Five fintech conferences in Q2 for hobnobbing with VCs

Industry conferences can often be a great way to network with peers, catch up on the latest trends and –  if you’re startup seeking funding – hobnob with venture capital firms that may be looking to invest in the next big thing. But not all conferences are created equal; when you only have a few moments to give your elevator pitch you want to be in a setting where you can get in front of as many potential investors as possible. And for that, we’re here to help. Here’s the can’t miss conferences during Q2 for mingling with VCs.

SXSW Interactive in Austin (March 8-17)

Okay, so we cheated a bit with this one, as it falls towards the end of Q1 and is not technically in Q2, but nonetheless SXSW is a can’t miss event. Innovators in virtually every industry are present at ‘SX’—as it’s known to those who have been – so you’re bound to learn an about a new interesting trend or two. For that same reason, the SXSW also attracts a host of VCs –especially for the Pitch event, where some of the most cutting-edge startups around the world present their technology to a panel of expert judges in front of a live audience.

It’s a whirlwind of music, BBQ and networking that can’t be missed.

FinTech Week in New York (April 1-5)

This even has grown exponentially in recent years, and simply is a must-attend for those in the broader fintech industry. It’s run by Empire Startups, which six years began ago running the NYC FinTech Meetup, and it now counts more than 15,000 members to its name.

The weeklong conference features many expert roundtables, networking events and demo showcases. And, of course, it is located in the backyard of where many deep-pocketed investors call home. Come and see what all the buzz on “Silicon Alley” is all about.

LenditFinTech USA in San Francisco (April 8-9)

Lendit, which rotates coasts each year, returns to San Francisco for 2019 and promises to be one of the biggest industry events on the calendar. The conference has grown far past its roots of solely focusing on lending tech, and attracts thousands of decision makers from the world’s most influential companies – as well as numerous folks from the surrounding, VC-saturated Bay Area.

Finovate Spring in San Francisco (May 8-10)

What else can be said about Finovate, that already hasn’t been said? The bi-coastal (and multi-country) event has become a staple on the conference circuit. Traditional financial institutions, tech startups, industry analysts, the media and of course VCs hoping to spot the next unicorn all come together for an unparalleled gathering of who’s-who.

While the main attraction of any Finovate is the rapid-fire, Gong Show-like presentation demos, it also plays host to several informative speaker panels and networking opportunities par excallance. And it has perhaps the most legendary after-parties of any fintech conference. Scoring an invite to an exclusive one is just as important as the conference itself.

Dig|In 2019 : The Digital Future of Insurance  in Austin (May 29-31)

Finally, we have to throw some love to insuretech as well – one of the hottest subsectors of fintech. We started you off in Austin, and we’re ending up there, which is never a bad thing (unless you have high cholesterol).

A packed three-day agenda featuring the best and brightest in the insuretech space is sure to enlighten. And if you’ve created the next disruptive digital insurance app, the folks who can back it with serious cash can be found here, too.