THURSDAY GATHERING #50 AsiaBerlin Community Event: Fintech Without Borders
LUMA PREREGISTRATION IS OFFICIALLY CLOSED NOW, BUT YOU CAN STILL REGISTER ON SITE OF THE EVENT.
Join us for the first AsiaBerlin Community Event of the year — a special edition of Thursday Gathering taking place during FIBE Week. Fintech Without Borders brings together startups, investors, and ecosystem players from Berlin and across Asia to exchange insights, spark collaboration, and explore cross-border opportunities in financial technology. This gathering marks the kick-off of AsiaBerlin’s community activities for 2026, setting the stage for deeper connections leading up to the AsiaBerlin Summit later this year.
🌏 Opening Impulse: FinTech Without Borders
Time: 17:30 – 17:45
Description:
Opening the evening, this session sets the tone for global collaboration and exchange. Bringing together perspectives from public leadership and international ecosystem building, the speakers will highlight the importance of cross-border partnerships in shaping the future of fintech between Berlin and Asia.
Speakers:
Rainer Seider - Chairman of the Asia Berlin Forum e.V.
Timon Rupp - Managing Director at CIC Germany Innovation Services GmbH & Vice Chairman of Asia Berlin Forum e.V.
💬 FinTech Without Borders - How to Go Global?
Time: 17:45 – 18:30
Moderator: Michal Pawlik — Executive MBA Lecturer
Speakers:
Andralynn Tan Wei Qing — Manager, Sales & Partnerships, Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN)
Melissa Patiño – Finance Leader, N26
🧩 Creative Networking with Weavii
Time: 18:00 - 19:30
Description:
Connect directly with artists experienced in working with brands, startups, and cultural projects. This session is designed as an informal matchmaking space to explore creative collaborations, exchange ideas, and meet new partners.
🚀 Go East or Go Home: Berlin Startups Enter Asia
Time: 18:30 – 18:45
Description:
Discover how Berlin-based startups can successfully expand into Asian markets through the Expansion Lab program — an initiative of AsiaBerlin powered by betahausX. Learn how the program connects founders with key ecosystems in India, Singapore, South Korea, and Hong Kong through a mix of expert-led onboarding and curated on-site experiences.
Speaker:
Katka Nagyova — Expansion Director
💡 Decode Your Financial Wellbeing — And Become the Architect of Your Financial Future
Time: 18:45 – 19:30
Description:
Financial Wellbeing is not a feeling — it’s a measurable reality. Berlin scores 52,6 out of 100. Where do you stand? Dr. Sebastian Schäfer, CEO of House of Finance & Tech Berlin, introduces the Financial Wellbeing Score — a scientifically validated instrument — and shows how AI can turn your personal result into an actionable answer to the question that matters most: what does this mean for me — and what should I do next?
Speaker:
Sebastian Schaefer — CEO, House of Finance & Tech Berlin
🌎 Global Innovation Collaboration: From Arizona to Asia, and beyond.
Time: 19:30 – 20:00
Description:
From building an innovation corridor between Arizona and Japan, to supporting startups across Latin America, to heading to Central Asia this week — learn about what global collaboration actually looks like on the ground, and why Asia is at the center of it. Melissa Armas is a Phoenix-based global connector, Ambassador, and Global Programming Partner at Venture Café Phoenix, and founder of AZ Collab. She has spent years building long-term relationships across Asia, Latin America, and beyond through citizen diplomacy, U.S. State Department programs, and cross-border innovation work.
Speaker:
Melissa Armas — Lead Strategist & Founder, AZ Collab
✨ What to Expect:
Cross-border fintech insights and collaboration opportunities
Perspectives from Berlin and Asian ecosystems
Founder stories and expansion strategies
A vibrant, international community atmosphere
Come connect, exchange, and help build the next bridges between Berlin and Asia.
🎟️ Free & open to all
Full agenda will be announced at venturecafeberlin.org