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VISA EVERYWHERE INITIATIVE GLOBAL COMPETITION, SAN FRANCISCO, USA

Application Deadline for CAMEA (Sub Region 4): May 6, 2024

LOCATION: USA

Visa Everywhere Initiative is an open innovation program that helps startups like yours unlock new opportunities — and can give you a global platform to demonstrate your ground-breaking solutions. The 2024 global competition is going to be more exciting than ever before — with an amazing opportunity for selected finalists to get in front of Visa’s executives, potential clients, and investors. One fintech per region will be selected to compete in the global finals at the TechCrunch Disrupt event.

ELIGIBILITY:

The first step to be part of the Visa Everywhere Initiative 2024 is to complete and submit the application. Visa will select one global finalist per each region that will move forward to the global finals event in San Francisco, California.

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

CEMEA [Central Europe, Middle East, Africa] – This region will run additional competitions.

Each Participant must be an owner or employee of the Company acting in the exercise of his/her/their commercial or independent professional activity and must be a legal resident of an Eligible Market in his/her/their Region, as defined in Addendum A. Participant must also be at least eighteen (18) years old (or at least the age of majority in their jurisdiction
of residence, whichever is older) at the time of registration. In addition, employees, officers, and directors of Visa, its affiliates, or its designee(s) may register but are not eligible to participate in any of the virtual or in-person competitions and any awards for the Initiative as detailed herein

They are looking for fintech startups with products that deliver innovative payment and commerce solutions to consumers and businesses. These include but are not limited to:

Emerging Spaces

Artificial Intelligence

Big Data/Open Banking

Cloud Computing

Digital Identity and Biometrics

Cybersecurity and Privacy

Fraud and Risk

Alternative Finance

Loyalty of the Future

Money Movers

Remittance

P2P and Transfers

Cross Border Payments

B2C (Disbursements)

B2B Payments Orchestration

Enablers (Commerce and Banking)

Online Marketplaces and Ecommerce

Embedded Finance

Core Banking and Bank Enablers

FinTech Aggregators

Digital Acceptance

BaaS

Neobanks and Brokerages

Neobanks/Digital Banks

MNOs

Digital Brokerages

Digital Wallets

Lending

Commercial Lending 

BNPL 

Consumer Lending 

Capital Providers 

Alternative Lending

Social, Creator, and Gaming

Creator Platforms and Services

NFT Marketplaces

Collectables

Gaming Wallets and Tokenization

In Game Payments and Transactions

Gig Economy Enabler

Crypto

Crypto Exchanges

Crypto Enablers

Decentralized Finance and Blockchain

Web3

Other Categories

Urban Mobiity

Risk

Participants must complete and submit an online registration during the Overall Submission Period detailing how the Participant and the Participant’s product(s) and service(s) can create cutting-edge solutions. Visa products (the “Submission”). Submissions received after the Participant deadlines listed below (“Participant Deadlines”) will be considered for future opportunities, but will not be eligible to participate in any of the virtual or in-person events and any awards applicable to the Participant’s region, as defined in Addendum A (each a “Region”), as detailed herein.

Region Participant Deadlines:

CEMEA Sub-Region 1, CEMEA Sub-Region 2, and CEMEA Sub-Region 3 April 22, 2024

CEMEA Sub-Region 4 May 6, 2024

NORTH AMERICA May 13, 2024

LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN June 3, 2024

EUROPE July 1, 2024

ASIA PACIFIC July 12, 2024

BENEFIT:

Two monetary prizes will be awarded during the global finals event celebrated on October 28th  at the TechCrunch Disrupt event in San Francisco.

Overall Winner: $100,000 USD

Audience Favorite: $20,000 USD (The overall winner is also eligible to win the Audience Favorite prize)

Global finalists will also be hosted by Visa at the TechCrunch Disrupt Pavilion to exhibit together their companies in the Expo Hall with the following benefits:

(1) standing demo table or kiosk in the Expo Hall all 3 days

(1) 11” x 14” tabletop sign with sponsor logo

Founder pass

Access to complimentary partner wifi network and power

Access to Startup Exhibitor Lounge

Access to TechCrunch Disrupt press list

Inclusion in the Disrupt mobile app

Prior to the global finals, the following local and regional prizes will also be awarded:

KBO: Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman

Applications must be submitted by April 22, 2024. KBO Finals to be held on or about June 11, 2024 (In-Person Event) 

1st Place – $40K

2nd Place – $26.6K

3rd Place – $13.3K

Social Impact/Special Edition Prize – $10K

Risk FIRE Prize – $25K

Levant: Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestine

Applications must be submitted by April 22, 2024. Levant Finals to be held on or about June 4, 2024 (In-Person Event)

1st Place – $25K

2nd Place – $13K

3rd Place – $7K

Audience Favorite – $10K

Qatar & Kuwait

Applications must be submitted by April 22, 2024. Qatar & Kuwait Finals to be held on or about June 13, 2024 (In-Person Event)

1st Place – $40K

2nd Place – $25K

3rd Place – $15K

Audience Favorite – $10K

Social Impact Award – $10K

CEMEA (Central Europe, Middle East, and Africa)

Applications must be submitted by May 6, 2024. CEMEA Regional Finals to be held on or about July 17, 2024 (Virtual Event)

1st Place – $20K

Audience Favorite – $10K

North America

Applications must be submitted by May 13, 2024. One (1) Global-Finalist from this Region will be determined on or about August 19, 2024

Latin America

Applications must be submitted by June 3, 2024. One (1) Global-Finalist from this Region will be determined on or about August 19, 2024

Europe

Applications must be submitted by July 1, 2024. One (1) Global-Finalist from this Region will be determined on or about August 19, 2024

Asia Pacific

Applications must be submitted by July 12, 2024. One (1) Global-Finalist from this Region will be determined on or about September 15, 2024

APPLY

FULLY SPONSORED MELTWATER ENTREPRENEURIAL SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY (MEST) AFRICA ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR AFRICAN ENTREPRENEURS.

Application Deadline: 18th March 2024

LOCATION: Ghana

The MEST Training Program is a one year, fully sponsored, graduate-level program in tech entrepreneurship. During this full-time and fully sponsored program, Entrepreneurs-in-Training (EITs) expand their skills and knowledge in software development, business, and communications while developing viable businesses.  The program culminates in an investor pitch with the opportunity to receive seed funding and enter MEST’s portfolio for company incubation. 

ELIGIBILITY:

Passion : A deep passion for starting a software company in Africa

Experience: Entrepreneurial or corporate work experience

Education: A degree from a top university or Technical College (or equivalent experience)

Soft Skills: Confident with great leadership qualities, ability to work well with others, and communicate effectively

Commitment to the program: Successful applicants should be ready to commit to a full residential program for a whole year

The goal at MEST is to create wealth and jobs on the continent. Our recruitment process seeks to identify the exceptionally talented and ambitious people with a strong desire to build a scalable software company in Africa

Visit the application portal and create an account

Complete the required assessment

Take an aptitude test

Fill and submit the MEST Training Program application form

Interviews

Offer

BENEFIT:

EITs receive a full scholarship covering program costs, including housing, transportation, and meals.

APPLY