLY Smart: Tales from Capital Providers with Purpose
Speakers
Ameya Upadhyay
Venture Partner, Flourish Ventures
Iyinoluwa Aboyeji
Founding Partner & Chief Executive Officer, Funds for Africa's Future (Future Africa)
Mukaya (Tai) Panich
Chief Executive Officer & Chief Investment Officer, SCB 10X
Moderator
Matteo Rizzi
Co-founder, Investor & Author, FTS Group
When Money Gets REALLY Smart: Tales from Capital Providers with Purpose
Fintech Without Borders
When money gets really smart, it can do more than just create value for shareholders. It can also create positive impact for society and the planet.
In recent years, there has been a growing movement of capital providers, including institutional investors, private equity firms, and venture capitalists, who are focused on investing in companies and projects that align with their values and social impact objectives.
These capital providers with purpose are not only looking for financial returns, but also seeking to create positive social and environmental impact, driving change in industries ranging from renewable energy and sustainable agriculture to affordable housing and healthcare.
This session explores the stories of capital providers with purpose, highlighting their experiences, challenges, and successes in investing for impact. Through these stories, we seek to inspire and inform others who are interested in harnessing the power of capital for positive social and environmental change.
- How do you measure the social and environmental impact of your investments, and what metrics do you use?
- What are the biggest challenges you face in balancing financial returns with environmental, social and governance impact?
- How do you engage with your portfolio companies to ensure they are aligned with your impact goals?
- What role do you see for government and policymakers in promoting sustainable finance and impact investing?
- How do you see the field of impact investing evolving in the next 5-10 years, and what opportunities and challenges do you anticipate?
Speakers
Ameya Upadhyay
Venture Partner, Flourish Ventures
Iyinoluwa Aboyeji
Founding Partner & Chief Executive Officer, Funds for Africa's Future (Future Africa)
Mukaya (Tai) Panich
Chief Executive Officer & Chief Investment Officer, SCB 10X
Moderator
Matteo Rizzi
Co-founder, Investor & Author, FTS Group
Date: 20 June
Time: 4:30pm - 5:15pm
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
21 June, Wednesday
9:00am - 9:05am
Welcome Remarks
Speaker
Sharanjit Leyl
International Broadcaster
Welcome Remarks
Forum Stage
Speaker
Sharanjit Leyl
International Broadcaster
Date: 21 June
Time: 9:00am - 9:05am
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
21 June, Wednesday
9:05am - 9:10am
Keynote Address
Speaker
Hon. Richard Tusabe
Minister of State in charge of the National Treasury of Rwanda
Keynote Address
Forum Stage
Speaker
Hon. Richard Tusabe
Minister of State in charge of the National Treasury of Rwanda
Date: 21 June
Time: 9:05am - 9:10am
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
21 June, Wednesday
9:10am - 10:00am
The Big Talk: Financing Emerging Markets Development Against Global Headwinds
Speakers
Piyush Gupta (Joining Virtually)
Chief Executive Officer, DBS Bank
Tommaso Mancini-Griffoli
Division Chief in the Monetary and Capital Markets Department, International Monetary Fund
Hon. Richard Tusabe
Minister of State in charge of the National Treasury of Rwanda
Moderator
Sopnendu Mohanty
Chief FinTech Officer, Monetary Authority of Singapore
The Big Talk: Financing Emerging Markets Development Against Global Headwinds
Forum Stage
Emerging markets are an essential part of the global economy, with significant potential for growth and development. However, financing emerging markets' development has become more challenging amidst the current global financial crisis. The crisis has resulted in a sharp decline in foreign investments, reduced access to credit, and increased volatility in financial markets.
Despite the challenges, financing emerging markets' development is crucial to achieve sustainable economic growth and reduce poverty. In this context, this discussion will explore the possible ways to finance emerging markets' development amidst the current global financial crisis.
What should policy & regulation look like when in a crisis? How do we redesign frameworks to prepare for a crisis?
Global, post pandemic financial crisis led to a series of challenges in terms of policy regulation, financial stability, financial inclusion, fuelled by the digital leapfrog and by the greater need for seamless, global, affordable and nearly real time payments. This opening panel will set the tone for the whole IFF with the policy makers point of view.
Recent breakdowns of large institutions such as SVB, the global rise of interest rates, the geo-political crisis in EU only made on one side innovation in financial services tougher to fund, and on the other side more compelling than ever the need of financial inclusion to be consistent, pervasive and global.
The debate will focus on:-
- The status of financial inclusion globally, and how the dialogue around it has evolved post crisis
- The role of policy makers and central banks in fostering digital inclusion
- How can technology and innovation brought by the new fintech players play a role in the financial inclusion dialogue
Speakers
Piyush Gupta (Joining Virtually)
Chief Executive Officer, DBS Bank
Tommaso Mancini-Griffoli
Division Chief in the Monetary and Capital Markets Department, International Monetary Fund
Hon. Richard Tusabe
Minister of State in charge of the National Treasury of Rwanda
Moderator
Sopnendu Mohanty
Chief FinTech Officer, Monetary Authority of Singapore
Date: 21 June
Time: 9:10am - 10:00am
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
21 June, Wednesday
10:00am - 11:00am
Scaling Digital Access to Lending
Speakers
Anthony Thomas
Managing Director, FinTech, Delivery Hero
Christian Ruehmer
Co-founder, Q-Lana Inc
Dr Diane Karusisi
Chief Executive Officer, Bank of Kigali PLC
Innocent Kawooya
Chief Executive Officer, HiPipo
Njuguna Ndung'u
Cabinet Secretary, The National Treasury and Economic Planning
Moderator
Ntoudi Mouyelo-Katoula
Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer, Rwanda Finance Ltd
Scaling Digital Access to Lending
Forum Stage
Scaling digital access to lending in emerging markets is critical for enabling financial inclusion and fostering economic growth. Traditional lending processes in emerging markets are often cumbersome and expensive, making it difficult for individuals and small businesses to access credit.
FinTech companies have tapped into the unmet demand and have developed innovative solutions to tackle the problem.
