The festival also hosted part of Project Orchid, the Singapore government initiative that’s exploring a range of digital currency solutions, including purpose-bound money. “The trial of purpose-bound money was a notable innovation,” says Pat Patel, executive director of festival organiser Elevandi. “Trial participants could use RedeemSG vouchers at participating food and beverage outlets, and merchants could directly receive the underlying digital Singapore dollars for the vouchers redeemed

That dynamic and innovative business environment helps organisers add edge to their Singapore events by using smart technology. At Singapore FinTech Festival, in addition to contactless check-in, a dedicated app service and networking software, attendees were able to use blockchain technology to mint their own personalised token showing proof of attendance.

Former venture capitalist Max Song is the founder of Carbonbase, a Web3 business that helps businesses and individuals measure and manage their carbon emissions. Song chose to showcase Carbonbase at SFF 2022. “I've actually attended Singapore FinTech Festival several times,” Song says. “Previously, in my investor hat, I had a really good time, meeting potential projects, looking at deals and looking at other entrepreneurs and investors. I've always had very positive experience.”

Singapore’s innovation and diversity shapes business and events alike Singapore came into being as a trading post where different cultures and industries intersect and, Song notes, it retains that market position. “Singapore is a neutral meeting ground between several different ecosystems: the South Asia region, Chinese diaspora talent, and South East Asian markets,” says Song. “I think that’s the key component that makes it so dynamic."

Hybrid tools developed during the pandemic - such as Sands Expo and Convention Centre’s virtual meeting set-up and live broadcast studio – are also helping organisers bring events to a larger audience. The ITB Asia, one of the largest travel trade shows in the region, used holograms, mixed reality and hybrid technology to engage audiences and capture delegates’ imagination during their virtual show in 2020. Hybrid also means that, rather than compressing all their engagements into a single three-day or five-day period, organisers can use technology for micro-engagements throughout the entire year. “We are the home of Ecosperity, one of the major sustainability conferences in the region,” Ong says. “They use virtual elements to engage their communities in topics such as wind technology or s

Mingling in the marketplace of ideas Innovative approaches to both networking and technology helped the festival yield results. More than 60 industry announcements were made at the seventh edition of SFF, including international public-private collaborations, product launches and joint-research releases.

On a lively November evening, the Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF 2022) was well underway on Club Street, one of Singapore’s nightlife hotspots. With live music filling the night air, SFF’s industry networking event felt more like a music festival, with organisers having taken over 11 bars on the busy street.

A gateway to Asia and a thriving business hub, Singapore has long been a leading destination for corporate meetings, incentive travel, trade conferences and exhibitions. Today, a pioneering approach to technology and reimagining of event experience is making this MICE and innovation powerhouse a big draw for delegates from around the globe

Singapore’s flagship annual fintech business event SFF 2022 drew a record turnout of more than 62,000 participants from more than 115 countries — entrepreneurs, innovators, government and industry leaders from across the finance, technology and sustainability sectors. Its trade exhibition hosted more than 570 exhibitors, including 25 international pavilions. Transforming the delegate experience through innovation was key to the success of both elements.

Real are unbeaten in their past nine league games, winning eight of them - and have scored 18 goals in the past three, including a 5-1 win against Burton Park Wanderers on Saturday. Rugby Borough are their closest challengers, with Northampton ON Chenecks and Ampthill Town 18 points behind Real in third and fourth - but they have four and two games in hand respectively

Singapore’s wealth of best-in-class venues, high-tech facilities and compelling leisure experiences – from Gardens by the Bay, one of Asia's premier horticultural destinations, to its famous bar and restaurant scenes – have long made it a mecca for delegates and event organisers alike. At Marina Bay Sands, the landmark triple skyscraper that towers above Marina Bay, Wee Min Ong, vice-president of sales and MICE, leads a team of 400 people who manage thousands of events each year.

This sort of technological innovation makes Singapore a magnet for gatherings of industries such as agri-food tech. Singapore was the first government to approve a cultured meat product. The city-state hosted in October last year the second edition of the Singapore International Agri-Food Week, which aims to catalyse sustainable food production in Asia. Over 6,000 attendees from 66 countries, including innovators, industry and government leaders gathered at events such as the Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit, the Roundtable on Novel Food Regulations and the inaugural Agri-Food Tech Expo Asia, which showcased the latest innovations and solutions in food technology.

In 2023, Singapore will host MICE gatherings of high-growth industries, from sustainability to lifestyle. Lifestyle events include: Bar Convent Singapore - a bartender convention; Vinexpo Asia - a wine and spirits tradeshow and SILMO Singapore - an eyewear and lifestyle fair. In addition, sustainability thought leaders will gather at Greentech Festival and Ecosperity.

really pleased with how it's gone but now it's the business end, nerves can come in for certain individuals and you have to manage that because it's a big moment for a lot of players and staff - some wouldn't have been in this situation," said Sinclair, who was appointed last summer. "You've got to use your experience to help those individuals keep winning games and hopefully that can end up with us winning promotion." He continued: "In terms of keeping everyone focused, it's literally game by game. "There's a lot of points to play for - but are we confident as a group, you have to be if you want to win promotions and win medals, you've got to be confident that you can

For Song and other entrepreneurs, Singapore’s dynamic startup ecosystem and culture of innovation makes it not only a vital marketplace of ideas but an essential destination for doing business. Innovation doesn’t just fuel economic growth and attract talent, it makes Singapore a global hub for Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) and gatherings of thought leaders.

It's already helping now, the fact they can livestream and watch the games," Sinclair said. The club have established fan groups across Europe, North and South America, Asia, Africa and Oceania. "I think back to when I was in the professional game at Stevenage and Forest Green, places like that, those clubs didn't have huge international followings whereas here, even last week against Holmer Green we had 15 lads from Slovakia, travelled over, stayed for three days, Pete took them out for dinner on the Friday, they all watched the game, so it's a very unique thing," Sinclair told the BBC's Non-League Show. "Although we might only be getting 150-200 through the gates, we might be getting 500-600-700-800 watching it on a livestream."

At the 2022 event, Song met about 50 new people and is already exploring several collaborations. One element he found both innovative and relevant to his business was the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Ecosystem stage. “We met a few of the presenting companies there,” he says. “I thought it was really nice that they had a dedicated ESG-related presence, in addition to the more general fintech programming.”

Rather than a conventional single-venue gathering, over 1,000 delegates could mingle, network and build lasting relationships while experiencing the vibrant local bar scene.

Real Bedford boss Rob Sinclair believes having an international fan base can only help the club as it climbs through the divisions. The former Bedford FC were taken over by bitcoin podcaster Peter McCormack with the aim of establishing an English Football League side in the town.