The session’s core message was that fintech funding has not simply “come back”; it has become more selective, more concentrated, and increasingly shaped by whether a company can explain its role in an AI-driven market. Moderator Hannah Schwerer opened with the figure that $116 billion flowed into the global fintech ecosystem last year, 20% more than the year before, while also stressing the catch: deal count is declining, so competition between fintechs is intensifying. She framed the discussion around how experienced founders are steering through fiercer competition, navigating AI hype, and judging which trends matter. The panel featured Max Schertel of Finmed, Jonathan Sanders of Light, and Malte Rau of Pliant, each bringing a different perspective on embedded credit, AI-enabled accounting, and business spending infrastructure.