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  • PRESS RELEASE - November 19th, 2020

     

    Press Release
    19th November 2020

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

     

     


    Title: KEYROCK SELECTED AS THE WINNER OF THE 2020 NADIFIN FINTECH ACCELERATOR

     

    2020 program was powered by MiddleGame Ventures and supported
    by Brown Brothers Harriman and Standard Chartered Ventures

     

    - STARTS -

     

    Luxembourg, November 19th - NadiFin Acceleration Program today announced that Keyrock was voted as the winner of the 2020 program by its cohort peers.

    Keyrock democratizes liquidity in the digital asset space by deploying for their clients proprietary, scalable, and self-adaptive algorithms. Its partners can choose from a range of bespoke service solutions to create unique financial markets within the emerging digital asset space.

     

    "Nadifin provided great insights in better understanding a VC’s decision-making process and invaluable feedback from fellow entrepreneurs at various stages. I would happily sign up again!" commented Kevin de Patoul, Co-Founder of Keyrock.

     

    The NadiFin 2020 curriculum featured two one-week online workshops, where the cohort worked closely with program partners, including Brown Brothers Harriman and Standard Chartered Ventures, on how to achieve the next level of investment and commercial traction.

     

    As Pascal Bouvier, Managing Partner of MiddleGame Ventures and Co-Founder of NadiFin, explains: "The Nadifin 2020 cohort was exceptionally strong and all sponsors fully engaged. The competition was fierce and the collaboration between all startups was rich and deep.It is a testament to the power of the model that the cohort peers voted Keyrock the top startup. Congratulations to Kevin and to all the participants who made NadiFin such a success".

     

    Program partners for the second annual NadiFin Fintech Accelerator Program included Brown Brothers Harriman, Standard Chartered Ventures and ecosystem partner The LHoFT.

     

    To join the 2021 program wait list for updates please click here.

     

    The 2020 NadiFin Fintech Accelerator Cohort:

     

    Keyrock - Winner of the NadiFin 2020 Fintech Acceleration Program

    Keyrock offers market making and liquidity provision services for financial markets.

     

    CardsPal

    CardsPal is a one-stop credit card deals discovery platform that empowers customers to maximise savings.

     

    Cledara

    We standardise the way companies discover, buy, manage and cancel their SaaS.

     

    FAC (Fund Admin Chain)

    FAC is a digital funds network for launching and trading investment funds.

     

    Greenomy

    RegTech SaaS platform enabling Europe’s companies and institutional investors to comply with the EU's new Sustainable Finance standards, accelerating the transition to a carbon neutral economy.

     

    Lacero

    Policy engines for compliance, governance and control of Digital Assets and Data Objects.

     

    Loancorp

    Loancorp is a secure online Wholesale Banking loans platform accessible by Lenders, Bookrunner Banks and Borrowers.

     

    Nayms

    Smart contract platform for the placement, trade, reporting and settlement of insurance risk.

     

    NextGate

    Data-driven FundTech that provides innovative Software-as-a-Service solutions for the asset management industry.

     

    SoCash

    The platform to connect banks to retail networks enabling cash and banking services for consumers.

     

    - ENDS -

     

    About MiddleGame Ventures

    Established in 2018 by Pascal Bouvier, Michael Meyer and Patrick Pinschmidt, MiddleGame Ventures (MGV) is a FinTech venture capital firm focused on backing world class teams creating transformative companies that will re-architect financial services for decades to come. MGV is headquartered in Luxembourg with offices in Dublin and Washington DC. For more information on the MGV team, strategy and portfolio, please visit www.middlegamevc.com.

     

     

    About Brown Brothers Harriman

    BBH is a privately held financial institution that has been a thought leader and solutions provider for over 200 years. The firm serves individuals, families, businesses and institutions in its three business lines: Private Banking, Investment Management, and Investor Services. BBH’s culture of accountability fosters deep and lasting relationships built on commitment, adaptability and trust. The company is independent, selective, and specialized by design. BBH operates its global business out of seventeen offices located in New York, Boston, Beijing, Charlotte, Chicago, Dublin, Grand Cayman, Hong Kong, Jersey City, Kraków, London, Luxembourg, Nashville, Philadelphia, Tokyo, Wilmington and Zürich. For more information, please visit www.bbh.com.

