The future of the prepaid industry will meet in Berlin on 5 November 2026 at Steigenberger Hotel Am Kanzleramt!
The 11th Prepaid Congress (#PK2026) is the specialist event for marketing, sales and regulation of vouchers, rechargeable cards and payment cards – with even more space for exchange, knowledge transfer and new ideas.
organised by
powered by
The Prepaid Congress is the annual industry event that brings together publishers, retailers, politicians, authorities and service providers.
Experience the latest market developments, practical best practices and valuable insights first-hand – all in one compact day.
‘The best place to understand where the industry is heading – and who is driving it.’
Look forward to lasting inspiration and the special energy of the prepaid community.
More time and space for networking
New areas and formats make exchange even easier, more intensive and more inspiring.
Three stages, three perspectives
Further highlights:
… from 7.00 pm
Restaurant Fashion at Steigenberger Hotel Am Kanzleramt
Networking with style: Prepaid Community Night brings together industry professionals, decision-makers and innovators in a relaxed atmosphere.
An evening that deepens existing contacts – and creates new ones.
Don’t miss out on any news about the programme and registration: subscribe to the #PK2026 newsletter and stay informed!
See you on 5 November 2026 in Berlin – at the prepaid show of the year!
The information comes to you via our newsletter.
moderated by Ilka Groenewold
| Morning | 9:00-9:30 | Entrance & Registration |
| 9:30-09:50 | Go for GoldWelcome to the 10th Prepaid Congress! We cordially invite you to the big Prepaid Olympics. In various disciplines, you will gain a comprehensive insight into what moves our industry.Welcome by the member of the executive board of the PVD Volker Patzak | |
| 09:50-10:20 | Figures, data, facts - The prepaid performance checkMarket data, consumer behavior and insights for Germany and Europe
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| 10:20-10:45 | Regulatory UpdateNew rules of the game - changes in the regulation of prepaid products Christian Walz, Lawyer and Partner, Annerton Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH | |
| 10:45-11:15 | Coffee Break & Networking
sponsored by
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| 11:15-11:25 | Impulse speechKick-off for a new legislative period - effects on the prepaid sector Matthias Spangenberg, Direktor und Berater von Beust & Coll. Beratungsgesellschaft in Berlin und Brüssel | |
| 11:25-11:55 | Politics-TalkEmployee benefits and meal allowances: Are the framework conditions still keeping pace with the modern working world?
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| 11:55 -12:35 | Best Practice Prepaid-Pitch IB2C three-way battle with practical use cases
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| 12:35-14:05 | Lunch breakExtended time for networking and parallel DEEP-DIVE sessions | |
| 13:15-14:00 | DEEP-DIVE I
Cryptonow - Easy access to crypto with the innovative voucher card incl. offline wallet Simon Grylka, CEO, Cryptonow | |
DEEP-DIVE II
More than just credit - how AI turns prepaid into an experience The smart gift card with voice, personality and real added value for customers and retailers.
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DEEP-DIVE III
From Storefronts to Smartphones: Gift Cards Designed for Digital Wallets
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| Afternoon | 14:05-14:25 | Keynote speechSocial commerce - the new discipline of online shopping? Rolf Hermann, Managing Director OMR EDUCATION / Podcast Host / Chief Editor OMR |
| 14:25-14:50 | Prepaid-Talk I: Social Commerce - Fit for the competition?
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| 14:50-15:10 | InterviewOvercoming boundaries - not only in sports Josia Topf, swimmer and gold medal winner at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris | |
| 15:10-15:50 | Best Practice Prepaid-Pitch IIB2B use cases in practice
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| 15:50-16:20 | Coffee break & networking
sponsored by
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| Afternoon | 16:20-16:30 | InterviewPrepaid Sprint: 7 questions for Megan Wycoff from ZALANDO Megan Wycoff, Lead Partner Consultant - Retail, Zalando SE |
| 16:30-16:55 | Prepaid-Talk II: Hunting for records (Vortrag in Englisch)Gaming megamarket and the role of prepaid payments
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| 16:55-17:10 | Cooperation is key (Vortrag in Englisch)Successful teamplay of of PVD, GCVA & BVCNL
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| 17:10-17:30 | Presentation of the Best Practice Audience Award and closing remarksJörg Steinmetz, Executive Board of the PVD | |
| 17:30-18:30 | Champagne finale & networking
sponsored by
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| 19:00-24:00 | Prepaid Community NightLocation: SOLAR Sky-Bar & Restaurant
sponsored by
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Fried-Heye Allers
Fried-Heye Allers, Director Public Affairs at Edenred, works to improve the legal framework for employee benefits and advocates on behalf of employees. Allers brings experience in corporate communications and government relations from his previous positions at AB InBev, StoryMachine GmbH and the German Bundestag.
