Early Stage Startup
The Early Stage Startup Category celebrates the most promising and innovative startups that are redefining the financial and technology landscape.
This category recognizes early-stage companies that are leveraging technology to disrupt traditional models, solve critical industry challenges, and create meaningful impact.
This category recognizes early-stage companies that are leveraging technology to disrupt traditional models, solve critical industry challenges, and create meaningful impact.
Overview
To be eligible for the Early Stage Startup Category, you must have been in operation for less than 3 years (incorporation dates after October 1, 2023 will be accepted) AND have raised less than $5M.
Startups with technology at prototype/pre-production stage are accepted, but pre-development ideas/concepts are not eligible.
Companies entering the Early Stage Startup Category are ineligible for the Growth Stage Startup Category.
Startups with technology at prototype/pre-production stage are accepted, but pre-development ideas/concepts are not eligible.
Companies entering the Early Stage Startup Category are ineligible for the Growth Stage Startup Category.
A. Application
This section celebrates Early Stage startups that are applying innovative technologies, products, and operating models to well-defined financial service domains. The work must still be demonstrable; concepts alone will not be permitted.
*A startup may enter a maximum of three times in Section A. Application.
A01 Banking. NEW
Early stage startups leveraging technology to disrupt traditional banking models. These startups aim to solve specific pain points in the banking sector, such as improving user experience, increasing accessibility, reducing costs, or enhancing security.
A02 Payments & Commerce. NEW
Early stage startups facilitating financial transactions, enhancing the buying and selling of goods and services. These startups typically leverage technology to create more efficient, secure, and user-friendly payment systems, e-commerce platforms, or other related services that disrupt traditional models.
A03 Fraud. NEW
Early stage startups that prevent, detect, and mitigate fraudulent activities in various industries. These startups typically use advanced techniques such as AI, machine learning, and big data analytics to identify and combat different types of fraud, including financial fraud, identity theft, etc.
A04 Infrastructure. NEW
Early stage startups that have made significant contributions to the development and enhancement of the underlying infrastructure that supports the fintech ecosystem. Startups should demonstrate innovative, scalable, and reliable infrastructure solutions that enable fintech services and products to operate efficiently and securely.
A05 RegTech & SupTech. NEW
Early stage startups that leverage advanced technology to enhance regulatory compliance and supervisory processes within financial institutions and regulated industries. These startups aim to streamline and automate the often complex and resource-intensive tasks associated with compliance and supervision, reducing costs and risks while improving efficiency and accuracy.
A06 Novel technologies. NEW
Early stage startups that focus on developing and bringing to market new and innovative technologies that have not been widely implemented or commercialized before. These technologies often represent significant advancements over existing solutions, or they may introduce entirely new concepts or approaches in their respective fields.
A07 Wealth & Pension. NEW
Early stage startups creating innovative solutions in wealth management, retirement planning, and pension services. These startups aim to modernize and improve how individuals and institutions manage, grow, and secure their financial assets. This may include, but is not limited to, AI-driven financial planning, digital investment platforms, embedded wealth solutions, robo-advisory services, and sustainable investment tools that enhance accessibility and personalization.
A08 AML, Identity & KYC. NEW
Early stage startups providing technologies and solutions that help businesses and financial institutions comply with Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations, verify the identity of their customers, and conduct Know Your Customer (KYC) processes. These startups aim to enhance security, reduce fraud, and ensure regulatory compliance.
A09 Lending. NEW
Early stage startups focused on developing innovative platforms or services to facilitate the borrowing and lending of money. These startups aim to streamline the lending process, making it more accessible, efficient, and user-friendly for both borrowers and lenders, often leveraging technology to disrupt traditional lending models, offering alternative solutions to traditional bank loans.
A10 Digital Assets & Cryptocurrency. NEW
Early stage startups that have leveraged digital assets – such as cryptocurrencies, tokenized assets, stablecoins, or other blockchain-based innovations – to disrupt traditional financial models. The work should demonstrate increased efficiency, faster transaction processing, and reduced costs, with an emphasis on regulatory compliance and industry impact.
