Open to all participants.

Innovation is a buzzword in a world where digitalization, technology, startups, ecosystem, incubators, venture capital and other hot concepts fly freely around in the air. The financial services industry which is fairly regulated deserves a large piece of the pie once innovation is on the table. It is partly due to the leading role of banks in finding a competitive edge in a market where making a difference is a matter of remaining relevant. Banks are now also followed by insurance and capital market industries. Regulators have also grown apt to technology changes. Under such circumstances, the discussants are addressing inquiries of why, how, who and what now based on their experiences?

Emergence of smart technologies has ushered users a better access to financial services aka financial inclusion. Financial inclusion means that individuals and businesses have access to useful and affordable financial products and services that meet their needs – transactions, payments, savings, credit and insurance – delivered in a responsible and sustainable way. Panelists are discussing how fintech and user-oriented digital services help improving lives of millions.

Digitization of services brings great benefits to customers: efficiency, timing, convenience, access to new services, etc. It also brings concerns and fears: it can create barriers to entry and a lack of inclusion, along with the threat of data breaches, misuse of personal information, identity theft, fraud, and sometimes financial loss. Financial industry companies have traditionally viewed the custody and protection of their clients’ data as a responsibility. It has been undertaken in more of a stewardship role than an asset to be commercialized subject to regulation. Both PSD and GDPR offers twists that potentially impacts the data sharing, privacy, identity and KYC processes. The panel puts a highlight on such elements from multiple dimensions as it attempts to identify challenges and solutions.

Quantum computing is an emerging technology that excites many technologists around the world. The panel is committed to explaining what it really is and what sorts of implications that it might create for financial services.

This roundtable is invitation-only discussion for senior executives. Three discussants make brief remarks and present their opinions; and the floor is given to the rest of the participants for brainstorming. The roundtable undertakes open banking, PSD2 and other relevant regulations with a light to current innovation policies of banks.

Technology has brought the future of banking to one level up in the discussion. Banks are now more embarked on transforming services. Platform banking is one of the ways to switching to new concept of banking that would help the bank of today to survive. Some entrants, usually tech companies, have stepped in with eye-caching products. They have this irresistible argument of providing financial services to all in lighter, more lenient, more user-friendly and cost-effective fashion. Accordingly, the future of banking ecosystem will arguably look a lot more different than today; and it will extend beyond financial services. Panelists are discussing if and how the banking services are shifting to a new level.

Please see the footnote on what a 360 module is.

Financial regulations might occasionally increase costs and challenges towards processes of compliance, reporting and monitoring. As an extension of the emerging fintech framework, RegTech is posed to tackle regulatory and compliance burdens through innovation solutions and technologies.

In this panel, the speakers will address current global policies and approaches on RegTech programs as well as investigate cost of compliance, challenges and opportunities.

Along with predictions of technological development comes ideas of utopias and dystopias. The technology we craft creates new use cases, opportunities, and dangers. Among many other industries, there is a need to review financial services through the lens of ethics and compliance, with an understanding of the changing role that technology, data science and AI can play. This touches upon digital ethics in general but specifically emphasizes reporting and legal obligations, as well as the environmental, social, human rights and anti-bribery concerns being addressed by a growing swath of the financial services sector. The panel digs through how financial services businesses should employ and conduct new technologies from an ethical perspective.

Open banking and insurance programs and regulations have served as a wake-up call to traditional banks in understanding the intrinsic value of APIs. For financial entities, it is almost becoming a norm that they must develop their digital capabilities to avoid being curbed or dis-intermediated by contestants (or new entrants) with more innovative offerings and services. The panelists discuss the elements of this new environment and explain how they make a difference under increased competition.

This roundtable is invitation-only discussion for senior executives. Three discussants make brief remarks on their opinions and the floor is given to the rest of the participants. The roundtable undertakes corporate venture capital as well as accelerator programs towards current challenges and opportunities. It offers an across-the-board view on dealing with startup investments.