Fried-Heye Allers
Edenred
Jonathan Bautista
Microlog
Fabian Beringer
Fabian Beringer
VidLab7
David Bernhard
After studying in Offenburg, Edinburgh, Weimar and Montpellier, David Bernhard founded the digital and design agency VARIANTE B in 2013. His passion for food then led to the founding of Urban Guru in 2019, a provider of culinary city tours throughout Germany.
Thwarted by the first lockdown in March 2020, David Bernhard and his team did not bury their heads in the sand, but (together with a competing company) set up PayNowEatLater as a nationwide instant voucher platform for restaurateurs within a few days, which was able to generate over EUR 1 million in voucher sales for the catering industry in the first few weeks.
Today, this has become BON BON: A versatile and customisable restaurant voucher that can be redeemed for over 10,000 restaurants throughout Germany. As founder and Managing Director, David Bernhard is responsible for the technical infrastructure and innovative product development and places particular emphasis on a holistic customer experience.
David Bernhard
BON BON
Julia Blania
Julia Blania
Google
Gert Brachmann
Gert is Deputy General Manager with power of attorney at ilo-profit Services GmbH. He specialises in the areas of business development, sales and human resources – with a particular passion for developing new business areas.
The qualified retail salesman and commercial specialist has extensive practical experience from the world of retail, including positions at Edeka and Lekkerland. With his strategic thinking, strong sales skills and flair for market opportunities, he is actively shaping the growth and future of the company.
Gert Brachmann
ilo-profit Services
Janine Dovermann
Janine Dovermann is Senior Director Global Content & Brand Management at epay, where she has been shaping the gift card business for over 13 years. She studied International Business and Management with a focus on Marketing in London, with additional academic experiences in Boston, at Harvard University, and in Toledo/Spain. After founding and developing her own ecommerce platform, she joined epay and played a key role in building its international gift card business. Today, she leads global content strategy and brand management.
Janine is passionate about gift cards and thrives on collaborating with brands and developing new, innovative ideas – shaping the prepaid business.
Janine Dovermann
epay
Dagmar Gaede
On 1 July 2024, Dagmar Gaede took over operational responsibility for Nickel, an account provider with a digital and physical offering based on a Germany-wide network of lottery retail outlets.
Gaede previously worked at PayTech company Nexi Group as Head of Growth & Go-To-Market and for 11 years at US provider Paypal. She held various positions there, including Director Paypal Business on Ebay.
Dagmar Gaede was a Rhodes Scholar at the University of Oxford and today supervises and mentors other scholars and students.
Dagmar Gaede
Nickel Deutschland
Dr. Hugo Godschalk
born in the Netherlands, studied economics at the University of Münster/Westphalia (1974-1979). He then worked as a research assistant for five years. He obtained his doctorate in 1982 with a thesis on the future monetary order in the computer age. In 1984, he began working at GZS Gesellschaft für Zahlungssysteme mbH (Eurocard), initially as a research assistant supporting the EFTPOS pilot projects of the German banking industry and later as head of the business administration department. Since 1993, he has been the managing partner of PaySys Consultancy GmbH in Frankfurt am Main.
Dr. Hugo Godschalk
PaySys Consultancy
Ilka Groenewold
has been working as a moderator for various TV and event formats since 2001. Her biggest appearances include hosting the McClip show on Viva and the leading role in ‘Wilde Jungs’ on Pro7. Ilka has hosted over 8,000 events in the last 22 years and regularly works as a sports trainer on board Hapag Lloyd and AIDA.