A11 Mergers & Acquisitions. NEW
Early stage startups focused on developing innovative solutions or platforms to facilitate, streamline, and optimize the process of mergers, acquisitions, and other forms of corporate restructuring. These startups focus on leveraging technology and expertise to assist companies, private equity firms, and investment banks in managing the complexities of M&A transactions.
A12 Risk Management. NEW
Early stage startups focused on developing innovative solutions and technologies to help organizations identify, assess, mitigate, and monitor risks. These risks can span various areas, including financial, operational, strategic, and compliance. The aim of these startups is to provide tools and services that enhance an organization's ability to manage uncertainties and protect against potential threats. This may include, but is not limited to, innovations in credit risk modelling, liquidity risk management, regulatory compliance solutions, and climate-related financial risk evaluation tools.
A13 InsurTech. NEW
Early stage startups that have transformed insurance through digital innovation and intelligent automation. This may include, but is not limited to, predictive analytics engines, automated underwriting platforms, personalized policy tools, embedded insurance solutions, and digital claims systems that enhance accessibility, efficiency, and customer experience across the insurance lifecycle.
A14 AI & Automation. NEW
Early stage startups that have leveraged artificial intelligence and automation to transform financial operations, customer experiences, or decision-making processes. The work should demonstrate how the organization has implemented AI or automation technologies to drive efficiency, accuracy, scalability, or innovation within the financial sector.
A01 Banking. NEW
Early stage startups leveraging technology to disrupt traditional banking models. These startups aim to solve specific pain points in the banking sector, such as improving user experience, increasing accessibility, reducing costs, or enhancing security.
A02 Payments & Commerce. NEW
Early stage startups facilitating financial transactions, enhancing the buying and selling of goods and services. These startups typically leverage technology to create more efficient, secure, and user-friendly payment systems, e-commerce platforms, or other related services that disrupt traditional models.
A03 Fraud. NEW
Early stage startups that prevent, detect, and mitigate fraudulent activities in various industries. These startups typically use advanced techniques such as AI, machine learning, and big data analytics to identify and combat different types of fraud, including financial fraud, identity theft, etc.
A04 Infrastructure. NEW
Early stage startups that have made significant contributions to the development and enhancement of the underlying infrastructure that supports the fintech ecosystem. Startups should demonstrate innovative, scalable, and reliable infrastructure solutions that enable fintech services and products to operate efficiently and securely.
A05 RegTech & SupTech. NEW
Early stage startups that leverage advanced technology to enhance regulatory compliance and supervisory processes within financial institutions and regulated industries. These startups aim to streamline and automate the often complex and resource-intensive tasks associated with compliance and supervision, reducing costs and risks while improving efficiency and accuracy.
A06 Novel technologies. NEW
Early stage startups that focus on developing and bringing to market new and innovative technologies that have not been widely implemented or commercialized before. These technologies often represent significant advancements over existing solutions, or they may introduce entirely new concepts or approaches in their respective fields.
A07 Wealth & Pension. NEW
Early stage startups creating innovative solutions in wealth management, retirement planning, and pension services. These startups aim to modernize and improve how individuals and institutions manage, grow, and secure their financial assets. This may include, but is not limited to, AI-driven financial planning, digital investment platforms, embedded wealth solutions, robo-advisory services, and sustainable investment tools that enhance accessibility and personalization.
A08 AML, Identity & KYC. NEW
Early stage startups providing technologies and solutions that help businesses and financial institutions comply with Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations, verify the identity of their customers, and conduct Know Your Customer (KYC) processes. These startups aim to enhance security, reduce fraud, and ensure regulatory compliance.
A09 Lending. NEW
Early stage startups focused on developing innovative platforms or services to facilitate the borrowing and lending of money. These startups aim to streamline the lending process, making it more accessible, efficient, and user-friendly for both borrowers and lenders, often leveraging technology to disrupt traditional lending models, offering alternative solutions to traditional bank loans.
