Small businesses and entrepreneurs with the potential to transform global financial services will have the chance to pitch their ideas to leading banks and investors, thanks to the London Innotribe Startup Challenge to be held at Level39, Canary Wharf on 18 April.
Hosted by SWIFT's Innotribe, with assistance from Canary Wharf Group, the Challenge will see 15 small technology and financial services companies competing to convince the banking sector to take on their innovative products and services. A panel consisting of heavyweight global financial services firms, VCs and other industry professionals will then select the best two start-ups from London to go to the global Grande Finale to be held at Sibos, SWIFT's annual conference, in Dubai in September.
The London Innotribe Startup Challenge is part of a global programme, with regional showcases in London's Canary Wharf, Singapore and New York designed to unearth the technologies and ideas which will help financial services better serve the global economy. A previous winner of the Challenge, Gust, subsequently received over US$12m in investment, with others securing large contracts with global financial services firms.
Matteo Rizzi, co-founder of Innotribe, said: "Level39 is an important catalyst for innovation in the financial industry, and is instrumental in positioning London as the hotbed of new and strategic initiatives. Innotribe is delighted to be part of an enterprise that will help drive innovation forward."
Start-ups will enjoy extraordinary visibility, relationship development opportunities and access to financial and start-up industry decision-makers, as well as preferential access to highly qualified industry experts."
Eric Van Der Kleij, Head of Level39 at Canary Wharf Group said: "It is very exciting to welcome the London Innotribe Startup Challenge as one of the first events at Level39, Canary Wharf. London has some of the smartest tech people in the world. If we can help mobilise them to transform financial services, they hold the potential to significantly benefit the global economy and in turn enhance London's position as the digital and financial capital of Europe. Our vision for Level39 is to be the place where technology and financial services converge in London. The aim is to foster the right kind of financial innovation, resulting in enhanced transparency, compliance whilst meeting the needs of customers."