The Italian Trade Agency’s Global Startup Program showcases Italy’s leading FinTech innovators in Singapore.
Singapore, 28 October 2024 – At “Villaggio Italia,” part of the “World Itinerant Multi-Annual Exhibition” that gathers Italian “national teams” in tandem with Amerigo Vespucci’s global tour, the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) spotlighted Italy’s FinTech talent through its Global Startup Program Demo Day. Hosted at Singapore’s Marina Bay Cruise Centre, this vibrant event unveiled Italy’s future FinTech leaders, set against the backdrop of the iconic Italian Navy vessel Amerigo Vespucci.
This unique day marked a significant step in strengthening ties between Italy and Singapore, showcasing their shared ambition to establish a FinTech powerhouse. The event is part of the Global Startup Program, a key Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation initiative, in partnership with the Italian Trade Agency, to propel Italian startups into the international market. Six pioneering FinTech startups pitched their cutting-edge goods and services after Mr. Valentino Valentini, Deputy Minister for Enterprises and Made in Italy, opened the Demo Day. Closing remarks by CDP Venture Capital and the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy offered further insight into Italy’s vibrant innovation ecosystem.
Now in its fifth year and featuring Singapore for the third consecutive year, this year’s Global Startup Program focuses on FinTech, a reflection of the sector’s growing role in global finance.
Organised in partnership with Singaporean pre-seed investor Tenity Singapore, the event attracted a diverse group of venture capitalists, banking professionals, and industry leaders. They engaged directly with six Italian FinTech startups, each presenting solutions at the forefront of Payments, SaaS, Digital Assets, and more.
“A strong partnership between Italy and Singapore is pivotal for elevating our FinTech startups onto the global stage,” noted Giorgio Calveri, Director of the Italian Trade Agency in Singapore. “We are immensely proud of the innovation and talent emerging from Italy. Today’s event reveals the potential of these startups, not just as future players but as frontrunners in FinTech. The Global Startup Program has already introduced 22 startups to Singapore, several of which have since secured significant business agreements.”
The 2024 Global Startup Program in Singapore, running from 7 October to 8 November, offers the six FinTech startups an array of resources: tailored masterclasses on fundraising and the Asian FinTech landscape, bespoke mentorship and coaching from Tenity, 1-to-1 pitching sessions with accredited investors, corporate meetings, networking opportunities, and connections with influential players in the local innovation ecosystem, including Bank Julius Baer and Aspire.
The six selected startups are:
- Appeaty: an app that simplifies the managing and accounting requirements of both restaurants and customers
- Finanz: the ‘Duolingo of money’, the first financial AI-driven app that helps users learn, save, and invest all in one single platform
- Hercle Srl: a digital assets market maker and broker dealer which allows seamless, efficient and compliant access to digital assets liquidity
- Startgram: simplifies and automates investment rounds, cap tables, and incentive plans for startups, freeing entrepreneurs from administrative tasks to focus on business growth
- Twiper Srl: a tool that allows users to customize Generative Artificial Intelligence systems to develop value-adding digital assistants
- Volvero: vehicle sharing app that harnesses blockchain to support the seamless leasing of privately-owned cars. The app ensures security, transparency, and efficiency, with built-in insurance coverage and smart contracts.
Italy’s Ambassador to Singapore, Dante Brandi, emphasised the strategic importance of this collaboration, “Italy’s exports to ASEAN reached €9.6 billion in 2023, marking a milestone in our nations’ partnership. Singapore, as a leading innovation hub, is the perfect gateway for Italian startups to thrive in the competitive global market.”
“With this year’s focus on FinTech, the sector presents immense potential for our companies in Singapore. The 2023 Memorandum of Understanding between the Singapore Fintech Association and Italy’s Association of Fintech & Insurtech (AssoFintech) further strengthens our commitment to FinTech innovation. Singapore’s role as ASEAN’s economic nucleus offers Italian businesses an attractive environment to strategically expand into new markets.”