The era towards self-sufficiency in capacity and infrastructure is nearly over. As customer journey comes to the fore, expectations ratchet up. Legacy systems are not always readily available to meet with the changing demand. This does not only lead to emergence of new players with agile and efficient solutions but also to a landscape where market leaders feel forced to collaborate with the new entrants. This collaboration will reinforce the marketplace, and also facilitates a win-win for anyone involved in the ecosystem. How does this landscape need to be structured to optimize the collaboration? The panelists will attempt to find answers to this question.

Please see the footnote on what a 360 module is.

Insurance industry evolves in an exponential fashion. Innovation changes the way insurance and reinsurance products are developed, processed and delivered. Insurance services go fully-digital. Awareness of the conventional players has dramatically increased towards innovation. The inquiry is what awaits the insurance industry and services in the way forward.

Please see the footnote on what a 360 module is.

The payments industry is currently undergoing a fundamental transformation. The industry is on the brink of a drastic change caused by new regulations, technologies, currency systems and customer expectations, forcing its players to deliver increased value propositions. Transfers cross-border are also greatly impacted by similar drivers plus blockchain-based solutions. The panel weighs on current trends in payments and transfers with forward-looking highlights.

This roundtable is invitation-only discussion for senior executives. Three discussants make brief remarks on their opinions and the floor is given to the rest of the participants. The roundtable undertakes Artificial Intelligence applications such as machine learning, data science and predictive analytics when it pertains to financial services.

The banking and investment landscape has undergone a tremendous transformation in recent decades, and the pace of change will likely intensify. Yet, the transformation is not complete as notes and coins are out there in circulation. Some argue that a cashless society is where we need to be for efficiency and service quality in commercial activities. Some say it will increase the cost of transaction. Where are we today and headed to from now on?  The panel takes up both sides of the discussion.

Venture capital-backed financial technology companies raised a record $39.57 billion from investors globally in 2018, up 120 percent from the previous year, according to CB Insights. Funding was raised through 1,707 deals, up from 1,480 in 2017, the research said. The surge in funding was due in large part to 52 mega-rounds, or investments larger than $100 million. The panel covers the current landscape of fintech investments as well as approach by VCs and accelerators.

WealthTech is a buzz word and a trending topic these days in financial industry. It transcribes into applications with Artificial Intelligence such as machine learning, data analytics and predictive tools. The WealthTech influence in asset management is the primary goal of this session of which its speakers will bring to the board towards their professional experience.

This roundtable is invitation-only discussion for senior executives. Three discussants make brief remarks on their opinions and the floor is given to the rest of the participants. The roundtable undertakes Insurtech which is a trending topic in insurance industry. The InsurTech influence is the primary goal of this roundtable of which its speakers will bring to the board towards their professional experience.

Making infrastructures intelligent is running amok in financial services. Financial institutions should expect a 22% cost reduction in operating expenses due to AI, with most of the savings coming from the front office, according to analysts. But it all hinges on one thing: consumers’ level of comfort with AI.

The panel offers an opportunity to hear it from the practitioners. What is the real impact of AI in financial services? What are the primary use cases that lead the way? Is it hype or reality?

Please see the footnote on what a 360 module is.

Amid fierce competition, insurance service providers are driven towards efficiency and user satisfaction. Online customer journey is now a reality as understanding the customer has become a key catalyst. Despite growth in such attention, penetration of online retail products is still an issue. Reaching to and engaging with new generation customers is the key success factor for the future. Digitization is one of the venues for a sustainable customer onboarding as the panelists discuss.

This roundtable is invitation-only discussion for senior executives. Three discussants make brief remarks on their opinions and the floor is given to the rest of the participants. The roundtable undertakes Blockchain and DLT in financial services.

The impact of blockchain is immense, argued by some. The implications will be limited, some others content. Despite differing views, distributed technologies have created a wave of change in a multitude of industries. The way business is done, contracts signed, transactions conducted, data stored and many other processes are being reconsidered thanks to blockchain.

What are the opportunities in the way forward as well as challenges? The panel will dwell on the past and future adventures of blockchain with a particular highlight on use cases.

Please see the footnote on what a 360 module is.

A day-long walk to Istanbul’s historic finance and commercial locations