Startup
The Startup Award celebrates ground-breaking innovation, technology and problem solving for early and growth stage startups.
Overview
To be eligible for this award your startup must have been in operation for less than 5 years. Any startup with incorporation dates before January 1, 2020 will not be accepted.
For Startups, the eligibility dates are January 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025. The work being judged should have first been implemented within this eligibility period. Exceptionally, category D04. Sustained Success has an eligibility period of July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2025.
Technology entered may be at prototype/pre-production stage but pre-development ideas/concepts are not eligible.
The same piece of work can either enter into Section A. Early Stage or Section B. Growth Stage. However, the same piece of work may only be entered a maximum of two times in ‘A. Early Stage’ or ‘B. Growth Stage’.
All client testimonial videos and demo films must be subtitled in English.
For Startups, the eligibility dates are January 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025. The work being judged should have first been implemented within this eligibility period. Exceptionally, category D04. Sustained Success has an eligibility period of July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2025.
Technology entered may be at prototype/pre-production stage but pre-development ideas/concepts are not eligible.
The same piece of work can either enter into Section A. Early Stage or Section B. Growth Stage. However, the same piece of work may only be entered a maximum of two times in ‘A. Early Stage’ or ‘B. Growth Stage’.
All client testimonial videos and demo films must be subtitled in English.
A. Early Stage
The work in this section are in Seed to Series A stage funding. The work must still be demonstrable, concepts alone will not be permitted.
*You may enter the same piece of work a maximum of two times in Section A. Early Stage
A01 Banking.
Early stage startups that focus on providing innovative financial services or products, 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.
Early stage startups that focus on developing innovative solutions for facilitating financial transactions and 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.
Early stage startups that focus on developing innovative technologies and solutions to 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.
Early stage startups that have made significant contributions to the development and enhancement of the underlying infrastructure that supports the fintech ecosystem. The work should demonstrate innovative, scalable, and reliable infrastructure solutions that enable fintech services and products to operate efficiently and securely.
A05 RegTech & SupTech.
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.
Early stage startups that focus on developing and bringing to market new and innovative technologies that have not been widely implemented or commercialised 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.
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.
Early stage startups focused on developing 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.
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 Climate-related Financial Risk.
Early stage startups who provide clients with enhanced risk measurement and evaluation capabilities to help clients better quantify, manage and report climate-related risks and opportunities. This may include, but is not limited to, advancements in ESG data analytics, carbon credit marketplaces, and climate-resilient investment platforms.
A11 Corporate Purpose & Social Responsibility.
Early stage startups that embed social responsibility into their DNA. This may include, but is not limited to, developing financial products or services aimed at underserved communities, ethical investing, climate-conscious fintech solutions, or technology designed to improve economic equity.
A12 Digital Assets.
Early stage startups focused on leveraging digital assets or blockchain technologies to disrupt traditional financial models. These startups aim to accelerate growth, improve customer access, and reduce operational costs while maintaining compliance with financial regulations.
A01 Banking.
Early stage startups that focus on providing innovative financial services or products, 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.
Early stage startups that focus on developing innovative solutions for facilitating financial transactions and 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.
Early stage startups that focus on developing innovative technologies and solutions to 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.
Early stage startups that have made significant contributions to the development and enhancement of the underlying infrastructure that supports the fintech ecosystem. The work should demonstrate innovative, scalable, and reliable infrastructure solutions that enable fintech services and products to operate efficiently and securely.
A05 RegTech & SupTech.
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.
Early stage startups that focus on developing and bringing to market new and innovative technologies that have not been widely implemented or commercialised 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.
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.
Early stage startups focused on developing 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.
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 Climate-related Financial Risk.
Early stage startups who provide clients with enhanced risk measurement and evaluation capabilities to help clients better quantify, manage and report climate-related risks and opportunities. This may include, but is not limited to, advancements in ESG data analytics, carbon credit marketplaces, and climate-resilient investment platforms.
A11 Corporate Purpose & Social Responsibility.
