On December 10, 2024, the Visa Innovation Program Europe Italy Edition Summit brought together fintech leaders, industry experts, and key ecosystem players under one roof. The summit marked a significant milestone for Italy’s growing fintech landscape, serving as a platform to explore emerging trends, innovative solutions, and new opportunities for collaboration.
Visa’s commitment to advancing fintech innovation took center stage as the program continues to connect visionary fintech startups with corporates and industry stakeholders. By fostering mentorship, meaningful introductions, and successful partnerships, Visa empowers fintechs to tackle the evolving challenges of payments, commerce, and financial inclusion.
From insightful keynote speeches to dynamic panel discussions, the day was filled with strategic conversations and shared learnings. Attendees explored the future of payments, open innovation, and fintech positioning, setting the tone for a day of impactful connections and actionable insights.
The Program’s Evolution and Italy’s Milestones
In 2024, the Italy Edition of the Visa Innovation Program saw impressive engagement and growth:
- 56 applications from innovative fintechs eager to transform the financial ecosystem,
- 4 standout fintechs selected to participate in this year’s program,
- 20 hours of tailored mentorship delivered to help fintechs accelerate their growth,
- 45 introductions facilitated between fintechs and strategic partners, and
- 2 successful partnerships formed, driving real-world impact.
These achievements reflect Visa’s ongoing efforts to nurture fintech excellence and strengthen Italy’s role as a key player in Europe’s financial technology ecosystem.
Since its launch, the Visa Innovation Program Europe has delivered measurable results and meaningful support for fintechs in Italy:
- 130 total applications received from fintech innovators,
- 20 fintechs shortlisted to collaborate with Visa and its partners,
- 9 selected fintechs that brought tangible solutions to the market,
- 50+ Proof-of-Concept partnerships, demonstrating the program’s ability to foster impactful collaborations,
- 33 hours of mentorship delivered, offering guidance, expertise, and
- 94 facilitated introductions, sparking new relationships and growth opportunities.
These milestones showcase the program’s role as a cornerstone of fintech innovation in Italy, enabling startups to thrive, solve complex industry challenges, and connect with influential players in the financial ecosystem.
The day officially commenced with an inspiring opening speech by Stefano Stoppani, Country Manager at Visa Italy. Stefano reflected on Visa’s enduring role as a catalyst for fintech innovation, emphasizing fintech’s critical contributions to shaping a more inclusive, efficient, and connected financial ecosystem in Italy. He highlighted Visa’s commitment to empowering fintech startups by fostering collaboration and creating opportunities for scalable growth. Stefano’s words resonated with the audience, setting a tone of optimism and collaboration for the summit. His call to action emphasized embracing emerging technologies, nurturing partnerships, and positioning Italy as a leader in Europe’s fintech evolution.
The spotlight turned to Marni Kruppa, Head of Fintech at Visa Europe, who delivered a compelling keynote address on the global trends shaping the future of payments and fintech. With a forward-thinking perspective, Marni explored how emerging technologies, consumer behaviors, and industry partnerships redefine the financial ecosystem. Her insights provided a clear roadmap for fintechs looking to scale their solutions, adapt to shifting global trends, and position themselves for sustainable growth.
The first panel of the day, “Positioning Strategies for Fintechs,” brought together fintech leaders Edoardo Parisi (Unipiazza) and Matteo Masserdotti (Viceversa) to share their insights on navigating challenges and building successful strategies in a dynamic and competitive fintech market. Moderated by Sonia Bazzoni from Visa, the session provided a roadmap for fintechs aiming to establish their positioning and drive growth.
Edoardo Parisi, representing Unipiazza, emphasized the importance of focusing on customer needs and creating a clear value proposition. He shared how Unipiazza’s platform simplifies business loyalty management and enhances user engagement through streamlined solutions.
Pedro Salvi of Viceversa brought a unique perspective on how fintechs can adapt to rapidly changing market conditions. Viceversa’s success in providing innovative revenue-based financing solutions highlights the role of fintechs in addressing funding challenges for SMEs and startups.
The second panel featured Giuseppe de Candia from Osense and Edwin Colella from Wallife, with moderation by Luca Gagliardi of Visa. The session focused on how fintechs adapt to a rapidly evolving market, leveraging innovation and seizing emerging opportunities to stay competitive.
