Fintech World Cup

The FinTech World Cup is an initiative organised by Trescon and powered by Ignyte that provides FinTech start-ups globally an opportunity to establish strategic alliances, partnerships, and connections, facilitating their organic growth and market expansion.

Innovate, compete, elevate Unleashing FinTech excellence

The FinTech World Cup is a platform designed to foster innovation, collaboration, and transformation within the financial technology sector. Open to early, mid, and late-stage start-ups, the FinTech World Cup encourages start-ups from all FinTech vertical to apply.

FinTech World Cup welcomes start-ups from all FinTech stages. Our review committee, comprising VCs, incubators, and angel investors, evaluates applicants based on:

Proven experience in company building

Innovation and creativity

Passion for start-ups

Funding or validation by a VC or incubator

FinTech World Cup welcomes start-ups at various stages:

Early stage

MVP
Clear understanding of competition
Realistic funding plan/strategy
The first team

Mid stage

Growth strategy
Scalable model
Team track record
Proof of concept (POC)
Path for scaling

Late stage

Growth strategy
Scalable model
Team track record
Proof of concept (POC)
Path for scaling
Path to exit

Each startup gets 7 minutes in total:

5

minutes to pitch

2

minutes for Q&A from judges

start-ups will be judged on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being least and 10 being highest) based on the following criteria:

Idea
Problem Statement
Business Model
Solution
Key Financials
Market
Traction
Team

Qualifier are held in collaboration with our esteemed regional partners. Start-ups submit their applications, which are evaluated by a panel of judges appointed by our partners. The top 10-15 start-ups from the pre-selection round pitch their innovative solutions to the panel of judges and audience at the FinTech World Cup Qualifiers.

Regional winners proceed to the Grand Finale, which will take place during the Dubai FinTech Summit on 13 May 2025 at Madinat Jumeirah.

Join the FinTech revolution

The FinTech World Cup offers start-ups a transformative journey towards industry recognition, strategic partnerships, and exponential growth. By participating, start-ups gain the chance to be part of a global movement driving innovation and shaping the future of FinTech and finance. Apply now and elevate your FinTech innovations to the world stage!

Selection and
Eligibility Criteria

FinTech World Cup encourages start-ups from all stages of the FinTech sector to apply. Our application review committee, consisting of representatives from venture capital firms, incubators, and angel investors, evaluates the applications based on a range of criteria:

Must have experience
building companies

Innovation & creativity in resume

Excited about start-ups

Has been funded or vetted by VC or startup incubator

Types of start-ups
and Expectations

FinTech World Cup welcomes start-ups at various stages:

Early Stage

MVP
Clear understanding of competition
Realistic funding plan/strategy
The first team

Mid Stage

Growth strategy
Scalable model
Team track record
Proof of concept (POC)
Path for scaling

Late Stage

Growth strategy
Scalable model
Team track record
Proof of concept (POC)
Path for scaling
Path to exit

Pitch Competition
Format

Each startup gets 7 minutes in total:

5

Minutes to pitch

2

Minutes for Q&A from the judging panel

Judging Criteria

start-ups will be judged on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being least and 10 being highest) based on the following criteria:

Idea
Problem Statement
Business Model
Solution
Key Financials
Market
Traction
Team

Idea
Problem Statement
Business Model
Solution
Key Financials
Market
Traction
Team

Regional Competitions

Regional competitions are conducted in collaboration with our esteemed regional partners. start-ups submit their applications, which undergo thorough evaluation by a panel of judges appointed by our regional partners. The top 10-15 start-ups from the pre-selection round get the opportunity to pitch their innovative solutions in front of both the judging panel and the audience during a live pitching event.

Winner Benefits - Regional Pitch Competition:

Mentorship and Networking

Winners receive mentorship from esteemed judges and engage with VCs and community experts, gaining invaluable insights and industry connections.

Trescon
Credits

Winners are awarded Trescon Credits worth US$ 5000, which can be utilized towards sponsoring or exhibiting at any Trescon event worldwide.

Exhibition
Opportunity

Winners secure a free exhibition space at the Dubai FinTech Summit 2024 within the Startup Exhibitor Category, enhancing their visibility and engagement.

Trophy of
Recognition

A prestigious Regional Pitch Competition Winner Trophy celebrates the achievements of the startup and highlights their innovative approach.

Access to Grand Finale

Regional winners earn the privilege of participating in the Grand Finale pitch competition at the Dubai FinTech Summit 2024, held on 6-7 May.

Global
Exposure

Winners gain exposure through various channels including emails to a global database of 1M+, social media coverage on official Dubai FinTech Summit and partner channels, and extensive coverage by

Pitch Video Publication

The startup's pitch competition video will be showcased on Dubai FinTech Summit channels, amplifying their presence in the FinTech ecosystem.

Grand Finale

The culmination of FinTech World Cup is the Grand Finale, where regional winners compete for the ultimate prize. The Grand Finale, hosted during the Dubai FinTech Summit on 6-7 May 2024 at Madinat Jumeirah, provides a platform for the top 10 start-ups to showcase their solutions to a global audience of investors and potential partners.

Winner Benefits - Grand Finale:

Grand Prize Investment

The Grand Finale winner secures an investment prize of US$ 1,000,000, a substantial boost to accelerate their business growth.

Mentorship and Networking

Winners gain access to mentorship by esteemed judges and other community VCs, enhancing their strategic insights and industry connections.

Trescon Credit

Winners secure a free exhibition space at the Dubai FinTech Summit 2024 within the Startup Exhibitor Category, enhancing their visibility and engagement.

Winner Trophy

The winner is presented with an exclusive Winner Trophy on the Startup Stage at the Dubai FinTech Summit, symbolizing their triumph in the competition.

Global Brand Exposure

Winners are featured in an exclusive press release, announced to a global database of 1M+ individuals, and receive extensive social media coverage on official Dubai FinTech Summit channels, and mainstream, business, and FinTech media outlets.

Pitch Video Showcase

The startup's pitch competition video is published on Dubai FinTech Summit channels, further solidifying their industry presence and credibility.

Path to Success

Winners gain not only financial support but also access to strategic synergies, partnerships, and opportunities for organic business growth and market expansion through Dubai FinTech Summit connections.

Industry Recognition

The substantial investment prize and comprehensive recognition elevate the winner's status within the FinTech industry, enhancing their credibility and attracting potential partners and customers.

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