On the other hand, to scale digital access to lending in emerging markets, governments and regulators must create an enabling environment that supports innovation and encourages competition among lenders. Financial literacy programs can also be implemented to increase awareness and understanding of digital lending among the population.
In this session we will delve into digital lending in the emerging markets needs.
(What are the unique features of lending in emerging markets? - Part of moderator scene setting)
- How are FinTech lenders scaling to meet the needs in emerging markets?
What are the regulatory and policy considerations for lending institutions operating in emerging markets? - How can we democratise access to lending for low-middle income households and micro-SMEs?
- What can we learn from markets that have successfully implemented data sharing strategies that have allowed FinTechs to know their customers better and increase their product portfolio & as well as lending limits?
Speakers
Anthony Thomas
Managing Director, FinTech, Delivery Hero
Christian Ruehmer
Co-founder, Q-Lana Inc
Dr Diane Karusisi
Chief Executive Officer, Bank of Kigali PLC
Innocent Kawooya
Chief Executive Officer, HiPipo
Njuguna Ndung'u
Cabinet Secretary, The National Treasury and Economic Planning
Moderator
Ntoudi Mouyelo-Katoula
Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer, Rwanda Finance Ltd
Date: 21 June
Time: 10:00am - 11:00am
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
21 June, Wednesday
11:00am - 12:00pm
Spotlight on Payment System Interoperability
Speakers
Brooks Entwistle
Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Ripple
Olivier Lens
Head of Sub-Sahara Africa, Swift
Raagulan Pathy
Vice President, Asia Pacific, Circle
Sandra Yao
Senior Vice President Africa, Thunes
Steven Haley
Director of Market Development, Mojaloop Foundation
Moderator
Arjun Vir Singh
Partner - Global Financial Services, Arthur D. Little
Spotlight on Payment System Interoperability
Forum Stage
Interoperability increases the value proposition of payments by increasing customer convenience. In the absence of interoperability, customers must go through complicated and costly work-arounds when transacting with users of different service providers.
Developing interoperable payment systems is a complex and often contentious process. A system that is successful in one market might not work in a different one—and vice versa.
To promote payment system interoperability as a digital public good, various initiatives have been launched, including the United Nations-led Digital Public Goods Alliance. These initiatives have aimed to bring together private sector companies, governments, and non-profits to develop and promote interoperable payment solutions that are open and accessible to all.
Challenges remain hindering the adoption of payment interoperability in emerging markets
- How do we implement clear and fair governance models that balance cooperation with competition among providers?
- What economic arrangements are necessary to incentivise all stakeholders to fully participate?
- What operational model & infrastructure is required to safely and reliably connect providers?
Speakers
Brooks Entwistle
Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Ripple
Olivier Lens
Head of Sub-Sahara Africa, Swift
Raagulan Pathy
Vice President, Asia Pacific, Circle
Sandra Yao
Senior Vice President Africa, Thunes
Steven Haley
Director of Market Development, Mojaloop Foundation
Moderator
Arjun Vir Singh
Partner - Global Financial Services, Arthur D. Little
Date: 21 June
Time: 11:00am - 12:00pm
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
21 June, Wednesday
12:00pm - 1:00pm
Digital Lending, Funding, Pricing and Data
Speakers
Gani Uzbekov
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, S1LKPAY
Jean Claude Gaga
Managing Director, Airtel Mobile Commerce
Nadeem Shaikh
Founder, Neem
Suresh Shankar
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Crayon Data
Moderator
Sanjiv Purushotham
Founding Partner, Bridge DFS
Digital Lending, Funding, Pricing and Data
Forum Stage
In emerging markets, where traditional lending institutions may be inaccessible or unaffordable for many, digital lending platforms are filling the gap. To meet this growing demand, these platforms are exploring new approaches to funding, pricing, and data models.
With access to large amounts of data, these platforms can generate risk assessments and personalise loan offers for individual borrowers. This approach makes lending more affordable for lower-risk borrowers, while also allowing lenders to earn a return on loans to higher-risk borrowers.
Data models are also crucial in expanding digital lending in emerging markets. Traditional credit scoring methods may not be applicable in regions where credit histories are limited.
In response, digital lenders are leveraging alternative data sources, like mobile phone usage and social media data, to assess creditworthiness. By tapping into these data sources, lenders can make more informed loan decisions and provide access to credit to a broader range of borrowers.
This panel discussion aims at exploring the state of digital lending in emerging markets, discussing the opportunities and challenges presented by the adoption of digital technology in the lending landscape and the emerging partnerships to provide more seamless and integrated experiences to SMEs and consumers. The panel will focus on the innovative approaches that industry leaders are taking to scale digital lending services in emerging economies.
Speakers
Gani Uzbekov
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, S1LKPAY
Jean Claude Gaga
Managing Director, Airtel Mobile Commerce
Nadeem Shaikh
Founder, Neem
Suresh Shankar
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Crayon Data
Moderator
Sanjiv Purushotham
Founding Partner, Bridge DFS
Date: 21 June
Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
21 June, Wednesday
1:00pm - 2:00pm
21 June, Wednesday
2:30pm - 3:00pm
FinTech For Good
Speakers
Achim Steiner
UNDP administrator representing UNDP at Digital Impact Alliance, UNDP
Ravi Menon
Managing Director, Monetary Authority of Singapore
Tidjane Thiam
Board Chairman, Rwanda Finance Limited
FinTech For Good
Forum Stage
Regional integration and FinTech are two important topics that are gaining increasing attention in today's global economy. The integration of financial services within a regional bloc can be facilitated by the use of FinTech. FinTech can help to improve the efficiency, speed, and cost-effectiveness of financial transactions within the region. This, in turn, can help to boost economic growth by enabling businesses to expand more easily across borders and facilitating trade and investment flows.
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) went into effect in May 2019. The trade agreement has the potential to create a single African market, largely free of tariffs, which will open up cross-border trade to an unprecedented extent. Eventually, free movement of people across borders and a single currency could be possible.
Africa’s workforce is forecast to grow by more than 450 million people by 2035. To accommodate that growth, the market will need to create around 20 million new jobs per year. The free trade area should help in that regard, as will technological innovation and continued foreign investment.
