The Visa Innovation Program Europe (Nordics & Baltics) is a collaboration platform designed to accelerate real-world adoption of fintech solutions. Our primary focus is enabling proof of concepts (PoCs) and scalable partnerships between fintechs, Visa, and our network of banks, financial institutions, and corporates. This is not a competition, but a program built to drive tangible business outcomes.
Participating fintechs gain structured support, direct access to decision-makers, and the credibility of working with Visa. The program is designed to help fintechs validate, implement, and scale their solutions in the market.
With no equity taken and no program fees, fintechs can focus entirely on building successful collaborations, while benefiting from Visa’s expertise, global network, and visibility opportunities across program countries (Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia)
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, and Tenity, as well as leading figures in the global fintech industry and banking sectors.
Region-Wide Market Access: Take the opportunity to explore 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.
The program itself spans 5 months. However, with the selection process, initial onboarding, and closing events it can take up to 8 months.
Program Kickoff:
The journey begins with a Kickoff event, where selected program participants will be introduced to the program structure, mentors, and fellow participants, setting the stage for the months ahead.
Discovery Sessions:
On the first day of the program, we conduct Discovery Sessions where our team works closely with you to understand your fintech, product, and specific needs. These sessions allow us to tailor our support and create a personalized action plan that aligns with your acceleration journey, ensuring your goals are met effectively.
1-on-1 Meetings:
To ensure consistent progress, we hold weekly 1-on-1 meetings. These meetings track your progress, address any challenges, and provide ongoing support throughout your journey.
Trainings & Workshops:
Throughout the program, you’ll engage in a series of workshops and trainings focused on fintech ecosystem, design thinking, business model optimization, and market fit. These sessions are designed to refine your product and prepare it for market challenges.
Mentorships:
You’ll have continuous access to a diverse network of mentors, including industry experts, experienced entrepreneurs, and Visa partners. This mentorship will guide your product development, business strategy, and potential collaborations.
Partnership Opportunities and Product Validation:
The program provides opportunities to explore potential partnerships with Visa and other corporate partners. By leveraging introductions and connections within Visa’s network, you’ll have the chance to validate your solution for real-world use cases, preparing it for potential integration with Visa’s clients. While the program facilitates introductions and fosters collaborations, developing a formal Proof of Concept (PoC) may vary depending on the individual company and its partnership readiness.
Summit Day:
After 5 months, you’ll have the opportunity to showcase your progress during Summit Day, where you can present your product to potential clients, investors, and industry leaders. This event also offers valuable networking opportunities with key stakeholders.
Post-Program Engagement:
You’ll continue to be part of the Visa Innovation Program Europe community, with ongoing access to business opportunities, networking events, and support from fellow alumni.
The Visa Innovation Program Europe Nordics & Baltics primarily operates online, with in-person activities also hosted at our Program Hubs in Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.
We are focused on companies operating in or aiming to operate in Nordics & Baltics (Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia). Additionally, the fintechs from outside these listed countries that have any expansion within the regions covered by our Program Hubs can also apply.
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.
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.
No, we do not take any equity in participating fintechs, nor do we charge a program fee. However, please note that there may be incidental expenses, such as travel and accommodation, when attending face-to-face events.
We believe that a capable team is crucial for a successful fintech. While solo founders can apply, having a team with diverse skills and market expertise is advantageous.
The Visa Innovation Program Europe welcomes fintechs that meet the below criteria. We are looking for fintech companies with proven solutions and a strong potential for impact. Here’s what we value:
Market-Tested Solution: Fintechs must have a product with demonstrated sales.
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 on Theme and 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.
Yes, you can re-apply to the Visa Innovation Program Europe. We have previously accepted fintechs that were rejected during previous years. Each application is reviewed on its own merits, and improvements made since the last submission are considered.
Upon submission, you will receive an automatic confirmation email from our system. If you did not receive this confirmation or if you have any concerns about your application, please contact us through the provided contact form on our website.
The Visa Innovation Program Europe involves a range of key stakeholders:
Program Partners: Pool of financial and non-financial institutions: Banks, E-money institutions (EMI), Payment institutions (PI), merchants, retailers, and corporates in various sectors willing to drive collaboration and create valuable partnerships.
Program Managers: Responsible for the seamless execution the program, ensuring its successful implementation and management.
– Tenity: A startup accelerator and corporate innovation partner that has supported over 800 founders from 100+ countries.
Local Ecosystem Partners: Support us in building local networks and fostering collaborations within their countries.
Additional Stakeholders: VCs, mentors, and trainers offer investment, guidance, and expertise throughout the program.
No, the Program does not provide any monetary prizes or grants to the participants.
We do not provide accommodation for participants, we can recommend trusted service providers to help you find suitable long-term or short-term options. Please note that there may be incidental expenses related to attending face-to-face events (e.g., travel or accommodation)
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, discovery 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 and we expect to held roughly 4-6 offline activities during the program.
Program partners play a crucial role in the Visa Innovation Program Europe by providing valuable support and resources to participating startups. These partners include major corporations, banks, electronic money institutions (EMIs), and payment institutions (PIs), which are significant players in the financial industry, and also various non-financial organizations influential in their sectors.
Here’s how they make a difference:
Expertise and Mentorship: They share their deep industry knowledge to help startups refine their solutions and tackle challenges.
Collaboration Opportunities: They open doors for startups to work with established players, which can lead to exciting pilots and long-term partnerships.
Innovation Support: They back the development of new technologies and solutions, supporting startups in aligning with industry trends and needs.
These partners are more than just names on a list—they’re actively involved in making the program a success and helping startups thrive.
Once a company graduates from the Visa Innovation Program Europe, it retains access to a robust worldwide network of partners and opportunities. Alumni benefit from continued exclusive access to in-person events, trainings, and webinars as part of the ecosystem, often leading to partnerships, and further investment opportunities. Additionally, they receive ongoing guidance from Visa and its partners, including access to specialized resources and SME (subject matter expert) advice, helping them to continue refining and expanding their innovation across new markets. Finally, a number of Program Alumni have proceeded to become valuable mentors and PoC Partners of the Program.
They are available here. (terms & conditionshttps://visainnovationprogram.com/nb-terms-and-conditions/ )
You could reach us via LinkedIn or the contact form here. https://www.linkedin.com/company/visainnovationprogram/