Webinar on Scaling Strategies for European Fintechs

Finextra and Visa Direct will host an online webinar that will examine barriers to scaling fintechs in Europe, technological changes and cross-border expansion strategies. The event will draw on Finextra’s upcoming 2026 State of Fintech in Europe report, produced in association with Visa Direct.

The webinar will bring together industry figures to discuss growth strategies for neobanks and fintechs operating in payments, wealth and lending. Organizers say the session will focus on market entry options, regulatory requirements, product positioning and partnership models for scaling across multiple European jurisdictions.

Speakers announced for the panel include Olga Ovchinnikova, Vice President and Head of Visa Direct Europe. Scott Hamilton, global payments and liquidity expert, will moderate the session.

Panelists will address three main barriers to expansion: fragmented national markets, differing regulatory regimes and uneven payments and banking infrastructure. The discussion will distinguish challenges that affect the whole sector from those specific to neobanks, payment firms, wealth managers and lenders.

The agenda will cover new technologies and their operational effects. Topics include the use of artificial intelligence in product development and risk management, upgrades to payments infrastructure, and wider adoption of digital assets. The panel will consider how those technologies can be applied to scale services across borders rather than only within single markets.

The session will examine when firms should partner with incumbents, payments networks or infrastructure providers. Speakers are expected to discuss how alliances can provide access to local rails, help meet regulatory requirements and shorten time to market. The webinar will compare trade-offs between building capabilities in-house and working with third-party providers.

Industry data cited by the organizers indicates that fintech has remained a resilient segment within European technology investment and that the market is projected to grow from $85.52 billion in 2025 to $94.14 billion in 2026, according to Finch Capital.

Finextra invites industry participants to register for the webinar to hear the panel discuss practical options, challenges and market conditions for European fintechs in 2026.