Latest news with #SFF2025
Yahoo
02-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Launch of Global Impact Champions Awards for Financial Health
SINGAPORE, Aug. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN) has launched the inaugural Global Impact Champions Awards, with the 2025 theme being Financial Health. These awards spotlight FinTech startups delivering scalable solutions that improve people's financial lives - helping individuals manage daily needs, build resilience to shocks, plan for a secure future, and feel confident about their finances. Winning FinTech startups from around the world will be awarded up to US$1 million, subject to terms and conditions. Winners will be presented the awards and invited to speak at the Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF) 2025 in November, attended by a global audience of over 60,000 participants from more than 135 countries. The winners will be informally showcased at the GFTN International Advisory Board (IAB) meeting in The Hague in October. "Financial inclusion is a means to an end. Financial health is the outcome we need, where people can manage daily needs, plan for the future, handle shocks, and feel confident about their financial lives," Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, United Nations Secretary-General's Special Advocate for Financial Health and Chair of GFTN IAB, said during the 2024 Singapore FinTech Festival. Why Financial Health is the Next Step to Financial Inclusion? "A decade of fintech innovation has shown us that financial inclusion is only the start. What truly matters is financial health - helping people manage daily needs, plan for the future, withstand shocks, and gain confidence in their financial lives. The Global Impact Champions Awards for Financial Health is GFTN's effort to discover the impact makers - those who not only build systems but also transform lives," said Sopnendu Mohanty, Group CEO of GFTN. Awards' Significance Financial access is expanding - eight in ten adults now have an account, but access alone does not ensure financial health. In a world shaped by economic volatility, rising debt, and the disruptive effects of AI and automation, too many people remain financially insecure. Only one in three adults globally could cover two months of expenses after an income loss, underscoring the urgent need to strengthen household resilience. While FinTech innovation has expanded the reach of financial services, real progress depends on improving outcomes and ensuring that people can manage daily needs, navigate uncertainty, and plan for the future with confidence. The Global Impact Champions Awards for Financial Health aim to accelerate this shift by spotlighting innovators who deliver measurable improvements in people's financial lives. The awards will recognise FinTech's potential to move beyond access toward inclusive, AI-enabled solutions that build long-term financial wellbeing, agency and security. Why Award FinTech Startups? FinTech startups are reimagining financial services to improve people's financial health, not just expanding access. Many are developing solutions that help users budget, save, build credit safely, plan ahead and manage unexpected shocks. They are leveraging emerging technologies, such as AI, blockchain, and mobile-first platforms, to deliver inclusive, data-driven and user-centric financial tools. Yet despite their promise, startups remain under-recognized in global efforts to strengthen resilience and wellbeing. By awarding FinTech startups, GFTN seeks to accelerate investment and visibility for high-potential ventures delivering tangible, scalable improvements in people's financial lives. Dates to Note: 1 August 2025: Awards open. Click here for the Application form. 7 September 2025, 2359 hours (SGT): Awards submission close. 29 October 2025: Top 3 finalists will be informally showcased at GFTN IAB Meeting at The Hague, the Netherlands. 12 – 14 November 2025: Formal award ceremony at the SFF 2025. About the Singapore FinTech Festival 2025 The Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF) 2025, organised by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN) and Constellar, in collaboration with the Association of Banks in Singapore, will be held from 12 - 14 November 2025, marking its 10th anniversary. This year's event will focus on celebrating a decade of innovation and collaboration in the FinTech industry, while also addressing critical challenges in global finance to shape the next decade. The Insights Forum will be held from 10 - 11 November 2025. About GFTN The Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN) is a Singapore-headquartered organisation that leverages technology and innovation to create more efficient, resilient, and inclusive financial systems through global collaboration. GFTN hosts a worldwide network of forums (including its flagship event, the Singapore FinTech Festival); advises governments and companies on policies and the development of digital ecosystems and innovation within the financial sector; offers digital infrastructure solutions; and plans to invest in financial technology startups through its upcoming venture fund, with a focus on inclusion and sustainability. GFTN is a not-for-profit organisation established by the MAS in 2024. For more information on the awards, please visit GFTN Global Impact Champions Awards or contact the Impact Champions Awards Team at impactawards@ Note: The International Advisory Board and the Office of the UNSGSA are not involved in reviewing applications or selecting finalists and will not be informed of applicants or candidate details. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE GFTN Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
AsiaOne
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
Singapore Food Festival returns in September, includes SG60 Specials series, Lifestyle News
Foodies are in for a treat as the Singapore Food Festival (SFF) is returning for its 32nd edition with a buffet of culinary experiences from Sept 4 to 24, the festival announced on Friday (July 4). Themed Have You Eaten Yet? as a nod to how many Asian cultures express love, SFF 2025 will offer more than 15 events, including a series of SG60 Specials, as well as more than 50 curated experiences by the festival's affiliate partners. Last year's festival line-up saw three overall event formats named Signature Events, Pop-up Events and Unique Events, and these will continue for this year's edition. And like the 2024 edition, SFF 2025 will take place across multiple venues — from hawker centres to heritage districts and modern dining spaces, according to SFF's website, moving away from past installments where it was held in a single location. While full event details for the three Pop-up Events and seven Unique Events have not been announced yet, the three Signature Events are the same as the previous year: The Long Table, Food is Art and Future Food. The Long Table is a unique communal dining experience where each dish is crafted and paired with immersive storytelling and theatrical elements while Food is Art brings together award-winning dessert chefs, mixologists, artists and high fashion to transform food into artforms, SFF said in a statement. Future Food explores food innovation, featuring experimental tastings, molecular gastronomy demos and presentations from food innovators. The Pop-up Events will include food truck tours and immersive heritage explorations while the Unique Events are designed to blend culinary innovation with art, culture and immersive elements such as rooftop suppers and cultural mashups, according to the website. SFF also shared that the series of SG60 Specials will celebrate Singapore's heritage with modern twists and other online activations. The line-up of curated experiences by the festival's affiliates include in-store promotions, limited-time menus and more, according to the website. SFF 2025's central hub will be at Mise en Place @ Dempsey Hill, an open-to-public space that will serve as an all-in-one experience centre showcasing a variety of curated food, lifestyle and culture experiences. The hub will also house Zumbo Desserts helmed by Australian celebrity chef Adriano Zumbo, marking his debut in Asia. Food Stories in July Leading up to the festival in the month of July, there will also be a digital showcase series called Singapore Food Stories on social media highlighting personal stories and recipes shared by everyday Singaporeans. For those who love supporting local hawkers, SFF 2025 has also named Chinatown Complex Food Centre as its Heritage Hawker Partner this year, shining a light on the ones who have dedicated decades to preserving Singapore's traditional food scene. Throughout the duration of the festival, the food centre will carry the banner of SFF 2025. Full lineups and more information will be updated on SFF's website and social media platforms. [[nid:719562]]