A10 Digital Assets & Cryptocurrency. NEW
Early stage startups that have leveraged digital assets – such as cryptocurrencies, tokenized assets, stablecoins, or other blockchain-based innovations – to disrupt traditional financial models. The work should demonstrate increased efficiency, faster transaction processing, and reduced costs, with an emphasis on regulatory compliance and industry impact.
A11 Mergers & Acquisitions. NEW
Early stage startups focused on developing innovative solutions or platforms to facilitate, streamline, and optimize the process of mergers, acquisitions, and other forms of corporate restructuring. These startups focus on leveraging technology and expertise to assist companies, private equity firms, and investment banks in managing the complexities of M&A transactions.
A12 Risk Management. NEW
Early stage startups focused on developing innovative solutions and technologies to help organizations identify, assess, mitigate, and monitor risks. These risks can span various areas, including financial, operational, strategic, and compliance. The aim of these startups is to provide tools and services that enhance an organization's ability to manage uncertainties and protect against potential threats. This may include, but is not limited to, innovations in credit risk modelling, liquidity risk management, regulatory compliance solutions, and climate-related financial risk evaluation tools.
A13 InsurTech. NEW
Early stage startups that have transformed insurance through digital innovation and intelligent automation. This may include, but is not limited to, predictive analytics engines, automated underwriting platforms, personalized policy tools, embedded insurance solutions, and digital claims systems that enhance accessibility, efficiency, and customer experience across the insurance lifecycle.
A14 AI & Automation. NEW
Early stage startups that have leveraged artificial intelligence and automation to transform financial operations, customer experiences, or decision-making processes. The work should demonstrate how the organization has implemented AI or automation technologies to drive efficiency, accuracy, scalability, or innovation within the financial sector.
B. Purpose
This section celebrates startups in financial services and technology that are driving societal change, promoting sustainability, and creating strong, impactful brand identities.
B01 Financial Inclusion. NEW
Early stage startups that provide underserved or marginalized groups with greater access to financial services. This may include, but is not limited to, efforts in offering affordable banking, credit, insurance, savings, or payment services to those traditionally excluded from the financial system.
B02 Environmental Social Governance (ESG). NEW
Early stage startups that have successfully integrated Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into their operations, products, or services. This may include, but is not limited to, initiatives that promote green finance and environmental sustainability, advance financial inclusion and social equity, foster diversity and community engagement, and demonstrate transparent governance, ethical decision-making, and regulatory compliance.
B01 Financial Inclusion. NEW
Early stage startups that provide underserved or marginalized groups with greater access to financial services. This may include, but is not limited to, efforts in offering affordable banking, credit, insurance, savings, or payment services to those traditionally excluded from the financial system.
B02 Environmental Social Governance (ESG). NEW
Early stage startups that have successfully integrated Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into their operations, products, or services. This may include, but is not limited to, initiatives that promote green finance and environmental sustainability, advance financial inclusion and social equity, foster diversity and community engagement, and demonstrate transparent governance, ethical decision-making, and regulatory compliance.
C. Marketing Strategy
This section celebrates startups in financial services and technology that use clear, effective marketing and brand strategy to drive awareness, engagement, and adoption.
C01 Marketing & Brand Activation. NEW
Early stage startups that have delivered either in-house or with agency partners, outstanding marketing campaigns, brand activations, or rebranding initiatives to drive awareness, engagement, or adoption of their offering. This should demonstrate how it delivered meaningful change, positively impacted brand perception, user engagement, or commercial performance, and positioned the brand effectively in a competitive market.
C01 Marketing & Brand Activation. NEW
Early stage startups that have delivered either in-house or with agency partners, outstanding marketing campaigns, brand activations, or rebranding initiatives to drive awareness, engagement, or adoption of their offering. This should demonstrate how it delivered meaningful change, positively impacted brand perception, user engagement, or commercial performance, and positioned the brand effectively in a competitive market.