IA Engine opens applications for eighth FinTech accelerator cohort and expands global partnership programme
The Investment Association (IA) today opens applications for the eighth cohort of its annual Engine Innovator Programme, a FinTech accelerator for the investment management industry. Engine is the IA’s specialist FinTech hub, working with over 150 FinTech firms and partners to fuel the adoption of technology within investment management.
Technologies such as artificial intelligence and tokenisation are transforming our sector and offer huge potential for the future of investment management. The Innovator Programme supports FinTech firms focused on developing solutions for investments, operations, and distribution across the investment value chain.
Successful applicants will receive expert mentoring and industry exposure through the Engine Advisory Panel, made up of 30 industry leaders, along with support from IA policy experts. The programme culminates with a showcase opportunity at our Global Emergent Technology conference in March 2025.
Engine is delighted to announce that Simon Swords, Managing Director of Fundipedia and alumni of the Engine Innovator programme, joins the Engine Advisory Panel as an advisor. His FinTech experience will develop enhanced processes and engagement to provide valuable insight for asset managers and FinTechs seeking to work together.
Engine Innovator Programme applications run simultaneously with applications for the SPARKS Programme, which is a separate initiative that assists pre-seed stage FinTech firms in validating and further developing their proposed solution for the investment management industry. The SPARKS Programme will be welcoming its fourth cohort this autumn.
Engine has also continued to build global momentum. Leveraging our strong international relationships and the global appetite for innovation and growth in the FinTech space, we are excited to announce Engine’s latest partnership with the Uzbekistan Ministry for Digital Technology, and our upcoming partnership with FinTech Poland, which is set to be formalised in the coming days.
These innovative alliances are part of our Global Partner Programme, which has seen us sign Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with 14 key asset management and technology centres across the globe to provide an international view of available FinTech solutions and to better facilitate the exchange of FinTech insights between markets.
Gillian Painter, Head of Membership and Engine at the Investment Association, said: “FinTech firms have been a beacon of growth in both the UK domestic market and overseas. At the forefront of innovation in the investment management industry, FinTech is leading the way with technologies including AI and tokenisation, developing better outcomes and choices for investors. We are excited to open applications for the next cohort of Engine’s Innovator and SPARKS Programmes, which offer FinTech firms unique mentoring, training opportunities, and industry networking. Our programmes aim to create a positive impact on the industry, as evidenced by the success of past cohorts."
Duncan Stevens, CEO at Gretel, Engine Innovator Programme Cohort 5, said: “We were delighted to participate in Cohort 5 of the Innovator programme. During that time, we received significant and material support and some really useful introductions to a number of our target clients. The ongoing support from both the Investment Association and the Advisory Panel members evidence what a proactive and forward-thinking body these parties represent.”
Simon Swords, Managing Director at Fundipedia, Engine Innovator Programme Cohort 4, said: “Our participation in the 2020 cohort generated over £1m per year of new annual revenue that simply would not have been accessible without the support of the Engine and its panel. I’m delighted to be supporting the Engine Advisory Panel and look forward to helping other FinTechs accelerate their growth journey too.”
Applications for the Innovator and SPARKS Programmes are now open and close on Thursday 21 November. To read more about Engine’s Innovator Programme and SPARKS Programme, click here.
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Helen Ayres, Head of Communications: [email protected]
T: +44 (0)20 7269 4620
Ellen Hodgetts, Communications Manager: [email protected]
T: +44 7548841289
Ismail Abdi, Communications Executive: [email protected]
T: +44 7596 872575
IA Press Office: [email protected]
About the Investment Association (IA):
- The IA champions UK investment management, supporting British savers, investors and businesses. Our 250 members manage £9.1 trillion of assets and the investment management industry supports 126,400 jobs across the UK.
- Our mission is to make investment better. Better for clients, so they achieve their financial goals. Better for companies, so they get the capital they need to grow. And better for the economy, so everyone prospers.
- Our purpose is to ensure investment managers are in the best possible position to:
- Build people’s resilience to financial adversity
- Help people achieve their financial aspirations
- Enable people to maintain a decent standard of living as they grow older
- Contribute to economic growth through the efficient allocation of capital.
- The money our members manage is in a wide variety of investment vehicles including authorised investment funds, pension funds and stocks and shares ISAs.
- The UK is the second largest investment management centre in the world, after the US and manages 37% of all assets managed in Europe.
About Engine:
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Engine is the Investment Association’s FinTech hub, launched in 2018.
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Engine’s mission is simple: To fuel the adoption of technology within investment management, for the benefit and changing needs of clients.
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We’re working with 150+ FinTech firms and partners across the investment value chain to open tech-driven possibilities and solve the challenges faced by investment firms, both big and small.
