Participants Announced: Financial Technology Ventures Line up for Kiwibank Fintech Accelerator 2018
Whether you’re a freelancer wanting an easier way to do your taxes, you’re wanting to make informed financial decisions,
or you’re looking for a whānau-based P2P lender, the companies taking part in the second Kiwibank FinTech Accelerator
have you covered. These three ideas are just some of the ten ventures taking part in the upcoming accelerator, aiming to
make Kiwis’ lives better through FinTech.
The programme follows on from the inaugural 2017 Kiwibank FinTech Accelerator with its cohort of eight teams, including
the investment platform Sharesies. “Being part of the Kiwibank FinTech Accelerator helped us turn our idea into a
business and provided us with the momentum, tools, and support we needed along the way,” Sharesies co-founder Sonya
Williams says.
Beginning 12 February in Wellington, this year’s cohort promises to be just as disruptive as the first. Alongside the
three ideas mentioned above, there are companies using blockchain technologies, asset management solutions for young
people, and chatbots all in the mix. The ten teams were selected through a competitive application process that saw 66
teams apply.
“We’re thrilled with the high quality of ventures that are taking part this year,” says Laura Reitel, the Programme
Director. “Each of them represents a very different approach to FinTech and shows the enormous scope of the industry.
We’re looking forward to helping them validate and launch new products to market.”
Alongside eight New Zealand teams there will also be two international teams taking part, one from Singapore and the
other from China. Both ventures are coming into the programme for the opportunity to validate their business offerings
and to test their products within New Zealand’s progressive economy. They will also offer New Zealand teams in-depth
knowledge into the Asian markets.
Kiwibank spokesperson Peter Fletcher-Dobson says of the programme:
“We’re blown away by the quality and breadth of teams that applied for Kiwibank’s second FinTech Accelerator. We’ve seen
a step-up in the maturity of teams, and the strong international interest and calibre of entrepreneurs, bodes well for
growing FinTech in New Zealand.
We have a great mix of teams and ideas covering technologies like blockchain, AI, bots, and robo-advice, and also truly
progressive FinTech themes like, insuretech, digital ID, financial inclusion, and payments innovations. We’re excited to
be helping these firms establish themselves and stamp their mark on the global stage.”
Callaghan Innovation's Startup Manager, Elena Higgison, says with a significant amount of R going into financial technology, Kiwi FinTech startups are enjoying a wealth of opportunity.
"Growth for New Zealand's 11 big FinTech companies in 2017 was an impressive 48.5%. That's 4-times faster than agritech
and 16-times faster than heavy manufacturing,” says Ms Higgison.
“People and businesses are desperate for technology that makes financial management smarter, quicker, and cheaper –
whether it be monotonous accounting tasks, getting complex systems working together, or improved customer service. As
you can see with this group, there is no shortage of potential for new ideas in this space.”
Confirmed teams are:
BOT THE BUILDER
By utilising artificial intelligence and conversational interfaces, Bot the Builder is changing the way financial
services companies communicate and develop relationships with customers. They integrate systems, services, business
logic, and APIs into a natural, conversational interface (i.e chatbot).
CENTRALITY
The rise of crypto currencies and the use of blockchain are opening up new opportunities and challenges for the world of
finance. A key challenge is the ability to link digital identity to real world identity in a way that meets regulatory
hurdles. Together, Centrality and Kiwibank are exploring this opportunity by developing a proof-of-concept for a digital
identity on the blockchain that meets these regulatory thresholds.
CHOICE
Choice is a new way to pay in New Zealand that reduces and redistributes transaction fees for businesses, giving those
savings to Kiwi charities of your choice.
FLOWCOIN
Developing a new way of paying for recurring services and subscriptions, and for receiving recurring income. Flowcoin
lets you set up and manage these payments/receipts, and enables you to visualise at a glance who your money is flowing
to and how quickly.
HITKEY
With HitKey's intelligent smartphone-keyboard technology, consumers can make payments and access other financial
services functions within any social or chat applications such as Gmail, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram,
Snapchat, and Slack.
HNRY
Hnry is an online service that automates all tax and compliance activities for freelancers, contractors, and the
self-employed. They pay and file Income Taxes, Sales Tax (GST/VAT), and levies (ACC), as well as provide professional
insurances on a pay-as-you-go basis.
ILUMONY
Ilumony is a robo-advice platform helping more people access quality advice and make better financial decisions about
KiwiSaver, investment portfolios and cryptocurrency portfolios.
STASH
Stash is a simple visual management platform for valuable items that offers millenials a customised, fuss-free insurance
solution. Easy as.
TĀ KOHA
Tā Koha is a crowdlending platform for Māori entrepreneurs to raise capital by involving their whānau, their
communities, and those who want to see an equitable and inclusive funding landscape in Aotearoa.
Run by startup and innovation agency Creative HQ alongside Callaghan Innovation and Kiwibank, the Kiwibank FinTech
Accelerator is also sponsored by a group of innovation-focused NZ and multinational companies – Mastercard, Ando
Insurance, Deloitte, and Simmonds Stewart.
Ends
Creative HQ is a wholly-owned subsidiary of WREDA, Wellington’s Regional Economic Development Agency. We believe
Entrepreneurs are Everywhere.
WHAT IS LIGHTNING LAB?
Lightning Lab is New Zealand’s premier business acceleration programme. Lightning Lab gives young ventures access to
some of the world’s top coaches, mentors, and business minds. Ventures get a period of intense, focused attention that
will provide them with the opportunity to learn at a rapid pace. Lightning Lab has been running since 2013.
CONTACT DETAILS
Kelly Dare – Head of Marketing – Creative HQ
Ph: 022 535 5940
Email: kelly.dare@creativehq.co.nz
On Thu, 8 Feb 2018 at 10:10 AM, Kelly Dare <kelly.dare@creativehq.co.nz> wrote:
Morena!
