No, we do not take any equity in participating startups, nor do we charge a program fee.
While the program itself does not offer direct funding, our program partners can provide support through various avenues. You will have the opportunity to connect with venture capitalists, funds, and investors facilitated by the program. This can help you explore potential funding opportunities and pitch your business to relevant stakeholders.
The program is non-residential and does not require your team to be present daily, therefore co-working spaces are not provided. However, we can assist you in connecting with co-working spaces through our Program Hubs, offering support to facilitate your arrangements if needed.
We believe that a capable team is crucial for a successful startup. While solo founders can apply, having a team with diverse skills and market expertise is advantageous.
The program itself span 6 months. However, with the selection process, initial onboarding and closing events it can take up to 8 months.
Visa Innovation Program Europe offers a comprehensive suite of resources and opportunities to help accelerate your company’s growth:
- PoC & Partnership Opportunities: Get the opportunity to test your solutions in real-world environments, collaborate directly with Visa and its partners, and receive feedback to refine your products and services.
- Mentorship: Gain insights from a diverse mentor network, including experts from Visa, Eleven, Tenity, and our local partners, as well as leading figures in the global fintech industry and banking sectors.
- Region-Wide Market Access: Take the opportunity to expand into new markets through the Visa Innovation Program Europe, which will help you reach potential clients and create collaborations in desired regions.
- Funding Opportunities: Connect with global VCs and angel investors for potential funding opportunities.
- Showcasing: Showcase your product in front of the Visa’s global network during key Program milestone events.
- Vibrant Network: Increase your exposure by being part of international events and conferences.
- Tech Stack: Leverage the latest APIs from the Visa Developers Platform to enhance your product.
- Learning & Development: Benefit from masterclasses, webinars, design sprints, PoC and pilot support, and peer-to-peer gatherings for practical knowledge exchange.
Benefit to Visa’s Network: Solutions that offer value to Visa’s network are preferred.
Use Case and Collaboration: The ability to present potential use cases and collaboration opportunities with Visa’s network enhances your application.
Experienced Team: Teams should possess an entrepreneurial spirit and relevant market expertise.
Alignment with Focus Areas: Solutions should address one of our key focus areas.
Commitment to Pilot Projects: Founders should be dedicated and ready to lead pilot-centered projects.
After you submit your application, we typically reach out within 2-4 weeks. If your startup is eligible for the program, we will invite you to participate in an interview as the next step in the selection process.
No, the Program does not provide any monetary prizes or grants to the participants.
We do not provide acoommodation for participants. However, we can recommend trusted service providers to help you find suitable long-term or short-term accommodation options.
Co-founders are expected to participate in key events such as Kick-off sessions, Summit Days, and discovery sessions, which are usually held offline. The program also includes regular activities like workshops, deep dive sessions, and weekly 1-on-1 meetings. Team members are welcome to join these activities to ensure comprehensive engagement and support throughout the program. We believe this level of effort is required to get the best out of Visa Innovation Program Europe.