Raf De Kimpe: Meet the Guy Behind the Most Anticipated Fintech Event of the Year

In the fast-paced world of global fintech, Raf De Kimpe has quietly etched his name, not as a mere observer, but as a transformative force. The journey of this 34-year-old Belgian professional demonstrates the power of hard work, dedication, and community-building.

The youngest of three children, Raf was born in Belgium in 1988. His career journey - much like his personality - has been one defined by versatility, innovation, and a commitment to fostering industry progress.

Raf's professional roots can be traced back to a software research centre in 2010. This would serve as the foundation of his future career. His affinity for fintech soon propelled him into the role of Director of Business Development & Community for a fintech ecosystem in Belgium. This wasn’t just a role for Raf; it was the fertile ground where his passion for industry events was nurtured, eventually flowering into his position as the current CEO of Fintech Week London.

Raf's professional canvas also extends to the role of CCO at Disrupts Media, which holds The Fintech Times, and Fintech Power 50 as brands. He is the unseen hand, guiding the sales in these globally recognized fintech platforms. His stewardship in these roles is testament to his commitment to quality, his belief in the power of a global network, and his desire to bring people together to fuel industry collaboration and shape narratives. 

Beyond these roles, Raf also champions his entrepreneurial spirit through his own consulting company. This venture stands as a testament to Raf's multi-dimensional capabilities - business, IT, and sales - which he uses to tackle a range of projects, from business development in fintech to advisory consultancy in diverse industries.

From Belgium to the global stage, Raf’s journey is not just an inspiring professional journey, but also the story of a man who is illuminating the path for industry, for communities, and for future leaders in fintech and beyond. This week, in conversation with Machinelab...

What motivated your transition from the software research center to the fintech industry?

The company where I started my career, the software research center, iMinds, organized various events throughout the year. Some of these fell within my responsibility and I noticed very early on that working on these events was a passion of mine. Actually, the production company we're working with for Fintech Week London, WMH Project Brussels, is the agency that ran their events back then as well. After moving from Project Administration to a more IT-focused role, the former CEO of iMinds co-founded a fintech ecosystem in Brussels. 

It was clear in the latest projects I saw at iMinds that fintech was about to become a huge disruptor in finance. Even though I was enjoying my time working for a big cloud platform by then, I decided to make the move and follow him to become Director of Business Development & Ecosystem. 

I developed a keen interest in the fintech and the financial industry, and could combine it with my passion for events, setting up the first two editions of the Digital Finance Summit in Brussels. So when I met the founders of Disrupts Media, Jason and Mark, and they told me London was missing its own fintech-focused event, we joined forces - and Fintech Week London was born. The fintech ecosystem in London is vibrant and challenging, but very rewarding. Through the last few years, I've met some incredible people trying to make a difference, and it is my honor to give them a platform. 

Can you tell us about a specific event – earlier in your career – that you organized in the fintech industry that you are particularly proud of? What were the challenges you faced and how did you overcome them?

One of the first times I had to organise a feedback panel for project submissions on my own, I remember we had to bring together an international jury of top tier industry experts to review almost 40 projects in 2 days...the logistics of it were very challenging. I remember working into the night for days, making sure everything was in order. I must have worked over 90 hours that week, but I loved every minute of it. 

Later that year, I had the honor of being the speaker handler for Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands at our yearly conference, and my passion for events was undeniable. In 2018, I also helped organize the first edition of the Digital Finance Summit in Brussels. Late night strategizing and a hands-on mentality were undeniable factors to our success. We ended up with 450 attendees at the National Bank of Belgium, which was huge for a first-time event, and it grew from there into an industry standard that’s still being organised. The breakout sessions saw the intervention of high-level EU officials including Roberto Viola, Director-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology of the European Commission, Mehdi Manaa, Deputy Director General of the Market Infrastructure and Payments Directorate at the European Central Bank and many more.

After an all-female Artificial Intelligence panel, the Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society, Mariya Gabriel, highlighted the need for boosting diversity in technology and finance, in particular calling for more women in tech and the initiatives #WomeninTech and #NoWomanNoPanel.

And finally, the first edition of Fintech Week London in 2021, was completely planned and produced during Covid. I hadn't met any of my team (nor seen the location in person) until a few days before the event. Still dealing with extended restrictions, we had to produce a fully hybrid event with speakers broadcasting digitally from our studio the first day, a hybrid in-person and fully livestreamed conference and some digital days. I have fond memories, as do many attendees, of that first moment coming out of years of isolation, being in the same room as friends, colleagues and peers again. Yes, socially distanced and masked up! It is one of my greatest accomplishments in my career, for sure. 

As the CEO of Fintech Week London, what are your goals for the upcoming event?‍

My main goal is that the attendees and partners are happy with what’s being delivered. I think it's important to make sure that knowledge-sharing and making meaningful connections remain at the core of the event. We will grow, but I don't want the event to turn into some gigantic beast we can't control, because then we would lose a lot of the value that we are currently offering. I can see the event growing more internationally over the years, because while London might be one of the biggest fintech hubs in the world, we are definitely not alone. 

I also believe we play a big role in leading by example and making a difference in the event landscape; we put huge efforts in representation, diversity and inclusion. I want to show all aspects of the brilliant community that our amazing industry has to offer. 

As the Chief Commercial Officer of Disrupts Media, how do you ensure that the news outlet remains at the forefront of fintech journalism? What differentiates it from other media platforms?

