Where Business Gets Done
That’s how Money2020 Asia pitches itself.
As a deal room with:
- Over 4000+ senior decision makers ( 1-3 of whom are C-suite and 78% from APAC)
- 280+ industry experts taking the stage and
- Over 100 banks and financial institutions
Though what I experienced was much more than just a room of Finance types in their finest suits.
I encountered a truly globally attended showcase, something that’s often missing from the events in my home base of Australia.
And in Thailand I found a nation that’s hosting this event at just the right time as it steps into its future as a Global Hub for Tech & Innovation.
Fostering A Global Mindset
The event, which is now in its second year in Bangkok, Thailand, following successful rollouts in Las Vegas, Amsterdam and Riyadh, kicked off day one with a legendary Innovator, who set the tone for the week ahead.
Joe Foster, the 90 year old Co-Founder of Reebok, hailing from my paternal Northern England, shared the inception story of the Global sportswear brand, estimated to be worth $2.5 billion.
From its humble beginnings in 1895 with Joe’s GrandFather’s invention of the first spiked running shoe, through to breaking America all because of a their first US hire’s wife taking an aerobics class, leading to Reebok targeting female athleisure in the 80’s, which saw the business 100x it’s sales.
Joe mused about having fun, otherwise “what is the point?” and seeing “Challenges as opportunities”, though sitting in Bangkok watching a Brit talk to a room of international attendees about his Global business, I saw a different message.
That this was about doing business on a global scale and that for the next 3 days we were in the perfect forum to embrace that.
A United Nation Of FinTech
Over the next 3 days I witnessed speakers from across the globe take to the stage to talk broadly about topics such as AI, Financial regulation and Crypto.
Though for me the joy came in the niche country deep dives, witnessing:
- A debate on whether Hong Kong or Singapore was the stronger Startup ecosystem at an unfiltered stage where participants had to put their phones into a sealed bag
- A panel with a group of Chinese Investors about why the country is winning the AI race, which was one of the most to the point flexes I’ve ever witnessed and
- Talks covering all range of country specific challenges, such as growing the Bangladeshi FinTech ecosystem and what’s next for Malaysia’s biggest bank
The diversity on stage was also matched on the shop floor.
With the crowd ranging from slick Hong Kong businessmen, to Bornean Women in traditional dress, to the odd Australian in a pair of shorts (not guilty). Reflecting the entirety of the region that this conference was serving.
The True Star Of The Show
Just as much as this event was about Global Business, it was also about its host, Thailand.
A country of 71 million, known globally for its fun people, beautiful landscapes, food to die for and in the not too distant future it’s Tech ecosystem.
Money2020 Asia perfectly showcased all of the above, giving the event a true Thai flavour, with:
- Standalone Mango sticky rice stalls amidst a buffet lunch of Prawn Pad Thais and Som Tam salads
- A Thai massage corner for those needing a break from the dealmaking, hosted by the sweetest locals (until they had their elbow in your shoulder blade) and
- Evening events at some of the city’s most energetic and colourful venues
On Day One, I also had the privilege of attending the Demo Day of the country’s first ever homegrown Accelerator program, Venture Spark, run by A2D Ventures. Where 17 Startups showcased their solutions to local problems such as LGBTIQ health, obesity and the uninsured.
Alongside the delivery of Money2020, the event shows that the country is finally turning its attention to Tech & Innovation and has the financial and political base to make its play as a future Startup superpower.
And with thousands of Global Money makers coming to “do business” annually through events like Money2020 Asia, it’s certainly not hard to see why!
If you’d like to join me at Money2020 Asia next year or at any of its other events, then you can read more about it here.
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