In 2012, she was named Runner of the Year by the DLV, won the Cuxhaven Marathon in 2018 and finished as 1st woman (category W30) in Bolzano Woman (W30 category) in the 100 kilometre run in Biel 2017.
In 2020, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy honoured her with the title of ‘Role Model Entrepreneur’ and just one year later Ilka won the ‘Red Fox Award’ and the ‘German Business Award’.
Ilka has been presenting the news on Hamburg 1 since 2022. In April 2023, Ilka moved to WELT, where she works as a reporter.
Ilka Groenewold
Moderator, coach & singer
Simon Grylka
Simon Grylka is the CEO of Cryptonow and is passionate about making cryptocurrencies accessible to everyone in a simple and secure way. Under his leadership, Cryptonow has established the top 3 voucher cards in the Swiss market and he has been instrumental in realising this successful model.
As a long-time Bitcoin investor, he knows from his own experience how important it is to make crypto transparent and user-friendly. With Cryptonow, he is pursuing the goal of offering people around the world an uncomplicated way to immerse themselves in the world of cryptocurrencies.
Simon Grylka
Cryptonow
Olav Gutting
Olav Gutting
Member of the German Bundestag
Rolf Hermann
Rolf is Managing Director of the OMR Education division at OMR and has been helping to develop and expand it for over eight years. He is responsible for product & content topics. More than 10,000 people a year learn about online marketing at OMR Education.
As editor-in-chief of OMR Reports, Rolf has co-written, edited or curated over 70 online marketing books. As host of the OMR Education podcast, he interviews guests from the digital economy on a weekly basis. With over 350 episodes, the podcast is the third most successful format in the DACH region.
At OMR Education, he also realises strategy, training and further education projects on marketing topics for brands such as Google, LVMH, Porsche and SAP.
Rolf Hermann
OMR Education
Oliver Kneier
Oliver Kneier, born in 1981, has been with Valora Schweiz AG since March 2006. In his current position as Head of eCommerce & Digital Services Retail, he is responsible for the digital development of the retail business. In recent years, he has held various key positions at Valora, including Category Manager eBusiness/Services, Project Manager Business Development, Category Manager New Business, Head of Key Accounts B2B and Product Manager for Key Accounts in the Press Division.
He began his professional career at Basellandschaftliche Kantonalbank, where he worked between 2002 and 2006 as a private and investment customer advisor, assistant to the Head of Investment Advice and as an employee in the Data Centre.
Oliver Kneier
Valora
Rik Luttmern
Rik Luttmer (1978, Netherlands) is considered a known figure within the European market relational strategies and incentive marketing. In his 20 years as a loyalty strategist he has guided and inspired corporations in B2C and B2B markets, as well pharma, unions and charities. His ‘brand list’, include names like Unilever, DHL, Volkswagen, Heineken, Accor, and Amnesty International.
Rik is founder of Loyalty Chiefs, a independent reletionschip marketing agency. As principal knowledge partner of IMA Europe, Loyalty Chiefs conducts and shares research on the European Incentive market on a regular basis.
Rik Luttmer
Loyalty Chiefs
Bodo Mauss
Bodo Mauss is Senior Director at Blackhawk Network Germany GmbH overseeing One4all and Gutscheingold multi-store gift cards across the DACH region. In 2024 he became an Assesor in the Executive Board of PVD.
As an expert in card-based customer loyalty and revenue generation he has more than 17 years of work experience in the prepaid industry and pioneered in the launch of the gift card mall business in the DACH region.
Bodo Mauss
Blackhawk Network Germany
Steffi Nehls-Neuthor
Steffi Nehls-Neuthor is Head of Retail Media & Business Development DACH at HelloFresh, leading Retail Media and B2B gift card sales. With 15+ years at companies like Zalando, eBay, and Paramount, she brings strong B2C and B2B expertise across e-commerce, entertainment, and media.
Steffi is passionate about the gift card industry and driving growth through scalable campaigns and long-term partnerships.
