FinTech Hive in push to deepen global access

FinTech Hive at DIFC, the first and largest financial technology accelerator in the Middle East, Africa and south Asia (Measa) region, has signed more than 10 significant Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with leading fintech institutions around the world.

They include Accenture’s global FinTech Innovation Labs in New York, London and Hong Kong, iE5 in London, SuperCharger in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur, LATTICE80 in London and Singapore, DICE FinTech Ace in Mumbai, Finance Innovation and Le Swave in Paris, B-Hive in Brussels, Holland FinTech and Bahrain Fintech Bay.

According to statement yesterday, the MoUs will strengthen the DIFC’s “position as the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia’s number one fintech hub and one of the world’s top 10 fintech hubs.”

As part of the MoUs, FinTech Hive and the institutions will share knowledge and explore opportunities to facilitate global fintech access to and from the Measa region, foster a venture capital ecosystem in the region and promote their innovation programmes across each global market.

“These exciting MoUs signal DIFC’s commitment to global fintech outreach and re-emphasise our ambition to shape the future of finance. They will promote knowledge sharing and enable innovative businesses to operate even more seamlessly between Dubai and the world,” Raja Al Mazrouei, executive vice-president of FinTech Hive at DIFC, said.

“These collaborations will also benefit start-ups, entrepreneurs and large established entities by enhancing access to investment, unlocking business opportunities and engaging new audiences and innovative products or ideas.”

In its 2018 programme, FinTech Hive brought together a larger pool of 22 startups, which doubled from 11 in 2017. It has also tripled its commitment to fintech by expanding the programme to include InsurTech, RegTech and Islamic FinTech.