     

    About SC Ventures

    SC Ventures is Standard Chartered Bank’s innovation, fintech investment and ventures unit. Focused on “rewiring the DNA in banking”, SC Ventures aims to develop an innovation culture and mindset, deepen capabilities and experiment with new business models through an open platform and network of people and partnerships. It runs an eXellerator innovation lab network across Singapore, Shanghai, Hong Kong, London, Nairobi and San Francisco. Standard Chartered has been actively experimenting with new business models to meet the evolving needs of its clients. Most recently, the Bank announced the official launch of Mox, its new virtual bank created in partnership with PCCW, HKT and Trip.com, to the general public in Hong Kong. It also set up a joint venture with Assembly Payments this February to develop and deliver next generation payment solutions and has built a digital open platform, Solv, to help Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in India and other markets grow by providing access to financial and business services. For more information, please visit: http://scventures.io/

     

    About The LHoFT Foundation

    The LHoFT Foundation is a public - private sector initiative that drives technology innovation for Luxembourg’s financial services industry, connecting the domestic and international Fintech community to develop solutions that shape the world of tomorrow. Senior executives from 13 leading private sector institutions sit on our board as leadership circle partners alongside representative from the Luxembourg Government, such as our Chairman, Pierre Gramegna, Luxembourg Minister of Finance, as well as leaders of the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, Luxembourg for Finance and PROFIL, the Luxembourg Financial Industry Federation.

    www.lhoft.com

     

    CONTACT

    For further information and press queries please contact: Gene Murphy MD NadiFin Accelerator Program gene@nadifin.com

  • PRESS RELEASE - November 3rd, 2020

    Press Release
    3rd November 2020

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

     

    TITLE: NADIFIN FINTECH ACCELERATOR ANNOUNCES NEW 2020 COHORT

     

    - STARTS -

    Luxembourg - 3 November 2020 -- After 120+ applications from around the globe, the NadiFin Fintech Accelerator Program powered by MiddleGame Ventures, in partnership with Brown Brothers Harriman (BBH) and Standard Chartered, announces its latest cohort of 10 early stage fintech companies (summarized below).

     

    10 of the most promising Fintech companies from around the world will convene virtually this fall in specially designed online workshops spanning two full weeks of instruction and one-on-one engagement with mentors, investors, and other startups. Are there any examples that the workshops cover we can share?

     

    Pascal Bouvier, Managing Partner of MiddleGame Ventures, notes:

     

    “We believe that NadiFin is an evolution for accelerator programs. First, it is investor-led and incumbent driven. Second, the peer-to-peer focus of the program is ideal for a startup team to fully digest and implement the curriculum. MiddleGame Ventures is delighted to build on the success of the 2019 program and welcome the second NadiFin cohort. ”

     

    NadiFin features a bespoke curriculum to prepare entrepreneurs for scaling their businesses for profitable growth. The program is uniquely built from the ground up with experienced investor knowledge from MiddleGame Ventures, supplemented by key learnings from previous participants and input from financial services partners, including program sponsors BBH and Standard Chartered.

     

    BBH’s Head of Digital and Data Services, Joshua Fine said, “We are excited to be part of the NadiFin incubator event again this year. Building connections with others in the ecosystem in support of our common clients is critical – we all need to be flexible, adaptable, and forward-thinking.”

     

    BBH’s Head of Data Strategy in Europe, Adnan Khan added, “This program creates a level of partnership that goes beyond product – it starts with a foundational shared dialogue and is true mentorship.”

     

    ‘While this type of interactive learning and mentoring is always valuable, in the current economic environment start-ups will be greatly challenged and ensuring that strong solutions for real problems do not fall to the wayside is critical.’ - Dominic Maffei – SC Ventures Lead FM & UK.

     

    The cohort will be immersed in a curriculum which integrates mentors, speakers, investors, and peers to help the companies grow to the next level across all of their key strategic vectors (i.e., value proposition, team, business model mapping, fund-raising, etc).

     

    The cohort will compete in a trademarked peer-voting startup accelerator curriculum (powered by Village Capital), where participants rate the value proposition across key venture readiness metrics, leading to a €100,000 investment from MiddleGame Ventures.

     

    “Fintech is playing an even more pivotal role in the sustainability of financial institutions. We are very happy at the LHoFT to support NadiFin as it helps to develop robust fintech businesses that can make a real difference to the future of the EU’s financial services sector,” comments Nasir Zubairi, CEO of theLHoFT.

     

    The 2020 NadiFin Fintech Accelerator Cohort:

    CardsPal

    CardsPal is a one-stop credit card deals discovery platform that empowers customers to maximise savings.

     

    Cledara

    We standardise the way companies discover, buy, manage and cancel their SaaS.