Africa’s burgeoning FinTech sector will likely see several tailwinds resulting from universal ratification of the AfCFTA, including growth in interregional switching, easier cross-border payments and commerce, regulatory commonalities and more.
Africa’s most populous countries and largest economies, initially abstained from signing the agreement, citing a need to consult further with domestic stakeholders. Those that eventually signed have of recent experienced trade disputes thus calling into question their commitment to the agreement. The agreement’s ultimate impact would likely be muted if larger economies are not fully committed.
This session will engage leaders on an ‘all of Africa’ approach on creating harmonized and unified polices, building bridges, encouraging movement of skills & services across borders and more, to ensure all African’s gain the opportunity to advance their socioeconomic wellbeing by harnessing FinTech for Good.
- What are the most significant benefits that regional integration and FinTech can bring to emerging markets?
- How can policymakers and development partners address the challenges pf limited infrastructure and regulatory barriers to promote the adoption of FinTech in regional integration initiatives?
- How can regional integration initiatives be structured to ensure that FinTech solutions are inclusive and accessible to all, particularly underserved populations such as women and rural communities?
- How can FinTech solutions contribute to promoting SDGs in emerging markets, such as poverty reduction and environmental sustainability?
Speakers
Achim Steiner
UNDP administrator representing UNDP at Digital Impact Alliance, UNDP
Ravi Menon
Managing Director, Monetary Authority of Singapore
Tidjane Thiam
Board Chairman, Rwanda Finance Limited
Date: 21 June
Time: 2:30pm - 3:00pm
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
21 June, Wednesday
3:00pm - 3:05pm
Special Address from His Excellency Hakainde Hichilema
Speaker
H.E. Hakainde Hichilema
President, Republic of Zambia
Special Address from His Excellency Hakainde Hichilema
Forum Stage
Speaker
H.E. Hakainde Hichilema
President, Republic of Zambia
Date: 21 June
Time: 3:00pm - 3:05pm
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
21 June, Wednesday
3:05pm - 3:10pm
Special Address from His Excellency Paul Kagame
Speaker
H.E. Paul Kagame
President, Republic of Rwanda
Special Address from His Excellency Paul Kagame
Forum Stage
Speaker
H.E. Paul Kagame
President, Republic of Rwanda
Date: 21 June
Time: 3:05pm - 3:10pm
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
21 June, Wednesday
3:10pm - 3:30pm
Enabling FinTech for Good
Speakers
Dare Okoudjou
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, MFS Africa
Mukaya (Tai) Panich
Chief Executive Officer & Chief Investment Officer, SCB 10X
Moderator
Robert Ochola
Chief Executive Officer, AfricaNenda
Enabling FinTech for Good
Forum Stage
Speakers
Dare Okoudjou
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, MFS Africa
Mukaya (Tai) Panich
Chief Executive Officer & Chief Investment Officer, SCB 10X
Moderator
Robert Ochola
Chief Executive Officer, AfricaNenda
Date: 21 June
Time: 3:10pm - 3:30pm
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
21 June, Wednesday
3:30pm - 4:15pm
Fireside Chat: Inclusive Access to Capital & Zambia’s Capital Market Master Plan
Speaker
H.E. Hakainde Hichilema
President, Republic of Zambia
Moderator
Soraya Hakuziyaremye
Deputy Governor, National Bank of Rwanda
Fireside Chat: Inclusive Access to Capital & Zambia’s Capital Market Master Plan
Forum Stage
Speaker
H.E. Hakainde Hichilema
President, Republic of Zambia
Moderator
Soraya Hakuziyaremye
Deputy Governor, National Bank of Rwanda
Date: 21 June
Time: 3:30pm - 4:15pm
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
21 June, Wednesday
4:15pm - 4:20pm
Guest of Honour: The Business Case for Women in FinTech
Speaker
H.E. Jeannette Kagame
First Lady, Republic of Rwanda
Opening Address
Forum Stage
Speaker
H.E. Jeannette Kagame
First Lady, Republic of Rwanda
Date: 21 June
Time: 4:15pm - 4:20pm
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
21 June, Wednesday
4:20pm - 5:15pm
Panel: The Business Case for Women in FinTech
Speakers
Chigwende Marlon
Managing Partner, Admaius Capital Partners
Inez Murray
Chief Executive Officer, Financial Alliance for Women
Maxwell Gomera
Resident Representative, UNDP
Hon. Paula Ingabire
Minister of Information Communication Technology and Innovation, Republic of Rwanda
Moderator
Farai Gundan
Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer, Abantufy
The Business Case for Women in FinTech
Forum Stage
Speakers
Chigwende Marlon
Managing Partner, Admaius Capital Partners
Inez Murray
Chief Executive Officer, Financial Alliance for Women
Maxwell Gomera
Resident Representative, UNDP
Hon. Paula Ingabire
Minister of Information Communication Technology and Innovation, Republic of Rwanda
Moderator
Farai Gundan
Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer, Abantufy
Date: 21 June
Time: 4:20pm - 5:15pm
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
21 June, Wednesday
5:15pm - 5:30pm
Launch of Rwanda Imbaraga SME Ecosystem (RISE)
Speakers
John Rwangombwa
Governor, National Bank of Rwanda
Saurav Bhattacharyya
Chief Executive Officer, Proxtera
Sopnendu Mohanty
Chief FinTech Officer, Monetary Authority of Singapore
Vincent Munyeshyaka
Chief Executive Officer, BDF
Moderator
Ingrid Cyuzuzo
Manager, Financial Sector Development & Innovation, National Bank of Rwanda (BNR)
Launch of Rwanda Imbaraga SME Ecosystem (RISE)
Forum Stage
Speakers
John Rwangombwa
Governor, National Bank of Rwanda
Saurav Bhattacharyya
Chief Executive Officer, Proxtera
Sopnendu Mohanty
Chief FinTech Officer, Monetary Authority of Singapore
Vincent Munyeshyaka
Chief Executive Officer, BDF
Moderator
Ingrid Cyuzuzo
Manager, Financial Sector Development & Innovation, National Bank of Rwanda (BNR)
Date: 21 June
Time: 5:15pm - 5:30pm
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
21 June, Wednesday
5:30pm - 9:00pm
21 June, Wednesday
11:00am - 12:15pm
The Governors Roundtable: Re-thinking Licensing to Promote FinTech for Good
Elevandi Insights Forum - Roundtables
Speakers
Dr Maxwell Opoku-Afari
Deputy Governor, Bank of Ghana
Michael Atingi-ego
Deputy Governor, Bank of Uganda
Miguel Engonga Obiang Eyang
Secrétaire Général, Banque des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale (BEAC)
Njuguna Ndung'u
Cabinet Secretary, The National Treasury and Economic Planning
Sauda Msemo
Deputy Governor Financial Stability and Deepening, Bank of Tanzania
Hosts
John Rwangombwa
Governor, Central Bank of Rwanda
Ravi Menon
Managing Director, Monetary Authority of Singapore
Irene Arias Hofman
Chief Executive Officer, IDB Lab
The Governors Roundtable: Re-thinking Licensing to Promote FinTech for Good
Elevandi Insights Forum - Roundtables
Technological innovation tends to outpace regulatory change.
