Women Driving Change and Future Topics at “Butter bei die FinTechs 2026”
Design Zentrum Hamburg once again became a meeting place for the FinTech and financial sector. Start-ups, established financial players and representatives from politics and business discussed finance, artificial intelligence and the changing world of tax advisory.
Women driving change from the start
Alexandra Antwi-Boasiako guided the audience through the afternoon with energetic moderation. Aynur Colpan, the new Managing Director of Finance City Hamburg, welcomed the guests and set the tone for an event defined by exchange, innovation and forward thinking.
One highlight of the programme was the keynote by Katy Roewer of Otto Group, who shared insights into the transformation of one of Europe’s largest retail companies.
Sustainable success emerges where people take responsibility, recognise opportunities and act entrepreneurially.
Digital sovereignty in focus
The panel “Code for Independence – Putting Europe’s Financial Solutions to the Test” brought together Benny Bennet Jürgens of Nect, Chris Scheuermann of EPI Company, Clemens Vatter of SIGNAL IDUNA Group and Frank Heisel of RISK IDENT.
Together with moderator Jan Gierkes of IFB Innovationsstarter GmbH, they explored how independent Europe’s financial infrastructure really is.
Dependencies
Europe’s financial sector remains heavily dependent on platforms from outside Europe.
Resilience
Home-grown technologies increase resilience and strategic autonomy.
Security
European solutions can strengthen data protection and technological control.
Potential
FinTechs and established players can develop new standards together.
Innovation, pitches and a changing tax advisory sector
After a networking break with ice cream – organised by Malin Rehbein – Anusha Akkina of Aurelytix, Elly Oldenbourg of WHERA and Pablo Hebestreit of Gradient Technologies presented their approaches to current industry challenges.
The subsequent panel, “Tax Advisory in Transition: Between Tradition, Tech and an AI Future”, featured Nicolas Oldag of DivTax and Mareike Trapp of Possehl Group, moderated by Aynur Colpan.
Automation, specialised software solutions and artificial intelligence are fundamentally changing traditional advisory structures and opening up new opportunities for more efficient, data-driven consulting.
Networking and a shared closing
Networking took centre stage as the evening drew to a close. Under the motto “Futter bei die Fische”, participants used the opportunity for personal conversations, new contacts and the exchange of ideas – accompanied by good food and drinks.
Our thanks go to all participants, speakers, moderators and supporters who made the event possible and brought it to life.
An afternoon full of exchange and questions about the future
