Accenture Announces 11 Selected Startups for FinTech Innovation Lab Asia-Pacific 2021

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) today announced 11 leading fintech companies that have been selected to participate in the FinTech Innovation Lab Asia Pacific 2021, co-hosted with Cyberport Hong Kong. These selected companies were officially welcomed by the guests of honor, namely Christopher Hui, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), and Nelson Chow, Chief Fintech Officer at the Fintech Facilitation Office, Authority Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA).

The Lab program is Accenture's flagship global accelerator program, lasting 12 weeks. In this program, selected fintech startups will receive guidance from leading financial institutions to assist them in perfecting and scaling up their business. Since its launch in 2014, The Lab has received more than 1.350 applications, with 59 companies alumni of the program having raised over US$716 million in funding.

This year, the program received applications from 28 countries. Applicants are invited to discuss key topics in financial services, including digital currency, standards and risk management Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG or Environmental, Social, Governance), increasing the level of client engagement and development of management services finance and insurance in Asia Pacific.

The following are the eleven selected startups from six countries that utilize technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and big data analytics:

1. Advanced Alternative Investment Systems Ltd (Canada)
2. Alpha Fintech (Singapore)
3. Asiabots (Hong Kong)
4. CONTRENDIAN Limited (Hong Kong)
5. Diginex (Hong Kong)
6. IPification (Hong Kong)
7. Lagoons (Israel)
8. Perx Technologies (Singapore)
9. PT Ayopop Technology Indonesia (Ayoconnect) (Indonesia)
10. Qantev (French)
11. Seleya Technologies (Hong Kong)

The eleven startups will work closely with senior executives from participating financial institutions, including AIA; Bank of America; China Construction Bank (Asia); Credit Suisse; Generali; Hang Seng Bank; HSBC; ICBC (Asia); J.P. Morgan; Macquarie Group; Malayan Banking Berhad; Manulife; Morgan Stanley; Mox Bank; QBE; Societe Generale; Sun Life, and Zurich Insurance Company Ltd.

“As adoption of fintech solutions accelerates in the Asia Pacific region, we remain committed to developing a healthy and thriving ecosystem for startups and financial institutions,” said Fergus Gordon, Managing Director of Accenture, who leads their banking industry practice in Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. “This region is a fertile ground for growth and innovation in the financial services industry. The Lab will be a platform for participating startups and financial institutions to come together and explore viable development methods to accelerate the progress of the financial services sector in the region.”

The Lab 2021 officially kicks off in the first week of September, giving startups access to Accenture's global ecosystem and partners. This year The Lab also forged a closer partnership with Hong Kong Cyberport, providing startups with the opportunity to participate in the Cyberport Incubation Program (CIP). The two-year program will provide various business support, professional, and mentorship guidance to selected startups.

Peter Yan, CEO of Cyberport said, “As a leading fintech hub in Hong Kong, Cyberport is delighted to be collaborating again with Accenture to host the Asia Pacific FinTech Innovation Lab. A group of leading fintech startups from around the world will gather in this program, and we will maximize their potential through comprehensive training with full support from reputable financial institutions.”

The program will culminate in November, when participants present their solutions on Demo Day virtually to an audience of venture capitalists and financial industry executives.