Some countries have strong enabling regulations for fintech and digital financial services
Some markets have focused on regulation on curbing risks in consumer and data protection and operational resilience but rather less on strengthening prudential safeguards. Others simply lack the necessary regulatory infrastructure.
Fintech developments present issues that are beyond the traditional scope of financial authorities, and the speed of innovation makes it difficult for regulators to respond in a timely manner.
FinTech is an entrenched priority for the financial sector, and a multitude of strategies have emerged to address the challenges of digitization.
- How do we share expertise & knowledge to promote FinTech for Good?
- How do we enable cross-border expansion of FinTech by re-designing licensing frameworks?
- How do we design multi-sector sandboxes to promote innovation & collaboration?
Speakers
Dr Maxwell Opoku-Afari
Deputy Governor, Bank of Ghana
Michael Atingi-ego
Deputy Governor, Bank of Uganda
Miguel Engonga Obiang Eyang
Secrétaire Général, Banque des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale (BEAC)
Njuguna Ndung'u
Cabinet Secretary, The National Treasury and Economic Planning
Sauda Msemo
Deputy Governor Financial Stability and Deepening, Bank of Tanzania
Hosts
John Rwangombwa
Governor, Central Bank of Rwanda
Ravi Menon
Managing Director, Monetary Authority of Singapore
Irene Arias Hofman
Chief Executive Officer, IDB Lab
Date: 21 June
Time: 4:00pm - 5:15pm
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
21 June, Wednesday
10:35am - 11:00am
Fireside Chat: Minister, Regulator, Investor, Banker, Entrepreneur – A Road Less Taken
The Founders Peak
Speakers
Gani Uzbekov
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, S1LKPAY
Sopnendu Mohanty
Chief FinTech Officer, Monetary Authority of Singapore
Fireside Chat: Minister, Regulator, Investor, Banker, Entrepreneur – A Road Less Taken
The Founders Peak
Speakers
Gani Uzbekov
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, S1LKPAY
Sopnendu Mohanty
Chief FinTech Officer, Monetary Authority of Singapore
Date: 21 June
Time: 10:35am - 11:00am
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
21 June, Wednesday
11:00am - 11:10am
It Is Time to Move On From Financial Inclusion
The Founders Peak
Speaker
Iyinoluwa Aboyeji
Founding Partner & Chief Executive Officer, Funds for Africa's Future (Future Africa)
It Is Time to Move On From Financial Inclusion
The Founders Peak
Speaker
Iyinoluwa Aboyeji
Founding Partner & Chief Executive Officer, Funds for Africa's Future (Future Africa)
Date: 21 June
Time: 11:00am - 11:10am
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
21 June, Wednesday
11:10am - 11:20am
Entrepreneurship Stripped to Its Vulnerable Core
The Founders Peak
Speaker
Nadeem Shaikh
Founder, Neem
Entrepreneurship Stripped to Its Vulnerable Core
The Founders Peak
Speaker
Nadeem Shaikh
Founder, Neem
Date: 21 June
Time: 11:10am - 11:20am
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
21 June, Wednesday
11:20am - 11:30am
The Power of Seeing Others Succeed: A Lesson from a Blind Classmate
The Founders Peak
Speaker
Sandile I. Dlamini
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Juiceme Inc
The Power of Seeing Others Succeed: A Lesson from a Blind Classmate
The Founders Peak
Speaker
Sandile I. Dlamini
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Juiceme Inc
Date: 21 June
Time: 11:20am - 11:30am
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
21 June, Wednesday
11:30am - 11:40am
From Diapers to Deals: How Motherhood Became My Greatest Asset as a Founder
The Founders Peak
Speaker
Bente Krogmann
Chief Executive Officer, mTek
From Diapers to Deals: How Motherhood Became My Greatest Asset as a Founder
The Founders Peak
Speaker
Bente Krogmann
Chief Executive Officer, mTek
Date: 21 June
Time: 11:30am - 11:40am
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
21 June, Wednesday
11:40am - 11:50am
The Art of Giving Back
The Founders Peak
Speaker
Assel Zhanassova
Chief Executive Officer, Kazpost
The Art of Giving Back
The Founders Peak
Speaker
Assel Zhanassova
Chief Executive Officer, Kazpost
Date: 21 June
Time: 11:40am - 11:50am
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
21 June, Wednesday
12:00pm - 12:10pm
Love, Startups and Sacrifice: How I Failed 13 Times to Find Success
The Founders Peak
Speaker
Mike Endale
Founder, Engineer & Investor, BLEN Corp
Love, Startups and Sacrifice: How I Failed 13 Times to Find Success
The Founders Peak
Speaker
Mike Endale
Founder, Engineer & Investor, BLEN Corp
Date: 21 June
Time: 12:00pm - 12:10pm
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
21 June, Wednesday
12:10pm - 12:20pm
How I Have Re-Learned Patience While Building a Pension Business
The Founders Peak
Speaker
Parul Seth Khanna
Co-founder & Director, Pinbox Solutions
How I Have Re-Learned Patience While Building a Pension Business
The Founders Peak
Speaker
Parul Seth Khanna
Co-founder & Director, Pinbox Solutions
Date: 21 June
Time: 12:10pm - 12:20pm
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
21 June, Wednesday
9:00am - 10:00am
The Future of FinTechs through Partnerships: OpenAPI, Payments, and Remittance
Hosted by Momo MTN
Speakers
Alex Ntale
Chief Executive Officer, Rwanda ICT Chamber
Christian Kajeneri
Fintech Strategy, Products & Services, Mobile Money Rwanda LTD
Nika Naghavi
Group Head of Growth, MFS Africa
The Future of FinTechs through Partnerships: OpenAPI, Payments, and Remittance
Workshop
Hosted by Momo MTN
Unlocking the Synergistic Potential: Exploring the Transformative Landscape and Lucrative Opportunities through Collaborative Partnerships between Fintech Companies and Payment Processors, Fuelled by Innovation and Co-creation.
