The Dubai FinTech Summit, organized by the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has introduced the FinTech World Cup (FWC), a pioneering global pitch competition. Open to start-ups worldwide seeking funding for business advancement, the inaugural competition will be hosted at the Singapore FinTech Festival on November 17, from 3 pm to 4:30 pm at the Singapore EXPO Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hall 6, DIFC Booth 6B25.
Start-ups qualifying for the FinTech World Cup final, scheduled during the Dubai FinTech Summit on May 6-7, 2024, have the opportunity to secure up to USD 1 million in funding. FWC aims to attract forward-thinking start-ups, providing them with a platform to showcase their solutions before influential investors and decision-makers in the financial services sector. The competition also positions Dubai as a global hub for talent and innovation, enhancing its standing as a preferred financial and business destination in the MEASA region and beyond.
Arif Amiri, CEO of DIFC Authority, emphasized the initiative’s alignment with DIFC’s Strategy 2030, focusing on nurturing the growing FinTech and Innovation ecosystem. The FinTech World Cup seeks to encourage cross-border collaboration and innovation, contributing to the transformation of the global FinTech sector and shaping the future of finance.
To encourage global participation, FWC will organize qualifying regional pitch competitions across 10 major business hubs in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) through strategic partnerships with local start-up ecosystem enablers. The FWC jury, consisting of highly qualified judges, will evaluate candidates based on specified criteria, including founder profile, past investment rounds, business partnerships, and VC pitch.
Regional competition winners will receive mentorship opportunities with local industry leaders, industry insights through engagements with VCs, and exhibition spaces at the Dubai FinTech Summit, which is anticipated to host over 8,000 attendees and 150+ speakers from around the world.
FWC features a USD 1 million prize pool, distributed among the winners of the final pitch competition during the 2nd edition of the Dubai FinTech Summit, emphasizing DIFC’s commitment to shaping the future of finance through technology, innovation, and partnerships.