To celebrate August 1 World FinTech Day, Octet Türkiye hosted the second edition of the Octet World FinTech Day Webinar this year. Organized under the main theme The Future of FinTech, the online event explored innovative approaches within the fintech ecosystem, the impact of artificial intelligence on financial technologies, and the growing importance of customer centricity.
The three session webinar brought together leading voices from across the industry and was moderated by renowned journalist Emin Çapa.
In this article, we take an in depth look at the key highlights from the Octet World FinTech Day Webinar.
What Was Discussed at the Octet World FinTech Day Webinar? Who Participated?
The webinar, centered on The Future of FinTech, was structured into three sessions moderated by Emin Çapa.
Session 1: Innovative Approaches in the FinTech Ecosystem
Speakers included:
- Gencay Karaman, Head of Financial Technologies Department, Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye Finance Office
- Attorney Dr. Davut Gürses, Founding Partner at Pacta Law
Session 2: How Will Artificial Intelligence Transform the FinTech Ecosystem?
Speakers included:
- İskender Ada, Deputy General Manager of Business Development at Magnus AI
- Gökhan Sevgen, CTO of Octet Türkiye
Session 3: Customer Centricity in FinTech: Creating Value
Speakers included:
- Zeynep Akalın, Finance Director at MAN Truck Bus and Trade Inc.
- Fatih Karakiprik, Regional Controller for Southern Europe and META at Black and Decker Türkiye
- Nuray Ongan Coşkun, Corporate Finance and Treasury Manager at Banvit Bandırma Vitaminli Yem Sanayi Inc.
- Kazım Can Saydam, Co Founder and CSO of Octet Türkiye
Key Highlights from the Octet World FinTech Day Webinar
Session 1: Innovative Approaches in the FinTech Ecosystem
The first session addressed the current state of the fintech industry, Türkiye’s strategic goals in financial technologies, regulatory developments in the crypto asset space, and the digitalization of checks.
Gencay Karaman
Gencay Karaman emphasized the rapid growth of fintech companies and their significant contribution to the ecosystem. He stated that Türkiye aims to build a strong financial technology ecosystem, expand open finance practices, and accelerate the internationalization of the sector. He underlined that ongoing efforts continue with determination to position Türkiye among the leading countries in fintech.
According to the June data of the Türkiye FinTech Overview Study prepared under the coordination of the Finance Office, Türkiye currently has 851 fintech companies, 702 of which are active. The most prominent verticals include payments with 275 companies, banking technologies with 111 companies, and crypto assets and blockchain with 101 companies.
Investment activity has also reached record levels. As of June 2024, fintech investments in Türkiye have exceeded previous peaks, reaching a historic high of 182 million USD. In 2024, six fintech companies achieved exits totaling 109 million USD. Additionally, fintech companies completed acquisitions valued at 52 million USD.
Attorney Dr. Davut Gürses
Dr. Gürses highlighted that regulation typically follows innovation and should emerge only when there is a genuine need. He noted that regulatory action in the crypto asset space was necessary and arrived at the right time. In dynamic sectors such as fintech, regulations must be framework based and flexible enough to remain relevant.
He also emphasized that the transformation of money is driving the transformation of the entire financial system. However, sustainable progress depends on financial literacy. Without adequate financial knowledge, risks such as fraud and poor investment decisions may increase.
Addressing the importance of digital transformation in negotiable instruments, he pointed out that a significant portion of Türkiye’s trade volume relies on checks. The physical issuance, endorsement, and processing of checks create time inefficiencies, operational costs, and fraud risks. Implementing digital check legislation would deliver substantial efficiency gains in speed, cost, and security for the entire fintech ecosystem.
Session 2: How Artificial Intelligence Will Transform the FinTech Ecosystem
The second session focused on robo advisory, remote customer acquisition, digital onboarding, and scoring technologies.
İskender Ada
Ada explained that investor experiences gained during the pandemic, particularly in crypto markets, encouraged broader participation in regulated capital markets in Türkiye. The number of registered investors increased from 1.5 million during the pandemic to 7.5 million today.
He emphasized that fintech companies are more agile than traditional financial institutions, adopt technology faster, and scale at lower costs. With artificial intelligence and automation, operational processes that once required large teams can now be managed with significantly fewer employees.
Open banking and banking as a service integrations enable investors to consolidate their financial data in a single ecosystem. AI powered robo advisory stands out as one of the most dynamic use cases, enabling personalized investment recommendations. In the coming years, AI algorithms used at institutional fund management levels are expected to become increasingly accessible to individual investors, with fintech companies leading this transformation.
Gökhan Sevgen
Gökhan Sevgen noted that fintechs and financial institutions have accelerated remote customer acquisition and digital onboarding processes. AI driven automation significantly reduces operational workload while enhancing efficiency and compliance.
He added that fintech companies not only deliver services but also continuously develop technology. AI plays a critical role in analyzing financial data generated by products, enabling more advanced financial advisory capabilities. In addition, alternative data and social data analysis are becoming increasingly important in credit scoring and risk assessment models.
Session 3: Customer Centricity in FinTech: Creating Value
The final session explored the operational impact of fintech solutions, post sales support, and the importance of user friendly financial services.
Zeynep Akalın
Zeynep Akalın stated that effective financial management can be significantly enhanced through digital platforms. She highlighted that Octet’s multi bank structure enabled them to manage collections and cash flow planning through a single platform and agreement, simplifying operational workflows and improving efficiency.
Fatih Karakiprik
Fatih Karakiprik emphasized the importance of securing cash flow for multinational companies. Through Octet’s multi credit card infrastructure, they gained access to broader payment channels, increased customer payment limits, and accelerated transaction processes. The solution delivered operational ease and strong positive customer feedback.
Nuray Ongan Coşkun
Nuray Ongan Coşkun explained that the Supplier Finance System creates a mutually beneficial structure for buyers and suppliers. For companies with extensive supplier networks, sharing corporate credit strength with suppliers enhances procurement outcomes, strengthens long term partnerships, and improves working capital efficiency. Suppliers can access early payment without affecting their own credit limits or collateral structures. She also underlined the value of Octet’s transparent approach and strong post sales support.
Kazım Can Saydam
Kazım Can Saydam noted that while traditional banking products remain fundamentally the same, fintech companies enhance accessibility and usability. Through a single integration and platform, companies can access multiple banking products without heavy internal IT investments. This model not only simplifies financial management for businesses but also enables financial services to scale across broader ecosystems efficiently.
Missed the Octet World FinTech Day Webinar?
The Octet World FinTech Day Webinar was broadcast live simultaneously on YouTube and LinkedIn on August 1, 2024. If you missed the live session, you can watch the full recording on the official Octet Türkiye YouTube channel.