Early stage startups that embed social responsibility into their DNA. This may include, but is not limited to, developing financial products or services aimed at underserved communities, ethical investing, climate-conscious fintech solutions, or technology designed to improve economic equity.
A12 Digital Assets.
Early stage startups focused on leveraging digital assets or blockchain technologies to disrupt traditional financial models. These startups aim to accelerate growth, improve customer access, and reduce operational costs while maintaining compliance with financial regulations.
B. Growth Stage
The work in this section are Series B to Series D stage funding.
*You may enter the same piece of work a maximum of two times in Section B. Growth Stage
B01 Banking.
Growth stage startups that focus on providing innovative financial services or products, 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.
B02 Payments & Commerce.
Growth stage startups that focus on developing innovative solutions for facilitating financial transactions and 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.
B03 Fraud.
Growth stage startups that focus on developing innovative technologies and solutions to 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...
B04 Infrastructure.
Growth stage startups that have made significant contributions to the development and enhancement of the underlying infrastructure that supports the fintech ecosystem. The work should demonstrate innovative, scalable, and reliable infrastructure solutions that enable fintech services and products to operate efficiently and securely.
B05 RegTech & SupTech.
Growth 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.
B06 Novel technologies.
Growth stage startups that focus on developing and bringing to market new and innovative technologies that have not been widely implemented or commercialised before. These technologies often represent significant advancements over existing solutions, or they may introduce entirely new concepts or approaches in their respective fields
B07 Wealth & Pension.
Growth 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.
B08 AML, Identity & KYC.
Growth stage startups focused on developing 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.
B09 Lending.
Growth 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.
B10 Mergers & Acquisitions.
Growth stage startups focused on developing innovative solutions or platforms to facilitate, streamline, and optimise 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.
B11 Risk Management.
Growth stage startups focused on developing innovative solutions and technologies to help organisations 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 organisation's ability to manage uncertainties and protect against potential threats.
B12 Corporate Purpose & Social Responsibility.
Growth stage startups that embed social responsibility into their DNA. This may include, but is not limited to, developing financial products or services aimed at underserved communities, ethical investing, climate-conscious fintech solutions, or technology designed to improve economic equity.
B13 Digital Assets.
Growth stage startups that have leveraged digital assets or blockchain technologies to disrupt traditional financial models. These startups aim to accelerate growth, improve customer access, and reduce operational costs while maintaining compliance with financial regulations.
B01 Banking.
Growth stage startups that focus on providing innovative financial services or products, 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.
B02 Payments & Commerce.
Growth stage startups that focus on developing innovative solutions for facilitating financial transactions and 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.
B03 Fraud.
Growth stage startups that focus on developing innovative technologies and solutions to 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...
B04 Infrastructure.
Growth stage startups that have made significant contributions to the development and enhancement of the underlying infrastructure that supports the fintech ecosystem. The work should demonstrate innovative, scalable, and reliable infrastructure solutions that enable fintech services and products to operate efficiently and securely.
B05 RegTech & SupTech.
Growth 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.
B06 Novel technologies.
Growth stage startups that focus on developing and bringing to market new and innovative technologies that have not been widely implemented or commercialised before. These technologies often represent significant advancements over existing solutions, or they may introduce entirely new concepts or approaches in their respective fields
B07 Wealth & Pension.
Growth 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.
B08 AML, Identity & KYC.
Growth stage startups focused on developing 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.
B09 Lending.
Growth 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.
B10 Mergers & Acquisitions.
Growth stage startups focused on developing innovative solutions or platforms to facilitate, streamline, and optimise 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.
B11 Risk Management.
Growth stage startups focused on developing innovative solutions and technologies to help organisations 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 organisation's ability to manage uncertainties and protect against potential threats.
B12 Corporate Purpose & Social Responsibility.
Growth stage startups that embed social responsibility into their DNA. This may include, but is not limited to, developing financial products or services aimed at underserved communities, ethical investing, climate-conscious fintech solutions, or technology designed to improve economic equity.
B13 Digital Assets.
