Supporting the technology and innovators shaping a better future
Spotlighting founders and startups using technology to advance financial inclusion, diversity, sustainability, and responsible innovation.
ESG & Founder Inclusion Scholarship Program
Innovation can do more than transform financial services. It can help address some of the world's biggest social, environmental, and economic challenges.
That's why Finovate created its scholarship program: to give promising startups advancing financial inclusion, diversity, sustainability, and responsible innovation the opportunity to showcase their technology on the Finovate stage.
Scholarship recipients join the lineup of selected companies at the event, showcasing real technology in action through live product demos—not startup pitches.
Five scholarship opportunities
At each event, we select companies for these scholarships, granting them complimentary demo participation. Interested companies should apply through the application form above when available.
To be eligible, fintech and technology companies founded within the last five years with less than $7M USD in total funding. All distribution channels (B2B, B2C, and B2B2C) are considered.
Environmental
For companies developing technology that addresses climate, environmental, or green-finance challenges.
Social
For companies using technology to advance social impact or financial inclusion.
Selected for 2026: Crebit Pay and Kiro Money
Governance
For companies advancing responsible governance, transparency, or leadership.
BIPOC Founded/Owned
For companies founded by BIPOC entrepreneurs.
Selected for 2026: Bluum Finance, Quanto, reativ, Rezliant, and Rulebase
Female Founded/Owned
For companies founded by women.
Selected for 2026: Socratix AI and Syntex
Why Finovate?
Finovate demos are built around a few core principles that make the platform different:
Focus
Demos take center stage.
Companies demo live on the main stage during the general session—not in a breakout track or exhibition area. Our curated, single-track format puts every demo in front of hundreds of senior financial services decision-makers and business leaders looking for innovative solutions.
Format
Real products. Real situations. Real results.
Only live demos. No pitches, slides, or videos. The seven-minute format requires you to show your technology in action—to demonstrate what it actually does, how it works, and why it matters. It's a format designed to let the technology speak for itself. Because seeing what's next means seeing what's real.
Selectivity
The technology comes first.
Finovate's demo lineup is highly curated. We select companies based on the strength, relevance, innovation, and potential impact of their technology—not the size of the company or its marketing budget. The stage is earned by the technology.
Exposure
A platform to build relationships, generate opportunities, and create momentum.
Finovate connects demoers with senior financial services leaders and other business decision-makers who can become customers, partners, investors, or strategic allies. Demoers also benefit from pre-event marketing, ongoing exposure through Finovate's content and community, and recognition from Finovate analysts.
3,000+ Demo Track Record
More than 3,000 companies have demoed at Finovate since 2007.
Some have gone on to become unicorns, complete major acquisitions, raise significant funding, and become leaders in fintech and technology.
Inclusion
Innovation should reflect the future of financial services.
Finovate's scholarship program supports companies and founders advancing financial services through sustainable, equitable, and inclusive innovation.
The Finovate Demo Package
Showcase your technology. Build relationships. Create opportunities.
Showcase Your Solution to Senior-Leader Decision-Makers
- 7-minute demo on the main stage during the general session on May 3 or 4, 2027.
- Physical demo stand in the exhibit hall on your demo day, complete with monitor, internet, power, and lead scanning.
- Two passes for your speakers to attend the event.
- 50% discounted passes for your customers and colleagues.
- Chance to win the coveted Best of Show award, a prestigious recognition.
- Video of your demo for your own company usage.
- Demo video hosted on Finovate.com, reaching 530,000+ visitors annually.
Networking Opportunities: Drive Sales and Generate Leads
- Event platform and networking app access to view all attendees, chat and schedule 15-minute meetings hosted in the exhibit hall.
- Lead data and reports for all attendees who watched your live demo, plus demo stand visitors on site and digital engagement through the event platform.
- Attendee titles & organizations list before the event for lead targeting.
- Media & analyst list with contact details shared ahead of time to help you connect with key influencers.
360° Support: Maximize Your Demo’s Impact and ROI
- 30-minute one-on-one coaching for demo skills and format with Greg Palmer.
- 10-minute demo rehearsal on the event stage with full A/V support (May 4).
- Exposure on Finovate's blog and weekly newsletter with 40,000+ visitors/month and 6,500+ newsletter subscribers.
- Company & speaker profiles on the event website with 40,000+ views/month.
