When we launched LendIt USA back in 2013 we were the first conference ever focused on the online lending space. Since then we have expanded our mission to cover all of lending and in 2017 we started expanding into other areas of fintech. This has reflected the maturation of online lending as it has become part of the mainstream financial system.
In 2018, we bring you the sixth edition of LendIt USA as we are heading back to the west coast on April 9-11, 2018 at the Moscone Center in downtown San Francisco. We will be covering financial services innovation at LendIt USA 2018 with a focus on three core areas: lending, digital banking and blockchain. The event has been open for registration for some time and early bird pricing ends this Friday.
Below are some highlights from our 2017 event.
Networking Takes Center Stage
We will have more networking opportunities at LendIt USA 2018 than ever before. We know that one of the best things about a large conference like LendIt is that everyone is there and you can forge many new connections that will help in your business.
There will be a 1-to-1 networking tool powered by Brella that will allow you to schedule short meetings with other attendees. Not only that but once you tell it the kinds of people you are interested in meeting it will actually make suggestions for you. If you are after a more curated experience then we recommend our VIP Meeting Concierge who will personally coordinate meetings ahead of the conference, available to qualified participants and sponsors only. Of course, there will also be plenty of opportunities to meet with your fellow attendees during networking breaks and the onsite cocktail party.
A Comprehensive Agenda
We are still in the early stages of putting the agenda together but we have a fantastic program planned over an expanded 2 1/2 days in 2018. We will have several big new names this year along with many popular speakers from the past and will start sharing these names shortly.
Our content tracks will be covering a breadth of topics: digital banking, consumer lending, real estate, small business lending, international fintech, financial inclusion, structured products, women in fintech, underwriting, regulation, blockchain and more.
New for 2018: The BlockFin Summit
Speaking of blockchain we are doing an entire conference within a conference focused on this topic at LendIt USA 2018. The BlockFin Summit will take place in a dedicated space within LendIt and will be focused on all things blockchain. Spearheaded by my partner, Jason Jones, the BlockFin Summit is a conference for the financial services sector with coverage of the blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and tokens.
Some topics we will be covering include: enterprise blockchain using digital ledger technology, global finance built on AI and blockchain, tokenized VC and investment banking, blockchain infrastructure for markets, trading, and back office, decentralized banking and insurance, crypto-economics and more.
The LendIt Awards Dinner is Back
I think my favorite part of the 2017 event was the LendIt Industry Awards Dinner. This sold out event was a celebration of the industry where we recognized the leaders who have had the most impact over the previous year. A panel of 30+ judges selected the winners from 18 different categories. Tickets are available now for the 2018 Awards dinner and nominations will be open shortly.
Early Bird Pricing Ends Friday, November 3
Early bird pricing of $1,595 is available until this Friday, that is a $1,400 saving off the regular price. On top of that as a Lend Academy reader you receive an additional discount. Use the code LENDACADEMYVIP when you register for a 15% discount (you enter the code on the final checkout screen). While the discount code is always good for 15% off, our special early bird pricing only lasts until November 3.
Peter Renton is the chairman and co-founder of LendIt Fintech, the world’s first and largest digital media and events company focused on fintech. Peter has been writing about fintech since 2010 and he is the author and creator of the Fintech One-on-One Podcast, the first and longest-running fintech interview series. Peter has been interviewed by the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, The New York Times, CNBC, CNN, Fortune, NPR, Fox Business News, the Financial Times, and dozens of other publications.