MWC Barcelona 2025 and the Fintech 4YFN Awards Spotlight
Barcelona was buzzing last week as the tech ecosystem came together in the Catalan capital for the 2025 edition of MWC and 4YFN. From breakthrough AI innovations to cutting-edge climate tech and fintech solutions, the event showcased technology’s next frontier and marked a record edition that brought some much-needed optimism.
Record-Breaking Numbers
MWC Barcelona 2025 welcomed 109,000 attendees from 205 countries, cementing its position as the premier global connectivity event. The halls of Fira Barcelona were packed with more than 2,900 exhibitors and sponsors, while over 1,200 speakers shared insights across various stages and summits.
“From AI-powered networks to the future of smart mobility, the discussions this week in Barcelona will set the tone for the year ahead”, said John Hoffman, CEO of GSMA.
The event’s digital presence was also impressive, with nearly half a million unique online views, while high-level participation included 66 government ministers and 111 heads of regulatory authorities during the GSMA Ministerial Programme.
AI Dominates the Conversation
If you spent any time at MWC25, you couldn’t miss the omnipresence of artificial intelligence. From the main exhibition floors to startup booths and panel discussions, AI was, unsurprisingly, on everyone’s lips, and going beyond the technical aspects, discussing the broader implications of AI for society, business models, and regulatory frameworks.
Notably, within the startup ecosystem, 60% of the 4YFN Awards applicants had AI as a core or supporting element in their solutions, underlining its critical role in shaping the industry’s future.
Spotlight on the 4YFN Awards — Fintech Category
Running alongside the main congress, the Four Years From Now (4YFN) event has evolved over the years and established itself as an increasingly important platform for tech startups from all over the world. This year’s edition attracted over 1,000 startup exhibitors and more than 900 investors with collective funds totalling €60 billion.
The 4YFN Awards celebrated innovation with 20 finalists across five categories: Digital Health, Green Tech, Fintech, Digital Horizons, and Mobile Frontiers. Here, we focus on the fintech segment:
Bankuish (Colombia):
The overall winner, Bankuish, provides gig workers, creators, and freelancers with accessible credit and banking services. By leveraging work history to establish creditworthiness, the platform has de-risked lending for traditional banks, opening new avenues for financial inclusion. The win not only came with a €20,000 prize from GSMA Foundry but also secured international exposure through a stand at next year’s MWC and a Mobile World Live interview. Currently operating in Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, and the US, Bankuish aims to lead financial inclusion for non-traditional workers — with a good potential in terms of financial inclusion and social impact.
Embat (Spain):
Embat aims to transform financial management with its cloud-based treasury solution, designed by financial experts for financial experts. This platform centralizes operations, automates treasury functions, accounting, and payments — promising to save finance teams up to 75% of their time on manual tasks. Currently operating in Spain, the United Kingdom, and DACH countries, Embat plans to “embed a corporate banking platform to partner with the world’s largest financial players” in the near future. The investor panel highlighted that “Embat excels at financial processing and accounting tech, showing impressive traction and strong revenue.”
Okoora (Israel):
Okoora provides businesses worldwide with the financial infrastructure needed to scale international operations. Their proprietary automated platform, API, and embedded finance solutions help businesses seamlessly collect and send payments, manage multi-currency accounts, and hedge FX risks. Operating in Israel and Poland, Okoora aims to become “the top choice for cross-border businesses, setting the global standard in managing foreign currency risk.” Investors were impressed by their “clear path to profitability” and how they’re “replacing outdated banking systems with their ABCM™ integrating currency risk management, automation, and AI.”
Spendbase (Ukraine):
Spendbase offers a solution for companies looking to optimize their SaaS, cloud, and corporate card spending. The platform provides unparalleled clarity and tracking, helping businesses cut costs and reduce manual work. According to their materials, the average mid-sized company saves $0.5–1 million annually with their solution. Currently operating in North and South America, Europe, and the Middle East, Spendbase aims to become “the leading AI-powered platform for optimizing SaaS, cloud, and corporate card spending globally.” The investor panel noted their “solid growth and revenues” and how their “software subscription management solution is an excellent entry point into a broader expense and card management solution.”
Looking Ahead
The diversity of innovations — from AI-driven financial inclusion to advanced treasury management — highlights fintech’s expanding role in financial services. While I would have loved to see more climate fintech startups aiming to solve the huge climate challenges ahead, what was possible to observe at this year 4YFN was certainly encouraging. Both in terms of interest shown by financial institutions and finance professionals. This is despite the decline in terms of investments for fintech startups experienced in the last few years, and the challenging and uncertain times we are currently facing due to the chaos of the Trump’s administration in the US in this first quarter of 2025.
In dark times for our democracies, seeing events that bring optimism and positive energy, and let us humans connect in persons and exchange different views, is always very welcome. Looking forward to next year!
