Nordea has announced that it is now accepting applications from fintech startups all over the world for its second Accelerator programme that will run for 12 weeks starting this September. Those interested can apply until August 7, 2016.

The first Nordea Accelerator programme ran successfully in Helsinki during winter 2015-2016 where 12 selected startups developed their ideas in cooperation with Nordea. These startups are still in business and most are doing great, Nordea noted.

“The startups received over 600,000 euro in new funding and for two of the startups (Jenny and Feelingstream) Nordea is preparing actual pilots where the opportunities for long-term partnerships will be further evaluated. Nordea is also working with a couple of the other startups for possible cooperation”, said Jan Sirich, Head of Experimentation & Learning, Nordea Digital Banking.

Nordea has partnered with Nestholma Venture Accelerator both for the first programme and the new one. Nordea said that this time the startups can also choose to work on site at Nordea premises in Stockholm. 

Sirich pointed out that one of Nordea’s challenges for the startups is to come up with good ideas within emerging technologies like cognitive computing, artificial intelligence in banking and financial usage of blockchain technology.

“But Nordea is interested in several other areas, which opens good opportunities to attract many different startups to the programme and provides synergy and diversity”, Sirich added.

The 50 most promising of the applying startup teams will be invited to a training and selection week which will take place in Oslo during August. The best 20-30 startups among this group get the opportunity to work closely with Nordea in the autumn.

“Nordea Accelerator is the biggest of its kind in the Nordic region. We want to offer the startups a unique opportunity to work in close cooperation with external entrepreneurs, international tech specialists, Nordea experts and key decision-makers. My ambition is that the startups attending Nordea Accelerator will find that it is a huge business opportunity which enables them to develop both themselves and their network”, said Sirich.