Innotribe, the innovation arm of financial messaging network Swift, has shortlisted 60 companies from a record 370 early-stage and growth-stage startup applicants to participate in its 2015 Startup Challenge.
Over 500 judges from across the financial, technology, and investment communities evaluated all 370 applications, assessing the startups’ ability to provide an important innovation in the future of the financial industry.
These companies will now get the opportunity to pitch their new products during the regional showcases in London (22 April), Cape Town (6 May), Singapore (28 May) and New York (18 June).
The London event takes place at East Wintergarden, Canary Wharf immediately following Finextra's second annual Future Money programme, where leading innovators from across the European banking and venture capital industry will gather to lead the debate and discussion around the evolution of fintech.
Fabian Vandenreydt, head of markets management, Innotribe and the Swift Institute at Swift, comments: “The regional showcases represent a unique platform for discussion, debate, and high-level networking for our community and are a great opportunity for the startups to meet face to face with potential investors, partners and customers.”
As a part of the programme, each semi-finalist will receive complimentary coaching sessions with seasoned entrepreneurs to give them advice ahead of the formal pitches.
Mike Sigal, the Startup Challenge lead coach, says: “There’s a chasm between how startups and banks practice innovation, and helping our startups understand how to communicate their value propositions to Swift’s community helps banks quickly evaluate new technologies and models, and helps our startups identify appropriate partners and investors.”
Across the four showcases, the audience will select 20 companies to participate as finalists in the Grand Finale, which will be held on 14 October 2015 at Sibos in Singapore.