First program of its kind to benefit from partnerships with multiple financial services firms, including Lloyds Banking Group, MasterCard and Rabobank

Rainmaking Loft

Startupbootcamp, Europe’s leading startup accelerator, has today announced the launch of a new accelerator program focused purely on FinTech startups, Startupbootcamp FinTech. The three-month program is open to startups across the globe and is the first FinTech accelerator to receive support from multiple corporations, including financial services groups Lloyds and Rabobank, and payment industry leader MasterCard.

Alessandro Hatami, Director of Digital Payments and Innovation at Lloyds Banking Group, said: “Lloyds Banking Group is committed to supporting enterprise across Britain as the recovery gains momentum and confidence returns. Through this partnership, we hope to help smaller fintech businesses get access to the expertise and funding they need in order to grow. We will work with Startupbootcamp to advise startups on how to become more effective in working with large financial institutions, especially by providing insight on customers’ needs and expectations.”

Stephane Wyper, Vice President of Startup Engagement and Acceleration for MasterCard Labs, said, “As MasterCard looks to further enhance our relationships with the next wave of innovative startups that will help drive the future of financial technology, our relationship with Startupbootcamp is an invaluable way to give us visibility into a truly unique set of startup companies, and benefit from their deep expertise in helping these companies scale successfully.

Harrie Vollaard, Innovation Director at Rabobank, said: “The landscape within the banking industry is changing. We see that the FinTech industry is going to have an increasingly greater impact. With this partnership we have the opportunity to participate actively. It’s an excellent way  to collaborate and build up best practices and knowledge together with  startups.”

As with all Startupbootcamp programs, the ten successful startups will benefit from extensive mentorship from 100+ entrepreneurs, investors, and corporate partners, helping guide them through each of the ‘shape’, ‘build’, and ‘sell’ stages of their development. Startupbootcamp FinTech’s partnership with Lloyds and MasterCard will also provide startups with access to pilot customers, industry data, APIs and capital.

Each successful team will also receive €15,000 and over three months’ free office space in London’s Rainmaking Loft, a 10,000ft2 startup hub in the iconic St. Katharine Docks, next to Tower Bridge.

Teams will also benefit from legal advice from specialist law firm, MJ Hudson and public relations advice from global technology PR specialists, Clarity PR.

And, while the program itself starts in August, Startupbootcamp FinTech will go well beyond just acceleration. Over the next few months, Startupbootcamp will also be running a global innovation program, aimed at nurturing talent, ideas and developing earlier stage FinTech startups. The program will comprise a range of events taking place in FinTech hotspots across the world, including New York, Singapore and Shanghai. These will include:

• FinTech hackathons – Attracting talent to create new innovation in the financial industry and solve challenges in 48 hours
• FinTech lounges – Exclusive events for later stage startups to engage with the financial industry executives
• Worldwide pitch days – Inviting the local startup communities around the globe to pitch in front of Startupbootcamp FinTech experts

The Startupbootcamp FinTech team is led by Managing Director Nektarios Liolios, former Innovation Leader at Innotribe, SWIFT, with over fifteen years’ experience in the financial industry. Nektarios is joined by Chief Operating Officer Markus Gnirck, a serial entrepreneur with focus on early-stage startups and Chairman Carsten Kølbek, a seed investor and the founder of Startupbootcamp.

Nektarios Liolios commented: “Technology has the potential to completely transform the way that the financial industry operates and because of this FinTech has become the hottest trend in today’s global startup scene.”

“Right from the outset, we were determined that Startupbootcamp FinTech should focus its efforts on developing earlier stage companies, providing them with support from a broad range of financial organisations. We want to nurture talent, great ideas and innovation, and for us that also meant involving as much of the financial community as possible. That’s why our mentors, investors and partners are made up of individuals from right across the financial services spectrum.”

“We’re excited to get Startupbootcamp FinTech underway with a number of events planned for the first half of the year, all aimed at attracting talent, inspiring innovation and engaging entrepreneurs with the financial services industry.”  

The package:

Startups making it through the Startupbootcamp FinTech selection process will receive:

• Extensive mentorship from 100+ entrepreneurs, investors, and partners
• Access to top markets in London, US and APAC
• 3+ months free office space
• € 15K package per team
• €250K+ in partner services
• Exposure to 200+ Angels & VCs
• Invitation to SBC global alumni network

Anyone startup interested can apply for Startupbootcamp FinTech here.

For more information:

• www.startupbootcamp.org
• www.startupbootcamp.org/programs/fintech
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startupbootcamp
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/SBCFinTech
• LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/startupbootcamp-fintech