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Latin American Tech and Fintech Startups, there is a new reason to get excited!\u00a0 Visa announced that Visa\u2019s Everywhere Initiative<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>is calling for proposals from startups across Latin America and the Caribbean to engage in one of the most dynamic and collaborative innovation programs worldwide. <\/span><\/p>\n The global payments technology company is looking for commercially viable solutions that can gain scale by connecting with banks, acquirers, and merchants throughout the region. The challenge: <\/span>How can tech startups from across Latin America and the Caribbean enhance financial services by transforming payments and commerce in the region?<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n Startups in Latin America are leveraging technologies to develop innovative businesses that can potentially enhance financial services and transform payments and commerce in the region. \u00a0Visa\u2019s Everywhere Initiative is looking for Fintech startups<\/strong>, as well as other tech-driven startups in verticals or segments such as IoT, Mobile, Big Data, eCommerce, Fraud and Digital Identity, across Latin America and the Caribbean to engage in the second edition of the program for Latin America and Caribbean region. <\/span><\/p>\n Eligible startups can begin submitting their applications online today<\/a><\/strong>; Visa will be accepting applications until June 15, 2018<\/strong>. Thirty-six semifinalists will be chosen to compete late August through early September in semifinal events in <\/span>Bogota<\/a>, Mexico City<\/a>, Lima<\/a>, Santiago<\/a> (Chile),\u00a0Sao Paulo<\/a> and Buenos Aires<\/a><\/strong>; and two finalists will be chosen from each event.<\/p>\n \u201cCultivating the startup space across the region through global programs like Visa\u2019s Everywhere Initiative is at the forefront of our approach to innovation,\u201d said Allen Cueli, Vice President of Fintech Relations for Visa Latin America and the Caribbean. \u201cOur objective is to expand our collaboration with bank and merchant partners while strengthening us as a technology company to go to market faster and drive scale. We are looking to identify startups that enhance the ecosystem by helping us reduce cash, eliminate friction and build new payment experiences. We have been working with several of the 2017 participants and are excited to see the collaboration that is surfacing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n A total of 12 finalists will advance to the finals in Miami and will have the chance to participate in a 4-day immersion program<\/strong> on September 30 – October 3, 2018, and pitch their solutions during FINNOSUMMIT<\/a>, October 4-5<\/strong>. The winner<\/strong> will receive a $50,000 award,<\/strong> as well as the opportunity to collaborate with Visa on the future of payments, gain exposure to venture capitalists and Visa\u2019s ecosystem of partners.<\/span><\/p>\n Moreover, a special recognition will be given to the best startup with the highest potential to have an impact on financial inclusion in the region, who will also be invited to participate in the 4-day Immersion Program at Miami and at FINNOSUMMIT Miami.<\/span><\/p>\n Visa\u2019s Everywhere Initiative 2018 builds on last year\u2019s success in the region<\/b><\/p>\n \n Visa\u2019s Everywhere Initiative launched in Latin America and the Caribbean for the first time in 2017, attracting more than 250 startups from 10 countries. The 2017 winner, a solution by the Argentine-based startup <\/span>Increase<\/span><\/i> with their first product, IncreaseCard, simplifies and modernizes how retailers control, manage and reconcile their credit card transactions.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe prize money is, of course, helpful in executing our objectives,\u201d said Sebastian Cadenas, CEO and Founder of Increase. \u201cBut the support and guidance from Visa\u2019s mentors, understanding the breadth of Visa\u2019s technology network and the exposure to Visa\u2019s ecosystem is invaluable and not something a startup could otherwise access. We are now working together to explore how we can grow and expand <\/span>Increase <\/span><\/i>internationally.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n What\u2019s new in the 2018 edition?<\/b><\/p>\n All interested startups wanting to \u00a0participate in the competition can apply until June, 15th at the \u00a0Visa\u2019s Everywhere Initiative website<\/a> <\/strong>by clicking on the following button: <\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.finnosummit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/legacy\/2018\/04\/Captura-de-pantalla-2018-04-23-a-las-11.29.28.png\")
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