Global FinTech Hackcelerator 2026: An Overview

The Programme Overview

The Global FinTech Hackcelerator 2026 is organised by MAS and GFTN, returning at the Singapore FinTech Festival 2026. The initiative features three Corporate Champions, three unsolved problems, and one Demo Day. It offers a high-visibility platform to present solutions to an international audience of more than 70,000 corporate executives, investors, and regulators. Registration for the corporate challenges closes on 14 August 2026.

The Three Problem Statements

The programme highlights three specific problem statements sourced directly from the frontlines of industry institutions:

• 01 GXS (Adaptive Risk Modelling Systems): Credit and fraud risk share common signals, yet are assessed in silos, creating blind spots that lead to missed risks and mounting losses. As financial behaviours shift, static and disconnected models fall further behind. How might we build an adaptive risk modelling system that unifies credit and fraud assessment into a single, continuously learning framework?
• 02 Julius Baer (Reimagining Private Banking for Digitally Native HNW Clients): US$84 trillion in wealth is set to transfer to a generation that has never known banking without a smartphone. Yet private banking’s client experience remains largely manual, relationship-dependent, and slow to personalise at scale. How might we use AI to deliver a seamless, hyper-personalised digital journey, from onboarding to portfolio advisory, that meets nextgeneration wealth clients where they are?
• 03 Zurich Insurance (Closing the SME Protection Gap): Most SMEs don’t know what they don’t know. Gaps in coverage against cyber, supply chain, and asset risks go unnoticed until a claim is denied or a loss hits, and as businesses grow, those gaps quietly compound. How might we use AI to give SMEs a clear, real-time picture of their risk exposure and coverage gaps, and guide them to the right protection at every stage of their growth?

The Timeline to Demo Day

Every milestone leading up to the Singapore FinTech Festival 2026 follows a structured timeline:

• Register Your Team: Startups submit the GFH Registration Form (https://forms.gftn.co/gfh2026) with basic details; no documents are required at this initial stage.
• Submit via Portal: Teams receive portal access via email to upload their pitch deck, a written proposal, and a short product demo video. A confirmation email is issued once all materials are received.
• Selection: Selected finalists will be notified by email in September, and all applicants will receive an update regarding their status.
• Key Dates:
  • 14 August 2026: Application close.
  • September 2026: Finalists announcement.
  • September to November 2026: Virtual programme.
  • 11 November to 13 November 2026: In-person programme in Singapore.
  • 18 November 2026: Demo Day.
  • 19 November 2026: Winners announced at the SFF Fintech Excellence Awards Dinner.

Finalist and Winner Benefits

The programme provides extensive global visibility, market access, funding, and mentorship opportunities for early-stage fintech startups. Shortlisted finalists will receive the following provisions:

• A SGD 20,000 stipend for each finalist team to help defray travel and accommodation costs.
• A complimentary exhibition kiosk at Singapore FinTech Festival 2026.
• Mentorship by senior leaders from financial institutions and leading corporate organisations.
• Dedicated investment network access and entry to Investor Hours™ to maximise partnership opportunities.
• Masterclasses and workshops focused on investment readiness, legal fundamentals, and operational expansion or scaling strategies.
• An opportunity to pitch the startup at Demo Day before an international audience of corporate executives, investors, and regulators.
• Direct opportunities for pilot collaboration engagements with Corporate Champions post-programme.

The top three winners will additionally receive:

• SGD 80,000 prize money for each individual winner.

Application Criteria and Requirements

Startups interested in participating must meet the following criteria:

• The competition is looking for early-stage fintech startups currently in Bootstrapped, Pre-Seed, Seed, or Series A stages.
• Startups must possess a market-ready solution addressing one of the listed corporate problem statements.
• Applicants must be based in, operating in, or intending to enter the Southeast Asian market.
• Startups should be open to external funding opportunities.
• Teams must be formed before registration, with individuals permitted to join only one team. Teams are advised to comprise no more than 10 members.
• Each team or participant may submit only one proposal addressing a single problem statement.
• Submissions must feature a 1–5 page proposal PDF (minimum 11-point font and 1-inch margins), a pitch deck, and a short video demonstration in English focusing on product functionality.
• All applications must be fully completed by 14 August 2026 at 2359 SGT, as late submissions will not be accepted. Submissions must be uploaded directly rather than linked via external cloud storage drives. Applications are entirely free and processed without equity dilution.