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New Aviva partnership to help nurture innovative FinTech startups

Global insurance firm Aviva has announced a new partnership with digital accelerator and incubator Founders Factory that aims to support 200 innovative technology businesses.

As part of the pairing, Aviva will act as the London accelerator’s exclusive financial services partner, working directly with seven startups each year over a five year period.

Meanwhile, Aviva Ventures, the firm’s investment arm, has also made an undisclosed multimillion pound investment in Founders to help it support the growth of innovative FinTech businesses.

The development is part of Aviva’s digital strategy focusing on the design and development of creative solutions aimed at making the firm’s services more accessible to its customers.

Andrew Brem, Chief Digital Officer at Aviva, believes the ‘insurance and financial services’ sector has been stuck in a ‘bygone, analogue era’ when it comes to communicating with customers, and that the new partnership is an attempt to bring it into the ‘digital age’.

He added: “Partnering with Founders Factory gives us an opportunity to work with a highly talented pool of entrepreneurs who can help us identify new opportunities and deliver them.

“Only by being brave and disruptive can we truly accelerate our digital strategy and ensure we are giving customers what they rightly expect.”

As part of the five-year programme, five early-stage startups will be granted a spot at Founders Factory’s accelerator, while two will be entirely new FinTech businesses who will benefit from the firm’s incubator.

Both the incubator and accelerator are based at Founder’s site just off Kensington High Street.

Brent Hoberman, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, Founders Factory, added: “At Founders Factory we are delighted to partner with Aviva, a global leader in insurance. We are looking forward to working closely with their teams, and accelerating and incubating world class fintech businesses.”