8 formats that strengthen creativity and innovation in the financial sector
The financial world is characterized by data, regulation and risk prevention. Creativity is not one of the terms associated with it. But especially in finance and fintech environments, progress and competitive advantages arise when teams change perspectives, experiment boldly and are willing to learn from each other. Events create exactly this space: They bring people together, promote new ideas and enable genuine exchange on equal terms.
For organizers, this means that with the right activations, innovative strength, dialogue and community building can be noticeably increased. These eight formats bring fresh energy to finance events, from conferences to accelerator showcases.
1. Hackathons around payments, AI or blockchain
Hackathons bring together developers, analysts, product and UX teams to build working prototypes in a short period of time. The goal is not perfection, but a variety of perspectives. In heavily regulated industries, this often creates creativity that is lost in day-to-day business.
Our tip: Formulate clear challenges, deploy open APIs, and define IP rules in advance.
2. Innovation competitions with prize money or accelerator access
Pitches and awards give start-ups, students and internal innovation teams a stage to make new ideas visible. They bring dynamism to the program and attract a wide audience.
Our tip: Real-time voting in the event app ensures engagement and gives trends direct feedback.
3. Ten-minute vision talks
Short, concise and inspiring: A curated format with ten-minute short inputs looks like a “Finance TED.” Here, people share bold ideas, new perspectives, or unusual food for thought without the pressure of a full keynote slot.
Our tip: Don't just invite stars. Rising stars and unconventional thinkers bring a breath of fresh air.
4. Workshops for small and medium-sized companies on funding, grants and growth
Smaller companies often seek guidance on topics such as financing, funding programs or scaling. Practical and interactive workshops offer real added value and make the event more relevant for a wider target group.
Our tip: Request topics as early as during the registration process.
5. Reverse Pitches with Regulators and Compliance Teams
This is where the roles are reversed: Regulators or compliance leads present their upcoming challenges and the community works together to consider which solutions are needed. This creates transparency and prevents undesirable developments on the market.
Our tip: Neutral moderation helps to make complex topics accessible to everyone.
6th cross-industry networking sessions
Finance meets health, sustainability, mobility or administration: Such “mash-ups” bring people together who otherwise barely talk to each other. This is exactly where unusual collaborations and new ideas arise.
Our tip: Matchmaking features in the event app facilitate targeted networking.
7th “Epic Fails” Storytelling Sessions
Failure is an important part of innovation, yet hardly anyone talks about it openly. In a protected environment, managers and founders can share their real failures. This looks authentic, creates trust and provides valuable learnings for everyone.
Our tip: Communicate clear confidentiality rules to create a safe space.
8. Innovation zones with live prototyping
Instead of traditional exhibition stands, start-ups or internal teams present genuine new products directly on site, sometimes even for the first time. This is how a demo slot becomes a moment that no one wants to miss.
Our tip: Push messages in the event app for every live launch ensure full attention.
conclusion
With these activations, a finance event becomes more than just a professional exchange: It creates a place where ideas grow, people connect and help shape the future of the industry. And thanks to evenito software, such formats can be organized efficiently, decentrally and on-brand in one platform.
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