     

    FAC (Fund Admin Chain)

    FAC is a digital funds network for launching and trading investment funds.

     

    Greenomy

    RegTech SaaS platform enabling Europe’s companies and institutional investors to comply with the EU's new Sustainable Finance standards, accelerating the transition to a carbon neutral economy.

     

    Keyrock

    Keyrock offers market making and liquidity provision services for financial markets.

     

    Lacero

    Policy engines for compliance, governance and control of Digital Assets and Data Objects.

     

    Loancorp

    Loancorp is a secure online Wholesale Banking loans platform accessible by Lenders, Bookrunner Banks and Borrowers.

     

    Nayms

    Smart contract platform for the placement, trade, reporting and settlement of insurance risk.

     

    NextGate

    Data-driven FundTech that provides innovative Software-as-a-Service solutions for the asset management industry.

     

    SoCash

    The platform to connect banks to retail networks enabling cash and banking services for consumers.

     

    - ENDS -

     

    About MiddleGame Ventures

    Established in 2018 by Pascal Bouvier, Michael Meyer and Patrick Pinschmidt, MiddleGame Ventures (MGV) is a FinTech venture capital firm focused on backing world class teams creating transformative companies that will re-architect financial services for decades to come. MGV is headquartered in Luxembourg with offices in Dublin and Washington DC. For more information on the MGV team, strategy and portfolio, please visit www.middlegamevc.com

     

    About Brown Brothers Harriman

    BBH is a privately held financial institution that has been a thought leader and solutions provider for over 200 years. The firm serves individuals, families, businesses and institutions in its three business lines: Private Banking, Investment Management, and Investor Services. BBH’s culture of accountability fosters deep and lasting relationships built on commitment, adaptability and trust. The company is independent, selective, and specialized by design. BBH operates its global business out of seventeen offices located in New York, Boston, Beijing, Charlotte, Chicago, Dublin, Grand Cayman, Hong Kong, Jersey City, Kraków, London, Luxembourg, Nashville, Philadelphia, Tokyo, Wilmington and Zürich. For more information, please visit www.bbh.com.

     

    About SC Ventures

    SC Ventures is Standard Chartered Bank’s innovation, fintech investment and ventures unit. Focused on “rewiring the DNA in banking”, SC Ventures aims to develop an innovation culture and mindset, deepen capabilities and experiment with new business models through an open platform and network of people and partnerships. It runs an eXellerator innovation lab network across Singapore, Shanghai, Hong Kong, London, Nairobi and San Francisco. Standard Chartered has been actively experimenting with new business models to meet the evolving needs of its clients. Most recently, the Bank announced the official launch of Mox, its new virtual bank created in partnership with PCCW, HKT and Trip.com, to the general public in Hong Kong. It also set up a joint venture with Assembly Payments this February to develop and deliver next generation payment solutions and has built a digital open platform, Solv, to help Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in India and other markets grow by providing access to financial and business services. For more information, please visit: http://scventures.io/

     

    About The LHoFT Foundation

    The LHoFT Foundation is a public - private sector initiative that drives technology innovation for Luxembourg’s financial services industry, connecting the domestic and international Fintech community to develop solutions that shape the world of tomorrow. Senior executives from 13 leading private sector institutions sit on our board as leadership circle partners alongside representative from the Luxembourg Government, such as our Chairman, Pierre Gramegna, Luxembourg Minister of Finance, as well as leaders of the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, Luxembourg for Finance and PROFIL, the Luxembourg Financial Industry Federation.

    www.lhoft.com

     

    CONTACT

    For further information and press queries please contact: Gene Murphy MD NadiFin Accelerator Program gene@nadifin.com

     

     

  • PRESS RELEASE - January 15, 2020

    Press Release
    15th January 2020

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

     

    TITLE: NADIFIN FINTECH ACCELERATOR PROGRAM APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN FOR 2020

    • Applications for the second NadiFin Fintech Accelerator program are now open. We seek fintechs that are creating unique solutions across the global financial services market and are preparing to raise their Series A or B funding rounds.

    - STARTS -

    Luxembourg: Applications are now open through February 28 for the NadiFin Fintech Acceleration program powered by venture capital fund MiddleGame Ventures. NadiFin brings together innovative fintech companies to learn and engage through a unique curriculum led by experienced fintech VCs including Pascal Bouvier of MiddleGame Ventures.