Growth stage startups that have leveraged digital assets or blockchain technologies to disrupt traditional financial models. These startups aim to accelerate growth, improve customer access, and reduce operational costs while maintaining compliance with financial regulations.
C. Startup Partnerships
Startup partnerships that have been brought to life through agility, innovation, and fresh perspectives to drive new growth, create breakthrough solutions, or disrupt traditional markets.
C01 Partnership between Early Stage Startups.
Partnerships between early stage startups that demonstrate innovation, synergy and mutual growth. The work should demonstrate how the partnership has successfully leveraged each other's strengths to create significant value, overcome challenges or achieve business objectives.
C02 Partnership between Early Stage and Growth Startup.
Partnership between an early stage and growth stage startup that has significantly contributed to the success of both organisations. The work should demonstrate how the strategic collaboration between startups at different stages of development can lead to innovative solutions, accelerated growth and mutual benefits.
C03 Partnerships between Growth Startups.
Partnerships between growth stage startups that demonstrate innovation, synergy and mutual growth. The work should demonstrate how the partnership has successfully leveraged each other's strengths to create significant value, overcome challenges or achieve business objectives.
C01 Partnership between Early Stage Startups.
Partnerships between early stage startups that demonstrate innovation, synergy and mutual growth. The work should demonstrate how the partnership has successfully leveraged each other's strengths to create significant value, overcome challenges or achieve business objectives.
C02 Partnership between Early Stage and Growth Startup.
Partnership between an early stage and growth stage startup that has significantly contributed to the success of both organisations. The work should demonstrate how the strategic collaboration between startups at different stages of development can lead to innovative solutions, accelerated growth and mutual benefits.
C03 Partnerships between Growth Startups.
Partnerships between growth stage startups that demonstrate innovation, synergy and mutual growth. The work should demonstrate how the partnership has successfully leveraged each other's strengths to create significant value, overcome challenges or achieve business objectives.
D. Growth & Expansion
The work in this section celebrates startups that showcase growth, scaled operations, expanded market presence, and achieved significant milestones in revenue, customer acquisition, or product development.
D01 Launch.
A launch, expansion or significant product roll out that led to substantial business growth. The work should demonstrate excellence in scaling operations, entering new markets or launching new products or services, driving significant business impact.
D02 Cross Border Expansion.
Startups that have successfully expanded their operations into new international markets. The work should demonstrate strategic vision, adaptability and operational excellence in navigating the challenges of cross border expansion, while achieving business growth.
D03 Business Growth (Instant Impact).
Startups that have shown rapid and significant growth shortly after launch. The work should demonstrate how the startup has quickly scaled their operations, expanded their market presence, or achieved substantial milestones in a relatively short time frame.
D04 Sustained Success.
Startups that have shown consistent growth, resilience, and ongoing success over a longer period, typically beyond the initial phase of rapid growth that a startup may experience. The work should demonstrate how the startup has not only launched successfully but has managed to maintain and build on their success.
* There is an increased eligibility for this category of 3 years: July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2025.
D01 Launch.
A launch, expansion or significant product roll out that led to substantial business growth. The work should demonstrate excellence in scaling operations, entering new markets or launching new products or services, driving significant business impact.
D02 Cross Border Expansion.
Startups that have successfully expanded their operations into new international markets. The work should demonstrate strategic vision, adaptability and operational excellence in navigating the challenges of cross border expansion, while achieving business growth.
D03 Business Growth (Instant Impact).
Startups that have shown rapid and significant growth shortly after launch. The work should demonstrate how the startup has quickly scaled their operations, expanded their market presence, or achieved substantial milestones in a relatively short time frame.
D04 Sustained Success.
Startups that have shown consistent growth, resilience, and ongoing success over a longer period, typically beyond the initial phase of rapid growth that a startup may experience. The work should demonstrate how the startup has not only launched successfully but has managed to maintain and build on their success.
* There is an increased eligibility for this category of 3 years: July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2025.
E. Financial Inclusion
E01 Financial Inclusion.
Innovative solutions that provide underserved or marginalised 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.