Fintech Meetup 2025 Recap: 3 Days of Strategy, Insights & Real Outcomes
by Tedd Huff
This year, Fintech Meetup 2025 in Las Vegas, was amazing! Over 4,000 professionals came together for three days of purposeful conversations, sharp insights, and actually getting business done. This conference was filled with leaders who showed up ready to make meaningful connections, share what’s working and what’s next.
From the start, the tone was set. Michael Rhodes of Ally Financial and Nigel Morris of QED Investors got straight to the point with a look at what’s changing in banking and why it matters now. J.P. Morgan Payments followed that up by laying out how payments are shifting, not years from now, but in current product cycles. Tyfone’s welcome reception later that evening gave everyone a relaxed setting to trade ideas without the usual pitch-heavy noise.
The second day didn’t slow down. Across the exhibit hall, AI-powered fraud tools and embedded finance platforms were front and center—and people weren’t just browsing, they were looking for fits. Colin Walsh from Varo Bank talked about solving for customer experience gaps, and teams from M1 and Betterment broke down how they’re refining wealth management with sharper focus. The Expo Hall Happy Hour? Solid lead gen and some of the best convos I had the whole trip.
By the final day, the energy was still high. Over 20,000 meetings had taken place, and you could feel the follow-up work already beginning. The Startup Pitch Finale delivered, spotlighting Utsav Shah (Kaaj) and Edwin Handschuh (1Konto) for smart, executable ideas that clearly resonated. Shivani Siroya (Tala) closed out with a keynote that didn’t pull punches—she shared what it really takes to expand financial access in a way that scales and sticks.
Here’s what I took away from this year’s meetup:
- AI is Accelerating: Institutions are prioritizing smart tools for fraud prevention and personalization, aiming for integration over experimentation.
- Embedded Finance is Scaling: Businesses are adopting financial features where users already engage, aiming for simplicity and stickiness.
- Compliance Is Now Strategic: Regulatory strength is being viewed less as a requirement and more as a driver of confidence and scalability.
- Enterprise Payments Are a Priority: Speed and transparency are front and center in B2B transactions, with real demand for consistent solutions.
Fintech Meetup 2025 delivered exactly what many of us have been looking for—clarity, relevance, and real-time action. If you’re serious about where the industry is heading, this is one of the few events that makes the trip worth it. I’m already looking ahead to next year.
Tedd Huff, a 20-plus-year veteran of Fintech, is Founder and CEO of Fintech Confidential, a podcast featuring entertaining information focused on Fintech industry insights, market trends, news, and life stories from Fintech leaders, thinkers, and doers. Subscribe to Fintech Confidential HERE.
