Top 10 APAC Innovation Labs
https://www.businesschief.asia/top10/top-10-apac-innovation-labs/finolab
https://www.businesschief.asia/magazine/october-2020
2nd Future Frontier Fes by FINOLAB（4F）is scheduled to be held on Feb. 22 to 26, 2021, following the success of 1st event in 2020.
https://4f-otmcbldg.tokyo/
We are introducing new FinTech startup pitch contest “FINOPITCH”.
FINOPITCH is an international pitch contest presented in English video format, with 4 judging criteria, 1) Impact on Financial Industry, 2) Innovative Business Model, 3) Growth Potential, 4) Global Reach.
FinTech startups around the world, we are looking forward to your application.
OVERVIEW
Overall Schedule
Application : by 2021-01-15 (Fri)
Notice of Initial Evaluation : Later in 2021-01
Submission of Video : by 2021-02-05 (Fri)
Finalist Announcement : Middle of 2021-02
FINOPITCH Day : 2021-02-22 (Mon) DAY1 of 4F
Award Ceremony : 2021-02-26(Fri) DAY4 of 4F
Application Requirements
Conditions
– The applicant needs to be a FinTech startup.
– The product/service need to be demonstrated.
Founding Date / Service Launch
<Entry within Japan>
– The startup company should be founded within the past 5 years or less and the service should be released within the past 2 years or less. If the service has not yet been released, a demonstration should be ready by end of 2020.
<Entry from outside of Japan>
– The startup company should be founded within the past 7 years or less and the service should be released within the past 3 years or less, with the aspiration to enter Japan market. If the service has not yet been released, a demonstration should be ready by end of 2020.
Additional Requirement
– You need to agree to the conditions on our application form.
Pitch Format
By 7 minutes video presentation in English including demonstration of the product / service and presenter.
* Applicants selected from initial evaluation are required to submit video for final presentation by 2021-02-05 (Fri)
GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATION
Impact | Impact on the Financial Industry
Creativity | Innovativeness of Business Model
Profitability | Business Growth Potential
Scalability | Global Service Potential
Award
Grand Prize / Supporter Awards
All other details are written in the following Entry Form. And if you need any other information related to the entry of the contest, please make inquiry to us.
Please check the details of 4F 2021 from the following link.
https://4f-otmcbldg.tokyo/
Protection of Personal Information
– All the personal information will be protected with our Privacy Policy.
2nd Future Frontier Fes by FINOLAB（4F）is scheduled to be held on Feb. 22 to 26, 2021, following the success of 1st event in 2020.
https://4f-otmcbldg.tokyo/
“4F” is an annual event for various stakeholders of financial innovation to gather and discuss their future action.
As we came to recognize the “Vulnerability” of the entire society because of the COVID 19, we have set the “RESILIENCE” as the main theme of 4F this year to discuss response of financial service using digital technology.
We look forward to your online participation.
OVERVIEW
Title : 4F 2021 -RESILIENCE-
Venue : Online
Date and Time: February 22,24,25,26, 2021, 6:00PM – 8:00PM
Host : FINOLAB Inc.
Co-Host : FINOVATORS
Contents : JFIA Award ceremony / FINOPITCH / Presentation / Panel Discussion / Workshop
Channel : YouTube FINOLAB CHANNEL
Language : Day1 and Day4 : English / Day2 and Day3：Japanese
Admission : Free
TIMETABLE (in Japan time)
DAY1 : FINOPITCH Day | February 22
・Startup Pitch
DAY2 : FinTech Transformation Day | February 24
・Presentation / Panel Discussion
DAY3 : Future Technology Day |February 25
・Presentation / Panel Discussion
DAY4 : FINOLAB Award Day | February 26
・JFIA ＆ FINOPITCH Award Ceremony / Keynote Presentation
The plans are subject to change.
Nurturing Fintech Start-Ups: In Pursuit of Global Hub Status for Tokyo
https://worldfinancialreview.com/nurturing-fintech-start-ups-in-pursuit-of-global-hub-status-for-tokyo/
Conversation with Makoto Shibata, Head of FINOLAB, Japan
https://edgardunn.com/2020/05/conversation-with-makoto-shibata-head-of-finolab/
FINOLAB: driving innovative startups in fintech
https://www.fintechmagazine.com/company/finolab-driving-innovative-startups-fintech
Fintech World Tour: Japan
https://www.efma.com/article/detail/32436
FINAL RESULT ANNOUNCED FOR JAPAN FINANCIAL INNOVATION AWARD 2020
– FIRST GRAND PRIX AWARDED TO FUKUOKA FINANCIAL GROUP –
TOKYO, Mar. 24, 2020 – FINOLAB Inc. and FINOVATORS – have inaugurated “Japan Financial Innovation Award 2020（JFIA2020）” and announced Grand Prix and Category Excellence for the respective category on Mar. 23 at “Future Frontier Fes by FINOLAB (4F).”
JFIA2020 is inaugurated this year to promote innovative initiatives in financial area by adopting information technology and to share best practices in the industry, and expects to further expand open innovation beyond corporate groups and business sectors. JFIA2020 consists for 3 categories, including Startup, Financial Institution, and Collaboration. FINOLAB, the FinTech Center of Japan, administrated the evaluation process by extracting about 300 innovative initiatives from press releases during the year 2019. 5 category winners were selected by the group of professionals, FINOVATORS, based on the judgement on innovation, growth, and transformation and announced on Mar. 9. And after further evaluation, Grand Prix and Category Excellence for each category was announced at the 4F.
JFIA 2020 Grand Prix and Category Excellence
| Award | Company | Initiative (Press Release) | Remarks |
| Grand Prix | Fukuoka Financial Group, Inc. | Next Generation Banking System on Public Cloud | Creative approach to develop flexible infrastructure for banks |
| Startup Category Excellence | Crowd Cast, Ltd. | Corporate Prepaid Card for Expense Management | Promoting corporate cashless payment and efficient expense management |
| Financial Institution Category Excellence | GMO Aozora Net Bank, Ltd. | Developers’ Portal for Bank API | Expanding new ecosystem by making Bank API accessible |
| Collaboration Category Excellence | Seven Bank, Ltd. CAULIS INC. The Kansai Electric Power Company, Incorporated | Fraud Detection for Account Opening Using Power Supply Information | Collaboration beyond industry sector, making use of regulatory sandbox to improve security to prevent financial crime |
JFIA 2020 Winners
■About FINOLAB Inc.
Address：Otemachi 1-6-1, Chiyoda-ku Tokyo
Representative：CEO, Chie Ito
Founded：2019-07-11
Capital：JPY 300 Million
Business Domain：Promoting FinTech initiatives of Members, including startups and corporates, and expand FinTech ecosystem in Japan.
Web：https://finolab.co.jp/
■About FINOLAB Community
The Fintech Center of Tokyo, FINOLAB is a membership community and an office space located in the heart of international financial district in Tokyo to promote FinTech ecosystem. Launched in Feb. 2016 by Mitsubishi Estate and Dentsu Group as the first FinTech Center in Japan. Consists of 56 Startup Members and 17 Corporate Members (As of Mar. 2020).
https://finolab.tokyo/
■About FINOVATORS, General Incorporated Association
Non-profit organization, with a group of pro-bono experts（Layer, Investor, Consultant, Analyst, Engineer, Entrepreneur, Banker, Public Sector Specialist, etc.）for supporting startups. Driving health innovation ecosystem in Japan by activities based on global and future vision, not limited to any organization or business area.
http://finovators.org/
WINNER ANNOUNCED FOR JAPAN FINANCIAL INNOVATION AWARD 2020
– Inauguration of New FinTech Award to Evaluate Innovation, Growth, and Transformation –
TOKYO, Mar. 9, 2020 – FINOLAB Inc. and FINOVATORS – have inaugurated “Japan Financial Innovation Award 2020（JFIA2020）” and announced the winners of the respective category.
JFIA2020 is inaugurated this year to promote innovative initiatives in financial area by adopting information technology and share best practices in the industry, and expects to further expand open innovation beyond corporate group and business sector. JFIA2020 consists for 3 categories, including Startup, Financial Institution, and Collaboration. FINOLAB, the FinTech Center of Japan, administrated the evaluation process by extracting about 300 innovative initiatives from press releases during the year 2019. And final candidates and winners were selected by the group of professionals, FINOVATORS, based on the judgement on innovation, growth, and transformation.
Further Judgment is scheduled to announce Grand Prize and Category Excellence on Mar. 23 at “Future Frontier Fes by FINOLAB (4F).”
https://finolab.tokyo/jp/events/4f/
JFIA 2020 Winners
■About FINOLAB Inc.
Address：Otemachi 1-6-1, Chiyoda-ku Tokyo
Representative：CEO, Chie Ito
Founded：2019-07-11
Capital：JPY 300 Million
Business Domain：Promoting FinTech initiatives of Members, including startups and corporates, and expand FinTech ecosystem in Japan.
Web：https://finolab.co.jp/
■About FINOLAB Community
The Fintech Center of Tokyo, FINOLAB is a membership community and an office space located in the heart of international financial district in Tokyo）to promote FinTech ecosystem. Launched in Feb. 2016 by Mitsubishi Estate and Dentsu Group as the first FinTech Center in Japan. Consists of 56 Startup Members and 17 Corporate Members (As of Mar. 2020).
https://finolab.tokyo/
■About FINOVATORS, General Incorporated Association
Non-profit organization, with a group of pro-bono experts（Layer, Investor, Consultant, Analyst, Engineer, Entrepreneur, Banker, Public Sector Specialist, etc.）for supporting startups. Driving health innovation ecosystem in Japan by activities based on global and future vision, not limited to any organization or business area.
http://finovators.org/