Visa Everywhere Initiative – Women’s Global Edition 2019 ($100,000 USD & Fully Funded to Paris, France)

Application Deadline: April 14th 2019

Visa Everywhere Initiative is a global innovation program that tasks start-ups to solve payment challenges of tomorrow, further enhance their own product propositions and provide visionary solutions for Visa’s vast network of partners.

The program first launched in the U.S. in 2015 and quickly expanded into other regions of the world with more than 4,000 participating start-ups, which have collectively raised over $2.5 billion in funding, with more than 221 finalists and 70 winners selected. The program activates in North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa, touching over 75 countries.

For the first time ever, Visa is pleased to present the first-ever Visa Everywhere Initiative: Women’s Global Edition. Read more below to find out what challenges are available and how to apply.

How it Works:

Two challenges. Twelve finalists. Celebrating women entrepreneurs and their innovative ideas, solutions, and organizations. 

Finalists will be invited to Paris, France in early June 2019, to pitch their solutions live in front of Visa leaders and clients.

To reward the most impactful solutions, Visa will provide $100,000 USD to each challenge winner!

Submissions will be accepted until April 14th, 2019.

Challenge Questions

Challenge 1 – Fintech

Leveraging your company’s unique capabilities, how could your solution help transform consumer payments and/or commercial experiences locally, regionally, or globally?

Your solution could apply to financial institutions, online-only banks and lenders, merchants, marketplaces, digital wallets, data analytics, loyalty programs, payment solutions or payment infrastructure

Areas we are interested in:

Issuer

• ID, authentication and security
• Direct business / Consumer lending
• Online banking
• Process and pay infrastructure

Enabler

• Fin services and infrastructure
• Blockchain/ crypto currency
• Data and analytics
• Investment management
• Payments, wallets, transfers
• Retail tech

Value Add

• Process and pay infrastructure
• Crowdfunding
• Insuratech
• Marketplace lending
• Loyalty
• Merchant services and tools
• Money transfer and remittance
• Personal finance
• Wealth management

Prize Structure 

Visa will select 1 finalist per region to travel to Paris for the opportunity to pitch their solution live at the Finals Event and attend the opening match of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™. 

The overall grand prize winner of the fintech challenge will receive $100,000 USD plus a potential opportunity to run a pilot with Visa and/or a Visa client.

Challenge 2 – Social Impact

How can women entrepreneurs around the world drive social impact by supporting sustainable and equitable livelihoods and strengthening local / regional economies?

Visa is looking for women entrepreneurs focused on social impact outcomes across micro and small business development, environmental and social responsibility, and community engagement.

• Women-founded/ co-founded organizations (2 to 50 employees) with a mission (or project) that resonates with Visa’s Social Impact charter
• Organization should have traction in market – live product / service, clients, sales revenue, etc.
• Note: Social Impact Challenge applicants do *not* have to be a Fintech or tech-based startup
  

Areas we are interested in (charter):

Micro and small business development

• Business skills development
• Financial education / literacy
• Access to capital / credit
• Transition to digital payments
• Improving connectivity
• Building resilience through financial products (e.g., savings, insurance) etc.

Environmental and Social Responsibility

• Environmental sustainability (e.g., renewable energy, sustainable products or manufacturing, environmental protection)
• Responsible sourcing (e.g., employment practices, supplier diversity, human rights across supply chain, etc.)
• UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): #5 Gender Equality and #8 Decent Work and Economic Growth

Community Engagement

• Diversity and inclusion
• Address challenges (e.g., gender pay gap, unconscious bias)
• Fair and equal ability to demonstrate potential and grow careers
• Community giving
• Humanitarian and disaster relief etc.

Prize Structure 

Visa will select 1 finalist per region to travel to Paris for the opportunity to pitch their solution live at the Finals Event and attend the opening match of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™. 

The overall grand prize winner of the social impact challenge will receive $100,000 USD.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Visa Everywhere Initiative global innovation program 2019