Speakers
Alex Ntale
Chief Executive Officer, Rwanda ICT Chamber
Christian Kajeneri
Fintech Strategy, Products & Services, Mobile Money Rwanda LTD
Nika Naghavi
Group Head of Growth, MFS Africa
Date: 21 June
Time: 9:00am - 10:00am
Location: Workshop Room 1 (AD7)
21 June, Wednesday
9:30am - 10:30am
India Story on Digital Payments. Creating New Waves Consistently
Hosted by NPCI
Speakers
Nehal Shah
Head Business Development Middle East and Africa, NPCI International Payments Limited
Savin Shetty
Lead, Business Development Sub-Saharan Africa, NPCI International Payments Limited
India Story on Digital Payments. Creating New Waves Consistently
Workshop
Hosted by NPCI
The Speakers will delve into the moment when India chose to revamp its key market infrastructure, paving the way for a futuristic payment system and empowering innovations for its citizens as one of the primary foundations of this new payment ecosystem. The Unified Payments Interface (UPI), introduced in 2016 by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has experienced remarkable growth and triumph, now boasting over 9 billion transactions per month. The audience can look forward to an insightful update on the platform's structure and functionality.
Speakers
Nehal Shah
Head Business Development Middle East and Africa, NPCI International Payments Limited
Savin Shetty
Lead, Business Development Sub-Saharan Africa, NPCI International Payments Limited
Date: 21 June
Time: 9:30am - 10:30am
Location: Workshop Room 2 (AD11)
21 June, Wednesday
11:00am - 12:00pm
Revolutionising Financial Access in South Africa: The SASSA - Tyme Success Story
Hosted by TYME
Speakers
Bongani Maponya
Managing Executive, Value Banking, TymeBank
Fanie Sethokga
General Manager: Grants Operations, SASSA
Moipone Shabalala
Manager, Business Solutions Maintenance, South African Social Security Agency (SASSA)
Moderator
Rachel Freeman
Chief Growth Officer, Tyme
Revolutionising Financial Access in South Africa: The SASSA - Tyme Success Story
Workshop
Hosted by Tyme
When South Africa’s Social Security Agency (SASSA) opened up its social grant accounts payments system to all providers in open competition, TymeBank, South Africa’s first digital bank which offers the most cost effective account in South Africa was able to rapidly expand access to over a million SASSA grant recipients and serve these customers well and profitably, enabling greater access to financial products and services for SASSA grant recipients. TymeBank is not just a payment option for SASSA grants but a mechanism for the grant recipients to have access to a broad range of affordable, accessible financial products. This model is an excellent example of how policy developments can open up new segments for commercial banks, and Tyme is showing its counterparts across emerging markets how to serve social grant recipients profitably.
Speakers
Bongani Maponya
Managing Executive, Value Banking, TymeBank
Fanie Sethokga
General Manager: Grants Operations, SASSA
Moipone Shabalala
Manager, Business Solutions Maintenance, South African Social Security Agency (SASSA)
Moderator
Rachel Freeman
Chief Growth Officer, Tyme
Date: 21 June
Time: 11:00am - 12:00pm
Location: Workshop Room 2 (AD11)
21 June, Wednesday
12:00pm - 1:00pm
Building a Digital Workforce in Africa
Hosted by CFTE
Speakers
Meaghan Johnson
Founder, Digital Magss Consulting
Olivier Crespin
Managing Director, Giift Exchange
Moderator
Nguyen Tram Anh
Co-founder, Centre for Finance, Technology and Entrepreneurship (CFTE)
Building a Digital Workforce in Africa
Workshop
Hosted by CFTE
Are you prepared for the digital revolution in financial services? Fintech revenues could reach $30 billion by 2025 in Africa, making digital finance a significant part of financial services and representing strong opportunities for the nations in the continent. This workshop is designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to build a digital-ready workforce for the future.
Led by CFTE's co-founder Tram Anh Nguyen, the first part of the workshop will present a skills framework for growth and upskilling in the digital age. Then, an interactive activity will open the debate among participants around the best practices in digital skills. Finally, our expert panel will showcase recent case studies on building a workforce of tomorrow. Discover how industry leaders are aligning stakeholders from the public and private sectors to prepare talent and upskill the workforce, fueling growth for professionals, organisations, and entire countries.
Speakers
Meaghan Johnson
Founder, Digital Magss Consulting
Olivier Crespin
Managing Director, Giift Exchange
Moderator
Nguyen Tram Anh
Co-founder, Centre for Finance, Technology and Entrepreneurship (CFTE)
Date: 21 June
Time: 1:15pm - 2:15pm
Location: Workshop Room 1 (AD7)
21 June, Wednesday
12:15pm - 1:00pm
Inclusive Insurance through Insurtech Ecosystems
Hosted by ZEP-RE
Speaker
Alexio Manyonde
Chief Technology Officer, ZEP-RE (PTA Reinsurance)
Inclusive Insurance through Insurtech Ecosystems
Workshop
Hosted by ZEP-RE
This workshop session focuses on insurance inclusivity and the challenges faced by underserved populations. By adopting an ecosystem approach that leverages digital technologies, data analytics, and customer-centric design, we explore the potential benefits and features of enhancing insurance inclusivity. The role of Insurtech ecosystems in enabling this transformational approach is examined, along with the associated risks and challenges. Through case studies like the DRIVE project in the Horn of Africa and the use of technology for financial inclusivity, we showcase practical implementations. The workshop emphasizes the importance of collaboration and co-creation to drive inclusive insurance ecosystems and create a more accessible and equitable insurance landscape for all.
