WMNfintech
Elevate your fintech venture with our WMNfintech program, designed exclusively for women-founded & women-led fintech startups. Benefit from tailored support, resources, and mentorship from BMO Financial Group leaders as you redefine your services & solutions to transform the financial sector.
Applications closed
About the program
WMNfintech is 1871 & BMO Financial Group’s award-winning program designed to empower women startup founders as they create and continue to scale their services and solutions.
As North America’s largest women-fintech accelerator program, WMNfintech returns for its fifth consecutive year to continue supporting women in fintech and their startups through tailored mentorship, resources, and programming.
Founders who have participated in the program have created over 200+ jobs in their communities & have raised over $35M in capital.
Five startups will be selected to participate in the accelerator and mentoring initiative, free of charge.
Gain access to:
• 1:1 guidance and mentorship from industry experts at BMO Financial Group
• Six-month membership to 1871, including its space, resources, & roadmap of support
• Tailored curriculum focused on enterprise sales cycles, vendor management, information security, and risk & regulatory requirements
• Pitching opportunities for feedback, mentorship, & continued connections
• Exclusive alumni network
WMNfintech 2024 rundown
Application phase
Selection phase
Information session
Program timeline
The cohort meets for 4 immersive weeks, alternating between virtual & in-person experiences at BMO Tower in Chicago.
Orientation: 5.8.24
Week 1: 5.13.24 – 5.17.24 [Virtual]
Week 2: 6.17.24 – 6.21.24 [In person]
Week 3: 7.15.24 – 7.19.24 [Virtual]
Week 4: 9.16.24 – 9.20.24 [In person]
The program will also culminate in a cohort showcase, where participants will have the opportunity to share their business solutions & services directly with BMO executives.
Eligibility
Open to women-founded & women-led fintech startups who have:
- A working, assumptions-driven financial model & analytics tied to each relevant step of the customer’s journey
- A U.S. focused product and/or solution
- A built minimum viable product (MVP)
- A team consisting of more than 1 person
WMNfintech in the news
Our WMNfintech program & its cohort members are frequently featured in the news! Check out some of our recent clips:
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Five Women-Led Startups Selected for BMO Harris Bank and 1871 WMN•FINtech Program
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1871, BMO Bank Announce WMN-FINtech Accelerator’s Inaugural Class
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Meet the 5 startups in 1871’s first women-focused BMO Harris Bank accelerator
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How Millennials And Gen Z Could Reinvent The Banking Industry
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BMO Harris Bank Partners with Fintech Startup Hope Trust
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Five Women-Led Startups Selected for BMO Harris Bank and 1871 WMN•FINtech Program
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BMO Harris Bank, 1871 open applications for women-led fintech startup accelerator
About our WMNtech initiatives
WMNfintech is a part of WMNtech, our affinity offerings designed specifically for women founders & leaders in technology. Ranging from tailored & regular programming, mentorship, pitch competitions, & more, WMNtech serves women professionals from across the entire maturity curve & empowers them to succeed in every step of their career journey.Â
To learn more about our bi-annual programming for women professionals, check out our WMNtech Founders & WMNtech Leaders pages!
You’ll be in great company
We’re proud to open doors for women founders working in the fintech field, and we can’t wait to connect you with your next great opportunity! In addition to the program itself, participants become alumni to an exclusive community that includes financial institutions, venture capitalists, and industry leaders.
You’ll be in great company with alumni like Trustate, which leveraged the resources through the program to refine their product offering, access mentorship opportunities, and secure seed round funding.Â
Selection process
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- Round 1: General submission review
- Round 2: Selection Day with BMO
Our partner
A special thank you to our longtime partner BMO Financial Group for making WMNfintech possible!Â