Giuseppe de Candia, representing Osense, highlighted how cutting-edge technologies are transforming user experiences and operational efficiencies. Giuseppe emphasized the importance of maintaining an innovation-first mindset to anticipate and solve complex challenges before they arise.
Edwin Colella, from Wallife, shared insights into navigating emerging risks in the digital world, particularly in areas like identity protection and cybersecurity. Edwin discussed the critical role of fintechs in addressing risks tied to technological advancements, showcasing how innovation can turn challenges into opportunities.
The “Alumni Insights” session, moderated by Filippo Manca from Visa, highlighted the inspiring journeys of past program participants and how they have leveraged the Visa Innovation Program to achieve sustained growth and success. Featuring Guido Ferrari from Fairtile and Nuno Pinto from Coverflex, the discussion offered a candid look into the program’s long-term impact on fintech innovators.
The following panel, moderated by Filippo Manca from Visa, brought together leaders from established financial institutions and corporates to discuss how fintech partnerships drive open innovation and create impactful opportunities. Featuring Claudio Migliavacca (Agos), Nicolo Mozzatto (Intesa San Paolo), and Giacomo Chitarrelli (Worldline), the session explored the evolving relationship between fintechs and corporates and how collaboration accelerates progress across industries.
Claudio Migliavacca from Agos emphasized the growing role of fintechs in enhancing corporate agility and delivering customer-centric solutions.
Nicolo Mozzatto of Intesa San Paolo shared insights on how fintech collaborations drive innovation at scale, enabling traditional financial institutions to adopt emerging technologies more quickly.
From Worldline, Giacomo Chitarrelli focused on the practical outcomes of fintech partnerships. He shared how Worldline has worked with fintechs to optimize payment processes, explore embedded finance opportunities, and address emerging challenges in digital transactions.
The “Strategic Overview” panel, moderated by Kaan Akın, provided an in-depth look at the key players, growth drivers, and strategies shaping Italy’s thriving fintech ecosystem. Featuring insights from Michelangelo Bottesini (Italian Fintech Association), Clelia Tosi (Fintech District), and Emanuele Torlonia (Italian Angels for Growth), the session explored how collaboration, investment, and innovation are positioning Italy as a prominent hub in Europe’s fintech landscape.
The summit’s final keynote, delivered by Massimo Carnelos, Head of the Innovation Office at the Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs, explored the delicate balance between fostering technological growth and aligning with regulatory frameworks.
He emphasized the critical role of collaboration between fintechs, policymakers, and regulators in striking the right balance. Regulations, when implemented thoughtfully, can foster innovation rather than hinder it. By providing clear guidelines and a supportive framework, regulators enable fintechs to scale solutions while safeguarding the interests of businesses and consumers.
The Visa Innovation Program Europe Italy Edition Summit showcased the power of collaboration, innovation, and community in driving the future of fintech. From insightful discussions to inspiring success stories, the day reflected Visa’s unwavering commitment to empowering fintechs, fostering partnerships, and shaping a dynamic financial ecosystem.
The journey continues.
Meet the fintehcs:
- Osense: Osense leverages AI to optimize operations, predict sustainability KPIs, and enhance financial performance. Their platform streamlines data collection, calculation, and reporting for a robust and efficient sustainability strategy.
- Unipiazza: Gamified Loyalty Program that helps local businesses build customer loyalty with Autopilot. The platform offers features like marketing automation, promotions and discounts, customer management, e-commerce, and customer acquisition, helping businesses double their customer visits per year.
- Viceversa: Viceversa is creating a growth platform for businesses that accelerates growth with equity-free investments and predictive analytics to aid in decision-making. Businesses can leverage Viceversa’s capital to grow in areas like marketing, inventory, or shipping. Viceversa also offers analytics to help businesses manage their campaigns and make data-driven decisions.
- Wallife: Wallife safeguards user privacy and financial well-being in the digital age through innovative biometric identification products. Their solutions empower individuals to take control of their financial security with confidence, by leveraging cutting-edge biometric authentication, Wallife protects users from emerging threats and ensures secure digital transactions.
Stay tuned for updates on the next edition of the Visa Innovation Program Europe Summit!