The Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2025 has once again reaffirmed its position as one of the world’s premier fintech conferences, drawing praise from venture capital leaders, investors, and ecosystem stakeholders for its scale, quality of discourse, and global participation. This year’s edition stood out not just for its grandeur but also for its depth — moving beyond buzzwords to address real challenges shaping the future of finance and innovation.
Strengthening the Global Fintech Dialogue
Kris Gopalakrishnan, Co-Founder of Infosys and Chairman of Axilor Ventures, has been a key figure at the Global Fintech Fest, serving as Chairman and the Advisory Panel for GFF 2024 and participating in the 2025 edition. His involvement emphasizes GFF’s focus on financial inclusion, responsible AI, and global collaboration. Beyond GFF, he leads Axilor Ventures, engages in research and philanthropy, and continues to drive technology-led innovation and inclusion.
Reflecting on this year’s event, Gopalakrishnan noted, “The event was bigger with more participants, exhibitors, speakers, representatives from regulatory bodies, and evening cultural events. Feedback has been positive. Lastly, we had the UK Prime Minister join our Prime Minister to address the participants. We are still looking at all the feedback and exploring how to innovate and improve for the next edition so that the value to the ecosystem continues to grow.”
Substantive Dialogues and Strategic Networking
Mohit Gulati, Chief Investment Officer and Managing Partner at ITI Growth Opportunities Fund, commended the event for elevating the level of conversation within the fintech ecosystem. “The depth of discussions this year was commendable — panels moved beyond buzzwords into tangible insights around capital flows, regulation, and innovation cycles,” he noted. Gulati also highlighted the “thoughtfully curated” attendee mix, featuring institutional investors, founders, and policymakers, which made networking “genuinely productive.”
He further suggested areas for enhancement in future editions, including “a more streamlined session logistics experience and a smarter app-based matchmaking tool,” along with “more closed-door roundtables for investors and LPs and sharper thematic tracks around AI, climate, and defence tech.”
A Global Spectacle of Fintech Collaboration
Echoing the sentiment, Vikram Chachra, Founding Partner at 8i Ventures, remarked that GFF has “evolved into a truly global fintech spectacle — each year bigger, sharper, and more consequential.” He emphasized that this year’s event reached “an unprecedented scale,” featuring both the Indian and British Prime Ministers addressing the audience, solidifying GFF’s reputation among the world’s leading fintech summits.
Driving Policy, Innovation, and Inclusion
Deepak Bhagnani, Director of Deepak Bhagnani Family Office, praised the event for bringing together diverse voices from across the ecosystem. “The scale, diversity of participants, and quality of discussions stood out. It was impressive how policy leaders, founders, and investors came together to address real ecosystem challenges rather than just celebrating growth narratives,” he said. Bhagnani particularly appreciated the focus on financial inclusion, digital public infrastructure, and AI-driven fintech innovation, calling it “both relevant and forward-looking.”
He recommended that future editions incorporate “more focused breakout sessions for early-stage fintech founders and curated networking opportunities between startups and investors,” suggesting that a “structured approach to dealflow facilitation” could further enhance impact.
An Unmissable Fintech Gathering
Mitesh Shah, Co-Founder of Inflection Point Ventures, summed up the sentiment shared by many VCs: “GFF continues to impress me year after year — the team takes it to new heights each time in terms of arrangements, attendance, grandeur, and overall participation from the FinTech community.”
Calling it a “must-attend event” for investors and founders alike, Shah highlighted how the Fest brings together “founders, fellow VCs, banks, and regulators under one roof.” While he praised the event’s organization and global draw, he also suggested improving crowd management and registration logistics for an even smoother experience.
Conclusion
With each edition, the Global Fintech Fest cements its role as a cornerstone of the fintech ecosystem — fostering collaboration among innovators, investors, and policymakers. The 2025 edition, with its focus on substance, inclusivity, and scale, not only elevated the quality of dialogue but also reinforced India’s position at the forefront of global fintech innovation.
By: Sandhya Bharti