Hope this email finds you well.
We're delighted to be able to announce the teams for the upcoming Kiwibank FinTech Accelerator. This year, we have a
huge range of teams coming into the Accelerator including a company helping freelancers do their taxes, one helping
people make better and informed financial decisions, and one that is focused on whanau-based P2P lending.
Many of these solutions are of interest to your readers and it would be great if Scoop wanted to feature any of these
teams.
Thanks and feel free to get in touch if you have any questions,
Kelly Dare
Head of Marketing - Creative HQ
PRESS RELEASE BEGINS
PARTICIPANTS ANNOUNCED: FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY VENTURES LINE UP FOR KIWIBANK FINTECH ACCELERATOR 2018
Whether you’re a freelancer wanting an easier way to do your taxes, you’re wanting to make informed financial decisions,
or you’re looking for a whānau-based P2P lender, the companies taking part in the second Kiwibank FinTech Accelerator
have you covered. These three ideas are just some of the ten ventures taking part in the upcoming accelerator, aiming to
make Kiwis’ lives better through FinTech.
The programme follows on from the inaugural 2017 Kiwibank FinTech Accelerator with its cohort of eight teams, including
the investment platform Sharesies. “Being part of the Kiwibank FinTech Accelerator helped us turn our idea into a
business and provided us with the momentum, tools, and support we needed along the way,” Sharesies co-founder Sonya
Williams says.
Beginning 12 February in Wellington, this year’s cohort promises to be just as disruptive as the first. Alongside the
three ideas mentioned above, there are companies using blockchain technologies, asset management solutions for young
people, and chatbots all in the mix. The ten teams were selected through a competitive application process that saw 66
teams apply.
“We’re thrilled with the high quality of ventures that are taking part this year,” says Laura Reitel, the Programme
Director. “Each of them represents a very different approach to FinTech and shows the enormous scope of the industry.
We’re looking forward to helping them validate and launch new products to market.”
Alongside eight New Zealand teams there will also be two international teams taking part, one from Singapore and the
other from China. Both ventures are coming into the programme for the opportunity to validate their business offerings
and to test their products within New Zealand’s progressive economy. They will also offer New Zealand teams in-depth
knowledge into the Asian markets.
Kiwibank spokesperson Peter Fletcher-Dobson says of the programme:
“We’re blown away by the quality and breadth of teams that applied for Kiwibank’s second FinTech Accelerator. We’ve seen
a step-up in the maturity of teams, and the strong international interest and calibre of entrepreneurs, bodes well for
growing FinTech in New Zealand.
We have a great mix of teams and ideas covering technologies like blockchain, AI, bots, and robo-advice, and also truly
progressive FinTech themes like, insuretech, digital ID, financial inclusion, and payments innovations. We’re excited to
be helping these firms establish themselves and stamp their mark on the global stage.”
Callaghan Innovation's Startup Manager, Elena Higgison, says with a significant amount of R going into financial technology, Kiwi FinTech startups are enjoying a wealth of opportunity.
"Growth for New Zealand's 11 big FinTech companies in 2017 was an impressive 48.5%. That's 4-times faster than agritech
and 16-times faster than heavy manufacturing,” says Ms Higgison.
“People and businesses are desperate for technology that makes financial management smarter, quicker, and cheaper –
whether it be monotonous accounting tasks, getting complex systems working together, or improved customer service. As
you can see with this group, there is no shortage of potential for new ideas in this space.”
Confirmed teams are:
BOT THE BUILDER
Bot the Builder is changing the way companies communicate, deliver services, and develop relationships with customers.
It gives organisations the ability to integrate systems, services, business logic, and APIs into a natural,
conversational interface like a chatbot.
CENTRALITY
The rise of crypto currencies and the use of blockchain are opening up new opportunities and challenges for the world of
finance. A key challenge is the ability to link digital identity to real world identity in a way that meets regulatory
hurdles. Together, Centrality, Kiwibank and Datacom are exploring this opportunity by developing a proof-of-concept for
a digital identity on the blockchain that meets these regulatory thresholds.
CHOICE
Choice is a new way to pay in New Zealand that reduces and redistributes transaction fees for businesses, giving those
savings to Kiwi charities of your choice.
FLOWCOIN
An alternative to operating regular money transfers, Flowcoin avoids expensive transaction fees by using blockchain
technology to record only the start and end of a flow.
HITKEY
With HitKey's intelligent smartphone-keyboard technology, consumers can make payments and access other financial
services functions within any social or chat applications such as Gmail, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram,
Snapchat, and Slack.
HNRY
Hnry is an online service that automates all tax and compliance activities for freelancers, contractors, and the
self-employed. They pay and file Income Taxes, Sales Tax (GST/VAT), and levies (ACC), as well as provide professional
insurances on a pay-as-you-go basis.
ILUMONY
Ilumony is a robo-advice platform helping more people access quality advice and make better financial decisions about
KiwiSaver, investment portfolios and cryptocurrency portfolios.
STASH
Stash is a simple visual management platform for valuable items that offers millennials a customised, fuss-free
insurance solution. Easy as.
TĀ KOHA
Tā Koha is a crowdlending platform for Māori entrepreneurs to raise capital by involving their whānau, their
communities, and those who want to see an equitable and inclusive funding landscape in Aotearoa.
Run by startup and innovation agency Creative HQ alongside Callaghan Innovation and Kiwibank, the Kiwibank FinTech
Accelerator is also sponsored by a group of innovation-focused NZ and multinational companies – Mastercard, Ando
Insurance, Deloitte, and Simmonds Stewart.
Ends