A Year in Review: 2024 Highlights from the Swiss Marketplace Lending Association

As we approach the end of the year, it’s time to reflect on the events and milestones that made 2024 a remarkable year for the Swiss Marketplace Lending Association. From board changes and exciting events to valuable insights for investors, here’s a recap of the key moments that shaped our SMLA year.

New Board Members

In the spring, we were pleased to welcome new board members who will play a key role in guiding the association’s future. Matteo Bernardoni from UBS key4 mortgages assumed the role of president, bringing with him a wealth of expertise and strategic vision. Dennis Eicker from MoneyPark now represents the mortgage brokerage segment, while Simon Amrein from HSLU IFZ will be representing academia. Together with the other board members, their diverse backgrounds and deep industry knowledge will drive the association towards exciting new opportunities in the years ahead.

We would also like to extend our gratitude to our outgoing president Andreas Dietrich for his unwavering dedication to the Swiss Marketplace Lending Association since its inception. Your tireless commitment has been instrumental in building the association and shaping the SMLAs journey. We are grateful that you continue to support the SMLA, particularly from an academic perspective.

Successful Participation at the Finanzmesse 2024

In April, we had the privilege of participating in the Finanzmesse 2024, where we received an overwhelming response. The demand for insights on marketplace lending was so strong that we couldn’t accommodate all the interested presentation attendees. This enthusiastic turnout highlighted the growing interest in the sector and reinforced the importance of continuing to promote Marketplace Lending with a broader audience.

Annual Marketplace Lending Conference

October marked the highlight of the year with our annual Marketplace Lending Conference. This year’s event was hosted at Cosmofunding and gathered all of our members for a day of insightful discussions. We were thrilled to have Leslie Mapondera from Apollo and Marc Schürer from the Swiss National Bank (SNB) as guest speakers, offering valuable perspectives on the current state and future of marketplace lending. Thanks to all participants for the highly interesting exchanges during the apéro.

Knowledge Sharing Across the Year

Throughout the year, we hosted multiple informative webinars that brought together industry experts and participants to discuss critical topics:

25 July 2024: Kredit- und Liquiditätsprämien im Schweizer Kapitalmarkt, hosted by Cosmofunding
22 August 2024: Grenzen des Inkassos – ein Erfahrungsbericht, hosted by Lend
19 September 2024: What Investors Look For in a Platform Before Investing, hosted by Lendity
26 November 2024: Recent Developments of Marketplace Lending in Switzerland, hosted by HSLU IFZ

These events allowed us to address the latest developments and challenges within the marketplace lending ecosystem, fostering dialogue and knowledge exchange among members and interested parties.

Outlook for 2025: Looking Ahead to More Engagement

As we look to 2025, we are excited to continue our momentum with a series of upcoming webinars:

14 January 2025: Secondary Markets for Credit Risk, hosted by UBS Key4 Mortgages and Credit Exchange
27 February 2025: Sustainability in Marketplace Lending, hosted by MoneyPark

Additionally, we are already gearing up for our next Annual Marketplace Lending Conference, which will take place after the summer break. These events promise to be just as engaging and informative as those in 2024, and we encourage you to register early to secure your spot.

Stay tuned for more exciting developments in the year ahead!

Register for Upcoming Events:

We look forward to continuing to grow and innovate marketplace lending in Switzerland and sharing these moments with you in the year ahead.

As we wrap up this year, we would like to extend our warmest wishes to all our members, partners, and SMLA friends. May this holiday season bring you joy, peace, and relaxation, and may the New Year be filled with health, success, and new opportunities.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your loved ones!

Sincerely,
The Swiss Marketplace Lending Association Team

By the way, we asked AI to show us the future of marketplace lending in Switzerland, and this is what turned out. Let’s hope we keep connected digitally but also offline from time to time 😉