Berlin: What our speakers love about FundForum's new home

In 2016 FundForum International will be held in Berlin for the first time. Our speakers tell us their favourite things about this beautiful city.
“Anything that reminds me of my first time crossing the Berlin Wall through checkpoint Charlie as an impressionable young girl.” Aine Kelly, Head of Financial Sector & Investor Engagement, Big Society Capital
“The way Berlin overcame difficult historical periods and has become one of the coolest tourist attractions in the world, provides hope to other cities that are currently suffering from geopolitical unrest.” Oren Kaplan, Co-Founder and CEO, SharingAlpha
“I worked in Berlin a few years ago, in real estate development. It’s a fascinating city, my favourite thing is watching East and West reintegrate, and in doing so going through some extreme phases, such as the art district in the East.” Mike Halsall, UK Ambassador, Singularity University
“The eclectic mixture of old versus new and the feeling that "history happened here".” Romi Savova, Founder and CEO, PensionBee
“The momentous historic events leading up to November 9th 1989 when the Wall came down, symbolising the triumph of bottom-up democratic forces against top-down imposed authoritarianism. Also, in a somewhat different vein, the fact that the city provided the inspirational backdrop for David Bowie’s ‘Berlin Trilogy’ of great albums: Low, Heroes and Lodger.” Paul Craven, Founder, Paul Craven Partners
"A creative startup atmosphere that is very much bottom-up driven and not yet dominated by big national and international industry champions or private equity players." Matthias Weber, CIO, ifund services AG

"Wurst! Seriously, it's a cool edgy City brought in part due to a troubled past. I have been to Berlin a few times and I just like the cool mixture of old and new. It's not ostentatious like W1 London. The holocaust memorial around the Reichstag is powerful. I really want to get to know the art, music, beatnik culture and Fintech community better." Jon 'JB' Beckett, Author and consulting CIO to the Gemini Investment Management Ltd board.
"It has been over a decade since I was last in Berlin, so very much looking forward to visiting again - the Tiergarten in summer stands out… and the Berlin Philharmonic." Greg B. Davies, Founding Partner at Centapse
"The people and their positive attitude. A city that is steeped in history; with its challenge and adversity.. has flourished and continues to be a hub for international culture and opportunity, which comes through in the attitude of its inhabitants." James Stickland, Group Managing Director, Red Deer Systems
“Never been so I’ll tell you when I get back!” Clive Hale, Director of FundCalibre and Albermarle Street Partners and former CIO of Skandia Investment Management
Find out more about how the finance industry is being transformed today from these speakers and many others at FundForum International 2016 in Berlin, 6 - 8 June.