In September and October, FinTech Frontier will present a series of virtual events featuring diverse “dream teams” of venture capitalists, founders and corporate champions to explore the future of fintech and showcase startups. Additionally, FinTech Frontier will present a Pitch Competition to accelerate the best and boldest ideas to create the future of fintech. A prize pool of $60,000 will be awarded to winning pitches that address the challenges posed by FinTech Frontier founding partners.
Fintech, or financial technology, is tech-driven innovation that is transforming every aspect of financial services, from consumer-facing experiences to back-office operations. FinTech Frontier is a future-focused partnership between Cincinnati-based, industry-leading financial services corporations and Fintech-focused entrepreneurs, powered by Cintrifuse, Cincinnati’s startup catalyst. Western & Southern Financial Group and Fifth Third Bank are the founding partners. The initiative is being launched with a series of virtual events designed to accelerate the future of finance from the Greater Cincinnati region.
“Tech-based startups are reshaping every part of the financial services industry,” said John Barrett, Chairman, President and CEO, Western & Southern Financial Group. “While most of the attention and investment have focused on the nation’s coasts, Greater Cincinnati has a unique opportunity to drive innovation from the center of the country. Fintech Frontier is well-positioned to rapidly accelerate that growth.”
“Fintech Frontier is a place for companies inside and outside financial services to find innovations for tomorrow, and for startups to find partners,” said Tim Spence, executive vice president and Head of Consumer Bank, Payments and Strategy for Fifth Third Bancorp. “Cincinnati is one of only a few US cities to house the headquarters or major operations of large banks, insurance companies, and payments processors. The fintech ecosystem continues to grow and Fintech Frontier will highlight Cincinnati as part of the growing Midwest region as a hub for financial technology.”
“Greater Cincinnati has the concentration of capital, talent, technology, and industry leadership to be a game-changing player in FinTech,” said Cintrifuse CEO Pete Blackshaw, whose organization is driving strategic focus on areas where Cincinnati has the greatest right to win. “We’re excited — through the FinTech Frontier initiative — to help accelerate the potential of our region to be an epicenter of FinTech innovation.”
FinTech Frontier schedule of events:
Sep. 3, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
FinTech Transformation: How FinTech is pivoting in the age of pandemic, extreme disruption, and bold new possibilities.
Speakers:
Sarah Anderson, Cintrifuse Syndicate Fund
David Golden, Revolution Ventures
Jennifer Fitzgerald, Policygenuis
Martha Notaras, Brewer Lane Ventures
Wole Coaxum, MoCaFi
Sep. 17, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
FinTech Personalization: How FinTech is embracing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to be more precise, more personal and more private at the same time.
Speakers: TBA
Oct. 1, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Main Street Imagination: How FinTech is finding exciting new ways to enable financial health, wellness and access for every American household.
Speakers: TBA
Oct. 15, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
MidWest Activation: How and where FinTech is emerging from the heart of America
Speakers: TBA
Oct. 29
Fintech Frontier Pitch Competition, part of Startup Cincy Week.
