Startup competitions are the perfect platform for young and promising startups to gain international exposure, funding and mentorship. During these events, startup founders get to pitch to multiple investors, gain visibility, connect with industry leaders, and get valuable feedback.

With physical events steadily coming back around the world, we’ve compiled a list of ongoing awards and startup competitions for fintech startups to apply for ASAP.

The Search, Global Startups Tour – Fintech Abu Dhabi 2021

June – October 2021

Between June and October 2021, the Fintech Abu Dhabi Innovation Team will search the globe for the most innovative and inspiring fintech startups.

Each global search stop features dedicated panel discussions, fireside chats and pitching battles providing attendees with invigorating content around topics on the growth and adoption of fintech interconnecting across the globe plus the opportunity to see which fintech startups will be crowned winners and join the Fintech100 at Fintech Abu Dhabi 2021 in November.

The next search stops include Central Europe, Africa, the Americas, India, the Nordic and Baltic regions, Singapore, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, and Italy.

Inclusive Fintech 50

Application deadline: July 30, 2021

The Inclusive Fintech 50 initiative leverages a competitive process led by an independent judging panel of experts to identify 50 early-stage fintechs driving financial inclusion and resilience.

Inclusive Fintech 50 is looking for young fintech startups in advanced or emerging markets that offer a solution among credit, insurance, payments and remittances, savings and personal financial management, or infrastructure addressing special challenges of underserved customer segments.

Through this competition, the 50 selected fintechs will get to gain more visible, build valuable connections, and have the opportunity to participate in virtual pitch events with relevant investors and partners. These startups will also be featured and promoted across the global fintech ecosystem through a publication, as well as the Center for Financial Inclusion’s website, and social media.

2021 Fintech & Payments Future Digital Awards

Nomination deadline: July 30, 2021

Since 2008, the Future Digital Awards have been awarded to tech companies at the forefront of their respective fields: companies that deliver imaginative and innovative products or services which have the potential to disrupt their ecosystems and provide significant benefits to their target audience.

These awards aim to reward the most innovative vendors and solutions in the highly dynamic fintech and payments market, following a year of unprecedented market acceleration. This year’s Fintech & Payments Future Digital Awards cover the following six main categories: Banking Innovation, Fintech Innovation, Fraud & Security Innovation, Payment Innovation, Retail Innovation, and Judges’ Choice.

Slingshot 2021

Application deadline: August 01, 2021

In its fifth edition, Slingshot 2021 is looking for startups in four emerging challenge sectors – digital technologies (e.g. data and artificial intelligence, blockchain, 5G, cybersecurity, and consumer technologies), health and wellness, smart cities and sustainability – to showcase their game-changing solutions and products.

Shortlisted startups will get to pitch to a global audience of major investors, industry leaders, and thought leaders, be given the opportunity to develop corporate partnerships and join the Singapore Week of Innovation and TeCHnology 2021 (SWITCH 2021) in November 2021.

22^nd Banking Tech Awards

Nomination deadline: August 06, 2021

Now in their 22^nd year, the Banking Technology Awards recognize excellence and innovation in the use of IT in financial services worldwide, and the people who make it happen. The awards are open to banks, financial institutions, technology and service providers, teams and individuals.

There are 32 categories to choose from including one new category, Best Embedded Finance Initiative. This new category is intended to recognize a successful embedded finance initiative that has achieved measurable success based on innovation, impact and scalability and should demonstrate benefits to all the parties involved, in addition to delivering a viable product/service to the customer.

This year’s Banking Tech Awards ceremony will take place on November 24, more information will be announced soon.

Mastermind Competition & Summit 2021

Application deadline: August 09, 2021

The Mastermind Competition will take place on September 15, 2021, rewarding the brightest startups from all around the world and providing them with the opportunity to boost their business, meet with outstanding organizations, as well as venture capital (VC) firms and investors.

The Mastermind Competition is calling for global startups in fintech, deeptech and new space to join in the competition. The 7 best and most innovative startups of each category will be selected to pitch their projects in front of a jury composed of industry experts next September 15, 2021 during the Mastermind Summit.

Selected startups will be able to win cash-prizes up to EUR 15,000 and valuable supporting programs (acceleration, consulting, etc.), also get insights of and exposure to the European Union (EU) market.

2021 FinCon Fintech Startup Competition

Submission deadline: August 12, 2021

The 2021 FinCon Fintech Startup Competition is an opportunity for fintech startups to showcase their impact. 4 finalists and 2 alternate startups will be selected and announced by August 18, 2021. Finalists and alternates will each receive 2 Brand Passes (US$1,550 value) to FinCon21 taking place from September 22 to 25, 2021 in Austin, TX.

Finalists will give an 8-minute pitch in front of an audience and judges at the conference. Alternates will be able to give a 1-minute elevator pitch at the competition or take the place of one of the finalists in the event they are unable to present.

The winning startup will earn the title of Best of Show and win a US$1,500 prize.

2021 Singapore Fintech Festival (SFF) Global Fintech Awards

Submission deadline: August 31, 2021

The Singapore Fintech Festival (SFF) Global Fintech Awards recognize innovative fintech solutions by fintech companies, financial institutions and technology companies, as well as individuals and companies whose initiatives have contributed significantly to the fintech ecosystem.

The theme for the 2021 awards is “Emerging from a pandemic, the road to recovery”. As economies around the world look to recover and rebound from the impact of the pandemic, the awards seek to recognize fintech initiatives which have helped create new growth opportunities, transform industry practices and promoted financial inclusion amid challenging circumstances.

There are a total of 12 award categories and winners of the awards will be announced at the Singapore Fintech Festival 2021.

6^th Annual Australian Fintech Awards

Application deadline: September 17, 2021

The 6^th Annual Australian Fintech Awards will celebrate the achievements of the dynamic people and businesses comprising the Australian fintech sector.

These awards seek to recognize success in the fintech sector across 22 categories encompassing major trends including regtech, online lending, buy now pay later, paytech, wealthtech, fintech-bank collaboration, and open banking.

 

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