2023 NXTSTAGE Financial Technology Innovation Competition Launches
2022 Fintech competition finalists
Wichita, Kan. – April 19, 2023 – NXTUS, Inc. today announced the launch of the 2023 NXTSTAGE Financial Technology Pilot Competition alongside Premiere Sponsors Emprise Bank, INTRUST Bank and the Kansas Bankers Association.
This innovation program enables startups from around the world to present their technology tools to Kansas banks, credit unions and financial services companies.
The startups hope to gain market feedback and earn pilot tests and paying customers. Emprise Bank, INTRUST Bank and KBA members get the benefit of collaborating with leading innovators and becoming early adopters of next-generation solutions that can help them enhance their digital banking capabilities, improve their operations, or offer additional financial management tools to their clients.
“Innovation is accelerating all around us, and it’s invigorating to see Wichita play a key role in driving bank innovation through NXSTAGE,” said Matt Michaelis, Chairman, President and CEO of Emprise Bank. “Our teams are excited to engage with the newest cohort of finalists. Collaboration with startups like this is critical as we invest for the future. Their tools and capabilities are instrumental to our efforts to continually empower our customers by delivering more personalize and relevant experiences.”
“It’s critical that we stimulate and facilitate innovation,” said Charlie Chandler, INTRUST Bank Chairman and CEO. “Banking is constantly changing, and we have more competition than we’ve ever had. Innovation is part of our history as a community. We are proud to support that tradition as our region builds upon its reputation as a place where innovators and entrepreneurs can be successful in today’s ever-changing world.”
“We are very excited about the potential for NXTSTAGE to bring cutting-edge financial technology solutions to community banks across Kansas,” said Doug Wareham, President & CEO of the Kansas Bankers Association, a new pilot partner for 2023. “KBA’s partnership with NXTUS reinforces the desire of Kansas banks to provide their customers with the safest, most efficient, and user-friendly technology tools available to meet the needs of Kansas consumers.”
In addition to Emprise Bank and INTRUST Bank, the competition’s third founding pilot partner, Fidelity Bank, remains a NXTSTAGE funder. Thanks to their support, as well as grant funding from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, NXTUS is advancing its vision to help promising startups grow, enhance Kansas’ innovation culture and foster inclusive prosperity in the region.
“NXTSTAGE’s future-minded backers see Kansas as ready for innovation and a perfect proving ground for tomorrow’s technologies,” said Mary Beth Jarvis, NXTSTAGE executive director. “With their help, we’re working to show early-stage companies in the region and around the world that they can grow their business here, which will help grow and ‘future-proof’ our economy.
Applications for the competition are being accepted through April 30 on the f6s startup platform. Kansas banks, credit unions or financial services businesses can still participate with this innovation program by contacting marybeth@nxtus.io.
This marks the fourth year that Kansas banks have gotten an early look at promising financial technology solutions through the program, which attracts high-quality startups looking to gain access to Kansas customers, valuable market feedback, and possibly a pilot contract.
The 2022 financial technology competition had 94 competitors from 27 states and 13 countries. Diverse startups competed: 53 percent had either ethnic minority or female founders. Of the eight finalists, who hailed from Canada and four states (California, Nebraska, New York and North Carolina) 100 percent were led by minority or female entrepreneurs.
The 2022 program’s Innovation Showcase featured eight finalists who visited Kansas to get to know the community and offered a broad array of technology solutions designed to help regional banks, credit unions and financial services companies enhance security with modern identity verification tools, build customer engagement and loyalty with advanced digital banking offerings, and help business clients manage tax compliance and offer their employees personalized benefits and incentives.
Two winners emerged from the 2022 competion: upSWOT was awarded a pilot project by Emprise Bank, their fourth winner in three years. upSWOT, with roots in The Ukraine and a U.S. base in Charlotte, helps small businesses grow and make better decisions by giving them access to business-critical applications and real-time insights. INTRUST Bank chose to pursue a collaboration with Omaha-based V2Verify, which replaces passwords, PINs and multi-factor-authentication by verifying someone's identity using two seconds of natural speech.
For more information on this program, see the competition website; to learn more about NXTUS entrepreneur support programs or about investing in local startups, see the organization’s website or its annual report or contact hello@nxtus.io.