ST. PETERSBURG – The third installment of the FinTech|X Accelerator program concluded
this month with a pitch night showcasing the cohort’s 10 high-growth startups and
their innovative fintech solutions.
Fintech refers to the integration of technology into financial services. The event,
held at The Palladium in St. Petersburg on Nov. 14, gave each startup the opportunity
to pitch their solution to a particular fintech problem. The ideas ranged from automating
invoicing and financial processes to creating a platform to improve a customer’s engagement
in digital banking.
Many involved using AI and machine learning to reduce inefficiencies and help companies
make data-driven decisions.
The Fintech│X Accelerator program is the result of an innovative partnership between
the University of South Florida and the Tampa Bay Wave. It aims to nurture and propel
fintech startups to new heights of success in Tampa Bay and beyond.
“The USF and Tampa Bay Wave partnership continues to foster innovation and excellence
in fintech,” said USF Provost Prasant Mohapatra. “The combination of business engagement,
education, and research provides a competitive advantage for our students and our
communities. Together, we will continue to lead the way in this dynamic tech sector.”
Organizers celebrated the accelerator program’s third year and announced the program
will continue in 2025.
“This particular accelerator allows us to showcase world-class fintech entrepreneurship
and the remarkable value that emerges from our rigorously programmed, structured and
unique engagement process with the Tampa Bay business ecosystem,” said Michael Wiemer, director of the FinTech Center at the Kate Tiedemann School of Business and Finance.
“The Pitch Night event represents USF’s commitment to educational excellence, and
creating innovative development opportunities for our students, faculty and the range
of communities that we serve across the Tampa Bay region,” he said.
To learn more about the 2024 FinTech|X Accelerator program, visit: https://www.tampabaywave.org/fintech/
