A fintech and cyber security challenger bank lands startup program slot

A challenger bank which focuses on the self-employed, Hatch, is joining the first ever global accelerator for finance tech and cyber security.

‘Startupbootcamp FinTech & CyberSecurity’ is the program that London-based Hatch will be joining in Amsterdam for its 2018 edition, along with just one other UK startup.

Hatch was founded in early 2017 by a serial entrepreneur, Matthew Brazil, who sold his previous venture 6Consulting to Radian6/Salesforce in 2011, and Adam Williams who co-founded gig recruitment platform, Work Revolution.

Williams, the ​co-founder and CEO at Hatch, commented: ​“We’re incredibly excited about joining Startupbootcamp accelerator program and the unique network it brings.

“For us it means that we can fully focus on bringing our product to market and accelerate our business. We’ve already benefited from introductions and are currently speaking with many partners as we look to launch our pilot in Amsterdam in the coming months.”

The business will be joined with other selected companies for a three-month acceleration program, which starts on October 30, 2017, and ends with a Demo Day in front of hundreds of startups and tech influencers, mentors and investors on February 8, 2018.

They will also be mentored by a network of more than 1000 entrepreneurs and investors, as well as receiving free office space and around £10k of seed money and support from Startupbootcamp partners, like PGGM, De Volksbank and Capgemini.

Michael​ ​Dooijes​, managing director of the Fintech & Cybersecurity program, added: “Amsterdam is a starting point for the next chapter of fintech and cyber security innovation on a global level.

“The selected teams are on the cutting edge of the most exciting areas of fintech, insurtech and cyber security, enabling technologies such as machine learning/AI, Blockchain, (Behavioral) Biometrics and APIs.

“They faced tremendous competition given the high level of quality that we have witnessed at our Selection Days.”

At the moment, Hatch is fundraising and is planning to launch a working beta with its mobile app and debit card before the end of 2017, with a complete product launch landing in Q2 2018.