- Social media exposure to Finovate's 75,000+ followers and 5,500+ LinkedIn newsletter subscribers, plus 2,900+ YouTube subscribers with 80,000+ views/year.
- Visibility in emails sent to relevant segments of a database of 120,000+ senior fintech decision-makers.
- Lifetime coverage of your company’s future notable events (e.g., product launches, industry awards) to Finovate’s digital community.
What is a demo?
A Finovate demo is a live, seven-minute showcase of your company's technology on the main stage.
More specifically, it's the real-time use and operation of your software, platform, product, or service—showing potential customers, partners, and investors exactly what your technology can do.
Your demo must be conducted in a live computing environment controlled by your company, where user inputs produce observable, immediate responses from the technology.
What's prohibited?
Finovate demos are live and interactive. To protect the integrity of the format, demos cannot rely on:
- Pre-recorded representations (including videos, animated simulations, GIFs, screen recordings, or screen captures made to appear interactive).
- Use of slides of any type (including slides hosted on a webpage), videos of any type (including pre-recorded videos of the product/solution/platform/service in operation, whether partial or full), animations, or prototypes (including but not limited to Figma, InVision, or equivalent tools).
- Speaking-only presentations without a demo.
Why is this important?
For nearly 20 years, Finovate has built a community around live demos because the best way to discover what’s next is to see it working.
Attendees come to Finovate to evaluate new technology, understand how it can solve real business challenges, and find the solutions worth taking back to their organizations.
That makes the Finovate stage more than a platform to present your technology. It's where the market discovers it.
Note: Depending on the type of technology, certain exceptions may be authorized by Finovate and will be done so in writing.
Selection criteria
Finovate conferences feature startups, established companies, public companies, and financial institutions showcasing new financial services technology. With hundreds of applications and inquiries each year, the demo selection process is highly competitive.
While we may contact you for additional information, most companies are selected based on their application. Please provide complete, specific answers that help us understand what makes your technology timely, innovative, impactful, and distinctive.
We evaluate applications with the following criteria in mind:
What's new?
Is the technology new, meaningfully evolved, or entering a new phase? Are you launching a new product, introducing significant new capabilities, entering a new market, or substantially expanding the technology's reach or focus?
What's innovative?
What makes the technology innovative or different? How does it approach a problem differently from existing solutions? Does it introduce a meaningful technological advancement or new way of solving a problem?
Why does it matter?
What potential does the technology have to make an impact? Could it transform or disrupt an existing market, address a significant industry challenge, or create new opportunities across financial services and related markets?
Why you?
What makes the company or technology stand out? How does it compare with other solutions in the space? Even in crowded or trending categories, what is distinctive about your approach?
Frequently asked questions
When is the application deadline?
Scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to apply early. Applications will remain open until all available scholarships have been awarded.
If the scholarship you applied for is no longer available, or if you’re not selected for your requested scholarship, we can still consider your application for a traditional demo, if you’re interested.
When will we know if our application has been selected for a scholarship?
We review scholarship applications on a rolling basis. We’ll confirm your selection status within 30 days of receiving your application.
Is a scholarship demo different from a traditional demo?
Scholarship recipients receive the same traditional demo package, along with additional marketing, branding, and recognition as part of the scholarship program.
Can we apply for both a scholarship and a traditional demo?
No. Please apply through the program that best fits your company. Scholarship applications are considered separately from traditional demo applications.
If we've already been selected for a traditional demo, can we still apply for the scholarship?
No. Scholarship consideration is only available to companies that apply specifically for a scholarship. Companies selected for a paid demo are not eligible to apply for a scholarship after selection.
Can a scholarship demo win Best of Show?
Yes. Scholarship demos are eligible for Best of Show voting alongside all other demos. Scholarship recipients have won Best of Show in previous years.
Can we receive a scholarship for more than one event?
No. To give as many startups as possible the opportunity to participate, each company may receive a scholarship only once.
My company doesn’t fit your scholarship categories, but I still believe our initiative is a worthy cause.
We review our scholarship categories annually. If you believe your company or initiative should be considered for the program, please reach out to tell us what you’re focused on and why you believe it warrants inclusion.
Does Finovate cover travel or accommodation costs for scholarship recipients?
No. Travel and accommodation costs are not covered, so please keep this in mind when applying for a scholarship.