Delegation Diaries: Highlights from our Northern Trade Mission to Money20/20
From the 3rd to the 5th of June, FinTech North returned to the Netherlands for our third Money20/20 to celebrate all things financial technology innovation at Europe’s largest and most prestigious FinTech trade show.
Before I get started, I’d like to say a massive thank you to our delegation who joined us on the mission: we were delighted to be accompanied by the North’s inward investment agencies MIDAS – Manchester’s Inward Investment Agency, WYCA – West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and North East Combined Authority, and innovative FinTechs, Iliad Solutions and tell.money.
There were over 8,500 delegates out in force at the iconic RAI Conference Centre, with four halls jam-packed with extravagant exhibition stands, fascinating talks, and a buzzing atmosphere with collaboration and innovation at its heart.
This was my first year attending Money20/20, and I couldn’t have been more excited after all of the FOMO last year hearing about the fantastic conference, global insights and fringe events with the delegation in Amsterdam.
As many of you will know, enhancing the supply of international trade into the North of England became a strategic priority for us last year. We’ve been committed to supporting both inbound and outbound activity, fuelling the growth of the sector. After a successful mission in 2024, it was a privilege to return with this year’s delegation — continuing to champion Northern innovation on the international stage, support our partners’ global ambitions, and align the North with European and global FinTech ecosystems.
This trip was not only a professional milestone but also my very first international work visit — and I wanted to share a few reflections from the journey (constructive and hopefully a little entertaining!).
Our adventure began at Leeds Bradford Airport, though not without a hiccup — a last-minute, unannounced cancellation of our flight at 11pm the night before departure (kudos to my colleague Ryan for catching the update in the nick of time!).
The airport’s bold signage — ‘Ey Up World!’ — was a fitting and memorable send-off. It stuck with us throughout the trip as a proud reminder of our Northern roots as we set off on this cross-border FinTech expedition.
After a short flight, we landed at Schiphol Airport, quickly spotting some familiar faces — and plenty of others in smart-casual gear. The word “conference” echoed through the border control line, confirming what we already suspected: Amsterdam was about to become the centre of the FinTech universe.
We were up bright and early the next morning, excited to welcome our delegation to our very own stand in Hall 5 of the RAI. The setup felt like a comforting slice of home — the signature FinTech North blue-green gradient, striking visuals of the North East, Leeds, Manchester, and Liverpool, alongside the branding of Iliad Solutions and tell.money. It truly felt like the North had travelled with us (though I’m not sure how we’d have managed to squeeze it all into our carry-on luggage!).
After connecting with the delegation and hearing about their travels, we set off to explore the colossal venue.
The scale of Money20/20 really has to be seen to be believed. Spanning four packed halls, the event brought together the biggest names and brightest minds in FinTech from across the globe. Everywhere you turned, there was something happening — a high-profile speaker, an eye-catching stand, or an impromptu meeting between industry heavyweights. It truly lived up to its reputation as the place to be for anyone in the world of financial innovation.
We spent much of the day exploring the vast array of stands — and it was genuinely great to see so many familiar faces. There’s something really reassuring about recognising people at an event of this scale; it’s a reminder that you’re well-connected and part of a growing, collaborative network.
It was fascinating to take in the global perspectives on show — from regional specialisms and market nuances to the common challenges and opportunities that seem to unite the FinTech world, regardless of geography.
Of course, we made time to engage with the more interactive stands — the ones offering games, prizes, food, and drinks — which, let’s be honest, are always brilliant ice-breakers.
We rounded off Day 1 with a champagne reception at LHV Bank’s stand, where I caught up with Kris Brewster, Chris Wordsworth and Macs Dickinson, and happened to bump into Claire Woffenden from The Fintech Times too.
That was followed by a whiskey reception at the Scottish delegation’s stand, where we connected with our friends from the FinTech National Network, Department for Business and Trade (DBT), and the impressive group of Scottish FinTechs they’d brought along. I’m not a whiskey drinker, but I definitely made the most of the Walker’s shortbread!
After that, Ryan and I split up to cover more ground — he headed to Barclays’ fringe event, while I led our delegation to the Money in the Street Party for some great conversations and a few drinks, courtesy of Money20/20.
On day 2, we cam together at the Money Beach Club for a breakfast hosted by DBT with some brilliant speakers including Karen Zhang from Google Cloud and Colin Payne from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) who discussed the nuances and opportunities of expanding businesses in Europe.
Some other key highlights of the day were joining Julian Wells of Whitecap Consulting for Marqeta and 11:FS’s networking party and open-mic night, where industry experts uncovered the current state of payments alongside excellent food and drink. The evening closed with a phenomenal performance from the legendary Annie Mac at the NA.I.TURE stage, where disco ball-clad dancers and FinTech professionals partied together as one.
The final day offered some quality follow up conversations with the connections made over the past couple of days, before the trade show came to a close.
Amidst the buzz of exhibition stands, it was impossible to ignore the sheer volume of insight being shared across the event — from industry giants to emerging voices, the knowledge exchange happening all around was genuinely energising. Even without attending the sessions directly, you could feel the pulse of the global FinTech conversation just by being there. I left feeling motivated, better connected, and excited for what’s next — both for FinTech North and the wider ecosystem.
While it definitely comes with a premium price tag, Money20/20 delivers real value. From the quality of connections to the energy of the event (and yes, the free food and drink didn’t hurt either), it’s an experience I’d wholeheartedly recommend.
If you’re interested in collaborating with FinTech North on an international trade delegation in the future, please reach out to us at info@fintechnorth.uk.
