Since its inception, the Money Motion conference has developed into one of the most important events in the FinTech industry in Central and Eastern Europe. This global gathering of experts, startups, and investors discussing the latest trends in financial technologies, payment systems, and digitalization brings together over 2000 visitors this year. Ahead of the conference, we had the opportunity to speak with Robert Penezić, a member of the board of Monri Payments and co-founder of the conference, who shared with us the story of its creation, key goals, and the challenges faced by the team behind it. He also revealed why the retail sector is important for this year’s edition and how the conference responds to global economic challenges.
How did the idea for the Money Motion conference come about? What inspired you to start it?
I hear this question quite often, and briefly, the story begins with an informal meeting of five experts from the world of FinTech, who didn’t all know each other personally except through stories. We gathered one afternoon and discussed the idea of organizing an event that would connect people from our industry. The Money2020 conference in Amsterdam had always been an inspiration for us, so we asked ourselves – can we organize something similar, but on a much smaller scale, in Zagreb, and make the Croatian capital the center of discussions about the future of FinTech in the region and beyond? Two and a half years later, we are looking forward to the third edition of the Money Motion conference, with over 2000 visitors from all over the world. The original founding team consists of Nikola Škorić, Luka Sučić, Igor Gržalja, Damir Čaušević, and myself.
What are the main goals of the Money Motion conference, and how do you measure its success? What was the initial reaction to the conference, and how has it developed over the years?
Over the past two years, Money Motion has brought together 3500 experts, startups, and investors, attracted global brands, and confirmed that Zagreb can host world-class events. More than 700 companies have participated, and this year’s edition offers an even richer program. This year, Money Motion will feature over 100 experts across four thematic stages, including a new central stage in the expo zone. Key topics such as artificial intelligence, the future of payments in Europe, regulation, infrastructure security, and integration with industries like retail, telecommunications, and insurance will be discussed. There is also the MoMo Startup Pitch competition, which this year is breaking records – with 20 contestants from 14 countries with innovative solutions competing for the most valuable prize pool so far. Money Motion has grown into the largest FinTech conference in Central and Eastern Europe, and there is always a high demand for tickets. For us, this is the best confirmation of success and motivation always to deliver even better content and networking opportunities.
What are the key factors that make this conference unique compared to other similar events?
Its beginnings and energy. We started as five representatives from entirely different areas of this industry. Year after year, we ensure that each of these areas are adequately represented in the program; we think about what we would like to hear, from whom, and what would be relevant for us and our colleagues. Above all, what we know exists somewhere else but not here, and it would be valuable for the whole of Central and Eastern Europe to experience such an event. At Money Motion, a team of top experts works on the details – ensuring that everyone feels welcome as soon as they arrive, that movement through the space is intuitive, that there are enough opportunities to stop, meet someone, and have a drink, that there are places to hide from the crowd and take a break, that everyone is informed in time about the main attractions, but that there is always something left undiscovered for you to look forward to next year.
How did you choose retail as one of the key themes for this year’s conference? What interests you most about the current situation in the retail sector?
The retail sector is undergoing a significant transformation, primarily thanks to the digitalization of payments, omnichannel strategies, and personalized customer experiences. Since financial services and payment technologies play an increasingly important role in this process, we felt it was essential to include retail as an industry where fintech solutions are practically implemented. What interests us the most is how innovations in payments and finance can enhance the customer experience, increase loyalty, and optimize business processes. We are also following how merchants are integrating digital wallets and AI-driven recommendations to understand consumer needs better. Data security and fraud prevention are also crucial topics, given the growing number of online transactions. At Money Motion, we want to bring together leaders from the retail and financial sectors to explore how technology can shape the future of retail.
What are the most critical trends in the retail sector that will be addressed at this year’s conference? Which topics do you expect to generate the most interest among participants?
At Money Motion, we will discuss how fintech innovations are shaping the future of payments and retail. On the panel “Key drivers for online retail shopping and payments,” we are gathering top speakers from various sectors of the online retail experience – Berislav Marszalek, founder of the well-known Entria; Bono van Nijnatten, payment expert with experience leading a leading fashion retailer; Claudia Cruceru, Head of Visa Direct for Central and Eastern Europe; Borko Butorac, Operations Director at Aircash; and our Maja Fočić, Project Manager at Monri Payments. They will reveal the leading challenges in meeting the changing needs of modern consumers who increasingly use online channels for their shopping needs. This will be followed by Thilo Freund, Vice President of Sales at Trigu, and Stefan Dumić, ICT Director at Tommy, in the fireside chat “Transforming Retail: AI for Customer Satisfaction, Sales, and Shrinkage Control,” which will focus on Computer Vision AI and its potential in optimizing processes and experiences in retail. All this builds the foundation of the general theme we wanted to tackle by including representatives from this sector in this year’s edition – can retailers even be digital leaders in the industry? And whether it’s reality or myth will be answered by Nina Mimica, board member at Studenac; Daniel Šturm, board member at Kaufland; Alexandros Kosenas, Director of Neptun Albania; Bogdan Meica, Director of Advertising and QCommerce at Glovo; and Lucija Vidiš Roić from Boston Consulting Group.
How do you see the future of conferences like Money Motion in the context of global economic challenges?
Conferences like Money Motion play a key role in connecting the industry, encouraging innovation, and exchanging knowledge among experts from the financial sector, FinTech, retail, and the payment industry. As the market continues to evolve, it is essential to have a platform where the latest trends, regulations, and technological advances can be discussed. Money Motion is a place where technological leaders such as ASEE, Monri, and Mastercard sit at the same table with banks like OTP, telecom companies like A1 Croatia, and insurance companies like Croatia Osiguranje and LAQO, along with hundreds of startups, investors, regulators, challengers, and disruptors of traditional processes and systems. We aim for Money Motion to continue growing as the most relevant and influential regional event connecting innovations and business opportunities.
How is the financial sector evolving in the region, and what is the role of the Money Motion conference in this process?
The financial sector worldwide, including in the region, is undergoing dynamic development driven by increasing digitalization, regulatory changes, and adaptation to global trends. Banks and financial institutions are rapidly implementing new technologies to improve customer experience, reduce costs, and increase transaction security. Key development drivers include the growing popularity of digital payments, the expansion of mobile banking, and the increasing use of artificial intelligence and big data analytics in making financial decisions. Additionally, the region is seeing a rise in the number of FinTech startups, which are bringing competition and encouraging traditional financial institutions to modernize. Despite the progress, challenges such as cybersecurity and compliance with regulatory requirements remain key issues in the industry. The Money Motion conference is crucial in accelerating this development, serving as a platform to connect industry leaders, regulators, and innovators. At the conference, we will discuss the latest trends in the financial and payment industries, including banking digitalization, the implementation of artificial intelligence and blockchain technologies, regulatory changes, and security challenges. In addition to the financial sector, a special focus will be on connecting with industries such as telecommunications, insurance, and retail, further exploring opportunities for cross-sector collaboration.
Original article can be read at InStore.
