Visa Innovation Program Europe Empowers Fintech Innovation

April 5, 2023
Visa Innovation Program Europe, an equity-free pilot-centered partnership platform, recently hosted a series of meetups across Turkey, Portugal, Spain, and Italy.  Attendees had the opportunity to hear from fintech founders, program partners, and Visa executives as they shared their experiences and insights at events held in Istanbul (21 March), Lisbon (23 March), Barcelona (28 March), and Milan (30 March).

Since 2018 more than 900 fintech companies  have applied to the program and 72 fintech companies have had a chance to grow exponentially with the support of  Visa and the program. In the past four years, 111 banks and non-traditional partners from four countries have participated in the program and evaluated their potential for collaboration with fintechs. In total, 64 collaborations have been signed. Visa Innovation Program Europe covers the fintechs working on Developing Next-Generation Payment Experiences, Empowering SMEs, Unlocking New Payment Flows, Building a Smarter and Sustainable Future, as well as Embedded Finance. Selected fintech companies  are all supported with many program benefits ranging from PoC & Partnership Opportunities with companies in Hackquarters and Visa’s networks to access to funding & VCs and getting mentorship from experts. 

Istanbul Meetup: Enhancing the Fintech Ecosystem for the Future of Payment

On 21 March 2023, the Visa Innovation Program Europe meetup took place in Istanbul, Turkey, focusing on "Enhancing the Fintech Ecosystem for the Future of Payment." The event provided insights into the Visa Innovation Program Europe and featured alumni fintechs and program partners sharing their experiences in solving payment and e-commerce challenges.

The meetup started with an opening speech from Kaan Akın, Founder & CEO, Hackquarters, who emphasized the potential for successful collaboration and new industry-specific commercial opportunities.

The first panel, "Collaborating for Innovation: Insights from Visa Innovation Program Alumni," was moderated by Melihcan Yücel, Senior BD Manager, Visa. The panelists, Göktürk Yetim, Co-Founder, Alternatif Superapp, and Hilmi Kaya, Co-Founder,  Yancep, shared their experiences collaborating with fintechs payment solutions and discussed their partnership, growth, and value creation vision.

In the second panel, "The Power of Partnership," moderated by Onur Çakır Director Visa, Nilhan Gür, Co-Founder, Qumpara, and Semih Muşabak, CEO, Sipay, talked about their successful cooperation process and discussed new industry-specific opportunities in fintech. They highlighted the importance of strong partnerships in driving innovation and overcoming obstacles in the rapidly evolving fintech landscape.

The event also included a detailed schedule of panels and discussions, providing attendees with valuable insights into the global market expansion and proof of concept process through the eyes of fintech founders. 

Lisbon Meetup: Building Portugal's Fintech Future

The Building Portugal's Fintech Future meetup held on 23 March 2023 as a part of the Visa Innovation Program Europe. This event focused on the fintech ecosystem in Portugal and how the program helps build a robust global ecosystem of entrepreneurs, partners, and company executives. The Portugal meetup provided fintech founders and experts a platform to discuss current trends, share experiences, and explore future opportunities in the rapidly evolving payment industry.

During the opening speech, Kaan Akın highlighted how the Visa Innovation Program Europe journey started.

Gonçalo Santos Lopes, Country Manager, Visa Portugal, discussed how Visa drives innovation in the fintech industry and how the Visa Innovation Program Europer empowers entrepreneurs to bring their visions to life.

Sabina Babayeva, COO, Hackquarters, explained the program's benefits and details, showing how it helps fintechs take their businesses to the next level. 

The event featured a panel discussion on "Innovating the Future of Payments," moderated by Eva Ruiz, Southern Europe Head of Fintech, Visa. Panelists Antonio Ferrao, Fintech Solutions, and Rita Oliveira, GoParity, shared invaluable insights into the fintech landscape and the future of payments.

Barcelona Meetup: Spain's Fintech Landscape

The Spain Meetup "Spain's Fintech Landscape: A Visa Europe Innovation Program," was held on 28 March 2023. The event aimed to provide insights into the Visa Innovation Program Europe and foster discussions around the fintech ecosystem in Spain. The meetup brought together global fintech ecosystem leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs, offering a platform to discuss current trends, innovations, and future expectations in the payment industry.

In the opening speech, Kaan Akın, Founder & CEO, Hackquarters, shared the journey of the Visa Innovation Program Europe and how it began, emphasizing its importance in the fintech ecosystem.

Eduardo Prieto, the Country Manager,  Visa Spain, took the stage to discuss how Visa drives innovation in the fintech industry and empowers entrepreneurs through the Visa Innovation Program. His speech highlighted the role of the program in helping founders bring their visions to life and contribute to the fintech landscape.

Sabina Babayeva, COO, Hackquarters, presented the benefits and exciting details of the Visa Innovation Program Europe, explaining how it assists fintechs in reaching their full potential and achieving success in the market.

"Scaling Up with Visa Innovation Program: A Founder's Journey" panel discussion was moderated by Eva Ruiz, Southern Europe Head of Fintech, Visa. The conversation featured distinguished alumni fintechs, including Charles Ehredt, Co-Founder, Currency Alliance, and Juan Guruceta, Founder, Divilo. The panelists delved into the current state of the fintech landscape and the future of payments and shared their experiences within the program. Their insights offered valuable perspectives on overcoming challenges and seizing opportunities in the Spanish fintech ecosystem.

Milan Meetup: Powering Italy's Fintech Revolution

The Visa Innovation Program Meetup: Powering Italy's Fintech Revolution took place on 30 March 2023 as part of the Visa Innovation Program Europe powered by Visa, Hackquarters, and Talent Garden. It brought together Italian fintech ecosystem leaders and innovators, offering a platform to discuss current trends, innovations, and future expectations in the payment industry. The goal was to help build a strong global ecosystem of entrepreneurs, partners, and company executives, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing.

The event began with a welcome coffee and registration, followed by an opening speech by Kaan Akın, Founder & CEO, Hackquarters, who outlined the Visa Innovation Program Europe journey and its inception.

Cristina Iacob, Head of Strategy & Business Performance, Visa, delivered a speech discussing the present state and future of the fintech industry, touching on emerging technologies and regulatory challenges.

Stefania Barbato, Learning & Innovation Program Designer Talent Garden, presented insights on the Italian fintech market, focusing on recent fintech developments. Her talk provided valuable knowledge on current trends and potential opportunities in this dynamic sector.

Sabina Babayeva, COO,  Hackquarters, guided attendees through the benefits and exciting details of the Visa Innovation Program Europe, explaining how it helps fintechs elevate their businesses.

Eva Ruiz, Southern Europe Head of Fintech, Visa, closed the event with remarks and a Q&A session, addressing questions and sharing her expertise on the proof of concept process and global market expansion.

The deadline for application to the Visa Innovation Program Europe is approaching on 14 April 2023, take advantage of the opportunity to join this exceptional program that can help your fintech startup reach new heights. Be a part of this unique ecosystem and contribute to the ongoing fintech revolution.

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Apply now and embrace the future of payment innovation with the Visa Innovation Program Europe!

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