The Global FinTech Hackcelerator 2026 is an innovation programme for market-ready fintech startups seeking to solve real-world challenges with leading financial institutions. Organised by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN), the 11th edition takes place as part of Singapore FinTech Festival 2026 and connects selected startups with Corporate Champions to develop practical solutions for defined industry problem statements. Up to 20 finalists will receive mentorship, investor access, market-entry exposure and opportunities to explore pilot engagements before pitching their solutions at Demo Day in Singapore.
Programme Highlights
- Global visibility: Up to 20 finalists will pitch at Singapore FinTech Festival 2026 before an international audience of more than 70,000 attendees from 142 countries and regions.
- Winner prizes: One winner will be selected for each problem statement and awarded SGD 80,000.
- Finalist stipend: Each finalist team will receive SGD 20,000 to support travel and participation costs.
- Pilot opportunities: Finalists can enter pilot discussions with the Corporate Champion behind their selected problem statement.
- Investor access: Selected teams will join curated Investor Hours™ sessions with venture capital firms and strategic investors.
- Mentorship and masterclasses: Participants receive guidance from senior industry leaders and attend in-person sessions on go-to-market strategy, regulation, capital and scaling.
- Ongoing support: Finalists retain access to pilot follow-through, investor introductions and the GFTN network after the programme.
Since its launch, the Global FinTech Hackcelerator has engaged more than 3,500 startups across over 50 countries, with alumni collectively raising more than USD 1.5 billion in capital.
Corporate Champions and Problem Statements
GXS Bank — Adaptive Risk Modelling Systems
Develop an adaptive system that unifies credit and fraud risk assessment in a continuously learning framework.
Julius Baer — Reimagining Private Banking for Digitally Native HNW Clients
Use AI to create a seamless and hyper-personalised digital experience for next-generation high-net-worth private-banking clients, from onboarding through portfolio advisory.
Zurich Insurance — Closing the SME Protection Gap
Use AI to help small and medium-sized enterprises understand their risk exposure and coverage gaps, and guide them towards appropriate protection as they grow.
Eligibility
The programme is open to early-stage fintech startups worldwide that:
- Have a market-ready solution addressing one of the published problem statements.
- Are at the bootstrapped, pre-seed, seed or Series A stage.
- Are based in, operating in or planning to enter Southeast Asia.
- Are open to external funding opportunities.
Teams should comprise no more than 10 members. Each person may join only one team, and each team may submit one proposal for one problem statement.
Application Requirements
Applicants must first submit the Global FinTech Hackcelerator registration form. Registered teams will receive access to the submission portal, where they must upload:
- A proposal document in PDF format, between one and five pages.
- A pitch deck covering the solution, problem, market opportunity, business model and team.
- A short English-language video demonstrating the product and explaining how it addresses the chosen problem statement.
All application materials must be submitted in English. Video submissions should include a live product demonstration; simple phone-recorded demos are accepted.
Key Dates
- Application deadline: 14 August 2026, 23:59 SGT
- Finalists announced: September 2026
- Virtual programme: September to November 2026
- In-person programme in Singapore: 11–13 November 2026
- Demo Day: 18 November 2026
- Winner announcement: 19 November 2026, at the SFF FinTech Excellence Awards Dinner
Participation is free and does not require equity dilution. Finalists must attend the in-person programme and Demo Day in Singapore.