Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF) is the biggest annual gathering in global fintech, and the 2026 edition runs from 18 to 20 November at Singapore EXPO. It is organised by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN), with the Association of Banks in Singapore.
The numbers are intimidating: 70,000+ participants from 142 countries, more than 940 speakers across 300 sessions and 600+ exhibitors. For an early-stage founder with limited time and budget, the risk is spending three days walking halls and collecting business cards that go nowhere. This guide is about avoiding that.
What’s different about SFF 2026
This year’s programme is built around what the organisers call five forces reshaping global finance: technology, geoeconomics, capital, talent and policy. Expect heavy discussion of AI in financial services, AI-enabled scams and cyber threats, quantum risk, trade and capital flows, and how regulators respond.
The invite-only Insights2040 Annual Meeting (formerly the Insights Forum) runs on 16–17 November before the festival, for senior public- and private-sector leaders. For most founders, the action is on the festival floor from 18 November.
Choose the right pass
SFF offers several ticket types. Two matter most for startups:
- Startup Pass (SGD 650): for startups incorporated in the last five years. It includes the exhibition and access to SFF MeetUp, the festival’s meeting-matching system.
- MeetUp Pass (SGD 380): includes the exhibition and SFF MeetUp, without the conference sessions.
If your goal is investor and customer meetings rather than keynotes, the MeetUp Pass can be the better-value option. Check the official Why Attend page for current pricing and eligibility before you buy.
Book meetings before you fly
The single most valuable tool at SFF is SFF MeetUp. It allows up to 20 pre-arranged, 15-minute one-to-one meetings, and a meeting only happens when both sides accept. More than 20,000 MeetUp meetings took place at the festival.
How to use it well:
- Build a target list early. Filter by investors who fund your stage and sector, and by financial institutions that could become customers or partners.
- Write a request that earns a yes. One line on what you do, one line of traction, and one line on why this specific person should meet you.
- Front-load your calendar. Day one is when people have the most energy and open slots. Leave day three for follow-ups and second meetings.
Use Investor Hours and the Founders Stage
Investor Hours run all three days in the Investors Lounge (Hall 2), and they are open to all pass types. Investors listed for the festival include GIC, BlackRock, Antler and MUFG Innovation Partners, among others. Treat these as warm-up conversations: short, specific and focused on getting a proper follow-up call.
The Founders Stage hosts TED-style talks on building fintech companies. It is a good place to learn, and an even better place to meet other founders who are working on the same problems in different markets.
Don’t ignore the regulators
SFF is unusual because so many policymakers attend: around 840 central banks, regulators and government organisations. If your product touches payments, lending, digital assets or cross-border flows, the Policy Stage and country pavilions are where you can understand where regulation is heading in markets you want to enter. This year’s discussion will include Singapore’s draft stablecoin legislation and Hong Kong’s first stablecoin licences.
A simple three-day plan
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| Wednesday 18 Nov | Pre-booked MeetUp meetings, Investor Hours, scan the exhibition for partners |
| Thursday 19 Nov | Sessions on your sector, country pavilions, side events in the evening |
| Friday 20 Nov | Second meetings, regulator conversations, follow-up notes the same day |
Side events often matter more than the main stage
Some of the best conversations happen at breakfasts, dinners and community meetups around the festival. Ask the investors and accelerators you follow which side events they are hosting, and register early because many fill up.
After the festival
Send every follow-up within 48 hours, while you’re still memorable. Include one line reminding them of your conversation, your deck or a short update, and a clear next step. A conference is only as useful as the conversations that continue after it.
Key takeaways
- SFF 2026 runs 18–20 November at Singapore EXPO, with 70,000+ expected participants.
- Startups incorporated in the last five years can buy the SGD 650 Startup Pass.
- SFF MeetUp (up to 20 meetings) and Investor Hours are the highest-value tools for founders.
- Plan your meetings before you arrive, and follow up within 48 hours.
Building a fintech startup in South or Southeast Asia? Read more founder guides on the Turtle Venture blog.
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