Fintech seems to be centered primarily in NYC and Silicon Valley, though Atlanta has a strong fintech presence in the payments sector and Chicago is particularly strong on the markets side. But who thinks of Charlotte when you think fintech? Apparently a lot of folks because they have a very successful year long program, Queen City Fintech, that offers 12 hopeful fintechs both capital and expertise to roll out the next big thing. And this time, they had over 150 applicants from all over the planet. Go Charlotte!
(Cindy Taylor/FintekNews)
Charlotte, NC – Almost 150 applied, only 12 were selected. Is the next PayPal, Lending Tree, or Square among them? We may find out over the next twelve weeks as Queen City Fintech begins work with its Spring Class of 2017 on March 27th.
“This year’s class of businesses represents the full spectrum of fintech (financial technology),” said Dan Roselli, Queen City Fintech Managing Director. “There are companies from New York to Silicon Valley, from Tel Aviv to Brazil, and all are coming to Charlotte because this is where fintech innovation happens.”
Queen City Fintech is a yearlong accelerator program. The first 12 weeks take place on-site in Charlotte and are designed to mature post-revenue startups through intense mentorship from leading banking executives, business development professionals, venture capitalists and attorneys, among others in the city’s robust business community. Accepted companies also receive a $20K capital infusion from the program with the potential for follow-on funding for the top performers in the program.
Incoming Class 6 companies are looking forward to the start of the program and to joining the Charlotte Fintech community. “We're extremely excited to partner with Queen City Fintech, who echoes our values and is affording us the unbelievable opportunity to learn from and work with the leading financial institutions and fintech companies,” said David Helene of Edquity. “This will allow us to grow our business in the most meaningful way."
Queen City Fintech has received overwhelming support from Charlotte and its business community. The program is driven by the largest sponsors network of any Fintech accelerator in the world, including international consulting firms North Highland and Womble Carlyle, an AmLaw 200 law firm, as well as Bank of America, Ally Bank, Wells Fargo, BB&T, Synchrony Financial, Barings Capital, MassMutual, LPL Financial, DC74, and Ernst & Young.
Roselli and the program’s executive committee also work closely with the city’s Charlotte Fintech Initiative, a coalition of top financial services executives, civic leaders, and fintech entrepreneurs to make Charlotte the global hub of fintech innovation.
“Charlotte has always been known as a banking town but now with fintech and other innovative industries we are transforming into a center of technology and ideas,” said Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts. “I am committed to providing innovators and entrepreneurs with the environment they need to thrive and I am excited to welcome fintech companies from around the world to see what our great city has to offer.”
The Queen City Fintech 2017 Class is:
Amicus (Charlotte, NC) – Streamlined process for global aid
auditRS (Durango, CO) – BSA and cyber security risk management and governance “in a box”