Steffi Nehls-Neuthor
HelloFresh
Volker Patzak
As Business Development Director at epay/transct Elektronische Zahlungssysteme GmbH, Volker Patzak is responsible for expanding the prepaid product portfolio. The business administration graduate and customer loyalty expert has held various positions in the prepaid, payment and loyalty sector since 2000 and is a member of the Incentive Marketing Association (IMA).
At PVD, he holds the position of Managing Director, Deputy Spokesman of the Management Board and Head of the Marketing working group.
Volker Patzak
PVD
Marc Reiner
Marc Reiner
Sony
Pascal Schreiber
Pascal Schreiber is co-founder and managing director of Regional Hero. With many years of experience in building digital business models, he focuses on developing innovative infrastructure to strengthen regional value creation.
His mission: creating sustainable solutions for cities, businesses, and people.
Pascal Schreiber
Regional Hero
Hannah Shimko
Hannah is the Managing Director of the Gift Card and Voucher Association (GCVA). She is responsible for the running of the trade association and delivery of the GCVA mission to promote and protect the gift card sector.
Hannah comes from a career running trade associations and she has spent many years on the coalface of advocacy and public relations developing collaborative relationships with government and media as well as influencing key decisions. She also has a long career of experience working with members and membership organisations, connecting industry professionals with each other and wider stakeholders.
Hannah Shimko
GCVA
Jeroen Siegerink
Jeroen Siegerink is VP Strategic Partnerships at Recharge, globally leading strategic partnerships with brands such as Apple, Google, and Paysafe, alongside responsibility for Procurement. With 20 years of experience across e-commerce, business development, and marketing strategy, he has helped brands grow and scale through impactful roles at inSided (acquired by Gainsight) and Branddoctors.
Jeroen is passionate about growing brands and people, driving success through collaboration, innovation, and long-term partnerships.
Jeroen Siegerink
Recharge
Matthias Spangenberg
Matthias Spangenberg is Director of von Beust & Coll. Beratungsgesellschaft in Berlin and Brussels. He advises companies and associations on the development and implementation of strategies for political positioning and representation of interests at EU, federal and state level. Matthias Spangenberg has many years of experience in supporting legislative processes, particularly at European level, and is also responsible for the Brussels office of von Beust & Coll.
Before joining von Beust & Coll., Matthias Spangenberg was Regulatory and Governmental Affairs Manager at the global FinTech company Paysafe Group in London. Here he was involved in the long-term positioning of the company in the political environment and represented the company’s interests vis-à-vis legislators, supervisory and regulatory authorities and associations at EU and national level. Prior to this, Matthias Spangenberg worked at the strategy and communications consultancy Advicepartners GmbH, where he supported clients from various sectors in the strategic representation of their interests as a senior consultant.
Matthias Spangenberg
von Beust & Coll.
Till Steinmaier
Till Steinmaier
DTB – Deutsche Technikberatung
Jörg Steinmetz
Mr Jörg Steinmetz is the spokesman for the PVD. He has been working in the prepaid sector for more than 20 years and has been responsible for the finance and sales business areas in the respective companies in management positions for over 15 years. He has been Managing Director of M&M GmbH since the beginning of 2019.
Jörg Steinmetz
PVD
Jakob Stiels
Jakob Stiels is Managing Director of SINC NOVATION GmbH, the leading specialist for gift card marketing with a claim to innovation. His vision: gift cards should not just be a means of payment, but should create genuine emotional brand experiences – digital, tactile and interactive.
He is passionate about driving the transformation of the industry – whether through AI avatars, experience formats such as Advent calendars with added value or multi-sensory approaches that make brands tangible.
What drives him? The firm belief that there is more to every gift card than just a value – namely a story, a message and the potential to inspire people.
His motto: ‘Doing is like wanting, only more blatant.’
Jakob Stiels
SINC NOVATION
Josia Topf
Josia Topf, born on 25 April 2003 in Erlangen, is a German para-swimmer who has achieved impressive sporting success despite his physical limitations. He won gold in the 150 m medley, silver in the 50 m backstroke and bronze in the 50 m freestyle at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris.
In addition to his sporting career, he has been studying law at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg since 2022. As a sought-after speaker, he shares his inspiring life story and motivates others to face challenges with determination.