     

    Pascal Bouvier, Managing Partner, MiddleGame Ventures announced, “We are delighted to build on the success of the 2019 program and welcome the second NadiFin cohort. I have always been fascinated with what the next generation accelerator looks like. We believe that NadiFin is an evolution for accelerator programs. First, it is investor-led and incumbent driven. Second, the peer-to-peer focus (learning, ranking) of the program is ideal for a startup team to fully digest and implement the curriculum. I look forward to interacting with every startup selected as I will be one of the facilitators for each workshop.”

     

    Up to 12 promising fintech companies from around the world will convene at NadiFin over two, five-day workshops beginning in Dublin (week of March 30) taking place at Huckeltree Dublin and concluding in Luxembourg (week of May 11) at ICT Spring Europe and the LHoFT (Luxembourg House of FinTech). The program focuses exclusively on cutting-edge fintechs that use Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Big Data Analytics, Blockchain and other ‘deeptech’ tools to create seamless solutions and businesses for the financial services market and are preparing to raise their series A or B round.

     

    Rupert Schneider, Co-Founder and CEO of Gardenia Technologies, a graduate of NadiFin 2019, noted that the program provided “very valuable perspectives on my business; the opportunity to meet some fantastic entrepreneurs and great mentors; potential future clients and partners; and an investment from very credible investors".

     

    NadiFin features a bespoke curriculum built to prepare entrepreneurs for scaling their businesses for profitable growth. The program is uniquely built from the ground up with experienced investor knowledge from MiddleGame Ventures, supplemented by key learnings from previous participants, in tandem with input from financial services partners.

     

    “The NadiFin program gave our team great insights from the best minds in the fintech industry and helped us refine aspects of our business model that have subsequently had a meaningful impact on our company’s performance,” said John Byrne, CEO of Irish regtech company Corlytics, a participant in the 2019 program.

     

    The curriculum integrates mentors, speakers, investors, and peers to help the selected cohort grow to the next level across all of their key strategic vectors (e.g., value proposition, team, business model mapping, fund-raising). The NadiFin Fintech Accelerator Program engages a broad network of investors and strategic partners to facilitate real-world progress outside the classroom. The cohort will compete in a trademarked peer-voting startup accelerator curriculum (powered by Village Capital) leading to a €100,000 investment from MiddleGame Ventures.

     

    Each workshop will take place over five days during which specific modules will be taught, including sessions where mentors, sponsors and ecosystem actors will engage with the cohort, supplemented by networking opportunities (dinner, cocktail hours) where the broader ecosystem in the respective host cities and across Europe will attend.

     

    How to Apply

    Fintechs that are preparing to raise their series A or B round can now apply to the NadiFin Fintech

    Acceleration Program by going to www.nadifin.com and completing the application process before February 28, 2020. Applications will be reviewed by the selection committee composed of MiddleGame Ventures (MGV), advisory board members, sponsors and select mentors.

    - ENDS -


    About MiddleGame Ventures

    Luxembourg-based MiddleGame Ventures (MGV) is a leading financial services technology venture capital firm with a focus on supporting innovation in the financial sector as organisations reinvent themselves to compete and service clients in the digital age.

    Central to MGV’s thesis is that disruption in banking, payments, capital markets, asset management and insurance business models by new intermediaries will drive a fundamental re-architecting of incumbents and create entirely new value chains.

    MGV is well-positioned to help this financial services renaissance based on the founding team’s extensive investment, operational and regulatory experience.

    MGV was established in 2018 by Pascal Bouvier, Michael Meyer and Patrick Pinschmidt. Bouvier and Meyer have substantial FinTech investment experience having co-founded Route 66 Ventures and consulted with Santander InnoVentures. Pinschmidt was a senior official at the US Treasury Department following a decade as a sell-side research analyst covering financial services for Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch.

    MGV is headquartered in Luxembourg with offices in Dublin and Washington DC.

    For more information on the MGV team, strategy and portfolio, please visit www.middlegamevc.com.

     

    About The LHoFT Foundation

    The LHoFT Foundation is a public - private sector initiative that drives technology innovation for Luxembourg’s financial services industry, connecting the domestic and international Fintech community to develop solutions that shape the world of tomorrow. Senior executives from 13 leading private sector institutions sit on our board as leadership circle partners alongside representatives from the Luxembourg Government, such as its Chairman, Pierre Gramegna, Luxembourg Minister of Finance, as well as leaders of the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, Luxembourg for Finance and PROFIL, the Luxembourg Financial Industry Federation. www.lhoft.com

     

    CONTACT

    For further information and press queries please contact:

    Gene Murphy MD NadiFin Accelerator Program

    gene@nadifin.com