Speaker
Alexio Manyonde
Chief Technology Officer, ZEP-RE (PTA Reinsurance)
Date: 21 June
Time: 12:15pm - 1:00pm
Location: Workshop Room 2 (AD11)
21 June, Wednesday
1:15pm - 2:00pm
Conversational AI in Digital First Fintech Companies
Hosted by Gupshup
Speaker
Shashi Bhushan
Head of Sales, Africa, Gupshup
Conversational AI in Digital First Fintech Companies
Workshop
Hosted by ZEP-RE
Automation in banking services delivers superior customer experiences. Over the years, it has evolved to take up different banking functions, including
1. assisting users with questions regarding their account balances or application processes,
2. helping them transfer funds and pay bills,
3. or even updating their profile information.
Gupshup's Conversational AI (for lending and mortgage) is upgrading financial services by building easy-to-use and long-lasting communication channels. On one hand, Gupshup's conversational AI helps borrowers obtain loans easily and quickly. On the other hand, lenders can sanction more reliable loans faster and follow up on debt recovery without human intervention.
Speaker
Shashi Bhushan
Head of Sales, Africa, Gupshup
Date: 21 June
Time: 1:15pm - 2:00pm
Location: Workshop Room 2 (AD11)
22 June, Thursday
9:15am - 9:30am
Opening Remarks
Forum Stage
Speaker
Sharanjit Leyl
International Broadcaster
Opening Remarks
Forum Stage
Speaker
Sharanjit Leyl
International Broadcaster
Date: 22 June
Time: 9:15am - 9:30am
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
22 June, Thursday
9:30am - 10:30am
The Big Talk: State of Technology Readiness to Address Financial Inclusion Goals
Forum Stage
Speakers
Assel Zhanassova
Chief Executive Officer, Kazpost
Michael Mazza
Chief Executive Officer, Railpays (Singapore) Pte Ltd
Olivier Crespin
Managing Director, Giift Exchange
Pieter Franken
Co-founder, Safecast
Moderator
Sopnendu Mohanty
Chief FinTech Officer, Monetary Authority of Singapore
The Big Talk: State of Technology Readiness to Address Financial Inclusion Goals
Forum Stage
With the advent of digital technologies, such as mobile banking apps, online payment solutions, and blockchain-based platforms, individuals and businesses in underserved or unbanked regions can now access a wide range of financial services.
However, there are still significant challenges to overcome before the full benefits of these new technologies can be harnessed. For example, many individuals lack the necessary digital skills and infrastructure to access these services, and concerns around data privacy and security continue to pose a significant barrier to adoption.
Despite these challenges, the potential of technology to increase financial inclusion is clear, and there is a growing focus on collaboration between governments, financial institutions, and fintech companies to achieve this goal. As such, the future looks bright for the use of technology to drive financial inclusion, and it is likely that we will continue to see significant progress in this area in the coming years.
Focus area of discussion in this session will be:-
- The current state of financial inclusion in developing countries
- The role of technology in enabling financial inclusion
- The challenges and opportunities of using technology to achieve financial inclusion goals
- Best practices and case studies in leveraging technology for financial inclusion
Speakers
Assel Zhanassova
Chief Executive Officer, Kazpost
Michael Mazza
Chief Executive Officer, Railpays (Singapore) Pte Ltd
Olivier Crespin
Managing Director, Giift Exchange
Pieter Franken
Co-founder, Safecast
Moderator
Sopnendu Mohanty
Chief FinTech Officer, Monetary Authority of Singapore
Date: 22 June
Time: 9:30am - 10:30am
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
22 June, Thursday
10:30am - 11:30am
Development of Digital Public Goods & Infrastructure
Forum Stage
Speakers
Hon. Felix Mutati
Minister of Technology and Science, Republic of Zambia
Ritesh Shukla
Chief Executive Officer, NPCI International Payments Limited
Robert Kainamura
Chief Executive Officer, QT Group
Robert Ochola
Chief Executive Officer, AfricaNenda
Hon. Paula Ingabire
Minister of Information Communication Technology and Innovation, Republic of Rwanda
Moderator
Lucy Nshuti Mbabazi
Lead, Africa Policy, Advocacy & Partnerships, Better Than Cash Alliance
Development of Digital Public Goods & Infrastructure
Fintech Without Borders
This panel will focus on exploring a demand-led retail finance strategy for serving the underserved segments of the population, The session will discuss opportunities and challenges associated with this approach, which prioritises meeting the needs of customers in lower-income segments through tailored financial products and services.
The panelists will examine innovative retail finance models, including microfinance, innovative micro-wealth and pension product designs, which can help individuals build savings, protect against financial shocks, and plan for long-term financial security.
The discussion will highlight the importance of customer-centricity and tailoring products to meet the needs and preferences of underserved segments. The panelists will also examine the role of technology and data analytics in designing and delivering effective micro-wealth and pension products at scale.
The panelists will address the regulatory challenges and opportunities associated with this approach, including consumer protection, financial literacy, and data privacy. The discussion will also examine the potential for public-private partnerships to promote the adoption of micro-wealth and pension products in emerging markets.
Speakers
Hon. Felix Mutati
Minister of Technology and Science, Republic of Zambia
Ritesh Shukla
Chief Executive Officer, NPCI International Payments Limited
Robert Kainamura
Chief Executive Officer, QT Group
Robert Ochola
Chief Executive Officer, AfricaNenda
Hon. Paula Ingabire
Minister of Information Communication Technology and Innovation, Republic of Rwanda
Moderator
Lucy Nshuti Mbabazi
Lead, Africa Policy, Advocacy & Partnerships, Better Than Cash Alliance
Date: 22 June
Time: 10:30am - 11:30am
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
22 June, Thursday
11:30am - 12:30pm
Sustainable Finance & Digital Banking
Forum Stage
Speakers
Christian Kajeneri
Fintech Strategy, Products & Services, Mobile Money Rwanda Ltd
Dare Okoudjou
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, MFS Africa
Marina Dimova
Global Director, Financial Industry & Network Advocacy, Women's World Banking
Meagan Rabe
Senior Director, Fintech Management, Visa
Premier Oiwoh
Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc.
