The organising partners of the FinTech Awards Luxembourg have opened applications for the 2017 edition of the competition.
The awards aim to reward the outstanding jewels of the global FinTech startup universe, as well as presenting them with real and tangible opportunities to acquire new clients by building their network and credibility with senior decision makers and CEOs from the Luxembourg financial services community.
Georges Bock, a founding partner of the awards and Head of Tax at KPMG Luxembourg, explained:
“We were bowled over by the success of last year’s awards — winners like Governance.io went on to secure €2m in funding and bag several new clients among the banks and asset managers present at the awards ceremony. Since the first edition last year, the appetite for FinTech in Luxembourg has only grown. We expect to see even more success stories emerge amongst our future winners.”
Nasir Zubairi, CEO of the LHoFT (Luxembourg House of Financial Technology), partners in the award initiative, commented:
“FinTech firms can’t overlook Luxembourg as a financial services powerhouse. Luxembourg is the largest finance centre in continental Europe, the largest fund management sector outside of the US and the global leader in cross-border funds. It is home to over 140 banks, is a leader in the insurance sector and in clearing of Renminbi business with the 7 largest Chinese banks choosing to establish here. I could go on - there really is a lot going on. The banks and asset managers located in the Grand Duchy are actively looking to work with FinTech firms they can trust to help drive their businesses forward. The FinTech Awards Luxembourg is a platform for startups to gain the credibility and network they need to connect with the Luxembourg financial services community.”
"When we applied for the 2016 awards, we knew that winning the award could be an important catalyst for our business. We however did not expect just how much of a game changer it would turn out to be. After the award everything went into fast forward: clients, funding, publicity, hiring... We could not have asked for more! We are very excited to see the FinTech awards returning, as it will give more startups a podium to present themselves and change their business forever." Bert Boerman, CEO - Governance.io - 2Gears S.A. - FinTech Startup of the Year 2016.
Applications open until 1 May
Applications for the awards opened on 1 March and will close on 1 May. Fifteen startups will then be selected to go through to Competition Day in June. At this event, the fifteen startups will be whittled down to seven finalists who will compete to be FinTech Startup of the Year. Prizes will also go to the Runner-up: FinTech Startup of the Year and Second Runner-up: FinTech Startup of the Year and Women in FinTech Award.
The winners will be announced during the Awards Ceremony and Afterparty on the KPMG Plage beach in Luxembourg on 28 June in the presence of the Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and Luxembourg Finance Minister Pierre Gramegna.
€50,000 in prize money, sponsored by Digital Lëtzebuerg
The startups will be competing for prizes designed to help them grow and develop their company in Luxembourg. Prizes include €50,000 in prize money, four months of hosting at the Technoport (coworking space in Luxembourg); a trip to Silicon Valley; a one-year membership of the KPMG Hub for Entrepreneurship (the Khube); and a free-of-charge LHoFT membership including six months of hosting at the LHoFT FinTech hub.
The awards are organised by the LHoFT and KPMG Luxembourg, in collaboration with Digital Lëtzebuerg, the Luxembourg ICT Cluster, LuxInnovation and Maison Moderne.