Disrupts Media houses The Fintech Times, The Fintech Power 50, Fintech Week London and Fintech Awards London. The fact that we started with The Fintech Power 50 and then evolved into a media group housing different brands itself shows that we differentiate and evolve to stay at the forefront. If the industry moves, we move with it. 

One of the big advantages of fintech is that it is easily adaptable to changing conditions and demands in the market. Our clients are agile and we have to be too. We have to keep the finger on the pulse and innovate with them. One of our biggest assets is also our editorial team, they are skilled journalists and have taken our mission, giving the industry a voice, to heart. They are one of the keys to staying at the forefront of fintech journalism. 

Can you share some insights into The Fintech Power 50 and its role in networking influential figures in the industry? How does it contribute to the transformation of the fintech sector?

The Fintech Power 50 is an annual programme of the most influential, innovative figures and companies in the Fintech industry. We bring together 40 companies and 10 influential leaders in the industry for a 12 month programme. Our 10 influencers - finfluencers even! - are some of the best thought leaders in the industry, so our members can count on them for industry insights and guidance. We also help our members with marketing and global branding at many of the top leading industry events. We organise private C-level dinners between them and potential prospects, to make deals and partnerships happen, all around the world.  

As someone deeply involved in the fintech industry, what challenges and opportunities do you foresee in the near future? How can organizations and individuals adapt to these changes?

We all know the world economy is facing challenges at the moment, and I think the impact of this is probably one of the biggest challenges in the industry. The slowdown of investments, lay-offs, business models and budgets are under pressure. However, as always, this also offers opportunities. Historically, decisions were driven by valuation and growth, but now you see investors making decisions based on actual revenue and recurring revenue. The analysis is centred on existing products and market fit rather than future potential. In terms of investment, I see this shift as a positive trend that encourages a more realistic and grounded approach. 

A good evolution in the industry is changing regulation, and the regulator taking more control of what is happening in the fintech industry. This might be challenging for some companies, but if regulators keep the current innovation-supporting approach, I'm sure this will turn out to be a big opportunity for the industry to become more regulated and stable. 

Given the current economic challenges, we are also seeing a lot of meaningful partnerships and collaborations happen, and not only between fintech companies and established financial institutions, but also between fintechs and big tech, and fintechs themselves. The accelerated digital transformation and build of platforms has laid the groundwork for our industry that can now realize solutions based on existing assets and technology at unseen speeds. We've been talking about Open Banking for years, but I believe true embedded finance might become unstoppable in the near future. Furthermore, growing awareness of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors has led to increased demand for sustainable finance solutions. Many companies are looking into opportunities by offering ESG-focused products - however, there is also still a large amount of greenwashing to overcome first.‍

With your extensive experience in organizing events, what advice would you give to someone looking to organize a successful industry event in the fintech sector?

The most important advice I can give is: make sure you have the goals of your attendees and partners or sponsors clear. If you ensure their success, you're also ensuring your own success. Don't set up an event just for the event's sake, but make sure you're filling a gap in the current ecosystem. And apart from that, make sure your event will make the difference, not only in results but also in approach. Don't put on manels (all male panels) and bring together a bunch of white bros (!) - the industry is much more diverse and valuable than that, and you should make sure to demonstrate that this is a core value for you. 

As someone who has worked in different industries and around the world, how do you adapt your event strategies to suit diverse cultural and business contexts?

It's important to know your audience and don't take a 'one fits all' approach. And if you don't know? Ask! Asking your audience what they need can be such a powerful tool. 

If you start with the idea of making your event inclusive, and I'm not just talking about diverse cultural and business contexts but also DE&I, I think you can set up an event in any industry. We also have a voluntary DE&I section in our registration. Attendees can self-identify, tell us their pronouns, dietary preferences and needs and accessibility needs. We make it clear to them why we are asking and what we will do with the information, and the section is completely voluntary. We want to do our best to make everyone feel included, and we aren't afraid to ask for help and opinions. That's what allows you to adapt your strategy globally as well. 

‍What are your personal goals and aspirations for the future of the fintech industry? How do you plan to contribute to its continued growth and transformation?

I hope the industry will be able to reconcile, reorganise, and come out of the current flux period stronger and better than ever, and I'm sure we will. We need to become an industry where regulation, trust and transparency are lead motives. By organising Fintech Week London with our current theme, 'From Flux to Flow: Evolving the Future of Finance,' we are definitely hoping to help. By inviting regulators on stage with us, and focusing on topics such as Embedded Finance, Inclusive ESG, and Fintech for Good, we’re giving a platform to the growth and transformation in the industry.

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Is there any specific message or advice you would like to share with aspiring professionals looking to make a mark in the fintech and event organization sectors?

When I was on holiday last year, my mom redecorated my bathroom and included a frame with a quote, supposedly from Coco Chanel; "Don't be like the rest of them darling..." 

I think that’s good advice which you can stretch to many levels, to make your mark in the industry. If you're introducing a solution, make sure it’s solving an actual need. Don't copy what someone else is doing but make a difference. Don't surround yourself with people like you, let diversity lift your team to a different level. Don't make the mistakes others have made before you, learn from them... But most of all? Make sure you love what you do. 

The financial industry isn't an easy one, like so many others really...there are ups and downs, it's fast-paced, there's so much changing around you at all times: if you love what you do, on the whole, you won't work a day in your life. Oh, and - apologies for the shameless plug - come to Fintech Week London of course, without it you would be lost!

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Photos courtesy of: Fintech Week London

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