Moderator
Mayada El-Zoghbi
Strategic Advisor, Center for Financial Inclusion, Accion
Sustainable Finance & Digital Banking
Forum Stage
A true, sustainable digital bank business model means that the bank optimizes its customer interactions, products, processes and data around digital technologies. Successful digital banks are appealing on the front end and are also digitally efficient on the back end. They use mobile and digital technologies to lower the costs to serve and, at the same time, these technologies are also used to enhance higher touch services.
A digital bank is branding to some banks. For others it is the digital channels. The transformation into a true digital bank is much broader and deeper.
In emerging markets, sustainable digital banking facilitates financial inclusion by providing affordable and accessible financial services to low-income earners and SMEs. It also enhances transparency, accountability, and risk management, thereby, improving the overall financial stability of the economy.
Digital banking also creates a platform for customers to access basic financial education and encourages responsible financial behaviour.
In this session, we shall look at:-
- Role of digital banking in advancing financial inclusion and promoting sustainable development goals.
- How to develop sustainable digital banking strategies
- Challenges and opportunities of digital banking adoption in emerging markets, including regulatory and infrastructure barriers.
- Technology Choices and Critical Advantages
- Business Models for inclusive Products and Services
- A gender intelligent approach as a successful way to democratised financial access and driven-sustainable growth for the whole banking organisation.
Speakers
Christian Kajeneri
Fintech Strategy, Products & Services, Mobile Money Rwanda Ltd
Dare Okoudjou
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, MFS Africa
Marina Dimova
Global Director, Financial Industry & Network Advocacy, Women's World Banking
Meagan Rabe
Senior Director, Fintech Management, Visa
Premier Oiwoh
Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc.
Moderator
Mayada El-Zoghbi
Strategic Advisor, Center for Financial Inclusion, Accion
Date: 22 June
Time: 11:30am - 12:30pm
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
22 June, Thursday
12:30pm - 1:30pm
22 June, Thursday
1:30pm - 2:10pm
Launch of Project Savannah: Digital ESG Credentials for MSMEs to Access Sustainable Financing and Global Supply Chains
Forum Stage
Speakers
Aiaze Mitha
Digital Finance & the SDGs, Global Lead, UNDP
Clare Rowley
Head of Business Operations, Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF)
Sopnendu Mohanty
Chief FinTech Officer, Monetary Authority of Singapore
Moderator
Antony Ruddenklau
Partner, KPMG
Launch of Project Savannah: Digital ESG Credentials for MSMEs to Access Sustainable Financing and Global Supply Chains
Forum Stage
The barriers to entry that MSMEs face in terms of digital and financial inclusion, are heightening in tandem with the mounting global urgency on climate change. This is fuelling closer scrutiny by financial institutions and large MNCs on their business and supply chain portfolios. As the world becomes increasingly green-centric, the consequences of a lack of ESG credentials will become more pronounced, as MSMEs find themselves excluded from sustainability-related capital pools and ESG-conscious markets.
A logical solution would be the development of a common set of digital ESG credentials, easily generated by MSMEs via the use of technology, that is recorded on a globally-endorsed identifier framework, and is capable of unlocking access to financial and supply chain networks worldwide. However, can this grand vision be achieved? Project Savannah aims to answer that question by teeing off the first steps of this journey, here at the inaugural Inclusive Fintech Forum.
In this session, participants will discuss:
- What the future looks like for MSMEs in a green economy: How must MSMEs position themselves to remain competitive amidst the global transition towards sustainability?
- What are the main challenges faced by MSMEs in their ESG journey, and how can FinTech be a force for good to tackle these challenges?
- How can emerging markets harness technology and innovation to promote a more inclusive and sustainable market, and how can MSMEs benefit from this?
- Why is interoperability across regions important for global ESG efforts and how can various stakeholders rally around technology to achieve this?
Speakers
Aiaze Mitha
Digital Finance & the SDGs, Global Lead, UNDP
Clare Rowley
Head of Business Operations, Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF)
Sopnendu Mohanty
Chief FinTech Officer, Monetary Authority of Singapore
Moderator
Antony Ruddenklau
Partner, KPMG
Date: 22 June
Time: 1:30pm - 2:10pm
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
22 June, Thursday
2:10pm - 2:55pm
ESG Infrastructure & Product Development for the Emerging Markets
Forum Stage
Speaker
Jack Lin
President, MioTech
Kirsten Wortmann
Regional Director Africa, Paymentology
Pierre Celestin Rwabukumba
Chief Executive Officer, Rwanda Stock Exchange
Moderator
Pauline Wray
Head of New Ventures - FinTech, Stealth Start-up
ESG Infrastructure & Product Development for the Emerging Markets
Forum Stage
Addressing the need for reliable and standardised ESG data
This panel will address the need for reliable and standardised ESG data to promote sustainable investment and meet the growing demand for socially responsible investment products. The session will examine:
- Current state of ESG infrastructure in emerging markets and the role of stakeholders, including investors, issuers, regulators, and data providers, in promoting standardisation and transparency
- Challenges and opportunities associated with collecting and analysing ESG data in emerging markets
- Best practices and use cases for developing ESG investment products in the emerging markets, including the importance of stakeholder engagement, product customisation, and impact measurement.
