DIFC FinTech Hive’s start-ups to pitch for funding at an online investors meet

Dubai International Financial Centre’s FinTech Hive is holding its Investor Day on Monday, where 17 start-ups from the fourth cohort of the accelerator's programme will connect with investors and industry experts and present their business ideas to seek funding. Start-ups will pitch their innovative ideas and technologies before an online audience of investors, industry leaders and knowledge partners, the DIFC said in a statement. Selected companies come from a wide range of sectors such as financial technology, regulatory technology and Islamic FinTech. They address key technology issues in the areas of open banking, artificial intelligence, anti-money laundering and data analytics. The solutions sourced for this year’s DIFC FinTech Hive accelerator programme have been very unique and mature, said Raja Al Mazrouei, executive vice president of DIFC FinTech Hive, adding that the participants have developed technologies that will shape the future of finance. “This year’s cohort has worked relentlessly with our partners to ensure they are ready to be connected with investors,” she added. The accelerator programme's latest batch has attracted leading technology entrepreneurs and start-ups from different regions including the GCC, Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. Participants were selected through an intensive, competitive process to participate in a 14-week curriculum that helps growth-stage companies expand in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region. The financial free zone, which launched the FinTech Hive in 2017 in partnership with Accenture – the New York-listed technology firm, has developed it into one of the biggest FinTech accelerators in the region. So far, it has received more than 1,400 applications and more than 100 start-ups have been selected to participate in its accelerator programme.