Catapult:
Kickstarter

December 5th to December 9th – in person, in Luxembourg

November 28th to December 2nd – virtual presence

Applications closed

The LHoFT —
Luxembourg
House of Financial
Technology

The Program

Catapult: Kickstarter is a Fintech acceleration programme for early-stage Fintechs.

The programme is aimed at helping early-stage, innovative, Fintech entrepreneurs to develop their business models. Participants will receive guidance on how to build their business, identify and manage risk, develop a realistic business plan and practical tactics for customer acquisition and growth. Participants will have the opportunity to meet and learn from industry leaders, investors and key fintech stakeholders. On the final day, the entrepreneurs will pitch their project to an elite group of judges, to be awarded €50.000 in subsidies.

Learning

Expert interactive sessions on business building, such as marketing, customer acquisition, operations, growth and scale. The Business Model Canvas will be used to understand and adapt your business to a new market.

Sharing

Enjoy working alongside the other programme participants, sharing stories, helping each other, developing relationships and building a lifelong support network.

Listening

Meet and speak with a multitude of mentors and business professionals from the extensive Luxembourg startup and financial services ecosystem who can advise and guide you in your startup journey.

Funding

The opportunity to become one of the five laureates of the programme that will receive 50,000 EUR in subsidy from the Luxembourg Ministry of Economy based on fulfillment of eligibility criteria.

Fun

Networking events, making new friends, and a generous amount of laughing.

Why Luxembourg

Luxembourg is the largest financial centre in the Eurozone, largest fund center in the EU and largest center for microfinance in the EU, draws on its political, economic and regulatory stability, benefiting from a unique pool of multilingual, highly skilled talent providing the key to unlock Europe’s huge and diverse single market.
Luxembourg is recognised as one of the most innovative countries in the EU. (source: Innovation Leader, European Innovation Scoreboard, Index 2018)
Luxembourg’s economy is the most open in Europe, and one of the most open in the world. (source : Business Openness, US News and World Report, Index 2020)
Luxembourg has built up a very supportive and strong startup ecosystem including easy access to public and private decision makers, incubation facilities, a balanced mix of public and private funds, the presence of major international players as key potential partners.

Luxembourg is a key university and research center: 1 university, 4 research institutes active in ICT, industrial and health sectors.
Luxembourg is the gateway to the EU for international Fintechs, the home to major e-payment and e-commerce companies, hosting over 185 innovative Fintech companies, active in Mobile payments, RegTech (compliance and regulatory solutions), Big Data analytics, DLT technologies, InsurTech, Automated investment services or Alternative lending…
With Luxembourg’s ambitions related to the technology sector and creating a robust startup nation, the Ministry of the Economy in partnership with the LHoFT believes that Catapult: Kickstarter will help catalyse more Fintech entrepreneurship.

Program

November 28th to December 2nd – virtual presence

December 5th to December 9th – in person, in Luxembourg

What?

Catapult: Kickstarter is a two week acceleration programme, open to fintech startups from across the globe that are aiming to evolve financial services; be it by providing tools to traditional financial services companies to digitalise their businesses (B2B) or by providing new and improved services direct to customers (B2C).

When?

The 2022 Fall edition of Catapult: Kickstarter is a 2-week programme. The inaugural session of the programme will be on Monday November 28th, and it will close with the final pitch on Friday December 9th.

Who?

10 Fintech companies will be selected for each Catapult: Kickstarter programme. B2B Fintech companies with solutions in Regtech, Wealthtech, Insurtech and Cybersecurity using Blockchain, AI and Big Data technologies are of particular interest to the Luxembourg financial services ecosystem.

How?

Catapult: Kickstarter is structured around classroom tutorials, experts talks, customer discovery, challenges, one-to-one meetings, pitching sessions, mentorship sessions and networking events.

Where?

The first week of the bootcamp will be held virtually and the second week will take place physically in Luxembourg, at the LHoFT premises.

Eligibility Criteria

Selected companies will have a product market fit and some paying clients or/and partnered with professional services.
Companies will be likely be funded at the seed or series A stage of funding.
Companies will submit all necessary information to the LHoFT in order to assess the viability of the project, company, background of owners and key shareholders to limit the risks of non-compliance or doubtful application of the program.
Companies must agree and shall provide on-going performance metrics and business status for a period of three years post program completion to the LHoFT for the purpose of program evaluation.
The selected companies must guarantee that a founding team member, typically the CEO, will attend the program for the duration of the one week.

To Be Eligible to Receive
the €50,000 Award:

The participating companies must attend all modules of the Catapult: Kickstarter programme.
The participating company must be amongst the 5 winners of the programme.
Companies will be required to register their business in Luxembourg, with substance and a minimum, fully paid-up, share capital of 10,000 EUR. They must also hold the necessary business license.
Companies should apply and provide any additional and all necessary information as required by the grantor of the award, the Luxembourg Ministry of the Economy.