Fintech Awards 2019: 20 Semi-Finalists Announced

Luxembourg and neighbours lead the way for the 2019 edition of the Fintech Awards in Luxembourg!

Fantastic line-up of local and international semi-finalists aligned with the needs of the Luxembourg Financial Services ecosystem
Two thirds of the 20 impressive semi-finalists are local
Prominent jury of fintech experts announced

The application window is now closed for the fourth edition of the Fintech Awards Luxembourg, powered by KPMG Luxembourg and the LHoFT. Twenty impressive start-ups have been selected to compete in the Grand Final on 19 June 2019 for three prestigious awards: Fintech Startup of the Year, Second Prize, and Third Prize.

An expert jury composed of local prominent figures and international fintech experts will be waiting to assess the finalists and designate the winners.

Application wrap-up

The joint organisers of the Awards received 194 applications spanning 33 countries. This wide array of interest confirms Luxembourg as a sound investment for local startups, but also as an increasingly attractive place for international players who see an ideal environment here that breeds innovation and creativity. The continuing success of the Awards shows that Luxembourg is firmly on the map as a leading startup nation.

“This year, Luxembourg and its neighbours are strongly represented in both the applications and in the selected semi-finalists” commented Pascal Denis, co-organiser of the awards and Head of Advisory at KPMG Luxembourg. “49% of the applications come either directly from local seeds (36) or from our neighbours Belgium (10), France (42), and Germany (8). This group is punching above its weight already, representing 12 of the 20 finalists. The strong representation proves the success of the relentless efforts of the LHoFT, the event partners, the ecosystem, and KPMG – the region is a magnet for first-rate fintechs. The government’s vision of creating a startup nation has been realised.”

Those applicants from further afield include 29 from Asia (Israel alone with 13) and 12 each from the US and the UK. In terms of the sectors represented in the applications this year, the greatest number of applicants defined themselves as regtechs (44), closely followed by wealth management (40) and payments (40). Nine applicants are additionally active in PropTech and two applicants in sustainable finance, two areas that we see growing. Applicants were able to choose multiple categories.

Nasir Zubairi, CEO of the LHoFT, added:

“The Fintech Awards 2019 has a fantastic line-up of semi-finalists that are critically aligned with the needs of the Luxembourg Financial Services ecosystem. In particular, there are some really exciting solutions in the areas of RegTech, Fundtech and Banking. This year event will be epic!”

Pascal Denis, Head of Advisory at KPMG, will chair the panel of judges at the Awards, which take place on 19 June 2019. “Reflecting on past editions, I can only be optimist and enthusiastic about this year’s competition,” he commented. “I see a real interest in creating and setting up startups in Luxembourg. The buoyant community here has proven itself to be just what young fintechs need: a vibrant place with multinational influencers, financial advisors, and lots of startup hubs and help—all within close reach. High-quality and ambitious fintech companies from around the world have recognized this, and we are extremely excited to host tomorrow’s business leaders at the Awards”.

The “Lighthouse Award for Artificial Intelligence” recognizes an outstanding startup using AI to drive change in the financial services space. This award is sponsored by KPMG Lighthouse Luxembourg, the local AI and Machine Learning powerhouse which was launched in May 2019. Lighthouse is helping KPMG clients around the world use data-driven technologies to reduce costs, manage risk and optimize their operating models.

Jury and semi-finalists announcement

The jury will be composed of:

Ghela Boskovich, Head of Fintech/Regtech Partnerships, Rainmaking Innovation
Pascal Denis (chair), Head of Advisory, KPMG Luxembourg
Cristina Ferreira, Head Regulatory Solutions & Innovation, State Street
Luc Frieden, Lawyer and former Finance Minister of Luxembourg
Pedro Penedo, Partner, IT Advisory, KPMG Portugal, Member of the Global Lighthouse Leadership Team
Nasir Zubairi, CEO, LHoFT

The 20 candidates that will participate in the Grand Final are: