FinTech Innovation Lab New York 2027

Launched in 2010 and run by the Partnership Fund for New York City and Accenture, the FinTech Innovation Lab New York is a highly competitive, 12-week program that helps early- to growth-stage tech companies refine and test their value proposition with the support of the world's leading financial service firms. Running in parallel to the fintech track, New York also operates an insurtech track. Each company in the Lab is paired with three to six of the Lab's 40+ participating financial institutions, with an executive sponsor and a day-to-day mentor at each. For the 2027 program the Lab also launches a Pilot Track for growth-stage AI Guardrails and Governance companies, who work with Accenture's Innovation Garage on proofs of concept. There is no fee to apply and participation is non-dilutive. Applications are open until November 25, 2026.

Key Benefits

• Pairing with three to six participating financial institutions, each with an executive sponsor (e.g. CIO, CTO, SVP) and a chaperone (e.g. VP or Executive Director) who provides day-to-day mentorship
• Access to 40+ leading financial institutions and venture capital firms; networking with institutions outside the official pairings
• Relationships that regularly lead to pilots: across a typical cohort of roughly 10 companies, 20-40 proofs of concept begin during or shortly after the program
• Pilot Track (new): growth-stage AI Guardrails and Governance companies work with Accenture's Innovation Garage to pursue structured proofs of concept with participating financial institutions
• Non-dilutive: no equity or investment is required, and there is no fee to apply

Eligibility

• Early- and growth-stage technology companies with innovative financial and insurance solutions, typically pre-seed through Series B, with at least a beta technology/product
• Growth-stage enterprise solution companies interested in servicing financial services and insurance clients, including companies deployed outside financial services that want to enter the vertical
• Companies with a solution that can be tested and deployed and a proven track record of successfully integrating with customers
• You do not need to be NYC-based, but core members must participate in New York City during working hours for the 3 months of the program (March - June); travel costs are not reimbursed
• Non-US companies may apply but must have eligibility to work in the United States and/or obtain visas on their own; the Lab will not sponsor visas
• 2027 areas of interest: AI governance and guardrails, enterprise AI operating layer, digital assets, token and cost optimization, agentic commerce, cyber and data security, risk management and fraud detection, context and knowledge capture, client engagement and personalization, AI-augmented software delivery (other cutting-edge financial services solutions also welcome)

Program Structure

• Now - Nov 25, 2026: applications open (apply through the FIL portal)
• Mid-January 2027: all applicants notified of their application status by email
• Feb 2, 2027: Shark Tank Day (finalists pitch to a live panel of judges, in person in New York City)
• Feb 4, 2027: Finalist Demo Fair (in person in New York City)
• Late February 2027: 2027 cohort announced
• March - June 2027: 12-week hybrid program; at least one core team member attends all in-person events