Finance Summit 2025 - Innovation, capital market and future prospects in dialog

Under the motto "Boosting European Growth", the Haus der Wirtschaft in Stuttgart became the central meeting place for the European finance and innovation scene on September 18, 2025. More than 1,000 decision-makers from business, finance, politics and the innovation ecosystem came together at the Finance Summit 2025 organized by the Boerse Stuttgart Group and Stuttgart Financial to discuss the role of capital markets, technologies and entrepreneurial thinking in a changing world. The focus was on the question of how Europe can secure its future viability and what special role Germany plays in this process. It became clear how closely economic success, technological innovation and social responsibility are linked and how important platforms such as these are for Europe's competitiveness.

Capital market as a driving force: opportunities and challenges

The panel "Stock exchanges, banks and business: the capital market as a driver or obstacle to growth?" provided a strong impetus right at the start. Representatives from BNP Paribas, HSBC and Société Générale shed light on the role stock exchanges play in transformation processes and whether they promote innovation or slow it down through short-term return orientation and regulation. One thing became clear: SMEs in particular need sustainable financing models in order to successfully master the digital transformation. In his opening speech, CEO Dr. Matthias Voelkel emphasized that Europe and Germany in particular are facing major challenges:

We need an honest stocktaking and decisive action. At the Finance Summit, we want to find solutions on how growth can succeed again. Solutions on how Europe can become strong again.

Dr. Matthias Voelkel, CEO Boerse Stuttgart Group

A special highlight was the Executive Talk, in which Dr. Matthias Voelkel (CEO of the Boerse Stuttgart Group) and Mr. Christian Lindner discussed the fundamental upheavals in the financial sector. Geopolitical uncertainties, regulatory developments and rapid digitalization are fundamentally changing the markets. The focus was on the question of how Europe can survive in global competition and what role stock exchanges, financial institutions and digital assets play in this new era. The talk clearly emphasized that capital markets must be understood not only as a source of financing, but also as a platform for innovation in order to secure Europe's long-term competitiveness. Another focus was on the topics of artificial intelligence, blockchain and digital transformation. In her keynote "Unlock Your AI Mindset", AWS manager Tanuja Randery made it clear that digital tools alone are not enough; companies need to develop an open, innovation-oriented mindset in order to remain successful in the long term. Practical hurdles were also discussed: Oliver Wibbe from SPS Germany explained why banks often fail due to outdated structures despite available technologies and what role GenAI can play in the future. In the panel "Blockchain & Digital Assets - Paving the way for new markets or just a bubble?", experts from the Boerse Stuttgart Group, Deka, Bundesbank and Union Investment discussed the opportunities and risks of this technology. The tenor: blockchain has long been more than just hype; it can transform real markets if regulation and market acceptance go hand in hand.

SMEs & start-ups: new financing models

The panel "Financing Next Generation Mittelstand" was particularly exciting for the startup ecosystem, with representatives from Mätch VC, Porsche Ventures and L-Bank shedding light on innovative financing models for SMEs. SMEs not only act as investors, but also as customers of start-ups. In this way, companies benefit directly from new technologies and strengthen their own competitiveness at the same time. Especially in times of global uncertainty, it became clear that this form of cooperation offers a sustainable alternative to traditional capital investment. A central highlight of the summit was the focus on female empowerment. At the Female Founders Pitch, five selected female founder teams presented their innovative ideas, from MedTech and sustainable materials to digital solutions, and competed for a grant of 10,000 euros. The jury was impressed by the diversity, innovative strength and professionalism of the pitches. The Female Founders Breakfast, organized by the Finance Accelerator in collaboration with encourageventures e.V., GIG7 Female Business and AI xpress, offered a more intimate setting. Around 60 participants had the opportunity to talk directly to experienced female investors Christine Rittner, Nina Stegmann and Petra Wörwag. The focus was on mentoring, networking and access to capital, a key component in closing the financing gap that still exists for female founders.

Venture Day: a stage for the next generation of start-ups

Venture Day also attracted the attention of numerous guests. Startups from a wide range of industries competed against each other in a curated competition and used the stage to present their ideas to a high-caliber audience of investors and decision-makers. In addition to valuable feedback from the jury, the main focus was on visibility and access to capital, two key factors for the development of young companies. The diversity was particularly impressive: from SMEs to innovative start-ups, companies presented solutions for digital transformation, sustainable financial models and new technologies. The award-winning projects, powered by AWS, RSM Ebner Stolz and other partners, clearly demonstrated the innovative power of the European startup scene and created a palpable atmosphere of optimism in the hall. The summit then addressed the major geopolitical issues of our time. In the panel "Geopolitical shifts - starting signal for the European awakening or just a race to catch up?", personalities such as Franz Reiner (Mercedes-Benz Mobility), Christoph Keese (Axel Springer), Dr. Christian Ricken (Aareal Bank), Armin von Falkenhayn (Bank of America Europe DACH) and Bonita Grupp (Trigema) discussed how Europe can remain economically independent. The discussion showed that targeted investments, technological independence and a clear strategy are crucial to asserting oneself in global competition.

A summit with impact for the economy and society

The Finance Summit 2025 impressively demonstrated that it takes more than empty words to overcome Europe's current challenges. It brought together the capital market, technological innovations, SMEs and the start-up scene and focused on concrete solutions. With over 1000 participants, more than 30 top speakers, 25+ start-ups and numerous panels, side sessions and networking formats, the event was not just a conference, but an industry summit with appeal far beyond Germany. Those who attended left the Haus der Wirtschaft not only with new ideas, but also with a clearer understanding of the economic challenges and opportunities of our time.