Trade Mission to Canada for Swiss Fintech companies: Business and networking opportunities

The Swiss Finance + Technology Association is expanding its global outreach. With our Going Global initiative, we bring the Swiss FinTech Ecosystem to new levels. Together with the Embassy of Canada, Swiss Business Hub Canada and Switzerland Global Enterprise, we organized an event on the 23rd of May. The topic of the evening was an introduction to Canadian FinTech ecosystem, current business opportunities in Canada, and an outlook to the upcoming Trade Mission to Montreal, Toronto and Sibos. We thank our partner Niederer Kraft & Frey for hosting the event.

Impressions from some of the companies and speakers presenting at the event.

Qumram – RegTech Startup Startup active in Canada

Quote by Patrick Barnert, CEO of Qumram:

The Trade Mission to Canada event organized by The Swiss Finance + Technology Association, the Canadian Embassy, Swiss Business Hubs Canada and Switzerland Global Enterprise was a great opportunity to meet with Canadian and Swiss officials and especially with global Fintechs and MaRS Fintech Accelerator from Canada. It was very insightful and a big learning about the opportunity to engage with global financial service firms headquartered in Canada. The program for the upcoming Trade Mission to Canada and Sibos in October 2017 looks very promising for making first steps into attractive Canadian market.

For more information: Link to presentation

MaRS VP Ventures – Health, ICT and Cleantech

MaRS accelerates ventures’ growth in four several sectors, with one of them being Fintech. MaRS works with an extensive network of partners to help entrepreneurs launch and grow the innovative companies that are building our future. For more details about MaRS and the FinTech Landscapes in Canada: Link to presentation

“It was tremendous for MaRS to represent the Canadian fintech landscape at an event organized in collaboration with the Swiss Finance + Technology Association, Embassy of Canada, Swiss Business Hub Canada and Switzerland Global Enterprise. The evening brought together key players in the Swiss and Canadian fintech ecosystems, including government officials, innovation hubs and accelerators and startup companies. It is evident that there is an excitement and eagerness to work in partnership with one another. We are very much looking forward to welcoming the Swiss trade mission to Toronto during the week of Sibos in October!”

A note from John Hucker, President of the Swiss Finance + Technology Association

This event was particularly important because we have formed a close relationship with SIbos over the past four years. This started in Boston, then in Singapore where I spoke about Why Banks Need FinTech Hubs, then last year we hosted a global audience in Geneva, and now we are thrilled to be leading a mission to Sibos 2017 in Toronto! It is another excellent opportunity for all actors in the Swiss FinTech community to connect with the Canadian FinTech ecosystem as well as Swift’s Sibos and Innotribe audiences.

Upcoming Opportunity: FINTECH FACT FINDING MISSION TO CANADA

Switzerland Global Enterprise, Swiss Business Canada, the Embassy of Canada to Switzerland and MaRS Discovery District in Toronto in collaboration with the Swiss Finance & Technology Association are organizing a Fintech fact finding Mission to Canada.

We offer a coordinated Swiss participation at one of the biggest events in FinTech globally, the SIBOS conference. It is a challenge for FinTech companies to find their way into SIBOS on their own. Thus, this mission is an excellent opportunity to collect firsthand insights into business behavior and culture of Canada through personal contacts with representatives from the FinTech ecosystems. Participants will get the chance to encounter technology providers, financial services firms, venture capitalists and evangelists in Montreal and in the Toronto-Waterloo Fintech Corridor, providing a springboard for new business opportunities and qualified contacts. All participants will be allowed to fully focus on networking as all logistical aspects (accommodation, transport and meals) are taken care of.

This fact finding mission targets FinTech entrepreneurs, founders of startups and small to medium sized companies operating in the field of FinTech in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, as well as representatives of banks and financial institutes. While the program focuses on the needs of entrepreneurs with an interest in expanding their business internationally, it is also open for consultants and professionals working in the financial sector.

For more information about the upcoming trip, click here: Link to the complete program