The third annual Fintech Islands Experience (FiX) is set to take place in the Caribbean from January 22-24, 2025, with a focus on three core pillars: entrepreneurship, policy, and talent. The conference, which will be held at the Sam Lord’s Castle Wyndham Grand Barbados Resort, aims to build out the fintech ecosystem in the region.
FiX25 will bring together a community of disruptive and innovative leaders who are redefining financial services. The three pillars are designed to foster a thriving fintech ecosystem by providing start-ups with the foundation they need, creating regulatory frameworks that enable growth, and developing a knowledgeable and skilled workforce capable of steering the Caribbean’s fintech future.
According to Allison Hunte, Co-founder and CEO of Fintech Islands, the Caribbean is witnessing a fintech revolution driven by a diverse array of start-ups, regulatory shifts, and international partnerships. She stated that since launching FiX, they have seen increased interest in advancing the fintech industry, with several regional Heads of Government, Cabinet ministers and central bankers, as well as international fintech CEOs and developers, already confirmed to speak at FiX25.
The number of active fintech companies operating in Latin America and the Caribbean has increased by 340 percent between 2017 and 2023, according to a report by the Inter-American Development Bank and Finnovista. The Caribbean is poised for further growth in fintech services, with examples of advancements in countries such as The Bahamas, Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Ms Hunte believes that the Caribbean has recognized the importance of fintech in promoting financial inclusion and creating new job opportunities and economic growth. The region also offers a strategic opportunity for global fintech players to use its regulatory sandboxes as an experimental space, allowing them to refine and perfect new technologies before expanding them on a global scale.
FiX25 is expected to showcase the Caribbean as a center for financial innovation, with attendees and speakers from around the world. With growing registration numbers and increased participation each year, FiX has established itself as a fixture in the global fintech landscape.