Here’s your weekly roundup of news about startup competitions, awards, co-working spaces, accelerators and any other exciting things happening in the UK tech sector.
Mastercard cohort
Mastercard has announced the names of five new startups joining is Start Path Global programme – the company’s initiative to support innovative later-stage startups operating in the e-commerce space.
The startups are as follows:
- London-based Divido, winner of ‘Best in FinTech’ at Tech City News’ Elevator Pitch LIVE, provides retailers and lenders with an omni-channel platform that allows their consumers to spread the cost of major purchases through installments.
- Endor, from Tel Aviv, is the first intelligence software platform that lets business users ask any predictive question and get high-quality results with unmatched accuracy and speed in any domain.
- Regalii works with more than 30 leading banks and fintech apps to give consumers an innovative way to manage their finances and pay their bills in the US and Latin America.
- Fluid AI combines AI and augmented reality to help banks and retailers create next generation customer experiences in branches and stores.
- NetPlusDotCom enables retailers to transition from ‘bricks’ to ‘clicks’ and support their customers with digital payments capabilities.
“FinTech startups around the world are designing a digital future,” said Amy Neale, vice president, Mastercard Start Path, adding: “They’re bringing a different approach to enhance customer choice and experience across the industry. Our work with these startups helps connect new technology with reliable, secure financial networks and processes to create an even more rewarding and seamless commerce experience.”
Mastercard has also opened the application period for its 2017 Start Path summer class, to be comprised of later stage startups.
Pfizer Healthcare Hub
Pfizer has announced the launch of the Pfizer Healthcare Hub: London, a new initiative to help established HealthTech startups.
By providing access to Pfizer’s network and resources, the hub aims to help late-stage startups to reach more patients and providers.
The pharmaceutical company is seeking to support startups who have developed a product or service ready for use by healthcare professionals which can show evidence of benefits to patients or clinicians. Startups will compete for a share of a grant of £56,000 and a year-long programme of support.
“I’m delighted that we’ll be launching the Pfizer Healthcare Hub here in the UK,” said Erik Nordkamp, Pfizer UK managing director.
“We live in a country that is already a centre for original thinking and innovation within healthcare and our goal is to accelerate the success of the brightest start-ups in this field and help them make a difference to patients,” he added.
Startups can apply here.
A RegTech cohort
SEI has announced the names of the startups joining Codify, the company’s new London-based RegTech incubator.
Three new firms have been selected to participate in Codify:
- Coinfirm is a blockchain technology company focused on compliance as a service. The startup’s platform provides actionable data to bring transparency and security to blockchain transactions, while addressing AML/CTF/Sanctions and counterparty risk management problems.
- Enforcd uses global regulatory enforcement data, news, and insights to help firms accurately identify, reduce, and predict risk, leading to improvements in efficiency, conduct, culture, and client outcomes, as well as a reduction of costs.
- Neuroprofiler is a MiFID II-compliant customer risk profiler for financial advisors that uses the sophisticated technology in behavioural finance to help investors determine their psychological investment profile. It aims to help suitability requirements as well as add value to the customer experience.
Applications are now open for entrants to join Codify in third-quarter 2017.
A chance to win £150K
Applications are now open for upSTART 2017, a startup pitching battle organised by Digital DNA.
UK, Irish and European startups working across the data, cybersecurity, FinTech, SaaS, IoT and wearables industries are encouraged to apply.
The deadline for submissions is 28th April.
A FinTech mentoring programme
Lloyds Banking Group and Innovate Finance are collaborating on a FinTech mentoring programme to help startups in the space develop their proposition.
In return for its support, Lloyds Banking Group will gain first-hand understanding of how the financial services landscape is changing.
Ian Lloyd, director, digital transformation and group design authority, said about the scheme: “I wanted to be involved in the Lloyds Bank FinTech mentoring programme to get an insight into the talent, ideas and trends emerging in the Finance sector.”
Spotcap Fellowship Programme
The Spotcat Fellowship Programme will seek to help individuals looking to pursue graduate or post-graduate studies in a FinTech related field.
Having launched this week, the programme will seek to help one individual per academic year with a £8,000.
“The rising cost of graduate and postgraduate studies combined with the UK’s impending exit from the European Union could create real challenges when it comes to ensuring a strong and healthy talent pipeline,” said Niels Turfboer, managing director of Spotcap.
“We have created the Spotcap Fellowship because we want to raise awareness of these issues and encourage the UK fintech industry to get involved in attracting and supporting the development of talent,” the MD added.
New data accelerator
Data Pitch will provide up to 50 European startups and SMES with up to €100K equity free funding, expert mentoring, investment opportunities and access to data from established businesses and the public sector.
The three-year project, funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020, will be delivered by The University of Southampton, the Open Data Institute, Portuguese innovation company Beta-i and French data marketplace platform Dawex.
Data Pitch is also recruiting established businesses and other organisations to share their data via a new secure data innovation lab, based at the University of Southampton.
Startups and SME’s will be able to apply for a place on Data Pitch from 1st July 2017. Successful startups will be selected in October and November 2017, and the first cohort will join in December 2017.
Each startup will be on the programme for 6 months.