Reviewing up to 192 applicants coming from 41 countries, the experts panel from the Khube (the KPMG Hub for Entrepreneurship and innovation) and the LHoFT scored the applicants based on a number of criteria such as idea, technology and solution, business model, market potential, team, etc. in order to cut hundreds of ambitious startups down to just 15.

Pascal Denis, president of the jury commented:

“It’s been very hard to make the final decisions as the applications received were, on the whole, outstanding and promising. Everyone in the team carefully reviewed each application. I can tell you that we’ve had many discussions. Unfortunately we have to make a choice and we are happy to see not only Luxembourg startups competing but also numerous startups from abroad aiming at developing their business in Europe out of Luxembourg. The semi-finalists also offer a variety of solutions from regtech to blockchain and artificial intelligence, as you can see from the list. I’m convinced that the Competition Day will be extremely interesting to watch!”

Nasir Zubairi, CEO of the Luxembourg House of Financial Technology (the LHoFT) added:

“The list of the 15 semi-finalists is really high caliber. The diversity of the activity sectors represented as well as the geographical diversity demonstrate the international dimension of the Fintech Awards and the indisputable appeal of Luxembourg as a FinTech hub. We are looking forward to hear the pitches in the semi-final and the final and to see who will finish at the top of the podium”

The fifteen companies selected to pitch at the Grand Final on 20 June are:

15 finalists to go through Competition Day (20 June)  

The 15 finalists selected will go through to Competition Day on 20 June, where they will be whittled down to seven finalists who will compete to be Fintech Startup of the Year. Prizes will also go to the first and second runner ups as well as a special award dedicated to Financial Inclusion.

The winners will be announced during the awards ceremony and after-party on the KPMG Plage beach in Luxembourg on 20 June in the presence of the Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and Luxembourg Finance Minister Pierre Gramegna.

€50,000 in prize money, sponsored by Digital Lëtzebuerg

The startups will be competing for prizes designed to help them grow and develop their company in Luxembourg. Prizes include €50,000; four months of hosting at the Technoport (coworking space in Luxembourg); 10 free consulting hours from KPMG; and a free LHoFT membership including six months of hosting at the LHoFT Fintech hub.

[toggle title =”About The Fintech Awards Luxembourg”]

Developed between Digital Lëtzebuerg, the ICT Cluster, KPMG Luxembourg, LuxInnovation, Maison Moderne, and the Technoport, these national awards aim to bring the best of financial technology to Europe’s leading financial centre.

The Awards are organised by the LHoFT and KPMG Luxembourg, in collaboration with Digital Lëtzebuerg, the Luxembourg ICT Cluster, LuxInnovation, and Maison Moderne as well as gold sponsor, State Street

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[colored_box color=”grey”] For more information, please visit the official site at www.fintechawards.lu or contact Geneviève Feyt, press and media officer @KPMG Luxembourg (genevieve.feyt@kpmg.lu, +352 22 51 51 2903, +352 621 87 2903). [/colored_box]