- Regulatory challenges and opportunities associated with ESG investment product development
Speaker
Jack Lin
President, MioTech
Kirsten Wortmann
Regional Director Africa, Paymentology
Pierre Celestin Rwabukumba
Chief Executive Officer, Rwanda Stock Exchange
Moderator
Pauline Wray
Head of New Ventures - FinTech, Stealth Start-up
Date: 22 June
Time: 2:10pm - 2:55pm
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
22 June, Thursday
2:55pm - 3:55pm
Reimagining Capital Market Infrastructure for Emerging Markets
Forum Stage
Speakers
Aditya Kumar Sinha
Head Fintech & Digital Innovation, Qatar Financial Center
Alexio Manyonde
Chief Technology Officer, ZEP-RE (PTA Reinsurance)
Damien Pang
Deputy Chief FinTech Officer, Monetary Authority of Singapore
Irene Arias Hofman
Chief Executive Officer, IDB Lab
Jean Bosco Iyacu
Chief Executive Officer, Access to Finance Rwanda
Moderator
Sharanjit Leyl
International Broadcaster
Reimagining Capital Market Infrastructure for Emerging Markets
Forum Stage
Capital markets play a crucial role in driving economic growth and development, providing businesses with the necessary funding to expand and innovate, while also enabling individuals to invest and grow their wealth. However, in many emerging markets, capital market infrastructure is underdeveloped, fragmented, and often outdated, making it difficult for businesses to access the funding they need and for individuals to invest in the opportunities available to them.
Reimagining Capital Market Infrastructure for Emerging Markets seeks to address these challenges by exploring innovative solutions for building more efficient, inclusive, and sustainable capital markets in emerging economies.
- The future of FinTech and capital markets: How are FinTech companies disrupting traditional financial services, and what are the implications for capital markets?
- What new FinTech products and services are likely to emerge in the coming years, and how will they impact the way we invest and manage our finances?
- Blockchain and distributed ledger technology are also likely to play a significant role in the future of FinTech and capital markets. Blockchain-based platforms could potentially revolutionize the way securities are traded and settled, reducing costs and increasing transparency and security.
- How can emerging markets leverage technology and innovation to build more efficient, inclusive, and sustainable capital markets?
- How can we promote standardization and interoperability across different countries and regions to achieve greater efficiency and transparency in capital markets?
- How can sustainable finance be supported through the development of modern capital market infrastructure in emerging markets?
Speakers
Aditya Kumar Sinha
Head Fintech & Digital Innovation, Qatar Financial Center
Alexio Manyonde
Chief Technology Officer, ZEP-RE (PTA Reinsurance)
Damien Pang
Deputy Chief FinTech Officer, Monetary Authority of Singapore
Irene Arias Hofman
Chief Executive Officer, IDB Lab
Jean Bosco Iyacu
Chief Executive Officer, Access to Finance Rwanda
Moderator
Sharanjit Leyl
International Broadcaster
Date: 22 June
Time: 2:55pm - 3:55pm
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
22 June, Thursday
3:55pm - 4:55pm
Capital Attraction and Competitiveness: Is Africa Ready?
Forum Stage
Speakers
Béata Habyarimana
Group Chief Executive Officer, BK Group Plc
Ike Eze
Managing Partner, Beta.Ventures
Philip Gasaatura
Managing Director, Katapult Africa
Moderator
Malaika Rousseau
Senior Strategy & Policy Analyst, Rwanda Finance Limited
Capital Attraction and Competitiveness: Is Africa Ready?
Forum Stage
Speakers
Béata Habyarimana
Group Chief Executive Officer, BK Group Plc
Ike Eze
Managing Partner, Beta.Ventures
Philip Gasaatura
Managing Director, Katapult Africa
Moderator
Malaika Rousseau
Senior Strategy & Policy Analyst, Rwanda Finance Limited
Date: 22 June
Time: 3:55pm - 4:55pm
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
22 June, Thursday
4:55pm - 5:00pm
Closing Address FinTech and Sustainable Inclusion Actionable Outcomes
Forum Stage
Speaker
Antony Ruddenklau
Partner, KPMG International
Closing Address FinTech and Sustainable Inclusion Actionable Outcomes
Forum Stage
Speaker
Antony Ruddenklau
Partner, KPMG International
Date: 22 June
Time: 4:55pm - 5:00pm
Location: Kigali Convention Centre
22 June, Thursday
6:15pm
22 June, Thursday
11:30am - 12:45pm
Industry Panel: Digital Currency and Blockchain Ecosystem. Is This a Once-In-A-Lifetime Opportunity to Leapfrog Traditional Finance?
Elevandi Insights Forum - Roundtables
Speakers
Brooks Entwistle
Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Ripple
Echeme Emole
Founder, Afropolitan
Iris Du
Head of Africa, Binance
Richmond Teo
Chief Executive Officer Asia, Paxos
Stephen Richardson
Managing Director, Financial Markets & Head of APAC, Fireblocks
Moderator
Sopnendu Mohanty
Chief FinTech Officer, Monetary Authority of Singapore
Industry Panel: Digital Currency and Blockchain Ecosystem. Is This a Once-In-A-Lifetime Opportunity to Leapfrog Traditional Finance?
Elevandi Insights Forum - Roundtables
The rise of digital currencies and blockchain technology has disrupted the traditional financial landscape and opened up new opportunities for financial inclusion and innovation in emerging markets. In many cases, these markets have been quick to adopt digital currency and blockchain solutions due to their potential to provide more accessible and affordable financial services.
Experts predict that digital currencies, CBDCs and stablecoins will contribute extensively to the e-payments ecosystem in Africa, supported by promising real economy applications and the historical tendency of the continent to leapfrog into the future by adopting innovative technologies at scale.
Regulatory frameworks for digital currencies and blockchain are still evolving in many emerging markets, creating uncertainty and risk for investors and entrepreneurs. This can make it difficult to attract investment and scale solutions.
In many emerging markets, there may be limited infrastructure in place to support the development and deployment of digital currencies and blockchain solutions, such as reliable internet connectivity and payment systems.
- What specific steps is your organisation taking to promote the development of digital currencies and blockchain ecosystems and what impact do you expect these measures to have on financial inclusion and economic growth?
- How are you addressing regulatory challenges related to digital currencies and blockchain in the jurisdictions you operate? What would you like to see around international cooperation in developing common standards and frameworks for these technologies?
- What opportunities do you see for collaboration between government, the private sector, and civil society in promoting the development of digital currencies and blockchain ecosystems in emerging markets?
- How are you working to balance the potential benefits of digital currencies and blockchain with concerns around security and consumer protection, particularly in markets with high levels of financial fraud and cybercrime?
Speakers
Brooks Entwistle
Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Ripple