Josia Topf
Para-swimmer
Wendy Trienen
Wendy Trienen is Sr. Manager Operations at BHN (Blackhawk Network), leading the EMEA-wide Product Implementation team. She has been a board member of the Branchevereniging Cadeaukaarten Nederland (BVCNL) since 2020 and became Chair in April 2024.
Wendy oversees the trade association operations and its mission to promote a transparent, self-regulated gift card market. She is committed to enhancing industry standards, fostering collaboration, and advocating for the collective interests of members
Wendy Trienen
BVCNL
Stephan Tromp
Stephan Tromp has over 25 years of experience as a managing director of a limited liability company and association managing director. He is Deputy Managing Director of the German Retail Association (HDE) and also Managing Director of the association’s subsidiaries HDE Trade Services GmbH and IFS Management GmbH. He understands both political processes and the economic management of companies.
At the German Retail Association, he is responsible for the cross-cutting topic of digitalization, among other things. Another focus of his work is the development and management of
management of internationally oriented services, particularly in the area of quality assurance. Since 2002, he has been responsible for the globally applied auditing standard IFS
(www.ifs-certification.com) auditing standard for trade and industry for supplier assessment.
His thematic focus lies in the areas of business development and IT / digitalization. His activities are always internationally oriented.
Stephan Tromp holds a degree in business administration from the Berlin School of Economics and Law. He is a native speaker of German and fluent in English and Dutch. He was a member of the Berlin House of Representatives until 2006.
Stephan Tromp
HDE
Vanessa Ullrich
Vanessa is Manager for Public Affairs and CSR at Pluxee Germany & Austria. Pluxee, the world’s leading employee benefits and engagement partner, already reaches three million consumers in both countries.
As an experienced public affairs expert, Vanessa has a keen sense for political and regulatory developments and is passionate about the benefits market. She is convinced that attractive employee benefits solutions can make a decisive contribution to the future viability of the German labour market and help to attract and retain skilled workers and make companies more resilient.
Vanessa Ullrich
Pluxee Deutschland
Mick van den Noord
Mick van den Noord is Manager Gift Cards Europe at Cryptonow and is responsible for the expansion of Cryptonow gift cards in Germany and throughout Europe. His main goal is to acquire new retailers in Germany and other European countries and to further expand Cryptonow’s market presence.
With years of experience in retail in the DACH region and Benelux, including at leading companies such as Telekom MMS and Zalando, he brings an extensive network and in-depth expertise to establish Cryptonow as the market leader for crypto voucher cards.
Mick van den Noord
Cryptonow
Christian Walz
Christian Walz is a founding partner of Annerton Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH. He advises national and international companies from the payment services, customer loyalty & vouchers, identity management and credit & finance sectors on all matters relating to payment services & payment services supervisory law, banking & banking supervisory law and money laundering law.
Christian Walz is general editor and author of the commentary on payment transaction law by Ellenberger/Findeisen/Nobbe, co-initiator and regular author of the blog ‘PAYMENT.TECHNOLOGY.LAW.’ (PayTechLaw) and regular host of the podcast format: ‘PayTechTalk’.
The Legal 500 recognised Christian Walz as a leading name in FinTech in its 2021 ranking for Germany.
Christian Walz
Annerton Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH
Roland Wecken
Roland Wecken is a qualified marketing and communications specialist and holds a degree in online marketing. He has been working in the prepaid industry since 2013 and has extensive experience in partner management. After working for cadooz and epay, he joined Edenred Germany as Head of Partner Management in 2018.
Roland Wecken
Edenred Deutschland
Megan Wycoff
Megan Wycoff brings over 15 years of retail industry expertise from across the globe, including leadership roles at ThreeSixty Group (owner of FAO Schwarz and Sharper Image) and at DFS an LVMH group company.
With a proven track record in buying, sourcing, franchising, and global sales network development, Megan has successfully driven revenue growth through international partnerships and brand strategies.
Now transitioning to the gift card sector, she leverages her strong retail background to create innovative solutions that enhance customer experience and business impact.
Megan Wycoff
Zalando
