FinTech Innovation Summit

1.14.25 -- 1.16.25

Join us for an immersive day of FinTech Programming! 

Built w/

Supported by

Our lab is designed for >>

With top-notch programming in key areas, this lab is all about solving challenges, teaming up, and getting plugged into 1871’s full innovation scene.

Growth startups

Late startups

Corporate innovators

Built with industry experts

Xiaochen Zhang 

CEO, FinTech4Good and Executive Director & Chief Responsible AI Officer, AI 2030

The path to becoming a successful FinTech entrepreneur is fraught with challenges. You don’t have to navigate this journey alone. Join the 1871 FinTech Innovation Lab and immerse yourself in a dynamic, global FinTech ecosystem. Here, you’ll find inspiring mentors, strategic investors, talented collaborators, and a supportive community—all dedicated to your growth. This is why I’m thrilled to be an Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) at the Lab. Together, we can turn your ambitious FinTech dreams into reality. Take the leap. Shape the future. Join us now.”

Day 1: Showcase

Pitch Showcase and Reception for the FinTech Innovation Lab Cohort. Discover cutting-edge innovations, expand your network, and participate in roundtable discussions with leading corporate innovators.

Day 2: Summit

This event connects 250+ startups, investors, corporate partners, industry experts & public attendees all in one place!

 

Lab breakdown

Next Cohort: Fall 2024

At a glance

Run time:
10.14.24 -1.17.25
Time commitment:
1 Week / month 4 months
Experience: 
Immersive vertical & in-personal weeks w/ a capstone Summit event

Getting started

Application phase:  08.05.24 – 09.06.24

Immersive week 1: 

10.14.24 – 10.18.24 [Virtual]

 

Immersive week 2: 

11.18.24 – 11.22.24 [In-Person]

 

Immersive week 3: 

12.16.24 – 12.20.24 [Virtual]

 

Immersive week 4:

 1.13.25 – 1.17.25 [In-Person]

 

Innovation Summit: 

1.15.25 – 1.16.25 [In-Person]

Focus Areas in FinTech for Lab 2024

Payments

These payment innovations aim to improve the way payments are processed, managed, and secured, benefiting both businesses and consumers.

Frictionless payment (B2C Payment):

Payment innovations which eliminate any friction or complications in the transaction process. Frictionless payments can be achieved through various technologies and methods.

• Mobile wallet payments
• Online one-click checkout payments
• Software integrated payments
• Connected car/home/city payments (IoT-enabled)
• Personalized digital offers (placement/redemption)
• Advanced authentication (password to passkey)

 Seamless payment (B2B Payment):

Payment innovations which streamline and improve transactions between businesses. Digital Invoicing and Payment Platforms, Virtual Cards, Cross-Border Payment Solutions, Supply Chain Finance Platforms and Embedded Finance Solutions.

Payment Safety and Security:

Fraud detection, Authentication solutions, Regulatory compliance solutions.

Banking

The banking innovations aim to disrupt traditional models and introducing new ways of delivering banking services.

Digital Banking:

Digital banking provides traditional banking services online or via mobile devices, eliminating branch visits. EX. Chatbots, instant account opening, authentication, digital wallets, mobile payments, financial inclusion solutions.

Open Banking:

Allows third-party financial providers to access consumer banking data via application programming interfaces (APIs). Ex. Payment initiation, personal finance management, credit scoring, and lending.

Compliance/ Risk Management:

Innovations that provide advanced tools and solutions to maintain regulatory standards and mitigate risks. E.g., AML/KYC solutions, RegTech platforms, risk management, fraud detection, and compliance.

Emerging FinTech

Utilizing cutting-edge technologies to develop new financial services and improve existing ones.

Digital Identity Verification:

Utilizing biometric and digital technologies to verify customer identities quickly and securely, facilitating access to financial services.

Blockchain and DLT based FinTech solutions:

Transform financial services with decentralized, secure, transparent, and efficient technologies for payments, lending, and asset management.

Cybersecurity Innovations:

Developing advanced security measures to protect against financial fraud and cyber threats.

Data, advanced analytics, and quantum computing:

Harnessing big data, advanced analytics, and quantum computing for innovative, efficient, and powerful financial solutions. e.g. predictive analytics, personalized financial services, quantum-based, new innovations.

Anchor partner

“At Discover, we strive to be the leading Digital Bank and Payments Network with a focus on Customer interactions as our #1 priority. AI helps drive insights from patterns of Customer needs in a faster, more accurate, and timely manner.”

Keith Toney, EVP / Chief Data & Analytics Officer @ Discover

Join the lab

The experience is open to many players within the FinTech innovation community. They offer a specialized value to each other, while also getting unique interests met.

Early stage startups

For an early FinTech company with a demonstrated product market fit.

Exclusive benefits
  • Share their product with Corporate innovators and VCs
  • Level up their product and business strategy
  • Create a network of peers in their industry
  • Get advisory from the best FinTech operators tech companies

Growth scaler

For a series b+ FinTech companies interested in making their name and influencing major industry outcomes.

Exclusive benefits
  • Access to FinTech-curious corporations exploring their strategy
  • Emerge as a showcased thought leader
  • Connect with the largest operators + early startups innovating
  • Explore curated connections to potential partners and VCs
  • Network with leaders in the industry
  • Scale with new tech talent interested in FinTech
  • Give back by mentoring early-stage startups

Corporate
aspirationals & experts

For a corporation exploring FinTech solutions, solving for legal restraints, and product pipeline.

Exclusive benefits
  • Network with FinTech innovators
  • Amplify your industry leadership with press, events, and more
  • Engage in curated networking and exclusive events
  • Activate your employees with engagement points
  • Connect with tech talent interested in the FinTech industry
  • Give back by mentoring early-stage startups
  • Explore curated connections to potential partners and VCs
  • Sit on the 1871 AI Innovation Advisory Council

Lab breakdown

The lab is made up of 4-weeks of immersive programming and culminates with a capstone-like event, our AI Innovation Summit. 

Startup recruitment & application

Apps due by

03.10.23

2023 Immersive Lab

Week 1

4.3.23 - 4.7.23 [Virtual]

Week 2

5.1.23 - 5.5.23 [In-person]

Week 3

5.30.23 - 6.02.23 [Virtual]

Week 4

6.26.23 - 6.30.23 [In-person]

2023 AI Innovation Summit

Public showcase

6.29.23

2023 AI Innovation Summit

Join us on 6.29.23 for the first-ever event to link early stage startups, growth scalers, corporate innovators, mentors, venture capitalists, and community leaders in ALL that is happening in AI innovation.

Program supporters

Thanks to the following companies for supporting our immersive week program + summit event.