Visa Innovation Program Europe is in search of the fintech companies that have the highest potential to partner and conduct pilot or proof of concepts with Visa clients and partners, therefore your capabilities should be go-to-market ready for the country you are applying to. We can support market expansion needs on a per case basis and other opportunities beyond. Additionally, you will benefit from curated training, mentorship and introductions to selected investors

Core Value Proposition

PoC/Partnership Opportunities

Introduction to Visa and Visa’s clients to fast-track, test, validate and implement your solutions within Visa’s vast network of financial institutions and corporate partners.

Market Access

Access to new client base and business opportunities across Northern Europe and Baltics (Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia Lithuania)

funding

Connect with some of the leading VC funds in Europe backing fintech startups.

Showcasing

Large exposure and access to top fintech and payment conferences as part of the Program.

Powerful Communitiy

Mentorships, masterclasses, workshops and peer-to-peer gatherings for practical knowledge exchange with a diverse entrepreneurial network of global fintech industry experts and investors.

Tech Stack

Startup perks, essential tools, industry data, tech infrastructure.

Themes

Visa’s 2026 Innovation Program centers on enabling frictionless, intelligent and secure money mevement across diverse platforms, industries and geographies. Our 2026 theme reflects Visa’s role as a technology enabler, ecosystem connector and innovation catalyst powering seamless financial flows for businesses of all size.

Borderless B2B Payments – Making Global Feel Local

Are you reimagining how businesses move money across borders? Can you make international B2B transactions as fast, seamless, and cost-efficient as domestic ones? We’re looking for solutions that leverage cutting-edge technology to simplify FX, settlement, and cross-border flows.

Real-time payments infrastructure

AI-powered FX optimization

Embedded cross-border finance in platforms (marketplaces, SaaS)

Simplified global flows

Solutions for SMB money movement, remittances, and treasury services

Embedded Payments – Invisible, Intelligent, Everywhere

Can you make payments disappear into the background of everyday business processes? We are seeking innovations that integrate payments natively into digital platforms, making transactions smarter, safer, and easier for businesses and their clients.

API gateways and platform-as-a-service (PaaS) integrations

Tokenization and biometric authentication

BNPL and integrated lending in B2B checkout

Marketplace orchestration (split payments, gig payouts, instant settlements)

Expense and ERP management solutions

Innovative B2B Flows – Unlocking Untapped Commercial Potential

How can we expand the power of digital payments into overlooked and underserved B2B segments? We’re looking for solutions that simplify complex workflows, bring transparency to transactions, and unlock new commercial value for corporates and SMEs alike.

Automated B2B payments (programmatic Visa cards, one-time virtual cards)

Digital identity and tokenization for secure high-value transactions

Smart analytics for invoice matching and reconciliation

Blockchain-enabled supply chain finance

Bank-to-bank payments

Who Should Apply

If your team has already completed a proof of concept related to the proposed challenges or has a market-ready solution,
you are the right fit for the Visa Innovation Program Europe.

Solution
A solution addressing
one of our Challenges.
Team

An experienced team with entrepreneurial spirit

Stage

Startups and scale-ups a  market-tested solution

Commitment

Dedication for pilot collaboration with banks and enterprises

The Timeline

 

 
Open Call for Applications

Monday, October 6, 2025

 
 

 
Selection Day 

Wednesday, November 19, 2025 (Helsinki, Fl)

 
 

 
PoC Discovery Sessions ( 1-1 Workshops )

Monday, November 24, 2025

 
 

 
Kick off (F2F)

Wednesday – Thursday, December 3-4, 2025 (Helsinki, Fl)

 
 

 
Workshops & Design Thinking Sprints

December (2025) – April ( 2026 )

 
 

 
PoC/Pilot Development & Mentoring Sessions

December ( 2025 ) – April ( 2026 )

 
 

 
Summit (F2F)

May 2026 (Riga, LV)

 
 
 

program manager

The Visa Innovation Program Europe Nordics & Baltics Edition is run by Tenity as the exclusive program manager. With deep expertise in building and scaling innovation ecosystems, Tenity bring its network, domain knowledge, and operational excellence to make the Program a reality in the region.

Tenity is the leading global innovation ecosystem and early-stage investor, with offices in Zurich, Singapore, Tallinn, Madrid, London, and Istanbul. Tenity’s vision is to accelerate the future of finance by bringing together ambitious founders with leading companies, investors, and mentors.

Tenity

Program partners

Previous Success Stories of VIPE Southern Europe