The internet has thrown transactions into a cauldron of change

In a world in which innovation is mandatory, corporates are using and creating opportunities to explore new technologies that could influence their business models and even change their culture. And banking is in the spotlight.

The financial world is facing an earthquake of disruption as mobiles begin to become managers of people’s money; and as they play an increasing part in almost all kinds of transactions. Walmart’s discovery that as many as half its customers who order goods online could be in its stores at the time has highlighted the role of mobiles in transactions; and the rapidly growing volume of peer-to-peer transactions on the internet has highlighted the way in which the internet can displace intermediaries.

The internet is already playing a rapidly increasing role in banking, and the banks are now busily exploring ways in which their online activities will develop; and they are readily looking at innovations that SMEs have to offer. Consequently London is the place to which to bring your ideas.

Fintech Lab London has just completed its second iteration – in which it brought five SMEs to Canary Wharf, each with a bit of wizardry for the financial industry that might be of interest to the banks – its aim, to help them introduce their products through a 13-week development programme in collaboration with the banks. Level39, its location, sits in the middle of one of the world’s most intensive clusters – in Canary Wharf, so not only can it host intensive development programmes like this one; but it can also provide incubation space for the best of them to grow on.

Now Startupbootcamp FinTech is bringing its development programme to London – in partnership with financial institutions including MasterCard and Lloyds Banking Group, which will provide access to a network of industry professionals, and is opening its doors to applicants in August. Innotribe is running the semi-finals of its Startup Challenge competition in London, in which 15 startups and growth-stage companies for the financial industry will pitch for a place in its Finale in Boston later in the year. And Barclays is going a step further in planning to run its own Accelerator – with Techstars later this year; while Banco Sabadell in Barcelona has already done so.

These approaches are about bringing emerging technologies to potential business users, such as 3D printing to the vehicle industry in the East Midlands, TSB grant winners to Life Science businesses in Nottingham, games innovators to Dundee, new playwrights to the National Theatre’s Studio etc. Long ago Mercedes Benz established a culture of encouraging innovative thinking among its suppliers: what is new is the formalisation of this approach, the wider world from which relevant innovations are being sought, and the intensive development programmes like Fintech Lab London and Startupbootcamp FinTech.

May 2014