FINTECH ET SOLUTIONS FINANCIÈRES NOUVELLES SIBOS : An opportunity for Switzerland to promote Fintech innovation n Dirk STELLER, Founder and Managing partner, Seed Space Venture Capital, Sydney and Geneva Dirk Steller, Founder and Mana- The last week of October 2018 saw the financial world turn its eyes to Sydney ging Partner of Seed Space Venture Capital, an early stage for SIBOS, one of the world’s largest financial services conferences organised by Fintech focused Venture Capital SWIFT. The 7000 strong participants list from 150 countries included the who’s firm with offices in Sydney, Aus- who in the financial services industry and all the key global banks and finan- tralia and Geneva, Switzerland. Over the last 30 years, Dirk has cial services providers were present at the International Convention Centre in specialised in building finan- Sydney’s Darling Harbour. On the side lines of SIBOS, a Swiss delegation was cial systems in both the public engaging closely with the Australian Fintech and Blockchain industry. and private sectors, including leading financial roles at the Britter Group, Interpol and wit- hin the United Nations system. Openings for Australian- More recently Dirk has shifted Swiss cooperation his focus to innovation in finan- cial services and co-founded In addition to the many Swiss Seed Space Venture Capital, a banking representatives at SIBOS, firm that focuses on true “Early Mrs Ruth Metzler-Arnold, Chair- Stage” Fintech investment. The woman of the Supervisory Board firm’s goal is to be the first pro- of Switzerland Global Enterprise fessional investor and trusted and former Vice President and advisor to the leading innova- member of the Swiss Federal tors in Financial Technology Council, was present in Australia and the financial services powe- actively promoting Switzerland as rhouses of tomorrow. global hub for financial services, including Fintech and Blockchain. To support Swiss trade relations, tal assets and is fast becoming a Switzerland Global Enterprise, on reference model for how govern- behalf of the Swiss Confederation ment and industry can coope- (State Secretariat for Economic rate to build supportive environ- Affairs SECO), has a Trade Office ments for innovation in financial The overall theme of the 2018 The Discovery Lounge featured located within the Consulate services, particularly in relation SIBOS was “enabling the digi- a mixture of stands from tra- General of Switzerland in Sydney to digital assets. tal economy”. With this theme ditional financial services com- called Trade Point Australia. The With the top global players in in mind, innovation in banking panies and emerging Fintech Trade Point Australia organised financial services firmly focusing on was prominent throughout the companies demonstrating their a SIBOS side event where Ruth innovation for the coming years, conference. Many of the global cutting-edge technologies and Metzler-Arnold, together with the booming Fintech industry is banks were promoting new pro- services. Also, in this hall was the Dirk Steller of Seed Space Venture unlikely to slow in the foreseeable ducts or links to the emerging Oceania Lounge, an area dedi- Capital, presented to senior repre- future. The increasing coopera- Fintech industry, including Six cated to Australia’s vibrant Fin- sentatives of the Australian Fin- tion between Fintech companies Group who were proudly promo- tech industry. Supported by the tech community to promote coo- and financial services incumbents ting their new Digital Exchange. New South Wales Government peration opportunities between and cooperation across global and the Fintech industry body the Australian and Swiss Fintech jurisdictions is further enhancing In addition to the extensive hall “FinTech Australia”. Some of and Blockchain ecosystems. Also, growth in the Fintech sector. With of impressive stands from the Australia’s leading Fintech com- in attendance were the Ambas- these many drivers, Fintech is cer- traditional banks, there was ano- panies were there to present the sador and the Consul General of tainly becoming one of the hottest ther hall. An area of the confe- latest developments in Fintech Switzerland. See photo on the investment sectors to watch. rence that has continued to grow and how they were linking into bottom right with Bernadette in size and importance within the existing financial services Hunkeler-Brown, Consul General SIBOS over the last few years. industry. of Switzerland to Australia, Ruth It was the Innotribe hall called Metzler-Arnold, Chairwoman of the Discovery Lounge. Innotribe Australia is establishing itself as a the Supervisory Board of Switzer- is the innovation arm of SWIFT key global centre for Fintech inno- land Global Enterprise and for- and is responsible for promoting vation and its close links to Asia mer Federal Councillor, and Pedro collaboration and supporting all place it in an enviable position to Zwahlen, Ambassador of Switzer- actors of the Fintech sphere in be able to maximise linkages into land to Australia. relation to innovation in finan- the rapidly growing Fintech mar- Switzerland is a global leader in cial services. kets of Southeast Asia. relation to crypto and other digi- 20 Numéro 75 – Hiver 2018-2019 – .